Author: Natalie Burke

At a time when demand for qualified electrical professionals has never been higher, SELECT in conjunction with the SJIB and UNITE, have launched a free online resource to help Members source key personnel.

The easy-to-use jobs board will allow Member firms to advertise vacancies directly on the front page of the SELECT website, including the full job description and details of who to contact to find out more.

The new tool has already been widely welcomed by employers in an industry which has been facing significant skills shortages, fuelled by the fact that electricity and electrotechnology underpin every aspect of modern Scottish society.

The industry in the UK employs more than 208,000 people and, according to the Latest Market Intelligence published by the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership, sector growth will require an additional 33,000 workers by 2027.

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “In an industry which makes possible every facet of day-to-day life, from the internet to cars, hospitals, homes and businesses, maintaining and improving the skills of the people who keep the lights on is assuming a primary importance.

“The next generation of electricians will enjoy access to a world of exciting technology, including the Internet of Things, which will revolutionise the way we live, so it is vital that we have a working population that understands it.

“The jobs board, which has been developed over six months in conjunction with the Scottish Joint Industry Board and Unite the Union, is designed to act as an additional outlet for Members who may already be advertising for staff elsewhere, to help them recruit suitably qualified operatives.”

During its first few weeks of operation, Member firms across Scotland have submitted a number of vacancies for staff including electricians, fixed wiring testing and inspecting engineer, E&M electrical craftsperson and trainee quantity surveyor.

To ensure the widest reach, the board has been made public, with SELECT only hosting vacancies for Members and all applications made directly to the relevant firm.

Iain Mason, Director of Membership & Communications at SELECT, said: “The board has been created in response to Member demand, with a number of firms asking us to create a resource to help them find suitable operatives during the ongoing skills shortage.

“The response so far has been very positive and we will continue to monitor the board’s performance and respond to Member feedback in the meantime.”

The new board can be viewed here.

Catherine Gillon, a highly accomplished human resources (HR) professional with almost 30 years’ experience, has been appointed Secretary of the SJIB and Director of Employment Affairs at SELECT.

Most recently HR Business Partner for EDF Energy at Torness power station, Catherine’s role with the SJIB and SELECT will encompass delivering expert employment guidance to Members, shaping industry policies and liaising with trade unions. 

A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD), she will also provide HR support to the SELECT Management Team as well as contributing to strategic planning and upholding the association’s values and customer service principles.

Catherine has honed her expertise across multiple industries, including house building, healthcare, finance and the nuclear power sector. Her diverse career has allowed her to excel in various HR roles, from recruitment and talent management to employee relations and organisational development. 

She said: “This extensive background has provided me with a robust understanding of industry-specific challenges and the ability to implement effective HR strategies tailored to each unique environment. 

“I am passionate about driving positive organisational change and supporting workforce development to achieve both employee satisfaction and business success. 

“Specifically, I want to help SJIB and SELECT Members overcome challenges by providing up-to-date training and certification, facilitating networking opportunities and advocating for favourable industry policies, as well as offering essential resources and tools, professional development programs and conflict resolution services.” 

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “In Catherine we have an outstanding professional with a highly distinguished background in all aspects of human resources.

“We are delighted that she has agreed to join us in our mission to highlight to the entire community in Scotland and beyond the significance of the electrotechnical sector to both society and the economy and its growing importance in a world where the future is electric.”

• Catherine is pictured above with fellow SELECT Directors (left to right) John McGhee, Bob Cairney and Iain Mason

The Secretary of the SJIB, Fiona Harper, has been appointed to take over the running of the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), the approved training scheme for the country’s electrical apprentices.

The construction industry skills specialist, who is currently Director of Employment & Skills at SELECT in addition to her SJIB role, will assume the position of CEO on April 1.

She will succeed Anne Galbraith, who is stepping down after more than a decade of overseeing the development of electrical apprentices and adult trainees across Scotland and whose reign has seen record numbers of young electrical learners coming through.

