Wholesaler Guide
training feels worthwhile. That puts pressure on both ends of the workforce: younger people need routes into the trade, and experienced electricians need training that is accessible, relevant and realistic around their work. As one electrician put it: “We’ve lost a lot of skilled tradespeople in recent years and that’s a problem for the sector. With the cost of living as it is, taking on an apprentice is tough. The outlay versus what you’re getting back is difficult to balance short term. I think something has to be done to attract more apprentices, whether that’s helping companies or making more grants available. We need a new influx of workers.”
“It’s not one size fits all” when it comes to electrical skills
There is a growing demand for training across the trade, and whilst courses are available, access isn’t always simple. Training can be expensive, time- consuming and difficult to fit around projects,
especially when factoring in travel, expenses and lost billable time. At the same time, expectations around competency and compliance are increasing. Electricians need to stay current, understand where specialist skills apply and know when additional knowledge is needed. That is why practical, in-person learning matters. It gives electricians the chance to ask questions, have updates explained clearly and connect the information to real work situations. One electrician said: “In our business, we stand for competency, so the changes to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification scheme were really interesting. There are many different shades of electrician, and it’s not one size fits all when you start looking at higher-risk areas.”
“People are watching costs” and it’s changing demand from customers Cost pressure is changing the conversations electricians are having with customers, especially
ewnews.co.uk
in domestic work. Households are looking more carefully at what they spend, but rising energy bills are also making them more interested in products and installations that can help reduce energy use.
This means that electricians need to be able to explain value, not just cost. They need to understand which products are available, where they fit and when it may be worth looking beyond the lowest upfront price. Product discovery and supplier access are part of that, because contractors need to know what is available before they can recommend the right solution.
As one electrician explained: “We’re noticing in domestic work that people are watching costs much more, as household bills keep going up. Our experience is that you’ve got to try and find better solutions and cost variations for them, and maybe explain things a bit better as you’re doing it. There are options out there – it’s just trying to
find them and letting people know.”
Practical support for a changing landscape
Electricians today are facing a broader, more demanding landscape, and accessible training has an important role to play in keeping up with regulations, understanding new technologies, responding to customer cost pressures and upskilling to meet new sector demands. Events like CEF TechTalks help close the gap between information and practical understanding, giving electricians a clearer way to stay informed, build confidence and take useful knowledge back to site. As one attendee put it: “There’s something for everybody. They’re very engaging, very collaborative, but also very informative.” With more focussed, accessible, local training opportunities, electricians are able to prioritise learning that supports their job and the growth of the trade.
September 2026 electrical wholesaler | 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
