A week of skills and the future workforce: BPEC in London

It was a busy week in the capital for BPEC, with two visits to London bringing the spotlight firmly onto the future of the building services engineering workforce, and the apprentices who will shape it.

Westminster: plugging the skills gap – Monday 08 June 2026

The week began at the House of Commons, where BPEC’s Chief Executive Officer, Neil Collishaw, attended JTL’s parliamentary reception, “Plugging the Skills Gap: The Future Plumbing Workforce.” The event brought together industry representatives, employers, training providers and policymakers to discuss the challenges facing the plumbing workforce and why investment in high-quality apprenticeships is so vital.

The case for action is stark: England’s plumbing workforce is around 16% smaller than it was in 2018. Set against rising demand from housebuilding, heat-pump installation and major infrastructure projects, the need to train the next generation has never been clearer.

The reception was also a valuable opportunity to connect with leaders from across the sector, including Sarah Fry (APHC), Jill Nichols (BESA), Kevan Holmes (JIB-PMES), Richard Clarke (Unite the Union), Chris Claydon and the senior team at JTL, and senior civil servants from DESNZ.

The City: celebrating apprentice success – Wednesday 10 June 2026

Two days later, BPEC returned to London — this time to the prestigious Plaisterers’ Hall, to support the JTL National Apprentice Awards 2026. The event brought together more than 300 guests from across the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors to celebrate the outstanding achievements of apprentices from across the UK. Employers, training providers, awarding organisations and industry leaders gathered to recognise the dedication, skill and professionalism demonstrated by the finalists and winners.

Representing BPEC was Chief Executive Officer Neil Collishaw, who joined colleagues and partners for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating apprentice success and highlighting the importance of skills development within the sector.

Reflecting on the event, Neil said:

“It was a fantastic event that showcased the very best apprentices from across the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors. The standard on display was exceptional and it was encouraging to see so many organisations coming together to celebrate the achievements of these talented individuals. They represent the future of our industry, and events like this demonstrate the importance of investing in high-quality training, assessment and professional development.”

The awards also provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships across the wider skills landscape. During the event, Neil met with several key stakeholders, including Sir John Low, Chairman of JTL; Andrew Hockey, CEO of ECITB; Huw Bement, Managing Director of CompEx; Kevin Wellman, CEO of CIPHE; Daniel Roberts of APHC; and Dan Woods of JIB-ECS.

A common thread

From the corridors of Westminster to the celebrations at Plaisterers’ Hall, the message across both events was the same: the future of our industry depends on investing in the people entering it. As an organisation committed to supporting skills development and professional competence across the building services engineering sector, BPEC was proud to play its part in a week that championed apprentices and the standards that underpin a skilled, qualified workforce.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners on their well-deserved success.