Optimism in Scottish electrical sector as apprenticeship numbers continue to increase

A total of 670 people are now undertaking apprenticeship schemes and adult training scheme places run by the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT). This is up from 650 in the latter part of last year and up from 580 the previous year.

While there has been some uncertainty in the commercial and construction industry in advance of the impending Scottish parliamentary elections, there is a sense in industry that, after the vote, action will be taken on a number of contracts.

This will include projects which have been in abeyance as well as new initiatives such as the allocation of £230 million earlier this year (January) to replace 19 schools across Scotland as part of the final phase of the £1.8 billion Schools for the Future programme.

Apprenticeship numbers, because of the long-term nature of some of the training, tend to be reflective of the electrical industry's view of the prospects for improvement and sustainable work-flows within the construction sector.

Anne Galbraith, chief executive of SECTT, said: "SELECT's member companies are taking on more and more of the skilled tradesmen of the future, and we are confident that this year's numbers will continue to increase.

"The new Procurement Bill, with its provisions for the use of locally sourced labour, will be an important spur for employment opportunities, especially in some of the large public sector projects which are coming on stream."

Ms Galbraith highlighted major infrastructure projects such as the new Forth Replacement Crossing, which is moving towards its fitting out stage with requirements for electrical work on elements such as lighting and cabling.

A substantial proportion of the people joining the sector in 2016 were adult trainees - many of them over the age of 25 and many who previously have worked in different capacities in the construction industry but have no formal qualifications.

Pre-apprenticeships are also on the rise in SECTT's 19 centres across the country, from Stornoway and Thurso in the north to the Borders. These short schemes provide taster courses for younger people to help determine if an electrical apprenticeship is for them. Employers are increasingly selecting apprentices from the ranks of successful pre-apprenticeship candidates.

SECTT is a non-profit making organisation that is concerned only with the training of apprentices within the Scottish Joint Industry Board apprenticeship scheme. The trust was established by SELECT and the Unite union, both of whom appoint an equal number of trustees as their representatives.

The SJIB training scheme is the only industry approved training scheme for electrical contracting apprenticeships in Scotland. This scheme is designed to regulate the entry, conditions of service, training and education of apprentices in the electrical contracting Industry.