SELECT

SELECT welcomes extra funding for electrical apprenticeships after appeal to Deputy First Minister – but says any future shortfalls must be prevented

Campaigning trade body SELECT has welcomed additional funding for electrical apprentices and adult trainees following a plea to government – but has joined training providers to insist that support must continue to prevent future shortfalls of talent. After making an urgent appeal to Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Scotland’s largest trade association says it is good news that Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will now meet the cost of an outstanding 87 apprentice and 68 adult…

As electrical industry in Scotland attracts record number of apprentices, SELECT MD makes appeal to Deputy First Minister to provide appropriate funding

Campaigning electrical trade association SELECT has issued an urgent appeal to Deputy First Minister John Swinney, asking him to allocate additional funding for apprenticeships to prevent a shortfall in essential training. Scotland’s voice of the electrical industry is calling on Mr Swinney to use some of the £46 million of extra money announced for colleges and universities in December’s Scottish Budget for apprenticeship training. In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, Alan Wilson, Managing…

SJIB, SECTT and SELECT hail ‘stunning victory’ as Scottish electrical apprentices take gold and silver in UK event

Scotland’s major electrical bodies have congratulated two apprentices from north of the border who have triumphed in a prestigious UK-wide competition. The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and electrical trade association SELECT have all saluted Craig Fairweather and Andrew Horne for clinching gold and silver respectively in the SkillELECTRIC contest. Craig, 23, was crowned 2022 SkillELECTRIC champion after a challenging two-day final which saw the cream of young electrical talent from across…

Apprenticeships and proper electrical training are key on the journey to net zero, SELECT’s Fiona Harper tells radio listeners

The skills supremo at Scotland’s largest construction trade association says the electrical talent of tomorrow needs a thorough grounding in ALL aspects of installation – not just the green technology that will help on the journey to net zero. Fiona Harper, Director of Employment and Skills at SELECT, insists it is essential for would-be electricians to follow the traditional apprenticeship route and undergo full training, not just try to specialise in low carbon…

Short courses and ‘six-week wonders’ are no substitute for proper electrical training, SELECT MD Alan Wilson tells radio listeners

The head of Scotland’s largest trade body has warned against the rising trend of “six-week wonders” who are trying to enter the electrical industry after taking just a short course in basic skills. In a hard-hitting interview, SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson dismissed the spread of fast-track courses and said people with inadequate training and experience pose a safety risk to both the electrical sector and consumers. He also insisted there was no substitute for…

SELECT warns that skills shortages could create challenges for green heating plans

Scotland’s largest construction trade body, SELECT, has warned that “significant investment” is needed to ensure there is a sufficiently skilled workforce to install new domestic heating technology and meet net zero targets safely. The campaigning electrical association says investment in “proper” apprenticeships and upskilling the existing workforce is essential – and it’s also vital to upgrade the nation’s electrical supply to accommodate green domestic technology. SELECT’s warnings came after it responded to…

Electrical sector hails another record year of numbers signing up for apprenticeships

SJIB and SECTT praise colleges and employers as intake of young people and adult trainees rises to just under 1,000 for 2022. The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) have hailed another record year for electrical apprenticeships in Scotland as learners rush to take their place as the talent of tomorrow. The number of new learners enrolling on the SJIB Electrical Apprentice and Adult Training Programmes for 2022 has risen…