5 minute read
Interview
Carly Wills talks to Tracy Hewett, Education and Training Consultant at the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA), about the role of the organisation and how it supports the industry through education and training.
CW: Tell us about yourself and how you got into the sector
TH: I have worked in education and training for the last 35 years in just about every role possible. I am a qualified teacher and started my career in the 16+ sector, progressing through to more senior roles up to Head of Service with a local authority.
I needed a change, so I left the local authority and joined an awarding body where I was responsible for the development of End Point Assessments (EPA) for some of the new apprenticeship standards – one of which was Trade Supplier Level 2. The creation of the Trade Supplier Apprenticeship Level 2 was led by the EDA and its wholesaler members and is the gold standard for training in the B2B merchant sector. When you’re next at a wholesalers’ trade counter you could well be served by someone who started their career as a Trade Supplier apprentice.
It was through my work on Trade Supplier that I met the EDA’s CEO, Margaret Fitzsimons, and she approached me to join the Association, which I did in November 2020.
CW: For those who may not know, can you give us an overview of the work that the EDA does?
TH: Founded in 1914, the EDA is the trade body representing UK’s electrical wholesale distributors who join the Association as Members. At the moment we have 250 wholesaler members across the UK, between them running over 1,800 branches. The EDA also has (currently) 99 Affiliated Members: these are the manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to the sector. You can search for all our members and affiliates at eda.org.uk
CW: Tell us about your current role - what are you responsible for and what does the normal working day consist of?
TH: I love speaking to our wholesaler members and manufacturer affiliates about how to support their teams through education and training. As the EDA’s training and apprenticeship lead, I have oversight of the EDA’s Product Knowledge Training Modules, a suite of 12 City and Guilds Accredited training courses, and the EDA’s Apprenticeship Service.
I also support our membership by identifying training opportunities to help them develop their people. This work has resulted in the launch of our online Training Course Directory on the EDA website – it’s a hub of courses that the EDA has researched or commissioned on behalf of members.
CW: What are the best things about your role? What are the most challenging?
TH: Fortunately, I am a very sociable person and I love talking to new people and finding out about their businesses, the sector, and how the EDA can help.
One of the biggest challenges is getting the message across to employers that apprenticeships aren’t only for people at the start of their career. Apprenticeship training is a really good and cost-effective way to access high quality training at all levels.
Electrotechnical is a bit of a hidden sector so attracting new talent is not always easy, but it is certainly a sector that invests in the professional development of its people, which is a strong message.
CW: How has COVID-19 affected the industry? Do you think things will be finally able to get back to ‘normal’ soon?
TH: Understandably, training was very quiet but now it has really picked up. Wholesalers and manufacturers are telling us how challenging it is to find new people for their teams. There are certainly plenty of career openings in the electrical supply chain at the moment!
CW: Aside from COVID-19, what have been the biggest changes across the industry in recent times? What will be the biggest changes in the future?
TH: For me it’s about the green agenda, the circular economy, and the new types of products that wholesalers are stocking and will stock in the future. They will need training on these products so they can support the contractor to get the right products for the job.
CW: What’s next for you and for the Electrical Distributors’ Association?
TH: We are working to turn the EDA Product Knowledge Modules, which are currently printed training text books, into an online learning option. Some people prefer a book they can pick up, make notes in and keep for reference once the study is over, but others prefer an online option.
CW: What are your interests away from work?
TH: I’m a very keen swimmer, it is my quiet down-time, and walking our dogs Henry and Meg – they keep me fit. Swimming keeps me sane and the dogs keep me fit!
Tracy Hewett at the EDA’s Regional Business Forum held in Bristol in August 2021, with Steve Parry, Commercial Director at Termination Technology Ltd. Termination Technology is one of the EDA’s Affiliated Manufacturers EDA, eda.org.uk
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