Executive Summary

• The ECA has warned that recently announced fast-tracked government apprenticeship units across batteries, EV charge points and solar PV must not have safety, competence and industry-recognised standards neglected
• The association argues that Skills England’s units, designed to accelerate low-carbon installation skills, ‘raise serious safety concerns’
• The units are for employed, qualified electricians aged 19 or over where their employer has identified they need to upskill quickly to respond to emerging skills gaps

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has warned that fast-tracked apprenticeship units must not come at the expense of electrical safety, competence, and industry-recognised standards amid Skills England’s ambition to strengthen the UK’s workforce for the low-carbon transition.

The ECA has welcomed the overall initiative to bolster the UK’s skills across areas such as battery manufacturing, EV charge points, and solar PV. Yet this comes at a cost, according to Keith Sanderson, head of education and skills at ECA.

“Skills England’s recent announcement of apprentice units, designed to accelerate low-carbon installation skills, raises serious safety concerns,” said Sanderson. “While ECA welcomes the government’s focus on skills to install EV charge points, solar PV and battery storage, these technologies depend on electrical competence.

“It is disappointing that government has chosen to fund courses in a safety critical sector which do not meet industry standards,” Sanderson added. “Training routes to upskill and achieve industry recognised qualifications already exist. These routes are a cheaper and more efficient way to upskill qualified electricians at pace.”

The apprenticeship units were announced in March. Regarding the battery manufacturing unit, the goal is to directly plug in to the skills needs of Agratas’ new gigafactory, under construction in Somerset and expected to deliver around 4,000 new jobs and contribute more than £700 million in economic value to the South West.

This was launched a week after the first seven apprenticeship units were unveiled. The solar PV installation and maintenance unit, and the EV charging point installation and maintenance units, are available to fully qualified and employed electricians aged 19 or older. As the details page notes, the units are for employed learners where their employer ‘has identified that they need to upskill quickly to respond to emerging skills gaps and to support business growth and productivity.’

Last month, the ECA contributed to a guide published by the Industry Task and Finish Group (ITFG) for organisations across the built environment on how to apply expectations for competence management as set out by the Industry Competence Committee.

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash