The CIPD is using National Apprenticeship Week to urge the Government to act on developing the skills needed to deliver economic growth, by involving employers in the early design of the new Growth and Skills Levy and introducing an Apprenticeship Guarantee for all young people aged 16-24.
In its submission for the Spending Review, the professional body for HR professionals says early stage training is key to tackling current skills deficits, especially technical ones, and consultation on the Levy should be fast tracked as a priority.
It comes as a survey among electrical businesses revealed that more than half attempting to recruit technical staff last year found it to be a very difficult process, citing specific obstacles such as the sheer level of admin involved. Lizzie Crowley, senior skills policy adviser at the CIPD said: “The Chancellor’s recent speech made multiple references to boosting growth through investing in major infrastructure projects and key high-tech and green industries, but had very little focus on the workforce skills and capabilities needed to deliver.
“We need to see a significant increase in apprenticeships for young people to address technical skills shortages across the economy, not just in the relatively few sectors the government is prioritising to accelerate growth through.
“It’s also important that we see rapid progress on the development of the Growth and Skills Levy with early input from employers to ensure that it can play an effective role in supporting the training and upskilling of the wider workforce.”
Determining how much levy funding should be available for individual employers and how much should be allocated to tackle sector-based or regional skills deficits will be complex. This will require early input from a range of stakeholders to get the balance right, she said.
The other research commissioned by NICEIC highlighted issues it said reinforced the pressing need to build a strong talent pipeline through apprenticeships and training to ensure the industry continues to grow and deliver the necessary transformation of UK infrastructure.
They found over half of the businesses that had recruited or attempted to recruit technical staff during 2024, found it to be a very difficult process making it clear that that the existing infrastructure is not doing enough to reduce labour market friction and connect talent with work.
Firms are looking to grow, take on new projects and invest in people, but the industrywide infrastructure is not always there to facilitate that
CEO Richard Orton, said: apprenticeships were a key part of the electrical industry’s heritage, adding: They will be crucial to closing the skills gap. When a business takes on an apprentice, they are not only making an investment in their business and that person’s future, but they are also helping to ensure the industry itself continues to grow.
“This new research makes it clear that firms are looking to grow, take on new projects and invest in people, but the industrywide infrastructure is not always there to facilitate that. There needs to be a collective effort to put better structures in place, that help match electrical businesses with the talent they are clearly looking for.”
Members were in agreement. Andy Downing, Group Operations Director at NICEIC-certified Playfords said: “When we find someone with an enthusiasm to learn and the desire to be on the tools, working on site and learning from experienced electricians, we generally know we’ve found someone who will be with us for many years and go on to have a successful career in the industry.”
And Demi Whitehead, who completed her apprenticeship and now works as an electrician at NICEIC-certified business, William Davies Homes, said: “I’d always suggest an apprenticeship to anyone thinking about their future. The skills I learnt set me up for my career and the thing I really enjoy about this industry is that there’s always more to learn as it continues to evolve.”
About National Apprenticeship Week