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Business News Wales
a day ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Wales Could See 117% Surge in Engineering Construction Roles
The engineering construction industry (ECI) workforce in Wales could increase by 117% in the next five years if new nuclear projects in North Wales go ahead, new research suggests. The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) said the ECI plays a crucial role in the UK meeting its net zero ambitions, spanning sectors that focus on the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of heavy industry, including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and water treatment. The ECITB's Labour Forecasting Tool (LFT) provides insights into workforce numbers across regions and sectors, predicting trends and potential future demand for workers in the industry. The tool, which was first launched in November 2023, has been updated using findings from the ECITB 2024 Workforce Census and publicly stated timescales on 3,000 active and future ECI projects across Great Britain. The ECITB's latest forecast states that the size of the ECI workforce in Wales could grow by 4,460 by 2030, with scaffolders, design technicians and general operatives among the roles most in demand. The predicted 117% increase is largely dependent on building work starting on the new nuclear power plant at Wylfa in Anglesey, North Wales, which was earmarked as a preferred site by the previous UK Government. This would bring thousands of jobs and investment to the area, says the ECITB. However, if the nuclear plant is not built, or the project incurs delays, the tool forecasts the ECI workforce may only grow by 550 in Wales, an increase of 14%. The revised predictions were possible thanks to a record response rate from industry employers for the latest iteration of the ECITB Workforce Census. The ECITB Workforce Census 2024 offered a comprehensive overview of the ECI workforce in Wales, having gathered data on more than 2,200 workers, covering distribution across sectors, demographic trends, hiring challenges and business opportunities. ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: 'A key objective of the Foundations pillar of our Leading Industry Learning strategy is to produce impactful labour market intelligence to enable data-driven decision-making. 'The significant Census response rate enabled the ECITB to provide more precise, up-to-date data for the benefit of industry. It allows us to improve the LFT to help make better predictions on future workforce trends and labour demands in Wales. 'The updates to the LFT reinforce the scale of the challenges facing industry that were outlined in our Workforce Census Report, which revealed that 80% of ECI employers in Wales are experiencing challenges hiring workers. 'It also highlighted an upcoming wave of possible retirements, with the share of workers over 60 in Wales increasing from 11% to 14.6% since 2021. Also, the number of workers under 30 decreased from 18% of the workforce to 12.1% in the space of three years. 'We recognise addressing skills shortages in Wales requires a collaborative, multi-agency approach that includes employers, governments, training providers and the ECITB. 'So, we're calling on all of industry to work together to help increase the pool of people joining the ECI, while continuing to train and upskill existing workers. 'By investing in the workforce, the industry has a fighting chance of closing the skills gap and ensuring the ECI has the skilled workforce it needs both for now and the future.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Engineering construction jobs could more than double in Wales by 2030
THE NUMBER of people working in engineering construction across Wales could rise by 117% by 2030—but only if proposed nuclear developments in North Wales go ahead. That's according to new research published today (June 9) by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), which warns that delays or cancellation of key projects like the Wylfa nuclear plant on Anglesey could significantly reduce that figure. The ECITB's Labour Forecasting Tool (LFT)—recently updated with data from its 2024 Workforce Census—shows that the sector could grow by 4,460 jobs within five years, with scaffolders, design technicians and general operatives among the roles most in demand. However, if the Wylfa project fails to materialise, the increase would be far smaller, with only 550 new jobs forecast—a modest rise of 14%. The ECI spans a wide range of heavy industries critical to the UK's net zero ambitions, including oil and gas, nuclear, renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen, and water treatment. The sector plays a key role in the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of industrial infrastructure. The ECITB said the revised forecasts were made possible by a record response from employers across Wales, with workforce data collected on over 2,200 employees. The census provided fresh insights into age distribution, hiring challenges, and business opportunities in the region. Andrew Hockey, ECITB Chief Executive, said: 'A key pillar of our Leading Industry Learning strategy is delivering accurate labour market intelligence to support data-driven planning. 'This year's strong response to the Census allowed us to improve our Labour Forecasting Tool, which is helping us identify the scale of the workforce challenge in Wales. 'We're already seeing hiring difficulties—80% of employers reported challenges recruiting staff—and an ageing workforce, with the proportion of workers over 60 rising from 11% to 14.6% in just three years. 'Meanwhile, the share of workers under 30 dropped from 18% to just 12.1%. That's a troubling trend.' Mr Hockey called for a collaborative approach involving government, employers, training providers and industry bodies to plug the skills gap and grow the future workforce. 'By investing in people and working together to bring new talent into the sector while upskilling existing staff, the industry can rise to the challenge and help Wales meet its net zero goals.' The Labour Forecasting Tool and full census findings can be viewed online at:
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Engineering construction workforce in Scotland to grow by a quarter by 2030
New research published today reveals that the engineering construction industry (ECI) workforce in Scotland could increase by 24% in the next five years. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The ECI plays a crucial role in the UK meeting its net zero ambitions, spanning sectors that focus on the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of heavy industry, including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and water treatment. The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board's (ECITB) Labour Forecasting Tool (LFT) provides insights into workforce numbers across regions and sectors, predicting trends and potential future demand for workers in the industry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The tool, which was first launched in November 2023, has been updated using findings from the ECITB 2024 Workforce Census and publicly stated timescales on 3,000 active and future ECI projects across Great Britain. The ECITB's Labour Forecasting Tool predicts trends and potential future demand for workers in industry The ECITB's latest forecast states that the size of the ECI workforce in Scotland could grow by 3,000 by 2030, with mechanical engineers, project managers and project engineers among the roles most in demand. It states that while the oil and gas workforce is projected to decline, sectors such as renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, and carbon capture & storage are set to grow. The overall picture of future labour needs in Britain highlights that the size of the ECI workforce could total more than 135,000 workers in five years' time to meet demand, an increase of 19% on the current number of workers in industry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The tool previously stated that demand across industry would peak in 2028, but this has now shifted to 2030 due to delays in some projects coinciding with other planned activity, as well as a potential wave of retirements in key roles. The revised predictions were possible thanks to a record response rate from industry employers for the latest iteration of the ECITB Workforce Census. The ECITB Workforce Census 2024 offered a comprehensive overview of the ECI workforce in Scotland, having gathered data on more than 16,000 workers, covering distribution across sectors, demographic trends, hiring challenges and business opportunities. ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: 'A key objective of the Foundations pillar of our Leading Industry Learning strategy is to produce impactful labour market intelligence to enable data-driven decision-making. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The significant Census response rate enabled the ECITB to provide more precise, up-to-date data for the benefit of industry. It allows us to improve the LFT to help make better predictions on future workforce trends and labour demands in Scotland. 'The updates to the LFT reinforce the scale of the challenges facing industry that were outlined in our Workforce Census Report, which revealed that 81% of ECI employers in Scotland are experiencing challenges hiring workers. 'It also highlighted that the share of workers over 60 in Scotland had increased from 8% to 16.2% since 2021. 'We recognise that addressing skills shortages in Scotland requires a collaborative, multi-agency approach that includes employers, governments, training providers and the ECITB. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So, we're calling on all of industry to work together to help increase the pool of people joining the ECI, while continuing to train and upskill existing workers.
