Alliance launched in Cheshire to tackle local electrical skills gaps

A new regional alliance has been launched in Cheshire and Warrington to coordinate action on electrical skills, training and careers.

The initiative, which is being dubbed the ‘Cheshire & Warrington Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA)’, is led by the ECA and its members, with South & North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. 

Andrew Eldred, Deputy CEO at ECA, commented, “Cheshire and Warrington is our third regional Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance launched in less than a year – following on from ETCAs for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – and the first outside an existing Mayoral Strategic Authority. The ECA Members involved are leading electrical businesses from all parts of Cheshire, keen to collaborate to help close local electrical skills gaps. This is an absolutely essential requirement if we are to meet regional and national targets for housing, industry, clean energy and digital infrastructure.”

South & North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce is the Employer Representative Body appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to lead the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Cheshire & Warrington.

Sarah Emes-Young, Cheshire & Warrington LSIP Lead, noted, “We are delighted to support the ETCA in our area; it meets our overriding priority to ensure local training provision meets local business needs. We look forward to seeing real change in our area.”

At the launch, attendees agreed initial priorities focused on the existing workforce. First, to support partially qualified, experienced workers to become fully qualified and competent electricians. Second, to help qualified electricians broaden their skillsets in green technologies, including EV charge points, solar PV and battery storage. The Alliance will also work to deepen links between local education providers, employers and industry bodies to improve access to apprenticeships.

Who’s involved

Electrical businesses

• BGEN, Warrington
• Bilfinger, Ellesmere Port
• CHIL Electrical and Renewables, Deeside
• Genfit, Chester
• Meel Group, Macclesfield
• Mid Cheshire Electrical, Northwich
• Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, Macclesfield
• Picow Engineering, Runcorn
• Rosebery Group, Ellesmere Port
• 24-7 Group, Knutsford

Electrical industry bodies

• ECA
• JIB/ ECS
• NICEIC
• Unite the Union
• The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP)

Education providers

• Cheshire & Warrington Learning Provider Network
• Cheshire College South & West
• Warrington & Vale Royal College
• Macclesfield College
• City & Guilds Electrical Training, Warrington
• Cheshire & Warrington Institute of Technology

Regional/local bodies

• Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (ERB: South & North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce)
• West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
• Cheshire West & Chester Council
• Enterprise Cheshire & Warrington