Max funding available for trio of new power apprenticeships

The highest level of government funding will be available for employers offering three new power-related apprenticeships.

The three new apprenticeships have been developed by Energy & Utility Skills (EUSP) in collaboration with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

They include: power industry overhead linesperson, substation fitter and cable jointer.

The three new apprenticeships replace the overarching power network craftsperson apprenticeship.

The top band of funding of £27,000 is now available for each of these new apprenticeships, an increase on the current funding for the now superseded power network craftsperson apprenticeship.

Phil Beach, EUSP chief executive, said: “As the skills voice of the energy and utilities industries, we have developed with the Power Industry Trailblazer Groups and IfATE, three new apprenticeships that will provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours for these technical and safety critical roles.

“These new standards reflect the needs of industry and I’m sure that the government funding that has been secured for these apprenticeships will be warmly welcomed by employers.”

The EUSP is a voluntary partnership of 30 energy and utilities companies and their major supply chain partners. It provides leadership for the gas, power, water and waste management industries on issues including skills and workforce renewal.

The partnership is three years into its five-year strategy and its current focus is centred on sector attraction and retention, improving equality, diversity and inclusion, and securing the workforce and skills needed to deliver the UK’s ambitious net zero and environmental ambitions.

Earlier this year, EUSP named SGN chief executive Mark Wild as its new chair. Speaking to Utility Week, Wild vowed to “tackle the shortfall of engineers” and said he would be promoting the value of “multiskilled engineers”.