Pictured: Altaf Hussain MS, sponsor of event at the Senedd (left) and Jeremy Parkin, Chair of ECA's Welsh Skills Committee (right)
On 20th November, around 50 people gathered at the Senedd (Parliament) in Cardiff to launch ECA’s Charter to Recharge Electrical Skills in Wales (Siarter yr ECA Ailwefru Sgiliau Trydanol yng Nghymru, in Welsh).
As well as ECA Members, those attending included industry bodies like the Joint Industries Board (JIB) and NICEIC, Unite the Union, education providers and no fewer than seven Senedd members, representing all three main parties in Wales (Labour, Conservative, Plaid Cymru).
External speakers at the event included the Chair of the Senedd Housing Committee, John Griffiths, the Shadow Education Minister, Tom Giffard, and the Chair of the Cross-Party Apprenticeships Group, Luke Fletcher.
Speakers from all political parties welcomed the Charter, which is the product of several months’ work. The Charter was co-created with input from education and government representatives as well as ECA Members and staff.
Jeremy Parkin, Chair of ECA Welsh Skills Committee commented on the event:
"The launch of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter in Wales was a milestone for ECA. We welcome the positive contributions from all the political speakers. The Charter has been a real collaborative effort by Members and others, and I believe the solutions we’ve come to are best for industry and electrical skills in Wales. We look forward to contributing to the Cross Party Group on Apprenticeships in the new year."
ECA was grateful to welcome Altaf Hussain MS as the event's sponsor. He said:
"I’ve proudly sponsored the launch of the Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales Charter because the work of electrical contractors is vital to our prosperity as a nation in which we rely daily on the installation of safe electricity in our homes, businesses, schools & hospitals. My own region of South Wales West hosts promising projects in development like Swansea’s Blue Eden or the Port Talbot Celtic Freeport, offering a nucleus for the future of renewables within Wales. I’m completely clear that Welsh Government must ensure funding is in place to provide enough electrical apprenticeship opportunities – making it easier for small businesses to take on apprentices and supporting education providers to deliver enough quality courses needed by industry."
Shadow Education Minister John Griffiths said:
"Electrical Contractors are essential to the construction and maintenance of social housing in Wales. Without them we cannot deliver homes with the reliable, safe electricity we have all come to depend on. To grow the electrical workforce to the size needed to fulfil our net zero goals and provide good jobs for Welsh communities, we must all work together; with industry, unions, and education providers. I thoroughly commend the solutions suggested in ECA Skills Charter and their efforts to collaborate across government, education, and industry to deliver a workforce fit for the future."
Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Economy and Energy Luke Fletcher said:
“Wales is electrifying, and the need for continued electrification will be fundamental in our shift towards a decarbonised energy system. A competent electrotechnical workforce, not just in Wales but across the globe, will be the backbone of this transformation.
"They are the people who will bring the future economy and green agenda to life with skillsets applicable to a wide array of emerging industries and technologies. As Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Apprenticeships, I’m both keen and excited to support the work of ECA and help advance the recommendations within its Skills Charter for Wales, because we must take the steps needed to build a skilled electrical workforce capable of supporting the future of Wales’ energy system.”
The Charter aims to build on ECA’s previous successes in engaging with and influencing various arms of Welsh Government and calls for even closer partnerships at both national and regional level to deliver the electrical skills Wales needs. You can read a copy of the Charter in English here and click here for the Welsh language version.