An alliance bringing together local electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities has been launched in Cheshire.
The collaboration, known as the Cheshire & Warrington Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA), aims to take joint action to strengthen electrotechnical skills development and careers provision within the region and help close local electrical skills gaps.
The alliance is a joint initiative led by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and its members, alongside the South and North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, and West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce.
Andrew Eldred, deputy CEO at ECA, said: “Cheshire and Warrington is our third regional Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance launched in less than a year – following on from ETCAs for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – and the first outside an existing Mayoral Strategic Authority.
“The ECA members involved are leading electrical businesses from all parts of Cheshire, keen to collaborate to help close local electrical skills gaps.
“This is an absolutely essential requirement if we are to meet regional and national targets for housing, industry, clean energy and digital infrastructure.”
As a first step, the ETCA will focus on the existing workforce, which will include supporting partially qualified, experienced workers to become fully qualified and competent electricians.
Second, the ETCA will support qualified electricians to develop a wider skillset in relation to green technologies.
