On Thursday 30 January 2025, the JIB hosted its first regional forum of the year, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff bringing together industry leaders, educators and stakeholders to discuss the skills and procurement challenges in Wales. Speakers from the Welsh Government, JIB, ECA and Unite the Union shared updates and facilitated the discussions.
Key topics discussed included:
- Apprenticeship funding and achievement rates in Wales and ways to deliver and evidence competency – including routes for experienced workers
- Strategies to continue to professionalise the industry into the future through quality training including boosting electrotechnical skills provision through the ECA Wales Charter
- Rewarding higher standards of safety and competence standards though procurement and developing a strategic approach to ensure efficient allocation of resources
- Optimising efficiency, transparency and embracing the role of SMEs to facilitate the recommendations within the Procurement Act 2023
- Socially responsible public procurement and the development and delivery of the Net Zero Skills Plan in Wales
- Collaboration at a regional level with guidance and strategy from Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership (CCRSP) and the Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliances (ETCAs).
Paul Russell, Managing Director at Camelot Electrical said: “Bringing all these parties, you have the ECA, JTL, the JIB and the Welsh Government, in one room [makes everyone aware of] what we need to do to bring up the apprentices in the future. Also, it makes Government aware of what we want the future to look like as well.”
Feedback from the event was positive with one attendee summing it up: “It was delivered well, and all the questions were answered by people with knowledge and experience of the subject.”
You can see additional reactions from those who joined us on the day in our video here.
We would like to thank all those who attended for making this event such a success. In particular, Andrew Hutchins, Chair of South Wales RJIB, for chairing the session and each of our speakers for sharing their time and expertise:
Jay Parmar, Chief Executive. JIB
Andy Reakes, Chief Operating Officer. JIB
Louisa Weinstein, Head of Industrial Relations. JIB
Jason Poulter, National Officer Construction. Unite
Richard Clarke, National Apprenticeships and Skills Officer Construction, Unite
Andrew Eldred, Chief Operating Officer, ECA
Rob Driscoll, Director of Legal and Business, ECA
Wyn Prichard, Consultant, NET Zero
Jeremy Parkin CEO, Powerlink
Richard Tobutt, Regional Skills Partnership Manager, Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership
If you were unable to make it on the day and would like more information on the topics discussed, please contact roger.horne@jib.org.uk.
Look out for announcements on more JIB forums throughout 2025.
