Aerospace skills partnership takes off - Semta plays leading role in £100million boost
06/02/2015 Enginuity
Skills specialist Semta is flying high after joining forces with industry giants to deliver a £100 million boost for the UK aerospace sector announced by the Government.Business Secretary Vince Cable's announcement this week included £20 million of investment in the skills to be co-ordinated by Semta that will take the sector to new heights - including hi-tech Masters courses and apprenticeships.
Led by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus, through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, the skills project also sees leading employers including Agusta Westland in Yeovil, BAE Systems in Hook and GKN in South Gloucestershire joining together to develop existing and future aerospace talent.
Semta chief executive Ann Watson said the announcement was fantastic news following on from last month's launch of the Automotive Industrial Partnership.
"Semta is engineering skills for the future and we are working closely with businesses, education, training partners and other interested parties to get Britain moving," she said.
"We know the needs of the major manufacturers and crucially the tens of thousands of SMEs in the supply chain. It is vital we unite the fragmented skills landscape to ensure the UK remains as the centre of excellence for the aerospace industry.
"The aerospace sector has 3,000 companies and 230,000 employees in the UK - that creates massive UK economic benefits. Opportunities of a forecast for 27,000 new passenger aircraft in addition to 40,000 commercial helicopters and the demand for greener, fuel efficient aircraft, presents a challenge to which the UK aerospace industry must respond.
"As contract holder with unsurpassed expertise is securing skills for the UK's vital sectors, Semta will be working with partners to deliver that response and keep the skills talent pipeline flowing."
The key areas the employer-led partnership supported by Semta will be focussing on include:
*Introducing six masters level qualifications
*Early careers strategy to get more young people interested in career in the sector
*Developing Apprenticeship Trailblazer standards in 20 - 25 occupational roles
*Improving supply chain skills
*Managing talent and protect expert knowledge
The £20 million pound programme feeds into the wider strategy which sees six projects receive a further £80 million of funding for aerospace research to help deliver growth and innovation in key areas of technology.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The UK's aerospace industry has been propelled to a position of global excellence by a combination of winning ideas, innovation and talent. This has created new ways to manufacture, new skills and a flexible chain of supplying businesses that will secure the industry's long term profitability."
Semta board member, Airbus HR Director and General Manager Mark Stewart said: "Employer Ownership of Skills will be hugely important in ensuring the UK retains its world-leading aerospace ambitions with employers leading the skills requirements for and on behalf of the sector. It has been a fantastic team effort by a cross section of companies and the Regional Trade Associations. Airbus is proud to be leading this major investment between government and business and our continuing support of the Aerospace Growth Partnership."
Chief Executive of ADS Group Paul Everitt said: "Aerospace is a UK success story with a 17% share of a fast growing global market. The Aerospace Growth Partnership, the unique collaboration between government and industry to encourage investment in innovation, skills and the supply chain, is making the UK a more competitive location. Today's announcement demonstrates the value of the Aerospace Technology Institute and the benefits of a successful industrial strategy."
For more information, please visit: www.semta.org.uk
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.