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 Apprenticeship in the new year."
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 here.