Welcome to the April issue of PEW. News headlines are dominated at the moment by wars and conflicts, whether it’s Russia- Ukraine, Gaza, or the wider Middle East region. Without getting bogged down in the politics – that’s for other channels – I’m sure we can all agree that war is a bad thing, more so for the people directly affected by it but also for the knock-on effects on the global economy.
Wars throughout history have been extensively covered by film and TV, and future catastrophic disasters are also depicted with varying causes and themes – I’m talking about the likes of The Day After Tomorrow, Greenland, Armageddon and The War of the Worlds. Many such films include storylines in which world leaders, scientists or other important figures are hidden away and protected in underground bunkers or secret bases (well apart from Bill Pullman’s President fighting the aliens in Independence Day). It got me thinking, who would be top of the UK’s list for protection should the end of the world become imminent. The Prime Minister and the reigning monarch are top of the list, whatever your views on them they are a given – some other politicians and royal figures might find themselves left behind! Moving on to trades, you have your key workers, in the medical field, food production and law enforcement among others. As much as I’d like to put myself forward as future editor of Nuclear Bunker Monthly, I feel print journalism might be a bit further down the pecking order. You want your bunker’s services to run smoothly and it to remain structurally sound, so construction professionals are of course a shoo-in.
In fact, tradespeople are sought-after in general anyway, without any national disaster. New research from welding specialist Tadweld has revealed the UK’s highest-earning trades for 2026, with bricklayers, carpenters and plumbers all in the top 20 – and electricians proudly top of the pile. It’s no secret that demand for electricians is booming. Between EV chargers, solar installs, battery storage and the general push toward electrification, there’s more work around than ever. The problem? Not enough people to do it. Contractors across the UK are still struggling to recruit qualified electricians, and many believe the industry needs a stronger pipeline of apprentices to keep up with future demand.
Scotland’s largest construction trade body, SELECT, has recently criticised the UK and Scottish governments for policies it says will undermine the electrical workforce of the future, with rising apprentice wages and decreasing financial support for taking on apprentices causing major concern. If the industry can’t bring enough new talent through the ranks, the skills gap could become the biggest challenge facing the electrical trade over the next decade.
One thing’s certain: the sparks are definitely flying in the sector right now.
– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor
Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here
