Go figure

The clear result of research carried out across the UK, including in Wales, to produce SummitSkills’ Sector Skills Agreement (details at www.horizon-ssa.org.uk ) demonstrates that there are many in both the electrical and mechanical industries who would argue that renewable energy is the most important issue facing us.

They would also assert that training and upskilling is essential for a prosperous and profitable sector.

This area is therefore one that SummitSkills should not and cannot ignore.

In response to Mr Dickie’s specific point on apprenticeships, successful apprenticeship completions in Wales were up 41% in 2007, compared with 2006 (from 260 to 490), which included a 61% increase in electrical apprenticeship completions.

While SummitSkills would not wish to take all the credit for this improvement, we certainly made a significant contribution to it.

These figures were, and are, readily available. Had Mr Dickie written to us rather than to you, we would have happily provided them. Indeed, we would provide them to anyone who asked.

Developing renewable energy skills and increasing apprenticeships: rather than disregard one issue to work on another, SummitSkills is clearly capable of more than one activity at a time.