Leading industrialist urges manufacturing employers to upskill
21/11/2011 Enginuity
-Wealth producing sector should tackle in-house issues to combat challenging economy-Semta chairman Allan Cook CBE has urged the UK's manufacturing employers to seize the opportunity to improve performance and profitability through investment in skills.
Speaking at a skills event linked to the new Manufacturing Leadership Survey 2011/12* Mr Cook, who is also chairman of Atkins and SELEX Galileo explained that while external facts were impacting on the sector, employers needed to focus on the lack of suitable skills, the most critical issue in the report.
He said: "This is a long-term challenge. We need to recruit new employees and upskill our existing workforces. Semta data reveals that around 200,000 jobs need to be filled in science, engineering and manufacturing between now and 2016 to replace retirees and to meet demand from growing industries like advanced manufacturing. In addition, it is estimated that up to 300,000 of the current technical workforce is below world class standards of engineering and advanced manufacturing."
Mr Cook highlighted three key solutions where employers should focus their attention: apprenticeships, university technical colleges and sector skills councils.
With Semta research indicating that the manufacturing and engineering sectors need to at least double the number of higher level apprenticeships by 2016, apprenticeships offer a valuable solution for employers struggling with skills gaps. Research carried out by The National Apprenticeship Service revealed that 80 per cent of companies that employ an apprentice say they make their workforce more productive and 74 per cent say they make a valuable contribution within their first few weeks. However, only 7 per cent of employers in Semta's sectors currently offer apprenticeships.
He continued: "Apprenticeships are enjoying a welcome resurgence since their demise in the 1980s. But there are still only 11 apprentices to every 1000 UK workers, compared with 40 in Germany. We have real problems in persuading companies, schools and parents that apprenticeships are a realistic career path."
To overcome the perceived barriers to apprenticeships, Semta has launched an Apprenticeship Service, a comprehensive service that sees Semta totally manage the total process of training an apprentice, from recruitment, to training plan development and funding and training provider sourcing.
Said Allan Cook: "Industry needs to champion apprenticeships. My own companies - Atkins, SELEX Galileo and Marshall of Cambridge - all train apprentices and, having started my career as an apprentice, I can personally vouch that, for many students, this is a brilliant career path."
"The work of Semta, and other organisations such as The National Apprenticeship Service, is making it easier for companies to get involved. My message to all employers, regardless of size, is that they are not immune to skills shortages. As higher level skills become scarce, experienced staff will get more expensive to hire and this will have a real impact on smaller businesses in particular."
He also encouraged employers to support the new University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and the work of sector skills councils such as Semta to ensure the skills agenda remains employer-driven.
UTCs will specialise in technical studies for students aged 14 to 19. Sponsored by universities, they offer full time courses combining practical and academic studies and employers are involved from the start in shaping the curriculum.
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are the focal point for raising skills in sectors to drive enterprise, jobs and growth. Through their sectoral reach, SSCs are ideally placed to articulate the voice of employers on skills; to develop innovative skills solutions and to galvanise employer ambition and investment in skills and job creation. Semta has supported over 3,000 companies to start business-focused training. It can help employers diagnose their skills needs, create training plans and sign post quality assured training providers and funding. Its skills experts can provide a range of cost-effective services, from consultancy through tailored programmes to total training management.
Businesses interested in finding out more should contact Semta Customer Services on 0845 643 9001 or customerservices@semta.org.uk Web: www.semta.org.uk
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