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Energy & Utility Skills awarded full licence

Energy & Utility Skills has been awarded its licence to become the new Sector Skills Council for the energy and utility industries.

The employer-led organisation is responsible for working with employers in the electricity, gas, waste management and water industries to address future skills needs and improve the level of training and skills of those employed in the sector.

The licence, which was formally awarded at an event held in London on 17 February 2004, was handed over by Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Adult Learning and Skills.

Ivan Lewis said: "Sector Skills Councils are at the heart of our strategy to improve the UK's productivity, and I am delighted that Energy & Utility Skills is taking this sector leadership role for the electricity, gas, waste management and water industries.

"It bodes well for the future that Energy & Utility Skills is working both with employers to raise the skills of the entire workforce, and with training providers, colleges and universities to ensure that their provision is relevant to employers' needs. It is vitally important that we focus on this skills agenda and improve our performance across the board."

Energy & Utility Skills will cover a sector of the UK economy that accounts for approximately 7.5% of GDP with a turnover of £70bn. The sector encompasses the generation (including renewables), transmission and distribution of electricity, the downstream gas industry and the provision and maintenance of its infrastructure, water from reservoir to meter and all aspects of waste management. In addition, there are a significant number of small companies that, in the main, operate in the gas installer market and the waste management industry. There is also a wide range of supporting businesses such as manufacturers and consultants who directly impact on the effectiveness of the sector.

Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills comments, "The creation of a Sector Skills Council for the electricity, gas, water and waste management industries provides a much needed opportunity to address the key employer issues, that of recruitment and upskilling. There are clear synergies in the skill sets between these industries and this opens up the opportunity for wider, more rewarding career paths for recruits into the sector. We are already in talks about setting up an Engineering Academy that will widen access for younger people coming into the industry. The appeal for new entrants and the redevelopment of the training infrastructure are key to driving a modern energy and utility sector."

John Wybrew, Chairman of Energy & Utility Skills continues, "We aim to be the prime source of information, foresight and guidance on the skills and training needs of the electricity, gas, water and waste management industries and their contractors. Working closely with employers at all levels, we will make an essential contribution to defining and addressing the future skills needs of this vital sector. As a leading economy, the UK depends on a world-class energy and utility sector."

Energy & Utility Skills is one of twenty-three soon-to-be-licensed Sector Skills Councils. Collectively these Councils form the Skills for Business Network which is responsible for helping and encouraging employers to improve the skills levels of their employees so that productivity and performance can be increased.

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