Purpose

To develop with Energy & Utility Skills an industry adopted skills strategy and supporting programme of key projects that will enable the supply chain of the UK Water Industry to maximise the benefits from its investment in skills.

Membership

The Water Skills Steering Group will be made up of representatives of the UK Water Companies, Training Providers, Contractors and other significant suppliers/ stakeholder. Members must have sufficient authority to be able to make decisions on behalf of their employers.

The group will be chaired by an industry adopted candidate. The Head of Sector Engagement, Energy & Utility Skills will be the group secretary. Meetings initially will be held as agreed but at a minimum of bi-monthly.

Key Accountabilities

1. To formulate a skills strategy and programme of research, qualification development and other initiatives that are required to support the training and skills agenda within the UK water industry

2. To recommend the resources required to enable the delivery of the agreed programme.

3. To recommend the priorities within the Skills Programme for the water industry.

4. To demonstrate and confirm the support of the water industry within submissions for government funding.

5. To specify the scope of projects for delivery by Energy & Utility Skills.

6. To monitor progress against the programme and either changes in priority or resources to ensure completion of the programme.

Authorities

1. Convenient access to all information necessary to discharge the role.

2. Convenient access to the Head of Sector Engagement/ Chief Executive and employees of Energy & Utility Skills.

3. To represent their employer or group of employers within the industry.

4. Review actions by Energy & Utility Skills.

5. Assign tasks to Energy & Utility Skills.

Measures

1. Development of a process to determine priorities.

2. Establishment of agreed programme.

3. Support for the programme by member companies reflected by both financial and human resources needed to achieve the programme.

4. Recognition that the programme is adopted by government bodies, reflected by endorsement from regulatory bodies and financial support to the industry from workforce development agencies.

Future Activities

Extensive consultations with water industry employers took place as part of the the Sector Skills Agreement and identified three key areas for future workforce development activity in the water industry; competency frameworks, sustainable recruitment and sustainable training provision. An action plan is currently being developed to identify activities to be undertaken by EU Skills with the water industry over the next two years. The action plan and project scopes will soon be available on this website.