ScottishPower has come together with the other industry leaders that form the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, to build and launch the first ever joint Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy for the sector.
The Strategy has been created to take the first steps towards ensuring that the UK’s vital energy and utilities sector retains a safe, skilled, resilient and sustainable workforce. It sets out for the first time, in one place, the reality of the challenges faced, immediate initiatives that are underway and the ambitions the Skills Partnership shares in moving towards achieving a more sustainable future.
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower, said “As many as four out of five workers in the energy sector are set to retire over the next 15 years, which comes as ScottishPower is looking to deliver the most important upgrades to the electricity network in over half a century.
“We’re pleased to play our part in the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, which drives excellence by bringing employers, skills organisations and stakeholders together. By working closely in partnership, we can attract, nurture and retain talented people for the long-term benefit of our business."
The Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership has already started to take action by committing to a new 12-month Talent Source Network pilot programme that seeks to encourage people into industry careers and develop a significant future sector talent pool.
One role model helping encourage others to think about a career with ScottishPower is Sarah Iddles, who completed the ScottishPower Graduate Scheme in 2016 and is now employed as a SCADA Engineer with the firm’s SP Energy Networks arm in Scotland.
She said: “From a young age I was always interested in cars and technology, all thanks to my dad. My curiosity was piqued further during Design Technology lessons in high school. For me it was the perfect blend of maths and physics theory and hands on practical. My growing love for engineering was readily encouraged by my parents and teachers, leading me to go on to study for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering at Warwick University.
“When I first had the call from SP Energy Networks offering me the job I couldn’t believe my ears, I was over the moon with excitement, but also a little nervous. My degree was in Mechanical Engineering, but it was an electrical based company. It turned out that I needn’t had been nervous at all. The training I’ve received from numerous courses and advice from engineers, who are more than willing to pass on their invaluable knowledge, has been excellent. It just helps to show how versatile a degree in engineering is and has helped me develop my skills to no end! Having only been on the graduate scheme for 9 months, I can’t wait for what my future with the company will bring.
“Engineering encompasses such a wide range of applications that the career possibilities are endless. It never gets boring as there is always a new technology or technique to be investigated.
