SELECT has announced the launch of a new free online resource, designed to help Members source key personnel.

The easy-to-use jobs board will allow Member firms to advertise vacancies directly on the front page of the SELECT website, including the full job description and details of who to contact to find out more.

The new tool has already been widely welcomed by employers in an industry which has been facing significant skills shortages, fuelled by the fact that electricity and electrotechnology underpin every aspect of modern Scottish society.

The industry in the UK employs more than 208,000 people and, according to the Latest Market Intelligence published by the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership, sector growth will require an additional 33,000 workers by 2027.

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: "In an industry which makes possible every facet of day-to-day life, from the internet to cars, hospitals, homes and businesses, maintaining and improving the skills of the people who keep the lights on is assuming a primary importance.

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"The next generation of electricians will enjoy access to a world of exciting technology, including the Internet of Things, which will revolutionise the way we live, so it is vital that we have a working population that understands it.

"The jobs board, which has been developed over six months in conjunction with the Scottish Joint Industry Board and Unite the Union, is designed to act as an additional outlet for members who may already be advertising for staff elsewhere, to help them recruit suitably qualified operatives."

During its first few weeks of operation, Member firms across Scotland have submitted a number of vacancies for staff including electricians, fixed wiring testing and inspecting engineer, E&M electrical craftsperson and trainee quantity surveyor.

To ensure the widest reach, the board has been made public, with SELECT only hosting vacancies for Members and all applications made directly to the relevant firm.

Iain Mason, Director of Membership & Communications at SELECT, said: "The board has been created in response to Member demand, with a number of firms asking us to create a resource to help them find suitable operatives during the ongoing skills shortage.

"The response so far has been very positive and we will continue to monitor the board's performance and respond to Member feedback in the meantime."