SGN CEO vows to tackle shortfall of engineers in new role

SGN chief executive Mark Wild has vowed to “tackle the shortfall of engineers” in his new role as chair of the Energy & Utility Skills Partnership (EUSP).

Wild replaces Uniper chief executive Michael Lewis who leaves his role at the EUSP after moving to the German-based energy company from Eon earlier this year.

Responding to his appointment, Wild – who joined SGN in August 2022 – said that “people working across the energy and utilities sector have a pivotal role on the frontline making sure communities are safe, warm and have access to the critical services they need”.

He added: “I’m particularly pleased to be chairing the partnership, to ensure that as society tackles these challenges our industries have the diverse, skilled workforce they will need into the future.

“I’m passionate about equipping the workforce of today with the skills they will need tomorrow. That’s why in my first year at SGN we have invested in our workforce and doubled our training and apprenticeship opportunities to build a talent pipeline for years to come.”

Prior to his appointment at SGN, Wild acted as Crossrail chief executive after heading the London Underground.

Speaking to Utility Week, Wild said that like the transportation sector, the energy and utilities sector faces “a gap in engineers that we will need for the future”.

“My interest is tackling the shortfall of engineers that we face,” he said. “Whether it is for electrification or hydrogen or something else, no matter what we are going to do in the future we are going to need more engineers to do it.”

Wild said he is keen to promote the development of “multiskilled engineers”, adding that “pigeon-holing workers as heat pump engineers or hydrogen skilled workers is the wrong way to think about it”.

He added: “A better way to think about it, is to say we need welders and electricians. We need multiskilled people and if you think about the Industrial Revolution years ago, the thing that came out of it was having more rounded craft people and engineers. Take my background, I’m a trained electrical engineer but I’ve pretty much done all the disciplines.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter to me whether a welder ends up on an oil and gas rig, or a hydrogen production facility, or keeps going on with the natural gas transmission system. The bottom line is we haven’t got enough welders at high integrity.

“One of the big challenges is making sure people don’t get pigeon-holed. I really hate the idea of people getting pigeon-holed.”

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.

A full interview with Wild will feature in the Utility Week digital edition later this week, available exclusively to members from Thursday 21 September.

Wild will be speaking at Utility Week Forum about lessons from his former role heading up Crossrail for the utilities sector. Find out more here.