TechTalks: Five challenges electricians say are shaping the trade in 2026
Posted by: electime 17th July 2026
As CEF turns 75, it explores the biggest challenges facing electricians, according to attendees at its recent TechTalks
Electricians are facing growing pressure from multiple directions. Regulations are moving fast and training obligations are increasing, especially around emerging technologies like EV charging and solar PV. Economic uncertainty is changing the way customers scrutinise costs, impacting everything from project specification to time taken on site. Skills shortages are increasing pressure on electricians, while making it more difficult to onboard skilled staff and train apprentices. As a result, training and development is more important than ever – yet finding the time and budget to prioritise these is becoming harder.
It’s against this backdrop that CEF launched TechTalks, a series of CPD accredited training and development events that take place across the UK. By making training local, affordable and convenient to fit in around day-to-day work, TechTalks are helping electricians to access the development they need, both to meet regulations and to keep pursuing commercial opportunities.
Yet TechTalks aren’t just about telling electricians what they need to know; they’re also an opportunity for us to hear what challenges are affecting electricians the most, and what distributors like CEF can be doing differently to provide practical support to help their customers overcome them.
As we celebrate our 75th anniversary on 16th July, we are reflecting on more than seven decades of providing that practical support, as well as supporting local communities. To mark this milestone, CEF branches across the country have become donation points for a nationwide community food drive, supporting over 400 local foodbanks.
It’s in this same spirit of local support and connection that we asked electricians at our recent TechTalks about the biggest challenges they’re facing, and how local events are helping them keep pace with a rapidly changing industry.
Here are five recurring themes and what electricians at the Glasgow TechTalk had to say about them.
- When it comes to regulatory change, “you don’t always know what you’re looking for.”
Changes to standards are part of the job, but that doesn’t mean they are always easy to balance with everyday demands. One of the biggest challenges is knowing what aspects of the regulations are going to have the biggest impact on the next project. For a lot of TechTalks attendees, having the key points explained in context can make the difference between reading through a regulation in theory, and understanding how it applies to an inspection, installation or customer conversation.
As one electrician explained: “Coming to a TechTalk is easier than sitting down with the book. You don’t always know what you’re looking for, so it’s good to have someone explain the most important parts in detail. For us, understanding AFDDs was a big one. We’re doing an HMO build just now, and we realised we’re going to have to install AFDDs, so it’s been helpful to have a TechTalk we can go to.”
- Renewables, EV and battery storage “are coming very soon.”
EV charging, renewables and battery storage are becoming a bigger part of everyday electrical work. Those that aren’t already delivering these projects know that they will likely become unavoidable in the near future. Yet lack of accessible training opportunities and unfamiliarity with the products are seen as obstacles to taking up the opportunity.
As one electrician said: “Renewables is probably the only thing we don’t cover at the moment, but we know it’s coming very soon. We’re trying to get up to speed with what we need to do, and it’s something we’re looking to offer in the future. The biggest change is the extra certification needed.”
- “The industry needs new people” to deal with the skills shortage
The skills gap remains a major concern. Electrical businesses need more apprentices and new entrants into the trade, but taking on and supporting new people, or upskilling existing employees, can be difficult when time, cost and workload are already under pressure.
Additionally, the demands facing experienced electricians could also be about to worsen the skills crisis. As qualification requirements continue to become more rigorous, those approaching retirement may question whether further training feels worthwhile. That puts pressure on both ends of the workforce: younger people need routes into the trade, and experienced electricians need training that is accessible, relevant and realistic around their work.
As one electrician put it: “We’ve lost a lot of skilled tradespeople in recent years and that’s a problem for the sector. With the cost of living as it is, taking on an apprentice is tough. The outlay versus what you’re getting back is difficult to balance short term. I think something has to be done to attract more apprentices, whether that’s helping companies or making more grants available. We need a new influx of workers.”
- “It’s not one size fits all” when it comes to electrical skills
There is a growing demand for training across the trade, and whilst courses are available, access isn’t always simple. Training can be expensive, time-consuming and difficult to fit around projects, especially when factoring in travel, expenses and lost billable time. At the same time, expectations around competency and compliance are increasing. Electricians need to stay current, understand where specialist skills apply and know when additional knowledge is needed. That is why practical, in-person learning matters. It gives electricians the chance to ask questions, have updates explained clearly and connect the information to real work situations.
One electrician said: “In our business, we stand for competency, so the changes to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification scheme were really interesting. There are many different shades of electrician, and it’s not one size fits all when you start looking at higher-risk areas.”
- “People are watching costs” and it’s changing demand from customers
Cost pressure is changing the conversations electricians are having with customers, especially in domestic work. Households are looking more carefully at what they spend, but rising energy bills are also making them more interested in products and installations that can help reduce energy use.
This means that electricians need to be able to explain value, not just cost. They need to understand which products are available, where they fit and when it may be worth looking beyond the lowest upfront price. Product discovery and supplier access are part of that, because contractors need to know what is available before they can recommend the right solution.
As one electrician explained: “We’re noticing in domestic work that people are watching costs much more, as household bills keep going up. Our experience is that you’ve got to try and find better solutions and cost variations for them, and maybe explain things a bit better as you’re doing it. There are options out there – it’s just trying to find them and letting people know.”
Practical support for a changing landscape
Electricians today are facing a broader, more demanding landscape, and accessible training has an important role to play in keeping up with regulations, understanding new technologies, responding to customer cost pressures and upskilling to meet new sector demands.
Events like CEF TechTalks help close the gap between information and practical understanding, giving electricians a clearer way to stay informed, build confidence and take useful knowledge back to site. As one attendee put it: “There’s something for everybody. They’re very engaging, very collaborative, but also very informative.” With more focussed, accessible, local training opportunities, electricians are able to prioritise learning that supports their job and the growth of the trade.
