Issue link: https://read.utilityweek.co.uk/i/665572
NETWORK / 25 / APRIL 2016 investment of time, money and resources by industry, education and government to inspire a new generation of skilled and technical employees and to develop training and qualification frameworks suitable for them. Energy networks are among the organisations most keenly aware that skills challenges could stymie business performance. They require many of the core engineering skills that are most in demand, and some of the most niche skills associated with new technologies and data analysis. Given this, it is no surprise that energy networks have pioneered new engineering skills solutions in recent years. Individually and collectively, through bodies like the National Skills Academy for Power and the Energy and Efficiency Industrial Partnership (EEIP), energy networks have poured resources into raising awareness of careers in industry in schools, highlighting their future skills needs to government and developing new apprenticeship frameworks. Indeed, of all the 11 industrial partnerships launched by government to consolidate employer engagement around sector- specific skills challenges, the EEIP has been most successful, creating eight trailblazer apprenticeships and stimulating more apprenticeship starts than any of the others, including those in sectors such as aerospace and automotive. And yet the threat that skills and talent shortages pose to networks remain barely, if at all diminished (below leƒ). Speaking about the imperative of radically altering our thinking about energy systems, Philip New, chief executive of the Energy Systems Catapult, told Network he is "really worried" about building the skills and capabilities the energy system needs in order to achieve transformation. He is not alone. So what more can be done to bring more strategic focus to the way energy networks and the UK as a whole treat skills challenges so we can begin to fill gaps? Nick Ellins, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Power, has some clear ideas, many of them targeted at government, but some for industry leaders to take to heart. To start with, Ellins sets out his belief that the debate about skills and skills gaps in recent years has in some ways distracted stakeholders from a more important overarching question about workforce planning and development. "It's led to people getting bogged down in discussing whether a new qualification is going to be an NVQ or an A level – the point is about creating a competent workforce," he says. This is a challenge that is complex and demands better alignment between different According to EU Skills: The proportion of the UK utilities workforce due to retire by 2025 The number of new recruits needed to fill technical and engineering roles in UK utilities by 2025 200,000 50% The proportion of skills-related vacancies now in the UK utilities sector 25% GET TO National Skills Academy for Power annual conference, 19 May, Glasgow Now produced in partnership with Network and Utility Week Live. This conference gives insight into the practical approaches energy networks are taking to address skills challenges as well as policy updates: www. power.nsacademy. co.uk "There is no link between policy changes that might give someone sitting in an organisation any idea of the overall impact." NIcK ELLINs, chIEf ExEcuTIvE, NATIONAL sKILLs AcAdEmy fOR POWER →