Driving Training Provision
An artist ’ s impression of the ‘ Casting the Future Foundry Spoke ’ of the new Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills
A newly defined Automotive Industry Job Framework to help bring uniformity of job descriptions across the industry has been introduced by the Automotive Council Supply Chain Group . In the short-term 2,500 people are needed to fill immediate vacancies and by 2020 the industry may need as many as an additional 50,000 people according to research published in two reports – ‘ Assessing Learning and Training Provision Serving the Automotive Industry ’ and the ‘ Employers ’ Views of the Jobs and Skills Required for the UK Automotive Industry ’. Produced by the Automotive Council Supply Chain Group , the reports offer recommendations as to how a co-ordinated programme of training schemes and apprenticeships can help fill the gaps . Currently around 134,000 people are employed in the automotive sector in the UK with the West Midlands accounting for over a third of this total . In the year to September 2015 , there were over 6,000 automotive sector job vacancies , with particularly high volumes in the West Midlands and North West . The reports highlight how skill shortages are most likely to impact on manufacturing and engineering job roles within the automotive sector . Skill shortage areas with potentially inadequate levels of provision include : programmable logic control , robotics , advanced problem solving , programme management , leadership , computer aided engineering , quality core tools training , manufacturing process knowledge , and welding . Several recommendations are made to tackle the skills shortage including the suggestion that employer engagement be increased with key local providers to ensure they have the capacity ,
July / August 2016
capability and support to deliver the required skills , qualifications and learner numbers to meet employer demand . Notably , the introduction of the new apprenticeship levy in England is likely to generate £ 19.5 million by automotive employers . The reports recommend that the trailblazer automotive apprenticeship standards and Automotive Apprenticeship Matching Service are widely promoted , to directly address current and future skills gaps and shortages identified by employers . The reports warn that employers need to be made fully aware of the apprenticeship support available , so that benefits derived from the Apprenticeship Levy are maximised and that the OEMs and their supply chain work collaboratively . To do so an aggregated resource of provision serving the automotive industry , in partnership with employers and other key regional stakeholders needs to be developed . This would help identify relevant training provision available locally , regionally and nationally , how this meets specific employer requirements and give an indication of the quality of support delivered .
Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills The collaborative approach is very much at the heart of the new flagship Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills ( ECMS ) due to open for business in August 2017 . Funding in the region of £ 7.6m has been allocated for the centre through the Local Enterprise Partnership ’ s Growth Deal , which is transforming the Black Country in the West Midlands . Work is currently underway to build the centre , which is collaboration between the University of Wolverhampton , Dudley College , Confederation of British Metalforming ( CBM ), Cast Metals Federation ( CMF ) and the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers ( ICME ). The Elite Centre will function as an employer-led training facility for the Black Country , designed to improve productivity and growth in the high value manufacturing ( HVM ) sector . This centre will include a new teaching foundry and associated patternshop , design suite and sand / metallurgical labs which will be used to support the training of the next generation of foundrymen and castings engineers - the so called ‘ Casting the Future Foundry Spoke ’ of the project . The training will be delivered through both Apprenticeships and short courses . The ‘ foundry and patternmaking spoke ’ will be located on a site adjacent to an existing foundry in Dudley Port with access to their industrial facilities in a purpose built training block of around 950m 2 . The ‘ toolmaking ’ spoke will be principally located in West Bromwich under the guidance of the Confederation of British Metalforming . More information about the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills from ICME , Tel : 0121 601 6979 .
TCT Show - more than what you think
In its 21st year , the TCT Show - to be held at the NEC , Birmingham on 28th and 29th September 2016 - will bring together dozens of speakers , hundreds of exhibiting companies and thousands of visitors from over 50 countries to offer insights , education and encourage business opportunities for those in the world of 3D printing , additive manufacturing , CAD / CAE , metrology and inspection , as well as traditional manufacturing processes such as moulding , casting , tooling and CNC machining . The free-to-attend event will be complemented by live debate and discussion , interactive sessions and addresses from speakers whose expertise lies on the fringes of the TCT realm . To learn more and register for free visit : www . tctshow . com
Former Diecasting Society President Simon Hanson of HCM Engineering Ltd was proud to offer support and sponsorship to the Invicta Foundation at the recent Automechanika show at the NEC , Birmingham . The Invicta Foundation is an armed forces welfare charity which helps serving personnel , dependants of serving personnel and deceased personnel , veterans and their families with advice , advocacy and support services including respite breaks , sports and recreational activities .
Cast Metal & Diecasting Times July / August 2016