Eon UK boss Michael Lewis has been appointed as chair of the Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership (EUSP), succeeding UK Power Networks chief executive Basil Scarsella.
The EUSP is a voluntary partnership of 30 energy and utilities companies and their major supply chain partners, that was set up to provide leadership for the gas, power, water and waste management industries and support workforce resilience.
Since being formed in 2017, the group has delivered the first ever workforce renewal and skills strategy, brought workforce resilience into energy and water price reviews and launched a sector-wide inclusion commitment.
Furthermore the EUSP has initiated a talent attraction platform called Energy and Utilities Jobs, which has reached more than 8.5 million people, with 50 per cent female inquirers, graduated more than 1,500 technical apprentices and helped nearly 70 asset owners and supply chain partners coordinate increased investment in skills through changes to procurement practice.
Speaking in response to his appointment, Lewis said: “If there was ever a demonstration of the value of people, it has been in the response underway to overcome the pandemic. The whole utility sector workforce has clearly shown its credentials in providing critical services to our nations, and they will be at the forefront of de-carbonising the UK’s critical infrastructure in response to the climate crisis.
“I am very proud and pleased to now chair the Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership in our shared efforts to ensure we have the diverse, skilled and resilient workforce needed for the future.”
Energy and Utility Skills created and facilitates the partnership. Its chief executive Nick Ellins said: “Throughout the life of this voluntary coalition, the sector leaders have focused their collective efforts on delivering change in a few tightly focused areas.
“Throughout the volatility of the last two years, their focus has never wavered, and the 30 organisations involved should be applauded for what they are doing on behalf of the whole sector to build the human capital in infrastructure and essential services.
“Basil Scarsella has been a true colleague and an inspirational chair for the Partnership. In handing the baton onto Mike Lewis, we feel fortunate to now gain his experience as an acknowledged consumer champion and committed advocate of the workforce role in delivering carbon reduction. Our sincere thanks to Basil for his two years helping drive forward this vital partnership and for raising the profile for the people who power the sector.”
Meanwhile Scarsella said: “The secret to this whole coalition has been trust between leaders and delivering on our promises together, and I know that all thirty of us within the leadership group are committed to the task. It is the utility sector’s workforce that ultimately deliver infrastructure and essential services to nearly 67 million people every day, and investing in their safety, sustainability and skills is just common sense.”
The EUSP has also announced the appointment of Kevin Fowlie, network & capital delivery director at United Utilities as the new chair of its delivery board, replacing Eon’s Chris Norbury.
Utility Week recently published an interview with Michael Lewis which you can read here.