Electrician Plus: the future of competence in our sector

The growing demand for low carbon technologies has led to various misinformed claims that a whole new set of narrow occupations are needed to install them, and this is not the case. A significant proportion of activity is firmly within the skills remit of qualified members of the existing workforce and more specifically, electricians. 

Earlier this year the ‘Electrician Plus’ model was launched by TESP to highlight how the role of a qualified electrician is central to the design and installation of ‘green’ technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs). 

Once someone reaches qualified electrician status, all that is needed is top-up CPD and qualifications in the relevant new technologies to enable safe, compliant and competent installation.

The new Electrician Plus logo will be used to endorse relevant qualifications to show they are industry approved, in terms of content and assessment, and can only be taken by electricians who meet the industry Level 3 standard. 

Sitting at the heart of all this is a focus on competence and public safety; the Electrician Plus model is helping to safeguard against non-qualified and under-qualified personnel undertaking renewable installations and the potential safety and fire risk this poses. The Electrician Plus signposting will be in place to ensure that when electricians train, it’s with robust qualifications. 

At a strategic level I was pleased to recently be appointed to the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) set up by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), who will drive industry to improve competence and increase the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours of those working across the built environment. The ICC has a role in advising both industry and the Building Safety Regulator and on matters of competence. 

TESP is working closely with the Building Safety Regulator as they finalise the development of the Mandatory Technical Competencies (MTCs) that underpin Competent Persons Schemes. It’s encouraging to see that the relevant future MTCs are expected to align with the Electrician Plus model, underpinning the importance of safe, quality installation by qualified electricians.

Once the MTCs are updated, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification will be updated and reference the valid low carbon qualifications. 

It's exciting that the various facets of the industry and higher government level are starting to support the concept of Electrician Plus, and great to see everything finally coming together in terms of quality qualifications, Net Zero, safety and competence. 

Across all this activity, ECA Members and the wider industry can and should be at the forefront of the opportunities presented by Net Zero. Where there is public money for upskilling, ECA will be seeking to secure funding for the approved Electrician Plus courses. 

As demonstrated in this autumn’s ECA Net Zero Roadshow, ECA Members have a fantastic opportunity to upskill their qualified electricians and open doors to new, growing business streams. 

The Electrical Careers website will host all the latest information on Electrician Plus and the approved upskilling qualifications. Visit electricalcareers.co.uk.