Trade Skills 4U Looking for Small Businesses to Join Focus Group

Are you a small business working in the electrical sector who feels that your voice isn’t heard when decisions are being made in the industry that affect you? If you are, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to get involved in a new venture by Trade Skills 4U to get the voice of the small business heard.

Trade Skills 4U are keen to hear from self employed electricians (1 man bands), companies with 2-5 employees, 5-10 employees and trainees and apprentices from these groups.

What is it?
The Small Employer Electrical Focus Group will be made up of approximately 10 people from small businesses and trainees working in the electrical industry. The group will meet once a quarter to represent the employees and employers of small businesses and self-employed workers in the sector. The intention is to be able to voice opinions regarding what is needed to make the industry better by training more people with the right skills to ensure they are competent.

The group will be guided by a director from Trade Skills 4U, and its intention is to listen to the opinions of the group and gather information, which can be used to influence future decision making around the electrical industry. This will ensure that future training and qualification changes represent what the industry really needs.

Why is it needed?
It’s hard to believe that even though the electrical industry comprises of 90 percent of small businesses, it’s the 10 percent of larger businesses that have the most influence when decisions are being made regarding the skills needed for the industry, to ensure that the workers are competent.

This seems to be unbalanced when you consider that the majority of the larger firms don't actually do the work themselves as they use sub-contractors to carry out an installation.

Trade Skills 4U believe that the small businesses should have a bigger voice when decisions are made, which is why they are interested in forming this Focus Group. The aim is to be in a position to voice its opinions regarding training needs and reactions to specific industry related issues around qualification content and regulatory changes, with the intention that the views of the group will be considered to help influence the decision making and development needs of the sector.

What are the benefits?
By being part of this Focus Group Trade Skills 4U will give you the inside track regarding what’s happening in the industry and will share with you up-to-date information about forthcoming changes to regulations and qualifications.