Energy & Utility Skills Group and the Electricity Transmission Industry Collaboration have published new workforce research and signed a Memorandum of Understanding that strengthens their joint commitment to secure the skilled people required to deliver the UK’s electricity transmission investment plans which is the largest upgrade of electricity transmission in modern times.
The research provides the most detailed analysis to date of the electricity transmission workforce and estimates that around 35,000 vacancies will need to be filled during the RIIO T3 regulatory period across Transmission Operators and the supply chain. This includes replacement demand through retirements, staff turnover and the additional people needed to meet future network requirements. It complements the national workforce estimates that show 312,300 new people will be required across the wider energy, water, and waste industries by 2030.
A central feature of the report is the depth of supply chain insight. This analysis represents the furthest that any Energy and Utility Skills Group workforce research has ever gone into the supply chain, with detailed modelling of demographics, turnover, skill levels, nationality, trainee numbers and occupational pressure. The supply chain will account for more than 87 percent of all workforce demand during T3, and the research provides an evidence base that has not previously been available to Transmission Operators, suppliers or regulators.
The research shows that supply chain organisations face higher rates of turnover, shorter contract cycles and greater variation in workforce composition. More than 8,000 vacancies will be created through turnover alone, and almost 2,200 supply chain retirements will remove 26,200 years of experience. The report also highlights critical occupations at risk, including electrical fitters, overhead linespeople, multi skilled craftspersons, design engineers and project managers. This insight is essential for understanding where the greatest capacity pressures will fall and where targeted action is required.
Read the Electricity Transmission Industry Workforce planning executive summary linked here, and the full report linked here.
The Memorandum of Understanding sets out a shared vision, mission and principles that respond to these challenges. It commits both parties to align workforce planning, strengthen entry routes and improve the consistency of career pathways into technical and professional roles. This will be underpinned by clear occupational profiles that set out routes to competence and progression for both new entrants and experienced workers.
The partnership supports the delivery of an industry led skills system that links investment, social impact and long term workforce resilience across all four nations. The agreement forms part of Energy & Utility Skills Group’s wider work to ensure that people, skills and competence remain at the centre of national infrastructure planning and delivery.
Deepening existing, strong and effective partnerships
The partnership will support employers in expanding entry routes, strengthening training capacity and improving the movement of talent across the sector. It will also ensure that investment delivers wider social and economic benefit through inclusive recruitment, career progression and the creation of long term opportunities for people and communities.
The Energy and Utility Skills Partnership published its 2025 to 2030 Skills Strategy in October. The Strategy is built around the four pillars of research, attract, develop and retain. It provides clear actions to strengthen workforce capability, improve resilience and support employers in delivering the essential services that underpin the UK’s environmental, economic and infrastructure goals, for which the electricity transmission industry is a critical contributor.
The new research and the Memorandum of Understanding reinforce the commitments set out in the Strategy by strengthening the evidence base that informs action across all four pillars.
Group CEO of Energy & Utility Skills, Paul Cox, said:
“This new research represents the furthest we have ever gone in analysing the supply chain, and it provides evidence that is vital for the industry. It makes clear that the majority of workforce demand will fall within the supply chain and sets out the specific pressures that must be addressed for the UK to deliver its transmission ambitions.
Signing this agreement further demonstrates the commitment across the industry to act on this insight. It strengthens our shared focus on people and skills and sets out a practical plan for how the workforce will grow and develop in the years ahead. Together we will build a skilled, adaptable and inclusive workforce across all four nations that can deliver the networks needed for the UK’s clean energy future.”
Workforce Planning
Workforce planning helps organisations understand their people requirements and put in place the plans needed to meet them. To discuss how we can support you, call 0121 713 8255, or email workforceplanning@euskills.co.uk
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