A new skills alliance has been launched in Sussex, to help tackle electrical workforce shortages and strengthen the region’s pipeline of qualified talent.
The alliance has been launched in a college in Brighton and intends to focus on practical training. With 71% of engineering construction employers are struggling to hire, the workforce output will likely be in demand. The Government’s 2025 ‘Occupations in Demand’ analysis identified electrical roles as amongst those in elevated demand.
The engineering construction sector is also facing an ageing workforce, with 14.7% of workers now aged over 60 compared with 11.6% in 2021, while only 16.8% are under 30.
This has created a large gap and demand to fill the boots of those who are stepping back year on year – particularly at a time when the UK is gearing up for a huge expansion of its electricity infrastructure, from new renewable projects and grid connections to EV charging and low-carbon heating.
