Powered On

Electrical Review

Powered On, brought to you by Electrical Review, is a podcast designed to discuss the burning topics in the electrical industry. We’re here to educate, inform and hopefully share some laughs. Unlike other podcasts in the electrical industry, we want to give you a little bit of personality, alongside the usual informative gossip and debates that we'll be hosting. So sit back and get Powered On with Electrical Review. read less
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Episodes

Tackling the Skills Crisis in the Electrical Industry with Andrew Eldred from the ECA
Nov 2 2023
Tackling the Skills Crisis in the Electrical Industry with Andrew Eldred from the ECA
In the latest episode of the Powered On Podcast,  we delve into the persistent skills crisis shadowing the electrical industry. Following a preliminary discussion in our previous episode, we were privileged to have Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at the Electrical Contractors Association, share his expert insights on this pressing matter.The current skills gap in the electrical industry has broad implications, with a recent ECA survey highlighting labor shortages as a growing concern for nearly half of the firms within the engineering services sector. The decline in employment within skilled trades between 2019 to 2021 further accentuates the crisis.We explore the possible myriad of factors that could be contributing to this shortfall, such as the ripple effects of Brexit, the pandemic, and a notable generational gap in the industry. The demographic challenge is stark, with the average age of an engineer in the UK being 55, spotlighting an imminent crisis as a significant portion of the workforce approaches retirement.Discussing potential remedies, the episode examines proposals from the IET for National Curriculum reform to foster early interest in engineering careers, as well as making Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses more accessible for industry professionals amidst their demanding schedules.Be sure to tune into this enlightening episode of the Powered On Podcast to garner a deeper understanding of the skills crisis and explore the pathway towards a more electrified and skilled future in the electrical industry.
Unplugging the Skills Gap: The UK’s Bumpy Ride to Net Zero
Oct 18 2023
Unplugging the Skills Gap: The UK’s Bumpy Ride to Net Zero
The latest episode of the Powered On Podcast tackles a potent issue that's been buzzing through the circuits of the UK's electrical industry: a palpable skills shortage. This episode delves into how this gap could jolt the UK’s aspirations towards a net zero future, a topic hotter than a live wire in today's climate discourse.The conversation sparks off with a glimpse into the gravity of the skills shortage, tossing some stark figures into the mix that highlight the need for a fresh wave of skilled hands in the electrical and engineering sectors. It’s not just a static issue; it's dynamic and evolving with the UK’s ambitious renewable energy targets.Brexit, the ageing workforce, and the ramifications on achieving net zero – it’s all laid out in a candid discussion that navigates through the intricate web of challenges and opportunities lying ahead.The dialogue doesn’t just stop at identifying the problems but ventures into the realm of solutions, with a spotlight on education, industry engagement, and fostering the next-generation of electrical whizz-kids.The quest for net zero is a collective endeavour, and this episode charges up the discussion around what it’s going to take to bridge the skills gap and keep the UK on track towards a greener tomorrow.The Powered On Podcast weaves a narrative that’s both enlightening and engaging, making it a must-listen for anyone plugged into the UK’s net zero ambitions or the electrical industry. So, tune in, power up your understanding, and get sparked up for a journey into the core of the UK's green-tech future.Plus, don’t forget to check out CPDWeek.co.uk to learn more about Electrical Review’s own initiatives to improve the ongoing skills gap. And join us next week on Powered On as we welcome Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at the Electrical Contractors Association, as a special guest.
Avoiding (grid) failure - with Joël Jaton, co-founder & CTO of depsys and Anja Langer Jacquin, depsys’s CCO
Jul 2 2021
Avoiding (grid) failure - with Joël Jaton, co-founder & CTO of depsys and Anja Langer Jacquin, depsys’s CCO
