Britain’s manufacturers are substantially increasing investment in skills in response to greater demand for more highly skilled employees but even without a strong recovery, many firms are reporting skills shortages, according to a major survey released by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and JAM Recruitment.
The survey shows that even whilst applicants are increasingly lacking technical skills, work experience and relevant qualifications, companies are responding by increasing investment in training, apprenticeships and in developing better links with schools and FE colleges.
However, only a minority of manufacturers are reporting that government efforts to create a simpler demand-led skills system have made it easier for them to invest in the skills that they need.
Manufacturers’ growing need for skilled R&D, design and technical, project management and craft and technician employees also show that we need raise our level of ambition for apprenticeships and work harder to ensure more young people are leaving education with good grades in key subjects like English and Maths.
Commenting, EEF head of employment & skills policy, Tim Thomas, said: “The time is ripe to put employers in the driving seat by giving them the power to set the standards for their industry, the scope to decide how to train their apprenticeships and by routing public funding for training through the firms that invest in it.”
