Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 1ST - 7TH JUNE 2018 | 15 on the GB transmission network. It consists of six shipping container- sized units, five of which house 500 i3 lithium-ion battery packs. They were supplied by BMW and adapted for a stationary application. The 76-turbine Pen y Cymoedd wind farm boosts delivery of Wales's climate change ambitions. If you have an asset or project you would like to see featured in this slot, email: paulnewton@fav-house.com Pipe up Nick Ellins Readers of this column may have noticed the encour- aging article about the Apprenticeship Levy by Anne Milton MP, minister for apprenticeships and skills. Our sector is graduating one in every five apprentices through the new system, and has secured more than 300 end-point assessment completions through the Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service (EUIAS). The EUIAS and the Energy & Utility Skills Levy Advi- sory Group have helped power, gas, water and waste recycling companies secure 100 per cent approval of the trailblazers submitted, and all of the funding allowed. Many other UK business sectors are still struggling to secure their first "achiever" and fight endless battles in an effort to make the levy go away. The utility sector had its concerns, but we supported the idea of generating new UK talent through appren- ticeships from the start. The achievements speak for themselves. We have been in the vanguard of English trailblazer introduction; secur- ing the first standard and grad- uating the first apprentices. Apprentices are a vital element of workforce resilience as we manage significant recruitment challenges. Commentators are calling for more to be done to give employers the tools to run robust and efficient businesses. But government bears deep scars from the way parts of the "market" handled the spending of public funds, and simply can't go back. So why not test more holis- tic thinking in a positive environment where the track record is solid – in the UK critical utilities sector? Utilities are highly practiced at working with govern- ments and regulators in the manner that the minister and her apprenticeship regulators so clearly need. Eco- nomic regulators are also experienced in apportioning fast track approval or "enhanced status" to companies that can rigorously demonstrate that their intentions are evidence-based and deliver results. So employers that can show robustness with a fast-track and lower busi- ness cost approach could be rewarded. What is the desired outcome that is ultimately needed by government? Is it really skills? I would argue it is UK workforce resilience and sustainability. In a post-European environment, labour market challenges for our sector won't pause at the English borders. The levy could power a new level of resilience, and the utilities sector has the competence and mindset to be trusted advisers and help ministers consider all the options. Nick Ellins, chief executive of Energy & Utility Skills "The utilities sector is graduating one in every five apprentices through the new system" "We supported the idea of generating new UK talent through apprenticeships from the start" Operations & Assets

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