Help for UK Engineering Skills Gap

Phil Black - PII Editor 29/10/2015

283 4 minutes read

Listen to this article

If Britain’s engineering skills shortage continues to grow rapidly year on year it could be impossible to bridge the gap unless companies act now by investing in the future workforce.

Recent studies suggest that the UK currently has an annual shortfall of around 55,000 engineers, yet employees are crying out for more skilled and qualified engineers. According to a new report from jobsite CV-Library, almost half of recruiters (49.9 per cent) believe that engineering roles are the hardest to fill and 65 per cent admit to having difficulties finding the right candidates.

Many firms assume that school leavers, graduates and even apprentices are under skilled and therefore too much of a liability, but despite the industry’s concerns about the competence of their up and coming workforce, at least 50 per cent of engineering firms do not offer work experience placements. The core questions remain; how do we find young people interested in engineering jobs and what is it about engineering that is causing this shortfall?

Analysis by the Royal Academy of Engineering suggests that half of the UK’s entire workforce is due to retire by 2020 and the UK will need more than a million newly qualified engineers to fill engineering positions. But how does the industry expect xo meet this demand and source new talent without fostering the potential of the nation’s youth?

There is a misconception that engineering is simply tinkering with machinery. Many young people believe that with so much automated technology and software in the market it is much easier to sit at a desk for a living.

A recent CBI report argues that ‘unless the true value of Science Technology and Mathematics (STEM) related qualifications and jobs are better showcased and more routes to such careers are created, businesses will continue to struggle in their recruitment, threatening the long-term health of the economy.’ There is a fundamental need for companies to invest in specific engineering training to make apprentices the future lifeblood of the industry.

Some companies are trying to revitalise engineering apprenticeships by opening their doors to a younger workforce in order to safeguard the future of their business. One such company is SCX, a Sheffield-based national service provider of crane maintenance, inspection and repairs.

To sustain the growth of their business, SCX has developed a tailored apprenticeship scheme. All apprenticeships include a professional mentoring programme and the enrolment of new recruits at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The new training facility provides practical and academic training to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry. It is seen as a provider of choice for many employers including large organisations such as Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Tata Steel and National Grid, offering cutting-edge technology including virtual reality welding machines and robotics.

Ray Fletcher, Director of SCX said, “We wanted to create a steadfast career path for budding engineers and nurture their abilities through industry-leading facilities and education. The AMRC Training Facility offers qualifications all the way up to Level 5 (foundation degree) so it provides a better structure for apprentices as they can complete all their education in one place. Apprenticeships help to create an infrastructure of skilled people to satisfy our plans for growth and ensure that we have a process in place to meet demands for the future.”

Under the new four-year SCX apprenticeship scheme, recruits spend the first six months at the AMRC enroled in intensive college training five days a week. Following the initial 26 week period, apprentices then work on the job with SCX four days a week with a one day-release to complete their studies.

All SCX apprentices study both mechanical and electrical engineering – with years 1 & 2 studying for a BTEC Level 3 and NVQ Level 3, and years 3 & 4 studying for a HNC. During their apprenticeship, apprentices undertake mandatory health & safety training, working at heights and crane related training, whilst rotating through the different areas of the business.

“We assign a different engineer as a mentor to our apprentices every few months in order to provide them with a rounded skill set. All our mentor engineers volunteer for the role; they are all keen to pass their wealth of knowledge, experience and skills on to our apprentices,” said Fletcher.

During the course of their apprenticeship, they are given more demanding, challenging and rewarding tasks, both at the AMRC and on the job, “Depending on what our apprentices find an aptitude for, they can then specialise in different areas and pick up a variety of roles within the company. Some of our previous apprentices have now filled positions within the company ranging from Site/Project Installation Engineer to office-based Electrical Controls & Instrumentation Engineer,” he added.

James Mountain (19) from Sheffield, has been an apprentice with SCX for 18 months and has recently earned his Level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

“The mixture of mechanical and electrical-based learning has created a solid platform that has allowed me to pick up more skills. It’s always hands-on and I love the practical feel to it, it’s challenging at times but that’s what makes it rewarding. I am really interested in the electrical side of the business and I like the fact that we have mentors who take a real interest in our development” he said.

An apprentice in his third year, Daniel Young (21) also from Sheffield, is undertaking his Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HCN) and sees his apprenticeship as “a brilliant opportunity that has given (him) many new skills and valuable on the job training whilst being paid at the same time and securing a job at the end of it. It’s good to know that if you are unsure or make a mistake there is a mentor to help and guide you through each step.”

There is currently a big skills crisis in British engineering but through the work of organisations such as SCX and the AMRC, there is a good chance that this will eventually be tackled. More companies within the engineering sector need to realise the importance of apprenticeships and the benefits of a young and enthusiastic workforce.