A new, not-for-profit partnership has been formed to help shape the skills agenda in the electrotechnical industry.
The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) has been created by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), the Joint Industry Board (JIB), JTL, National Electrotechnical Training (NET), SummitSkills and Unite the Union.
It will act as the voice for employers and industry on skills issues, and will lead on the setting and accrediting of standards, lobbying and government relations work, and the promotion of careers in the industry.
Speaking on behalf of TESP, Alex Meikle, director of Employment and Skills at the ECA, explained: “TESP has been formed to shape and develop the skills agenda in our industry – an industry comprised of businesses of a wide range of size and a range of diverse and specialist skills needs. Given the current focus of Government on encouraging young people to take up apprenticeships, that is our immediate priority, but by bringing together the various organisations which have all contributed to the highly skilled heritage of our industry, we intend to ensure that the growing demand for skilled electricians and wider electrotechnical skills are addressed in a coherent way.”
He continued: “The future is electric. More and more we are seeing the development of new technology, low energy solutions and products, all of which require skilled people with continuously evolving skillsets. TESP aims to support our industry’s efforts to recruit, train and develop these individuals and ensure that we have a workforce that can meet the demand for our industry’s specialist skills.”
TESP will formally launch at an event at the House of Commons on November 20th hosted by Mark Tami MP.
