02 October 2017

Dear Member

Welcome to Sector Round-up.

The political season is already in its final stages, and apart from the focus on energy retail and the expected Labour messaging on renationalisation, Brexit has continued to dominate proceedings. We continue the dialogue with policymakers to build the best possible environment for a skilled, resilient and sustainable workforce and encourage you to deploy the main policy needs so that all parties and central and devolved governments understand your vital role and needs. It is interesting to see that the Learning & Work Institute is making similar requests of the Government regarding skills policy.

We have passed the six-month mark since the Workforce & Renewal Skills Strategy was launched and the engagement, activity and support continues to build. Ofgem has joined the list of supporters, in recognising it as “comprehensive” and a “blueprint” to “attract talented people into the sector from diverse backgrounds and developing the advanced skills that are needed”. We are now working closely with them on their planning for RIIO 2. Ofwat has already given its support to the Strategy, and has ensured that human capital features across its resilience work and draft PR19 methodology. We will be increasingly raising the visibility of your important work in these areas, and just launched the first in a series of Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership’s White Papers working with SSE.

It is important that the sector continues to dialogue with policymakers. We have now received a response to the submission sent on the sector`s behalf to the EU Energy and Environment Sub Committee on what our energy relationship with the EU, once we are outside of it, should look like, so please read on.

Another key area of our policy work is to challenge the divergence in the four nations approach to skills and the inefficiencies and instability it causes multinational employers. Last week, forty members joined representatives from all four nations' governments and the Institute for Apprenticeships to hear preliminary research on those transnational issues. Concerning Brexit, there is still opportunity to dialogue, by contributing to the Migration Advisory Committee's call for evidence.

We will continue to send you important member updates and newsflashes, as well as Sector Round Up, to help keep you up-to-date with developments in the sector, which we trust you are finding useful and timely. We welcome your feedback to help us ensure we are doing all we can to deliver what you need.

This edition also includes:

 the latest Brexit developments  updates on policy developments and apprenticeships, including the Levy Advisory Group  news about the Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service’s continued success and new website

Nick Ellins Chief Executive Energy & Utility Skills Group

Party Conference Season

Energy security inquiry The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee is examining the implications of Brexit for energy security in the UK. It aims to highlight the issues the Government should consider when developing a new energy relationship with the EU. Our submission for the sector outlines how a new relationship could be developed during the transition period and post-Brexit. It was among 48 responses that were published. Read more.

Skills Policy recommendations for the energy and utilities sector We have produced a series of policy recommendations that we have begun presenting to the Government during the political party conferences. We hope you find these helpful in your discussions with stakeholders. Read more.

Consultation Responses

Reformed post-compulsory education and training system for Wales The Welsh Government is consulting on its proposed reforms on the post-compulsory education and training system in Wales and the way its research and innovation expenditure should be managed. The main proposal is to create a Tertiary Education and Research Commission for Wales. Responses are being requested by 23 October 2017.

The Policy Team at Energy and Utility Skills will submit a response on behalf of members and the sector. If you would like to contribute or have any questions, please email our Policy & Research Manager, Somia Nasim by 13 October 2017. You can also submit your own response and view the consultation document here.

Work Local Consultation The Local Government Association (LGA) has consulted on its ‘Work Local’ plans. Work Local is the LGA's vision for an integrated and devolved (regional) employment and skills service – bringing together information, advice and guidance alongside the delivery of employment, skills, apprenticeships and wider support for individuals and employers. We submitted the following response for members. Read response.

Levy and Apprenticeships

Levy Advisory Group update Earlier this month, the Levy Advisory Group met to discuss progress on levy implementation and review new policy insight. The Chair Tony Moloney (Cadent Gas) has prepared a brief summary on the key points, decisions and actions agreed and important papers for members’ information. Read more.

Thank you to Jamie White, Central Training Manager at EDF, for his feedback. He explained that he is “very impressed with the organisation and how it is handling the Levy." Jamie has been a regular participant in the aforementioned Levy Advisory Group.

Apprenticeship funding survey The Department for Education has recently published another Apprenticeship Funding Survey on the impact of the Levy. It contains 34 questions and responses must be submitted by 3 October. Read more.

Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) is open for new applications or for those previously unsuccessful to resubmit applications. This window will close at 5pm on Friday 27 October. Read more.

New director of apprenticeships Rory Kennedy has been appointed director for apprenticeships at the Department for Education. He will manage the entire apprenticeships programme, the Institute for Apprenticeships, and several key policy areas including the levy and achieving three million apprenticeship starts by 2020. Read more.

Brexit

Migration Advisory Committee’s call for evidence If you have not contributed to the Migration Advisory Committee’s call for evidence on the impact of Brexit, there is still time to do so. Read more.

Countdown to Brexit We are continuing to update our Brexit timeline to help keep you updated on the progress of the UK’s exit from the European Union along with exclusive member briefings. Read more.

Energy & Utility Skills

Welcome to Stephen Barrett

Energy & Utility Skills has a new Strategic Client Director, Stephen Barrett, who has taken over from Nicki Hussain. He will lead on NSAP (National Skills Academy for Power), the Skills Partnership Delivery Board and UK-wide account management. Stephen has joined us from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and will report to Kate Davies, our Chief Operating Officer.

Devolved government representatives receive research findings We presented the preliminary research findings on transnational issues during a very constructive workshop with 21 sector employers and government representatives from devolved nations. The findings - primarily around the apprenticeship standards, National Occupational Standards and the levy - were gathered from interviews with 25 transnational employers (including a number of our members) with a combined workforce of over 154,000 people and a total levy bill of close to £37 million.