At the moment, the UK is rife with failure, mostly emanating from our government. I mean, whilst babies were dying in maternity wards, people were losing loved ones unable to say goodbye, and lifesaving cancer treatments were being pushed to the wayside resulting in yet more deaths, I can’t help but think this might have all been preventable had our Health Secretary had his eye on the ball. The next issue we have to contend with, in fact, an issue we’ve had to contend with for a long time and just haven’t bothered, is the current state of the UK’s power grid. Harping on about ‘net zero by 2050’ is all well and good, but our infrastructure is aging and unfortunately, in order to achieve this target, we’re going to need to drastically change the way we use energy and live our lives. Whether it be in the form of increased renewables, electric vehicles or more environmentally-friendly technologies, if the grid crumbles under the pressure of these new power drains, then what has it all been for? Just like with the current Covid situation, are we going to have diligently done our parts for over a year, making a myriad of changes and sacrifices, only for the powers that be to undo our efforts? Hopefully that won’t be the case here, as in this episode, we are joined by Joël Jaton, co-founder & CTO of depsys and Anja Langer Jacquin, depsys’s CCO, who help us to understand the current state of the grid, and what DSOs, or DNOs as they are known in the UK, should be doing with regards to digitalisation – which has a lot more layers to it than you might think – in order to avoid grid failure and thusly, avoid failing the consumer. As always, you can get in touch with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future discussion via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Rogue Trainers - Featuring Kaiden Ashun, Screwfix Trade Apprentice Competition winner
Jun 11 2021
Rogue Trainers - Featuring Kaiden Ashun, Screwfix Trade Apprentice Competition winner
In this episode, we discuss the ‘right’ routes into the industry, with insight on avoiding those dodgy online companies that – for a nominal fee – will claim to have you fully qualified and raring to go in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case, and these companies are more than happy to take your money, in exchange for a “qualification” that isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.   Here at Electrical Review, we aren’t big on scamming the young people we need to sustain our future, so we explore the humble apprenticeship, the unsung hero of the electrical industry.   We’re also joined by a special guest, this year’s winner of the Screwfix Trade Apprentice Competition, 21-year-old Kaiden Ashun, who, from his work van no less, will be filling us in on what his apprenticeship involved why he’d recommend them to others and what it was like to bring home the gold – quite literally, he won £10,000 worth of stuff.  As always, you can get in touch with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future discussion via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk. We hope you enjoy the episode!   Extra resources:  For details of recommended training routes and qualifications valued by employers, please visit: www.electricalcareers.co.uk or https://www.electricalcareers.co.uk/joining-the-industry/training-routes/ the Electrical Careers website (produced by TESP). For details of the entry requirements for all apprenticeship standards, developed by employers, and where to find providers and current vacancies, please visit:  https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website. For more detailed guidance on NICEIC changes: www.niceic.com/eas. PDF guide on NICEIC/ELECSA changes to EAS: EAS Entry Scheme Requirements EAS qualifications guide from the IET: https://electrical.theiet.org/media/2560/eas-20-440-eas-qualification-guide-2020-v11.pdf
EV for EVeryone
May 14 2021
EV for EVeryone
In this episode titled, ‘EV for EVeryone?’ contributing editor Jordan O’Brien (proud owner of an electric vehicle) attempts to knock editor Claire Fletcher (owner of decidedly non-electric vehicle) off the proverbial EV fence. Will he succeed? Give us a listen and find out. You never know, you might even learn something yourself.Despite the adoption of electric vehicles featuring as a key part of the UK government’s 10-Point-Plan to ‘build back greener from the pandemic’, there is still widespread misinformation, and general trepidation when it comes to making the switch from an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle, to an electric one. After all, most of us have grown up with the former. That said, with a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles coming into place as of 2030 (meaning you will no longer be able to buy a new ICE vehicle) people are going to have to wrap their heads round the prospect of EV’s pretty damn quick, lest they buy second hand until the ICE vehicle well runs dry.  From range anxiety to exploding batteries, EV’s still get a pretty bad wrap in the mainstream media, which is doing nothing to help quash public concern, or the planet for that matter. But, as human beings, generally, we don’t like change, but change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. In this episode, we go over many of the common misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, ask the questions we actually want to know the answers to, and find out what it’s really like to own an EV day to day from someone that knows. As always, you can get in touch with us with your feedback, suggestions for discussion and general comments via our dedicated podcast email hello@electricalreview.co.uk, it’d be great to know if any petrol heads have been swayed (even slightly).