New man at the top at EU Skills

SOLIHULL-based Energy & Utility Skills Group (EU Skills) has appointed Neil Robertson as chief executive.

Robertson, formerly chief executive of the British Institute of Inn Keeping (BII), replaces Tim Balcon who stepped down from the role at the end of April.

EU Skills is the Sector Skills Council for the gas, power, waste management and water industries, charged with ensuring those industries have the skills they need now and in the future.

Robertson is thought to be a good fit for the role because at BII he worked extensively with apprenticeships and in the fields of technical training leadership and management and helped guide the organisation to become the sixth largest UK awarding body specialising in qualifications, training memberships and small business self-regulation.

He also established his own leadership and management consultancy concentrating specifically on training, strategic change and internationalisation within the hospitality and media industries.

Jack Carnell, chairman of EU Skills, said: “His extensive experience within government and the skills arena makes him the perfect candidate to led EU Skills into the future.”