Alliance Launched In Kent To Collaborate On Filling Local Electrical Skills Gaps

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An alliance has been agreed for Kent and Medway, bringing together local electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities.

The collaboration, to be known as the Kent & Medway Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA), will aim to take meaningful joint action to strengthen electrotechnical skills development and careers provision within the county and help close local electrical skills gaps.

The Alliance is a joint initiative led by ECA (the Electrical Contractors’ Association) and its Members with Kent and Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Andrew Eldred, Deputy CEO at ECA, said: “Kent & Medway will be our fifth local Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance launched in less than a year – following on from ETCAs for Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Cheshire & Warrington, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. The ECA Members involved are leading businesses from all parts of Kent, keen to collaborate to help close local electrotechnical skills gaps. This is an absolutely essential requirement if we are to meet local and national targets for housing, industry, clean energy and digital infrastructure.”

Stuart Gibson, Divisional Manager at ECA Member Niblock Electrical Services, said: “Kent needs many more qualified, skilled electricians to achieve its huge economic potential. As local employers and strong supporters of high-quality training, we and other ECA Members welcome the shared commitment shown by industry, education, local authorities and the Chamber of Commerce to start to address the opportunities and challenges Kent faces together through a new ETCA.”

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce is the Employer Representative Body appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to lead the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Kent & Medway.

Camilla Maurice, Kent & Medway LSIP Lead said: “The Kent & Medway ETCA represents a decisive step toward building a future-ready electrotechnical workforce. By aligning employer demand with high-quality training provision, we’re creating a collaborative framework to address critical skills shortages across housing, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. This Alliance empowers businesses to shape the talent pipeline, unlock growth, and ensure Kent and Medway remain competitive and resilient in a rapidly evolving economy”

An ETCA roundtable event took place at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce offices in Ashford on 9th October, with a wide range of electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities meeting together to discuss electrical skills priorities in the county. As a next step, it was agreed to draw up a formal list of participants and priority objectives, which will provide a starting point for the new Kent & Medway ETCA. One early piece of work will focus on barriers to recognition of prior learning for individuals seeking an apprenticeship after completing a college electrical course.

The following organisations attended the roundtable and indicated their willingness to take in the ETCA. Others may be invited to join as the ETCA takes shape.

Electrical businesses

Chord Engineering, Maidstone

Gilbert & Stamper, Rochester

Niblock Electrical Services, Bromley

Triple Star Fire & Security, Orpington

Electrical industry bodies

ECA

JIB/ ECS

NICEIC

The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP)

Build UK

Education providers

East Kent College

Electrical Academy

JTL

Mid Kent College

North Kent College

Regional/ local bodies

Kent County Council

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Medway Council

Find out more about ETCAs and how to get involved here.