Thames Water, Welsh Water, Amey, Cadent and SGN have joined a senior group of energy and utilities companies to deliver the sector’s digital attraction platform.

Collaborating on all aspects of the initiative, leading employers have set key priorities, agreed the approach and are using their collective reach to engage with talent. Following a successful pilot year, The Talent Source Network employer base has challenged itself to maintain momentum, build on the current successes and increase employer participation this year.

Talent Source Network is unique in the way it brings employers, talent and strategic partners together, simplifying accessibility to a complex market.

Providing insight into the sector and access to thousands of jobs, the campaign simplifies a complex jobs market for potential talent. With innovative approaches to marketing directly to the network’s target audiences, the initiative has driven over 3,500 applications into the sector since January 2017.

TSN’s employers have also reacted swiftly to offer support to those at risk of redundancy at Carillion. In partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, the employers were quickly able to share 850 vacancies with affected personnel. The rapid response and efficiency demonstrated was a key success factor and enabled employers to recognise the power of collaboration and the ease of mobilising effort when required.

Basil Scarsella, Chief Executive of UK Power Networks and chair of the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, a collaboration of sector employers that launched TSN in February 2017, commented:

"We welcome the commitment from our members to work together to attract the people the sector needs to be sustainable. We have such a promising mass talent attraction initiative that has been strengthened further by the addition of new employers."

The ability to engage with new and younger audiences is seen as key to the sector’s ability to deliver its commitments to the National Infrastructure & Construction Pipeline. 

Energy and utilities combined account for the greatest share of the UK Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline (2017/18 - 2020/21). The combined share is 43% (£104.8bn), which is significantly greater than the next largest category – transport at £78.5bn, which is responsible for 29% of 2017/18 – 2020/21 Pipeline.

The sector’s 500,000 UK workforce is ageing and the Skills Strategy reports that close to 20% of it will retire within the next decade, contributing to a total of 221,000 roles that will need to be filled by 2027.

Currently 35% of its vacancies are hard to fill due to skills shortages. This is the highest percentage of any UK sector - the national average is 23%. In addition, the sector will meet further challenges: it will require more advanced digital and engineering skills as the UK moves towards a smart energy system.

Now the pilot is complete, the Skills Partnership is actively encouraging other leading sector employers to join TSN and has already welcomed several expressions of interest.