Scotsman
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
ECITB funding to help deliver Energy Transition Skills Hub in North East Scotland
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has awarded £400,000 to help deliver a dedicated Energy Transition Skills Hub (ETSH) in Aberdeen. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Plans for the new Hub were unveiled in September 2023 with the collaborative venture involving the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ Ltd), Scottish Government, Shell UK and North East Scotland College (NESCol) as part of a consortium of private and public investment. This extra funding, which comes from the ECITB's investment in Regional Skills Hubs, will further support the establishment and operation of the training facility, which is designed to help meet the current and future training needs of the energy transition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ECITB investment will fund the equipping and fitting of a modern welding academy within the facility, including 32 welding bays, to help meet the growing demand for welders in the region. An artist's impression of the Energy Transition Skills Hub in Aberdeen. ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: 'Our Labour Forecasting Tool predicts that the ECI could need thousands of additional workers over the coming years for major projects, including those that contribute to the country's net zero goals. 'Without a pipeline of trained, skilled workers all this risks not being achieved, which is why we're working with industry partners in the UK's industrial cluster regions to grow the number of skilled engineers and craftspeople we need now and in the future. 'As an integral part of workforce development and supporting the pipeline of new recruits into the energy industry, the Skills Hub will be central to the success of the long-term project to support the transition to renewable energies in North East Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The ECITB is delighted to support the project, with the proposal highlighting the commitment of industry partners to be involved in the designing, equipping and curriculum planning for the facility.' State-of-the-art Skills Hub The project has already received £4.5 million from the Scottish Government's Just Transition Fund, £2.3 million from ETZ Ltd and £500,000 from NESCol to transform a disused dairy adjacent to the college's Aberdeen Altens Campus into a state-of-the-art skills facility. Shell has also committed £1.8m towards the running costs of the Hub for the first five years with a view to supporting 1,000 jobs in the region, which sits in the 40-hectare Energy Transition Zone. The Hub will include a community space for local groups and a new, flexible curriculum, including weekend and evening courses, to increase availability of training for individuals who experience barriers in accessing traditional modes of attendance, such as adult returners. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The project will also see the deployment of an outreach mobile vehicle to promote careers in the energy sector. The vehicle will be available to visit all 27 secondary schools in North East Scotland, reaching potentially 15,000 pupils a year. The ECITB, alongside the founding partners and other industry representatives, will be part of an industry liaison group to help shape the curriculum. Subject areas covered by NESCol in the Hub will include welding, wind, general engineering and fabrication skills, carbon capture, usage and storage, renewables, hydrogen and electrical. NESCol is a further education college which provides a wide range of education and training opportunities to meet the needs of individuals, communities and employers in an extensive geographical area covering North East Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Operating from four main campuses, the college provides education and training integral to the oil and gas, renewable energy and power industries as well as the wider utilities sectors. The college applied for the extra funding from the ECITB's Regional Skills Hub fund. Robin McGregor, NESCol Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality, said: 'The Energy Transition Skills Hub is a hugely significant project for the college and our partners. 'NESCol works very closely with industry to ensure the skills required in the jobs market are reflected in the courses we offer and the learning environment we create, with the new facility underlining the ambition the partners share as a driving force in the journey to net zero. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This investment in the environmental and economic sustainability of the region comes at a time of great opportunity for the north east and the college has a crucial role to play in ensuring the knowledge, skills and expertise that provide the foundation for energy transition are at the heart of that bright future.' Regional Skills Hub funding ECITB Regional Skills Hubs funding is designed to boost training provider capacity and grow new entrant numbers in industrial cluster hot spots and other major engineering construction centres of activity to help address skills shortages in the industry. For example, Aberdeen-headquartered 3t Training Services was awarded £200,000 to build three mobile units to deliver training across the UK in mechanical fitting, pipefitting and plating. Regional Skills Hubs funding grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 are available to ECI projects that meet set criteria. Find out more about Regional Skills Hub Funding at:
