Energy & Utility Skills adopts cross sector approach to strategic skills priorities

Energy & Utility Skills has announced a new cross sector approach to delivering its strategic skills priorities for the sector.

Four groups have been formed.

The Attract & Inspire group

This group is chaired by Nigel Fenn MBE, head of people projects and planning at South West Water. The group is focussed on raising awareness of the energy and utilities sector and the types of jobs available, including the increasing number of green jobs. It is also charged with inspiring the next generation to a career within the sector.

The Competence & Skills group

Chaired by head of talent and development at SGN, Caroline Williams, the group focuses on delivering skills and competencies, with priorities including apprenticeships and technical education, emerging skills in the drive to net zero, and supply chain sustainability.

Workforce Resilience group

Operations director at Keltbray, Liam McMyler, is the new chair of the group which is charged with supporting a successful UK economy and society outside the European Union and contributing to a sustainable and resilient UK. The group is developing a process to enable employers to identify future skills challenges as soon as they become apparent. This will consist of a horizon scanning exercise, workforce planning analysis, and identifying roles likely to change.

The Diversity & Inclusion group

Human Resources director at Thames Water, Lynne Graham, chairs this group which aims to make sure the sector’s workforce reflects the population it serves, building on the high-level priorities and objectives identified in the Inclusion Measurement Framework results published earlier this year.

The announcement came on the second anniversary of Energy and Utility Skills’ Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy 2022-25. The organisation also published a report charting achievements so far.