Key industries face 82,000 head shortfall
9 July 2012
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- Semta and leading industrials examine future skills challenges at
Siemens Industry Conference
Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, this week joined engineering and manufacturing business leaders to discuss the skills needs of the future at the Siemens Industry Conference.
During the event, Semta’s business development director Susan Evans contextualised the skills challenges faced by businesses in Semta’s sectors and revealed that UK businesses operating in these industries need to recruit 82,000 engineers, scientists and technologists by 2016.
The Conference, hosted at the Manchester Central Convention Centre, saw Ms Evans discuss the needs of businesses in its sectors and the solutions on offer for firms taking a proactive approach to dealing with skills shortages.
Ms Evans was joined at the event, which specifically focused on investing in the UK’s high end industrial future, by speakers from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Siemens, GKN and the Technology Strategy Board.
Said Ms Evans: “We know the challenges faced by engineering and manufacturing businesses are primarily around the impact of an ageing workforce, combined with continued technical advancements. This means that a huge number of new recruits will need to be taken on over the next few years. Our research also predicts that 550,000 of the current technical workforce will need to be upskilled to achieve world class standards.”
Ms Evans also detailed the various services, training and tools on offer to engineering and manufacturing businesses looking to upskill. Semta’s training is developed by employers for employers to tackle industry priorities.
Available programmes include Career Advancement aimed at supporting women in traditionally male-dominated industries, Introduction to Lean and Lean Leader, First Line Supervisor and Managing for Success, Health and Safety Passport and CNC diagnostics and programming. Semta’s courses are delivered by recognised providers who use tried and tested techniques to ensure people learn effectively. Semta’s skills experts can also advise companies on improving supply chain capability, and graduates and apprentice recruitment.
To support the development of higher level technical skills, Semta has an Apprenticeship Ambition which aims to take the number of advanced and higher level apprenticeship registrations from 8,000 to 16,000 by 2016 through delivery of a ten point plan. It also offers an Apprenticeship Service which makes it easier for employers to hire and manage apprentices, and provides training consultancy and cost effective diagnostics to ensure that employers see the greatest possible return on their training investment.
Businesses interested in finding out more about the support Semta can offer should contact Semta Customer Services on 0845 643 9001 or customerservices@semta.org.uk or visit www.semta.org.uk
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