Fiona has an unequalled track record, including creating SELECT’s industry training strategy and liaising with UK and Scottish politicians and civil servants on trade union and skills and qualifications issues.

She said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been offered this enormous opportunity and I look forward to the challenge of continuing the great work which has been carried out under Anne’s confident guidance in recent years.

“SECTT is now established as the premium provider of electrical apprentices, working in close partnership with SELECT, the SJIB and Unite the Union in the long-term interests of this crucially important industry.

“We must now ensure that we keep seeing record numbers of young people signing up for rewarding careers and make sure we have a steady pipeline of well-trained talent emerging to safely cater for a society in which the future is so clearly electric.”

SECTT manages high quality training on behalf of the SJIB, ensuring standards and safety are consistent to ensure apprentices can pass the industry’s assessment of competence, the Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA).

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “Everyone here would like to thank Fiona for all the hard work, dedication and expertise she has brought to her time with SELECT and we wish her well in her new role at SECTT.

“Training is of vital importance and the enormous contribution SECTT is making to the quality and professionalism of the electrical industry in Scotland is unquestioned.

“The Modern Apprenticeship remains the only route to becoming a properly qualified  electrician – there are no short cuts. SECTT performs a huge role in delivering the SJIB  apprenticeship and we know Fiona will continue to grow and develop the programme.”

Scott Foley, Chair of the SECTT Board of Trustees and Regional Officer at Unite the Union,said: “Fiona is a respected industry professional who has already made a major contribution to training and skills in Scotland, and we are very happy to welcome her to SECTT.

“We already enjoy a close relationship through her work with SELECT and the SJIB and look forward to working together to shape the future of apprentices and adult trainees in Scotland.”

The SJIB says the electrical industry is leading the way with skills and training to help power the technology of tomorrow – and is urging others to follow in the sector’s footsteps to ensure Scotland makes a successful transition to net zero.

Ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, the body has released a new video with SELECT and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) that reinforces the range of renewable training undertaken by apprentices.

The film shows how young electricians are receiving a thorough grounding in a wide range of green skills to enable them to cater for our future heat and power needs, including working with electric vehicles, battery storage, solar panels, air source heat pumps and more.

But the bodies also insist that the government, homeowners and wider construction sector must also embrace the opportunities offered by renewables and work together to ensure that the transition to net zero becomes a reality.

Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB and Director of Employment & Skills at SELECT, said: “This video aims not only to inspire young learners to become electrical apprentices but also to show that the electrical industry is at the heart of the move to the electrification of society.

“However, we also need to persuade those outwith our industry to be equally committed to the adoption and uptake of green technology to ensure that this training is not in vain and that the electricians of tomorrow emerge into a country that is willing to embrace renewables.”

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, added: “To ensure that there is a sustainable and healthy pipeline of work for this next generation of electricians, we need the government, the Scottish people and the construction industry to use renewable technology and join us on the transition to net zero.

“Such a transition needs to happen now and we all need to face the reality that we must do it sooner rather than later if we are to secure an energy-efficient future for our children and our children’s children.

“More incentives for the adoption and installation of green technology and clearer advice and information on funding and grants would be a big help in encouraging take-up and ensuring the renewables skills currently being taught are successfully utilised by electrical professionals in the years to come.”

Running from March 4 to 8, this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week will again celebrate the value and importance of apprenticeships, with this year’s event focusing on skills generation.

Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT,said: “The electrical sector in Scotland is taking the lead in skills generation, with 2,500 young people currently receiving the training necessary to cultivate complex skill sets and lay strong foundations for a long and rewarding career.

“However, the vast depth of knowledge needed to become an electrician can only be obtained by completing the Modern Apprenticeship, and there are no short cuts to equipping electrical professionals with the skills they need to power our country for decades to come.

“If we are to make the transition to net zero safely and securely, it is of the utmost importance that the electricians of tomorrow spend a minimum of four years learning their trade properly and completing a dedicated, tailor-made apprenticeship.”

• The video is now available to view on SELECT’s YouTube channel.