The overhead lines sector faces a significant skills challenge. Over the next five years, employers must increase the number of skilled people entering the industry by more than 50% while delivering over 1,000 kilometres of new infrastructure. At the same time, they must maintain the high standards of safety, technical knowledge and practical experience that the sector depends on.
As projects accelerate and demand for skilled workers increases, employers need confidence that people entering the industry have the knowledge, skills and experience required to work safely and effectively. Yet across the sector, expectations around training, competency and progression are not always applied consistently.
Why Skills and Competency Matter
The overhead lines sector relies on highly specialised roles that require technical expertise, practical ability and sound judgement. These skills are developed through training, experience and exposure to real working environments.
As employers recruit new entrants to meet growing demand, they must also ensure valuable knowledge is transferred from experienced professionals. Without clear development pathways and recognised standards, organisations risk inconsistencies in how skills are developed, assessed and recognised.
Supporting an Industry-Led Response
We have been working alongside National Grid, Scottish Power, SSE and Energy & Utility Skills to develop a more consistent approach to skills development across the overhead lines sector.
Drawing on expertise from across the supply chain, the knowledge, skills and experience required for key overhead lines roles have been identified and provides a clear competency framework for the industry. It sets out the knowledge, skills and experience expected for different roles, helping employers create greater consistency in recruitment, training and assessment.
John Tyler, UK Head of Technical Training at National Gas, said, “No single organisation can meet the industry’s future skills challenge alone. By bringing employers together to agree on clear competency expectations, we are helping create a more consistent approach to training and development across the sector. That gives employers confidence, supports safer working and creates clearer opportunities for people building careers in overhead lines.”
Using the framework developed by the industry, we have developed the Energy & Environment Awards Level 3 Certificate and Diploma for Overhead Tower Linesperson Erector, LE3, LE2 and LE1. Based on recognised industry roles, these qualifications provide a structured development pathway that aligns with the responsibilities and competency requirements expected at each stage of progression.
The qualifications share a common core of knowledge and skills, alongside role-specific pathways. LE3 supports individuals working under supervision as they develop their skills and experience. LE2 is designed for individuals who can perform the role competently and independently. LE1 supports those operating at supervisor or manager level, with responsibility for overseeing work and supporting others.
Because the qualifications share a common core, employers can support progression efficiently as individuals develop their careers. This creates a clearer route into the sector and a more consistent approach to developing capability across the industry.
Rachel Thomas, Managing Director at Energy & Environment Awards, stated, “These qualifications provide a clear progression pathway that reflects recognised industry roles and the competencies needed at each stage. They will support the UK’s power transmission industry to deliver over 1,000 kilometres of new infrastructure and help employers develop capability with confidence, whilst creating clearer opportunities for people entering and progressing within the industry.”
Preparing for Future Demand
The benefits extend beyond qualifications. By establishing clear expectations and recognised standards through the competency framework and the LE1, LE2 and LE3 progression pathway, the industry can reduce the risk of skills gaps, improve safety and create clearer development routes for those entering the profession.
For employers, this means greater confidence that individuals have developed the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to perform safely and effectively. For those entering the sector, it creates a clearer understanding of the skills required and how they can progress throughout their career.
There is also potential to introduce a competency passport, helping skills and experience to be recognised across organisations and projects, supporting greater consistency across the sector.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Energy & Environment Awards Level 3 Certificate and Diploma for Overhead Tower Linesperson Erector, LE1, LE2 and LE3, and how they support industry requirements, contact our team today.
