Welcome to the March issue of Electrical Wholesaler.
As the electrical industry celebrates National Apprenticeship Week, new research from NICEIC has highlighted the vital need for apprenticeships in both addressing the skills gap and building a strong foundation for future growth.
The research found over half (52%) of the electrical businesses that had recruited or attempted to recruit technical staff during 2024 found it to be a very difficult process. Of the firms not currently hiring apprentices, meanwhile, the admin involved (36%) as well as the difficulty of recruiting apprentices (17%) were cited as significant obstacles.
NICEIC chief executive Richard Orton said: “Apprenticeships are integral to the electrotechnical industry. They are a key part of the industry’s heritage, how skills and technical knowledge have always been transferred from experienced professionals to new starters and looking forward, they will be crucial to closing the skills gap.
“This new research makes it clear that firms are looking to grow, take on new projects and invest in people, but the industry-wide infrastructure is not always there to facilitate that. There needs to be a collective effort to put better structures in place that helps match electrical businesses with the talent they are clearly looking for.”
Elsewhere in the issue, we’ve got features from a range of expert voices, covering topics including fire and CO alarms, tools, solar carports, EV charging and timers and controls.
Plus, as always, we share our usual news, views, products and installations from market-leading businesses across the sector.
Enjoy the issue!
Bryony Andrews, editor
