The aim of the Industrial Strategy is to boost productivity by backing businesses to create good jobs and increase the earning power of people throughout the UK with investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.The energy and utilities sector will have a vital role to play in delivering its objectives.
The Industrial Strategies published by central and devolved governments start a vital conversation between policy makers, industry and wider stakeholders. Progressed in genuine partnership, they can help to create the supportive workforce and skills policy environment that can enable the energy and utility sector to fulfil its potential for the economy and society. Recognition of skills as a critical economic driver is a very welcome first step in the process. We will work closely with governments across the UK to help inform their final strategies and recognise the significant contribution our workforce can make to increased growth and productivity.
Skills and Technical Education
The Industrial Strategy White Paper set out the professional sector routes that have provided the overarching structure for the reforms we have seen so far. While the energy and utilities sector is split between the ‘engineering and manufacturing’ and ‘construction’ routes, a sector-specific ‘Energy and Utilities’ specialism has been agreed subsequently within ‘Engineering and Manufacturing’. Following concern that the sector was insufficient knowledge and understanding of the energy and utilities sector on the Route Panel (that oversees T Level development within ‘Engineering and Manufacturing’), Nicola Johnson of E.ON UK has now joined the ‘Engineering and Manufacturing’ Route Panel.
The Industrial Strategy aims to ensure that the right skills; industries and infrastructure is in place to deliver a range of strategically important programmes and projects to drive our economic growth and productivity. These include the National Infrastructure Delivery Plan, within which the energy and utilities sector plays an important part.
Local Industrial Strategies for England
It will be vital for Government to deliver a coordinated approach between local and national strategies to ensure that national and transnational employers are not negatively impacted. Local Skills Advisory Panels will feed into these Local Industrial Strategies. Again, since the UK labour market transcends these local boundaries, close governance will be needed to ensure that the panels bring real benefits to workforce resilience and skills – rather than artificial barriers.
Sector Deals
Sector Deals are partnerships between central government and industry, which aim to increase sector productivity. The first Sector Deals are in life sciences, construction, artificial intelligence and the automotive sector. We will seek to initiate conversations on behalf of members to explore potential for Sector Deals for our sector.
Find Out More
Take a look at our Industrial Strategy briefing to learn more or our Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy to see how it supports the aims of the Industrial Strategy.
Our Members can review our follow up briefing, which looks at some of the supporting policies published shortly after the Industrial Strategy White Paper, here.