58 MANUFACTURING
SEARCHING FOR THE SKILLS SOLUTION
Stephen Kelly, director at Burnley aerospace business HycAero, sums up the importance of meeting the skills challenge Lancashire’s supply chains face. It is, he says, the need to deliver “continued brilliance”.
The scale of the skills issue facing businesses of every size can be summed up by the fact there are more unfilled manufacturing jobs in the UK than ever before.
Melissa Conlon, commercial director of AMRC North West, reveals: “If the trend continues, by 2030 there will be 2.1m unfilled manufacturing jobs across the UK.
“There were 44 CNC engineering jobs available in the county yesterday and that is actually huge in terms of how many CNC machines we have.”
David Stanley, finance director at Rawtenstall based ELE Advanced Technologies, describes the situation facing supply chain businesses like his. He says: “Post-Covid it has been quite challenging. The skills pool is much reduced because of hybrid working and people retiring early.
“There is a limited pool around us in terms of skills and also an ageing demographic in our workforce. That makes knowledge transfer to the new generation so important. The challenge we are facing is maintaining skill levels.”
Wayne Richardson, commercial director at A&G Precision and Sons, another engineering business in Lancashire’s supply chain, says it has relied heavily on its apprenticeship programme, with a clear platform of progression available within the company.
However, he talks of a ‘middle gap’ when it comes to staff. “We find that our workforce is either over-55 or under-25. Talking to other suppliers and OEMs we hear a very similar story.”
He says another distinct challenge for smaller businesses in the area is competing with BAE System’s recruitment drive, adding: “They blow us out of the water when it comes to salary and jobs.”
Engineering and manufacturing companies in the county are aligned with its further education establishments in the belief that both need to continue to work closely to put the curriculum together that will help fill high value jobs.
Stephen Kelly says: “We can provide the work, but people need the training as well, to match the two together to meet the needs of the customers. That is critical and that what is going to give the business longevity and allow future generations to gain those high value jobs.”
We are currently investing in our
engineering provision and curriculum
More than 20 per cent of HycAero’s workforce has been through its apprentice scheme and he adds: “We have to continue to invest in that.”
But he also believes there is work to be done in Lancashire’s schools – engaging with organisations like Stem First and Primary Engineer to take the positive message about career opportunities into the classroom. He says: “We need to recognise that we have to make time to do this to help address that skills shortage.”
Sam Butterworth, integration engineer at Barnoldswick based Buoyancy Aerospace, says his company is also working to create links with
its local schools to highlight the attractions of careers in the sector.
He says: “This year we are starting visits from schools in the area. There is nothing better for a young child than actually seeing the machines turning and the product that comes out the other side. That is really exciting and something we are trying to push.”
Nicola Clayton, director of business development and external engagement at Blackburn College, explains that the pandemic led to a lot of people leaving the workforce, increasing the competition between sectors.
She agrees that it is important to get the message out to schools, raising the awareness of the “excellent opportunities” in manufacturing and engineering.
Collaboration is also key, she adds, saying: “We work closely with employers across all our sectors to make sure we are investing in the right kit and the right curriculum. It is really important for the education sector to work with employers to really unpick that detail on skills and what is needed.”
However, Nicola stresses it is not just about the skills of young people leaving education. She says: “It is about progressing people in the workplace and there are opportunities to do that.
“There are skills ‘bootcamps’ and other programmes that can be designed with employers to move people from different levels within their industry.
“We are continually investing in our resources there is government funding out there to support that investment in skills and development.”
Continued on page 60
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