The risk of a widening skills gap in the energy transition is one of the most underestimated challenges for the global energy transition. But as Europe moves to install more solar panels, heat pumps, and EV charging points, electrical contractors will be in increasing demand.The lack of skilled workers and electrical installers is starting to be felt in Europe: in Germany, 60% of electrical contractors have vacancies. While in the UK, electrical contractors will need 15,000 new apprentices, in addition to regular market intake, to cover its needs over the next five years. There are several reasons why this is happening, from the perception that these are low-level positions to the lack of women in this sector.In this episode, we speak with Julie Beaufils, Secretary General at the European Electrical Contractors’ Association EuropeOn, on why addressing this skills gap matters and how EU policies can bridge that. Julie is in charge of the Skills4Climate campaign, raising awareness of the shortages in skilled professionals, an issue that will considerably weigh on Europe’s ability to deliver the energy transition.Enjoy the show!If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week's episode, you can reach us at our Twitter accounts:Julie Beaufils: https://twitter.com/EuropeOn_EUMichaela Holl: https://twitter.com/CitizenSane1Jan Rosenow: https://twitter.com/janrosenowDavid Weston: https://twitter.com/DaveW_FORESIGHTAnna Gumbau: https://twitter.com/AnnaGumbau@WattMattersPod: https://twitter.com/WattMattersPodFORESIGHT Climate & Energy: https://twitter.com/FORESIGHTdkListen and subscribe to Watt Matters wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Twitter at @WattMattersPod or email us at [email protected]. You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva. Art director: Trine Natskår.Show notes:- Twitter post: https://twitter.com/eeestaudt/status/1566512197450309635?s=20&t=uehWukAIaaI9FqBmQowkmg- War in Ukraine spurs coal-loving Poland into climate action: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/09/06/poland-ukraine-heat-pumps-climate/- Alessandro Blasi LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alessandro-blasi-6579a66_electricity-leadership-business-activity-6971030154584162304-HVDs?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktopTRY FULL ACCESS TO FORESIGHT CLIMATE & ENERGY FOR €1 A DAYJoin over 100,000 policymakers, energy experts in business, finance, and academia, city leaders, and leading NGOs in having access to FORESIGHT Climate & EnergyGET YOUR 30 DAY TRIAL: www.foresightdk.com/subscribe/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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