Electract attends first ECA Large Contractor Forum

This autumn, ECA Member Electract Ltd joined 11 other firms attending the first ever ‘Large Contractor Forum’ organised by the ECA. Peter Haynes, Residential Contracts Director at Electract, shared their views on the event and what other Members could gain by coming along to the next Forum, in March 2022…

Lindsey Young, CEO for Clarkson Evans, chaired the event. The Forum provided a unique opportunity for businesses in similar positions to discuss current issues facing the sector. 

The theme was Skills for the Future. ECA’s Director of Workforce and Public Affairs, Andrew Eldred, introduced the topic with his presentation ‘Escaping the Skills Dead End’.   

The Forum offered a valuable, confidential space to discuss the challenges around labour recruitment

It was startling to learn the UK falls significantly behind other European countries on the number of apprentices enrolling each year. The UK average is 4-5,000 a year, compared with Germany who see 45,000 enrolments. To maintain a stable and sustainable workforce, the Forum agreed a target of around 20% of employees should be apprentices. 

There was a range of views on the length and variety of apprenticeship schemes. We discussed the possibility of bespoke apprenticeships, such as the Domestic Electrician Apprenticeship. Although this would help shortages in certain sectors, the overall deficiency across the industry remains an issue.  

Electract has a long-established apprenticeship scheme. Its aim is to benefit both the business and the individual. We gain a valued and loyal employee who can progress through the company. The apprentice gains a professional qualification with a career pathway ahead. We work closely with JTL to create the right number of opportunities for a sustainable workforce. 

As an ECA Member we have the opportunity to be part of the drive to improve standards and shape the future of the industry

Important ideas emerged during the Forum such as improving opportunities, attitudes to upskilling and increasing diversity. Sharing ideas as a sector helps ECA understand the changes needed, this benefits all Members. The experience and the solutions aired shape how ECA influences wider industry and lobbies government to set higher standards.

The Forum offered a valuable, confidential space to discuss the challenges around labour recruitment. Electract has experienced difficulties in recruiting skilled labour.   While we found success by directly employing our workforce, it was interesting to see other ECA companies use sub-contracted labour to match the skills to the job. This was noticeable with smaller firms or ones working in specialised sectors.  It was good to hear different points of view from companies offering a range of services. 

We’d encourage you to join the next Forum, where the topic is Social Value. As an ECA Member we have the opportunity to be part of the drive to improve standards and shape the future of the industry.

The next meeting is in March 2022, with exact date and venue to be confirmed. For more information and to register your interest in advance, please email Carol.Baker-Wightman@eca.co.uk.

Electract Ltd were founded in 1950 and have been ECA members since 1957. They have approximately 150 employees and work in the domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors.  

ECA are actively pursuing some of the solutions discussed in the Forum with external stakeholders and policy committees.