Employer engagement has long been at the heart of skills development across the energy and utilities sector. As Skills England establishes new mechanisms for engaging employers and industry experts, the energy and utilities sector is continuing its long tradition of providing employer-led insight into skills development, occupational standards and workforce solutions.
Representatives have been invited from both Energy & Utility Skills Group and Energy & Environment Awards, including Paul Cox, Rachel Thomas, David Morgan, Bernard Zakary, Paul Carter and Chris Arnold, to join Skills England’s Expert Network reflects the continuing need for industry expertise to inform skills policy and occupational development. The Expert Network brings together occupational, technical and regional expertise to provide advice, insight and support on skills priorities, while contributing to the development and maintenance of occupational standards and assessment plans.
For the energy and utilities sector, this latest development builds on a long tradition of employer-led engagement in skills development.
Building on the foundations established through Trailblazers and the Energy and Utility Advisory Panel (EUAP), the sector has a proven track record of employers coming together to shape occupational standards and qualifications. Through EUAP, employer collaboration supported the development and reform of occupations including Water Industry Asset Maintenance Technician, Power Network Craftsperson and Sewerage Network Operative, helping ensure skills provision reflected real workforce requirements.
Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills, said:
“Employer involvement has been a defining feature of skills development in our sector for many years. Whether through Trailblazer groups, industry forums or the new Expert Network, the objective remains the same: ensuring that those with direct knowledge and experience of occupations and workforce challenges can contribute their expertise to the development of skills provision. As the skills landscape evolves, maintaining that employer voice will continue to be important.”
Rachel Thomas, Managing Director of Energy & Environment Awards said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Skills England’s Expert Network and contributing to conversations about the future workforce. Strong skills systems are built on employer insight, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the sector to ensure our collective experience and expertise help shape future occupational standards, assessments and workforce solutions.”
David Morgan, Head of Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Energy & Environment Awards said:
“The energy and utilities sector is experiencing significant change, from major infrastructure investment through to new technologies and changing workforce requirements. It is important that employers continue to have opportunities to share insight into how occupations are developing and what skills will be needed in the future. The Expert Network provides an important route for that expertise to inform the wider skills system.”
Paul Carter, Skills Engagement Manager at Energy & Utility Skills Group said:
“Effective skills development depends on collaboration between employers, training providers, awarding organisations and government. The sector has a strong history of working collectively to identify workforce needs and support occupational development. Continued employer engagement will help ensure standards and qualifications remain relevant, practical and responsive to industry requirements.”
The creation of the Skills England Expert Network represents the latest stage in the evolution of employer-led skills engagement. While the mechanisms through which employers contribute may develop over time, the sector’s commitment to sharing expertise and helping shape future skills provision remains unchanged.
Energy & Utility Skills will continue to work with employers, industry groups and specialists across the sector to ensure workforce challenges, emerging occupations and future skills needs are reflected in national discussions and skills development activity.
Get involved
The effectiveness of employer-led skills development relies on active participation from employers across the sector. Energy & Utility Skills will continue to gather insight through its networks, standards-setting activity and industry engagement, ensuring employer priorities and workforce needs continue to inform future skills development. To find out more about our network groups, contact us at collaborate@euskills.co.uk
