Partnership plans multi-million pound boost for workforce
11/03/2013 Enginuity
Semta and EEF join forces in a bid to transform skills agendaTwo of industry's most powerful organisations are joining forces with leading employers in a bid to transform how engineering skills and training are delivered and funded.
Skills body Semta and the manufacturers' organisation EEF are working with leading employers to put together a multi-million pound collaborative bid to draw down funding for advanced manufacturing and engineering (AME) firms of all sizes to deliver the skills required for growth and competitiveness through the Employment Ownership of Skills (EOS) Fund.
The two organisations have launched a consultation with employers through Semta's Sector Strategy Groups and Regional Councils and EEF's Regional Advisory Boards, along with trade associations, trade unions and Semta other key stakeholders.
Lynn Tomkins, UK operations director for Semta hopes the move will see the sector speak and act with one voice on the big issues it faces.
"We know we need to recruit 82,000 people just to replace those who will retire by 2016 while a further 363,000 technical workers need upskilling over the same period," she said.
"The EOS gives us the opportunity to fund skills development in growth areas that are not currently being supported, matched with employer investment. This will accelerate skills development to support innovation and competitiveness improvements in the supply chain.
"As an employer-led organisation, we are delighted to be working with the EEF and its member companies to make it happen and to help ensure the UK's AME sector remains world class in the face of ever-increasing competition from traditionally strong as well as emerging nations."
Andrew Buckley, EEF Executive Director added: "With a shared responsibility for the growth and competitiveness of UK manufacturing and engineering, we believe that we can best support skills development within the sector through a combined Semta and EEF bid."
Key activities proposed in the EOS bid include:
-€¢ Industry standard careers, information and guidance for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
-€¢ Engineering traineeships that provide a pathway to apprenticeships, initially into the aerospace and automotive sectors
-€¢ Piloting shared apprenticeships to support SMEs in the electronics and metals sectors
-€¢ Re-skilling and up-skilling the existing workforce, in new technologies and ways of working, supply chain management and leadership and management
-€¢ Accelerated conversion programmes (for skilled trades)
The EOS Fund has a total value of £340m with up to £250m available for Round 2, available to financial year 2015-16. Collaborative SME bids are a minimum of £250,000 with large employer bids to be a minimum of £1m. A collaborative bid for the AME sector covering full participation could be in the region of £30m.
For further information, please visit: www.semta.org.uk
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