We echoed the employers’ call for stability, transferability and alignment of apprenticeship policy implementation, also for consideration to be given to the impact of the levy, Brexit and the employers’ needs as solutions are developed. All of our members will be sent a full report once it is complete, so please watch this space. In the meantime, enquiries can be emailed to our Policy & Research Manager, Somia Nasim.

Human Capital White Paper The Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership has published a White Paper calling for the value of a resilient and sustainable UK workforce to be better understood and recognised. The Paper was written by Energy & Utility Skills and SSE, which has invested in a ‘human capital’ report which measures the economic value of the skills and capabilities of the people it employs, leading the way in the UK. Read more.

Energy and Utilities Independent Assessment Service’s (EUIAS) achievements The EUIAS continues to work with members to deliver robust end-point assessment and it has now approved over 150 apprentices to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and behaviours to do the jobs they have trained for. This builds on a series of firsts. Read more on its new website.

Funding approved for electrical power network engineers’ standard Employers can now apply for levy contributions against EUIAS’ most recent achievement, drawing down the top funding band for the electrical power network engineers’ standard that it developed alongside sector employers.

More employers join Energy & Utility Skills Three new members have joined Energy & Utility Skills: City Energy - a new meter operator, Compass Infrastructure UK - specialists in the design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure and networks- and Utility Smart – which procures new energy contracts to suit business’ needs.

Other News and Success Stories

Learning Institute Boss Calls for Skills Strategy Steve Evans, Chief Executive of labour market analyser, the Learning & Work Institute, has made a series of requests for skills policy that echoes our policy recommendations. Speaking to FE Week, Evans asserted that the Government needs a skill strategy that “cuts across every department.” Read more.

New fund opens for Scottish businesses Scotland’s employers can apply to a new £10 million fund to partner with colleges to deliver in-work skills training - the Scottish Government’s new Flexible Workforce Development Fund. The fund is available to organisations across the private, public and third sectors that are subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. Read more.

Scottish Water apprentices’ award win Congratulations to Scottish Water and its award-winning wastewater apprentices - Ailish Lavelle, Erin McGuigan, Ryan Baird and Connor McCafferty. The quartet picked up the Apprenticeship Challenge Award at The Inspiring City Awards recently. They developed tours of waste treatment sites that helped school teachers understand how Scottish Water supports STEM careers and become aware of the apprenticeship opportunities available.

Expensive employer surveys queried Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, has asked whether surveys into how employers make decisions on recruitment and training are worth the expense. The surveys are carried out every two years. The most recent, in 2016, cost over £730,000. Read more.

Thinking of becoming an end-point assessor? A free online tool has been developed to assist those considering becoming an end-point assessor. The tool can help you start your CPD journey and continue it by attending one of three large-scale events in October, December and January. To read more or book, click here. Enquiries can be sent by email.

Events

Policy Forum for Northern Ireland Keynote Seminar - 4 October, Belfast The agenda focuses specifically on issues in Northern Ireland and will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider the future for apprenticeship provision. Interested parties can review the agenda, book online and visit the Policy Forum’s website.

Policy Conference on Higher and Degree apprenticeships - 18 October, London This Westminster Employment Forum event will focus on the development of higher and degree apprenticeships and will look at key issues around standards, expansion and their integration with wider skills policy. Read more.

Flexible Networks: Storage & DSR Conference - 1 November, (member discount available) The topics to be addressed include: Enabling the flexibility agenda, the reality of ensuring flexibility across all networks, overcoming barriers for integration, using the gas network for large scale flexible storage, the role of gas in a low carbon energy future and working towards 2030. As a supporter, Energy & Utility Skills members can receive a preferential rate to attend: to book, visit events.networks.online/flexible/book/ and use promo code EUSKILLS15 to get a 15% discount. Read more.

Career Accelerator Masterclass for Women - 17 November, Solihull (member discount available) This one-day workshop will be delivered at the Energy & Utility Skills office and is specifically aimed at women who work in male-dominated sectors. The Masterclass aims to help women to develop strategies and learn tools to develop in their careers. There is a special discount of 20% to members and supporters of Energy & Utility Skills who would like to attend this event. To receive it, use the EUYRD20 code when you book. Read more about Your Red Dress.

Policy Forum for Wales Keynote Seminar - 22 November, This event will cover the priorities for employability support in Wales as the Welsh Government develops its Employability Delivery Plan ahead of its publication at the end of 2017. The agenda, which will include discussion on the role of apprenticeships in meeting Wales’s skills needs, is available here. Interested parties can book online here.

Future Water Networks Conference - 4-5 December, Kenilworth This event will focus on how to think differently about network management. It will open with a session of the ‘Water Dragons’ in front of judges and a live audience on 4 December, followed by a dinner and a guest that will speak on innovation. On 5 December, speakers from a number of industry stakeholder organisations, including OFWAT, will challenge current thinking and assess sector resilience. Read more.

Scotland Policy Conferences Keynote Seminar - 6 December 2017, Scottish policy concerns are the main focus of this event as it assesses the next steps for its apprenticeships and skills development policy. The agenda is still in development. The latest version is available to download here. You can book online and visit the Scotland Policy website for more information.

Visit www.euskills.co.uk/events for more sector events up to March 2018

Your News and Success Stories

We are keen to share your good news and success stories in future editions of Sector Round Up. Please send your achievements and updates to Veron Graham, PR Manager at Energy & Utility Skills.

Our mailing address is: Energy & Utility Skills Group Friars Gate, 1011 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 4BN