Work ready
How do we balance net zero ambitions with skills shortages ? ECITB ’ s Andy Brown shares his insights
Having started his career 40 years ago as a weapons technician in the Royal Air Force ( RAF ), Andy Brown , Interim CEO of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board ( ECITB ), is an experienced , national skills powerhouse with decades of training expertise .
After 24 years in the RAF , during which time he established engineering training guides and established and managed training centres , Andy joined the ECITB in 2006 after a chance meeting at a careers fair . Occupying multiple roles , including Operations Director for ten years , Andy replaced Chris Claydon in February and is currently the Interim CEO , continuing to shape the future of the engineering construction industry .
Supporting industry
The ECITB is an employer-led , skills , standards , and qualifications organisation developing the UK ’ s engineering construction workforce . As an arms-length body of the UK Government , it reports to the Department for Education , with the aim to attract , develop , and qualify both existing workers and new entrants to the industry in technical and professional disciplines .
“ I never thought I ’ d be lucky enough to have a second career !” Andy begins . “ I thought my initial role at the ECITB would be a stepping stone into the UK ’ s engineering industry , but here I am in my 17th year . Any individual leaving an extensive career in the RAF , like me in 2006 , must mitigate risk and suddenly adapt to civilian life . So , it ’ s not surprising that they tend to take the first opportunity that arises , thinking that it will act as a six-to-18- month transition into civilian life and then they will move on . And that ’ s what I did , but I never moved on !
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