Energy & Utility Skills Group today confirms the start of the formal testing phase for a proposed sector wide digital platform, working with employers, governments and partners across energy, water, and waste.
This marks a decisive step towards creating a world class workforce capability and national asset for one of the UK’s most critical sectors. The ambition is clear. To design and deliver a sector leading platform that sets the global benchmark for how complex infrastructure industries attract, develop and retain talent at scale. Energy & Utility Skills Group has signalled its willingness to consider a direct capital investment to support the build phase of a shared sector solution, subject to sector support and Board approval.
The proposed platform is intended to be a single, trusted front door for the sector. It will replace fragmented journeys with a coherent, high quality experience that connects citizens, employers, supply chains, training providers and partners. It is designed to materially reduce friction, improve conversion, and keep more skilled people within energy, water, and waste, supporting delivery of national infrastructure, decarbonisation and resilience ambitions across all four nations.
At its core, the platform ambition is to make energy, water, and waste the easiest sectors to enter, navigate and build a career in. For citizens, this means clear pathways, confidence building support and transparent routes to safety and competence. For employers and supply chains, it means better access to talent, consistent occupational profiles and the ability to retain skills within the sector. For governments and partners, it offers a trusted, data rich capability to support workforce planning, policy development and inclusive growth.
This testing phase builds directly on sustained engagement throughout 2025 and the cross sector workshop held in November. It will focus on validating the case for change, confirming the level of sector commitment, and stress testing the ambition, scope, governance and funding approach required to deliver an internationally recognised platform.
Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills Group, said:
“The scale of workforce growth required over the next decade demands a step change, not incremental improvement. Our ambition is for the Energy & Utility Skills Partnership to create a platform that is not only fit for the UK, but recognised internationally as best in class.
This testing phase is about ensuring the sector is aligned, confident, committed and ready to build an asset that reflects the importance, professionalism and future potential of energy, water, and waste.”
Timeline
The testing phase will run through December and January. Employers, governments and partners are being invited to review the executive summary and supporting appendices and to provide structured feedback through a dedicated Microsoft Form.
Responses will directly inform a decision at the Energy & Utility Skills Group Board on 28 January 2026, including whether the Group proceeds with a potential direct capital investment and whether to move to a formal Invitation to Tender for a design and development partner.
What happens next:
- Week commencing 15 December 2025: Testing with employers, governments and partners begins.
- Friday 23 January 2026: Deadline for responses.
- Wednesday 28 January 2026: Board consideration.
- Week commencing 2 February 2026: Potential Invitation to Tender issued, subject to approval.
Get involved
This testing phase is a genuine opportunity to shape a shared sector asset with world class ambition. Organisations are encouraged to engage fully, provide clear views, and help define what excellence should look like for a platform that underpins growth, opportunity and long term workforce resilience across energy, water, and waste.
Read the executive summary linked here.
Read appendix 1 (abridged slide deck circulated to attendees of the November workshop) linked here.
Read appendix 2 (draft ITT Part A Background content and requirements) linked here.
Complete the Microsoft Form linked here.
