Parliamentary roundtable unites industry and policy makers to drive UK electrification

​​​​​​​The roundtable revisited the recommendations outlined in the Blueprint for Electrification, reviewed the progress made to date, and explored solutions to address the remaining gaps

In October, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) hosted a parliamentary roundtable in the House of Commons, bringing together members, MPs, senior civil servants, policy influencers, manufacturers, and the broader clean energy industry to discuss how to collectively deliver the UK’s electrification transition successfully.

In May this year, ECA launched the Blueprint for Electrification: Delivering the UK’s transition to clean power – a practical, 10-point plan for delivering a fully electrified, low-carbon economy. 

The roundtable revisited the recommendations outlined in the Blueprint, reviewed the progress made to date, and explored solutions to address the remaining gaps.

Issues discussed included worsening workforce shortages, the implications of a more decentralised energy system, and the ongoing barrier of unfair electricity pricing.

The roundtable was sponsored by Jess Asato MP for Lowestoft and delivered in partnership with ECA Commercial Associate and electric heating and ventilation solutions provider Dimplex.

Others attending included representatives from ECA, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), Energy Systems Catapult, Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), Electrical Safety First, Certsure, Solar Energy UK, SERA, the Labour Climate and Environment Forum and Energy UK.

The discussion was chaired by Andrew Eldred, ECA’s Deputy CEO, who said: “Participants in the roundtable have reiterated support for the key points first set out in our Blueprint for Electrification and practical ten-point plan.

“Across the entire electrification supply chain, there is a common commitment to help the UK achieve its electrification ambitions, a shared recognition of the gaps and barriers still in the way, and a widespread consensus on the measures required to address these. We have the businesses, the expertise and the motivation to help deliver electrification to scale, but we do need the Government to talk to us, listen to us, and heed what we have to say.”