TRAINING & RECRUITMENT
CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP
EU AUTOMATION
HOW BUSINESSES CAN HELP TO CLOSE
THE ENGINEERING SKILLS SHORTAGE
Watson and Crick. Lennon and McCartney.
Hewlett and Packard. Three examples
of successful collaborations whose
achievements had a dramatic and long-
term impact on their respective industries.
To make a significant impact on the
engineering skills shortage, a collaborative
effort is also needed. Here Jonathan Wilkins,
marketing director of obsolete industrial
parts supplier, EU Automation explains the
role businesses can play in bridging the
gap.
Engineering is a high-tech industry that
relies on having well qualified, skilled and
trained talent. Businesses are searching
for employees with the digital and
technical expertise to equip them to join
the workforce of the fourth industrial
revolution. The problem is that major
industrial nations, including the UK and the
US, have reported difficulty finding skilled
talent.
The pace at which the engineering industry
is changing exacerbates the issue. Due to
the onset of Industry 4.0, the skills required
in a manufacturing role are considerably
different than they have been in previous
years. The World Economic Forum reported
that 35 per cent of the skills required for
jobs across industry will change by 2020.
Technology is becoming obsolete faster
than ever and is making some skills
obsolete with it. The UK Government
reported that 12.6 million adults lack
basic digital skills, which could make it
challenging for them to work in a digital,
connected facility. Education has a role
to play in ensuring the workforce has
the relevant skills, but so do parents,
Government and engineering businesses.
So, what can companies do to help bridge
the gap?
APPRENTICESHIPS
By taking on an apprentice, a business
can teach young people the relevant
skills needed to succeed, giving them
the opportunity to earn while they
learn. Apprentices are trained in current
technology, so there is no time for it to
become obsolete between education and
starting work.
Companies are now beginning to offer
higher apprenticeships, which allow
young people to train to degree level
while working at a company. This allows
young people to reinforce their theoretical
knowledge with practical experience.
National Grid, BAE Systems and Siemens
are just a few companies offering technical
apprenticeships to help young people
improve their skills this way.
New apprenticeships are being
launched in line with the introduction
of new technologies, such as one of
the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s
programmes, which is dedicated to additive
manufacturing. Apprenticeships focussing
on new, innovative technologies will help
the workforce be ready for the future
workplace.
It’s not just about training the new
workforce. Because of the rate of
technological change, companies must
upskill their existing workforce to ensure
they are equipped for the digital future
and prevent a skills gap from opening. The
importance of upskilling was highlighted in
the 2017 Made Smarter report, which called
for a Commission to lead the upskilling of
over one million industrial workers in the
UK.
OUTREACH
Companies can also engage with school
children to help increase the pipeline
of talent entering science, technology,
engineering and maths (STEM) careers.
This can include work experience, careers
events and hosting workshops or tours.
Engineers and scientists can register to
become a STEM ambassador and volunteer
at such events. This gives young people
the opportunity to gain insight into
what a career in engineering is really like.
Companies like Siemens offer extensive
outreach programmes to help tackle this
issue.
The skills shortage is putting pressure on
engineering businesses to do more to
safeguard future recruitment. Businesses
can lay the foundations for a digital future
by training new staff, upskilling their
existing workforce and reaching out to
children and young people to encourage
them to consider a STEM career. In
collaboration with the Government, other
businesses and the education sector, we
could really make a lasting difference,
much like Watson and Crick, Lennon and
McCartney and Hewlett and Packard.
www.euautomation.com
Issue 35 PECM
171