EIC Update
training side of the charity’s work and support for people in the early stages of their career will grow. In some parts of the electrical industry, we will see the impacts of digitalisation and AI – it is hard to predict how this will manifest, but it may mean that some roles disappear or become downgraded, which may lead to stress and to financial problems. In many parts of the industry, we have an ageing workforce, which will develop into a large retired population, possibly facing financial strain as current pension schemes are not as generous as they used to be. I think the charity will focus more and more on providing tools and support for people to help themselves with financial matters, developing resilience and coping with a changing world.
In what ways do you believe the Electrical Industries Charity can make the most significant impact in the industry?
The EIC needs to create effective channels through to the end-user target groups. This means having strong relationships with companies in the sector, encouraging them to
Industry Event
New annual event scrutinises electrical skills shortage
As the UK heads towards a low-carbon future with increased electrification of its built environment, this must be delivered safely and professionally.
G
iven the serious consequences of not having enough skilled,
qualified and competent workers to deal with an increasingly electric future, there is an urgent need to attract new talent to the industry, as well as bridge a growing skills gap in the electrotechnical workforce. This topic will be just one of several key issues under discussion at the Electrical Installation Seminar on Tuesday 23 April, hosted by Electrical Safety First, the leading UK charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electricity in UK homes
Spotlight on safety With a theme of “Switch on to the
ewnews.co.uk
big issues”, the seminar will also explore making people’s homes safer, putting the spotlight on the quality and consistency of EICRs (electrical inspection condition reporting).
A rapid-fire session will feature presentations on emerging technologies and trends such as low carbon technologies (LCT) and prosumers electrical installation (PEI), and the importance of understanding safety considerations. Luke Osborne, deputy technical director of Electrical Safety First, commented: “It is exciting and timely for the charity to be hosting this industry event and highlighting key aspects required to move the UK safely towards its net zero carbon goals.”
promote the charity to their employees – and ex-employees. Hopefully this will also lead to people in the industry supporting the charity with fundraising activities and further person- to-person awareness building. I know that, in RWE, people have contacted the EIC for support because another colleague has realised they might have a need and has had a quiet word about how they themselves were helped by the EIC, suggesting that it would be a good place to go for help. I think the EIC also has to be clear about what it wants to focus on – in the scheme of things it is not a large charity, and there are other bodies out there with expertise in other areas. The EIC has to become excellent at referring clients to other specialists where appropriate, rather than trying to cope with all requests itself.
Can you talk about the importance of collaboration with other organisations and how the charity fosters these relationships?
As covered above, high-quality collaboration with other organisations can enable the charity
to make its own resources go further: this goes beyond just collaborating with other charities and support providers; by collaborating with industry employers the EIC can find out more about what issues the industry faces, as well as strengthening its contacts to its target groups.
Is there anything you think is important to mention or any final message you would like to share?
Without wanting to bring the tone of the piece down, I would like to mention that those of us who are in the fortunate position of not needing support from the charity should take time to review the case studies which the EIC puts together. They illustrate how quickly circumstances can change, through no fault of our own. Any of us might need support from the EIC in the future, and so we should think about how we can support the charity now, to ensure that it will still be there and be strong for us or our friends and colleagues in the future. And if we don’t need that help ourselves, we can be grateful for our good fortune and also glad that we have helped to provide it for others.
Held at IET London on Savoy Place, the free half-day event brings together a range of industry actors including manufacturers, wholesalers, awarding bodies, electrical contractors, government representatives, insurers, housing
associations, trade associations, certification bodies, and fire and rescue services.
For more information and to book a free ticket, visit
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/ seminar
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