Scotland faces a potential generational loss of highly skilled electrical workers due to a widening disparity in apprenticeship funding, industry association SELECT has warned.

The warning comes in response to a recent 15% increase in grant funding for English electrical apprenticeships, which elevates their funding to £23,000 per apprentice. This figure is nearly three times the current Scottish equivalent of just under £8,000.

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, criticised the long-stagnant funding in Scotland. He stated: "Funding for apprenticeships in Scotland hasn't increased in more than seven years and as a result of inflation has actually reduced by more than 30% in real terms. We cannot begin to have a renewables future in Scotland without electricians, so the Scottish Government must find the cash. A two-tier system is entirely unacceptable."

The funding increase in England was confirmed earlier this month by Skills England, a government agency under the UK's Department for Education, to The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP). TESP, which focuses on skills projects and career information for the electrotechnical industry, noted: "Skills England has advised us that the Secretary of State has accepted its funding recommendation of £23,000 for the Installation & Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship. This represents an increase of £3,000 on the current funding band." TESP described this as "a very good result in the current climate" and extended thanks to the employers and providers who contributed to the evidence base for the increase.


In Scotland, electrical apprenticeships are delivered through Skills Development Scotland's Modern Apprenticeship programmes, which provide paid, on-the-job training combined with industry-recognised qualifications.

Mr Wilson reiterated the critical need for action in Scotland: "Scotland absolutely must not be left behind when it comes to apprenticeship funding. There is the clear danger of a two-tier system, with Scottish industry losing out to England's, as well as a very real risk that we will lose a generation of skilled electrical talent when we can least afford it."

SELECT's concerns about skills shortages are compounded by previous warnings. The association, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, recently described the UK government's stringent new immigration proposals as a "ticking time bomb" for Scottish construction. These proposals, which aim to raise qualification standards for foreign workers, could lead to a significant number of overseas professionals leaving the UK, potentially prompting Scottish construction workers to relocate south to fill the resulting vacancies.

Mr Wilson concluded: "The construction sector is a vital pillar of the Scottish economy, supporting infrastructure development, housing delivery and the green transition, yet it is experiencing a persistent and growing skills shortage already."