Mayor Paul Bristow is taking action to address the decline in electrical apprenticeships across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The Combined Authority has a key role in boosting apprenticeship numbers across all sectors, supporting local businesses with the skilled workers they need to grow, and helping more residents access well-paid, sustainable careers.
Businesses across the region have reported difficulties finding suitably qualified electricians, while many young people are struggling to secure apprenticeships that would allow them to enter the trade.
To help bridge this gap, the Mayor has joined forces with the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) to launch the new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance. This innovative partnership brings together ECA members, training providers, and the Combined Authority to create new opportunities for local people to train and work in the electrical industry.
Paul Bristow said:
“We need more electricians and I’m taking action. My mission is to bring the right people together to get more people in this region into great jobs and careers. This is a fantastic example of that work in action. Electrical careers offer so much potential and this innovative alliance will open doors for more local people.”
Paul Leonard, of Cambridge-based ECA Member Munro Building Services Ltd, added:
“The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region needs many more qualified, skilled electricians to achieve its huge economic potential. As local employers and strong supporters of high-quality training, we and other ECA members welcome the Mayor’s commitment to convene industry, education, the Combined Authority and the LSIP to address the opportunities and challenges our region faces together.”
Charlotte Horobin, CEO of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, said:
“The Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance is a fantastic example of collaboration in action. We are delighted to be working with a key representative body, the ECA, alongside local employers and the Combined Authority, to tackle these important skills challenges in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
The first step for the Alliance will be to create a plan of action to build a pipeline of skilled workers. The group will also contribute to the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, led by the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, which aims to improve local training and employment pathways.
To maintain the number of electricians required, annual apprentice recruitment needs to reach at least 5% of the existing workforce each year. Currently, the average in England is below 4%. Many classroom-based routes into the trade are also failing to transition learners into employment. The new Alliance will help to tackle this broken pipeline and ensure the region’s electrical sector continues to grow.