Urgent need for more specialist engineering skills

As many as 40,000 homes in Oxfordshire recently faced power cuts as a result of the demolition of the Didcot power station firm.

As a result, specialist energy recruiter Samuel Knight International has stressed the need for employers and local authorities alike to increase collaboration efforts to drive more people into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine) career.

Joshua Bayliss, Divisional Manager for Power Generation at Samuel Knight International explained, “This latest incident is just one of many reports of power outages across the UK, with thousands of homes and businesses being affected by these incidents on a regular basis.

“While this is undoubtedly the season for such outages, there’s no doubt that the number of these reports is growing year on year. The key concern that this highlights is the severe shortage of resources to handle remote outage emergencies such as this.”

Bayliss added, “To truly highlight the extent of the situation, of the 16 engineering roles listed on the 2019 Shortage Occupation List, three were key electrical roles, with multiple others identified that have a part to play in remote outage situations. It’s no secret that there’s a STEM skills shortage across the UK, but the fact that we are beginning to feel the impact of this lack of resources on such a large scale suggests current efforts need to be kicked up a gear.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Amelia on 01442 795 100 or email amelia.bowlez@contractorumbrella.com.