Page 27 - Carmarthenshire Skills Report 2024

Skills shortage in 4 key job roles and 3 sector challenges
holding back home decarbonisation - Energy Systems Catapult
Construction
Geraldine Newton-Cross, Commercial
Director at Energy Systems Catapult,
“Decarbonising our homes is an urgent
challenge. If consumers are to welcome
changes to their heating systems at the
pace required to meet our carbon budget,
they need professionals who can hold
their hand as they retrofit their homes,
not just provide piecemeal
recommendations about favoured
technologies.”
“Consumers need support to understand
the cost and performance trade-offs of
different approaches. This requires a new
approach to be adopted across the energy
services sector – requiring new jobs and
new skills, including in digital
technologies and data – to implement
decarbonisation measures at the pace and
scale demanded.”
27
As highlighted in the Net Zero section of this report
the county has seen a decline in jobs within
Construction and Electrical since 2018. It’s highlighted
some key roles that the near future will require are
diminishing. Since 2018:
• Electrical Installation -67%
• Plumbing -71%
• Residential building -58%
But this does not provide a full picture as additional
skills are now required in this sector as well as
competence upskill of existing roles.
The vast majority of construction businesses within the
county are small or micro and are well positioned to
serve the domestic market. However, that market is
changing, phasing out gas boilers, retrofitting new
technology, insulation, solar, battery, sensors etc
couple this with Trust Mark competence, it's imperative
that these businesses can stay abreast of new
technologies and can offer best advice for retrofitting.
At a time when grants and buy back schemes are
available, coupled with current high energy prices, and
emission reduction targets, all should serve to drive
adoption of these retrofit systems, however there is
still scepticism about the technology from the
domestic market.
Therefore, to overcome this, in the short term, there
are skills gaps that need prioritising to build a
sustainable market and help address existing latent
demand, including roles in:
• Property pre & post retrofit assessment
• Advice and customer care
• Low carbon heating installation
• Technology integration
This challenge must be addressed collaboratively,
building on existing best practice, identifying gaps and
bringing together different elements of the supply
chain to create joined up solutions that will work for
customers and businesses alike
For larger developments such as Pentre Awel, or
the new hospital, often a transient workforce will
be utilised should a large national contractor be
used. However, local workers will be required for
ongoing maintenance and development of the
locations so their knowledge in any new
technology proposed for these sites is paramount
for the future local economy.
The new Hospital will aim to use as many local
contractors as possible from development to
operations, this in itself is a challenge, the first
being one of procurement. SME’s will need
support in procurement processes for such
developments, coupled with a good prior
knowledge of what new / changed / different
building techniques / materials / technology the
plan entails. This allows for the skill and
knowledge development of the contractor and
education to have relevant courses available.
All LMI Data: Lightcast™
. 2024