Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 14TH - 20TH FEBRUARY 2020 | 7 Utility of the Future: Business models and skills continued overleaf the stress that Scotland remains under for the quantity and quality of workforce it requires, declaring: "The latest proposals from the UK government to control immigration and end freedom of movement would be disastrous for our economy and society and would risk acute labour shortages." The Migration Advisory Committee analysed the planned post-Brexit system and said it felt it "could cut economic growth" and have a "zero e‚ ect" on providing more British jobs for British workers. The increasingly fragmented and education-led sub- ject of "skills" was suddenly a key economic piece on the chessboard. During this policy noise, the O† ce for National Statis- tics quietly released its UK labour market evidence. For those wanting to source "British workers" above migrant talent, the UK employment rate hit a new high that went even beyond the record 2019 year. A further 359,000 peo- ple had moved into work. Unemployment fell to its lowest level since 1975, with 618,000 fewer people available than • ve years before. Of those not currently available for work now, but possibly available in future, levels also sank to a record low. For businesses publicly stating that they will achieve a more representative balance of females in their work- force, the employment rate for women reached a record high. Just 3.6 per cent of females remained unemployed and available for work, meaning that if UK companies were to secure female talent at all levels, they could either • ght among the 3.6 per cent or poach from each other. The same situation exists for "hard to reach groups", including 16 to 18-year-olds and the less-abled. The avail- able talent pool is strictly limited. At the same time as the labour market is constrained, 805,000 job vacancies exist in the UK. Every major UK business sector is indicating that they have di† culty in • lling skilled vacancies, with many desperate for the same "lower skilled workers" that the government is seeking to restrict, and who are pivotal for maintaining core service levels right across the economy – including UK infrastructure. The UK utility sector, therefore, faces the tightest labour market and competition for talent on record in what is deemed a time of "economic full employment" by HM Treasury. It also faces expensive and competitive access to the very talent pools it wants to recruit from, as it searches for more inclusion and diversity. This comes just as the prime minister and the educa- tion secretary voiced their support for the sector's future, stating that environmental infrastructure will be critical to the future of the post-EU economy. Planned carefully, and with a competent body hold- ing the lid of the puzzle box to help bring together the myriad of jigsaw pieces forming the £600 billion National Infrastructure Plan, it is possible to balance the physical capital needs with the human capital available. But it will need joined-up thinking. The Institution of Civil Engineers has already sounded the • rst cautionary note, advising: "While it's good to see that infrastructure appears to be high on the new gov- ernment's list of priorities, there's a risk that we might end up with a list of isolated projects. What we need is a more joined-up approach to ensure the UK maximises the full potential of any investment" Its comments mirror those of the admired Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commis- sion (NIC). He has set out the need for joining the dots to achieve the zero carbon transition. Back in July 2018, the NIC said "delivery of high quality infrastructure also depends on the availability of the right skills… and the depth of the supply chain" In its report at that time it wrote: "The UK's exit from the EU will impact the UK's skills base and supply chain; there should be a strategic approach to manage this. These areas are the remit of the Infrastructure and Pro- jects Authority rather than the Commission. Therefore source: EU Skills The Utility of the Future is also the theme of Utility Week Live taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on 19-20 May. Visit€www.utilityweeklive.co.uk for more information. "The UK utility sector faces the tightest labour market and competition for talent on record in what is deemed a time of 'economic full employment' by the Treasury."

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