Companies warn of ‘alarming’ shortfall in technicians – as energy salaries rise

There is an "alarming" shortfall in the 450,000 higher skilled jobs that will be needed in the UK by 2020 the Technician Council has warned.

The Council has launched a set of recommendations for employers, Sectors Skills Councils and professional bodies to help fill that gap.

But potential employees may respond more to news, also released today, that energy professionals in the UK are better paid, on average, than workers in other industries. That information came in a Salary and Benefits survey by Hays Energy, conducted in partnership with the Energy Institute.

The survey found that the average salary in the sector is significantly higher than the UK national average of £26,244. Some 74 per cent of those surveyed earning in excess of £41,000, and over two thirds (69 per cent) had received a salary increase over the last twelve months.

Meanwhile to meet the staffing shortfall, the Technician Council, employers and other skills champions have pledged their support to advancing a modern class of technician and promoting the professional technician.

Steve Holliday, chief executive of National Grid and chairman of the Technician Council said, “Increasing the pool of home grown technical skills in the UK is good for our economy and good for individuals. There is evidence that our competitors around the world have already recognised the value of technical skills and are taking action to get at the forefront of technology and innovation. There is also evidence that jobs requiring higher levels of technical expertise provide a unique, transferable and increasingly sought after skills – as well as providing an interesting and worthwhile career route.”

The Technician Council‘s eight recommendations are:

Endorse and promote professional technicians across every sector of employment, within professional bodies or education and training

Support the registration and professional development of technicians

Offer active support for professional technicians and promote their skills and contributions within the sector

Improve communications on career choices and include the different training and skills pathways, sector skills transferability, development programmes, gateways to higher levels

Raise the profile of the professional technician in Government communications to the young

Use the professional technician brand as widely as possible

Promote greater diversity within the technician workforce ensuring the future professional technician population is more representative of society

Sustain the work of the Technician Council to promote and increase the numbers of professional technicians over the next three years, ensuring a sustainable platform for the future