According to a new report, manufacturing companies must compete with the city’s major banks and leading innovation firms to hire workers with digital and technical skills.
Make UK said its research showed the digitization of production processes had accelerated in recent months, leaving companies “desperate” to recruit the most skilled technical engineers and data experts.
A survey of 180 manufacturers found that three in five were considering hiring engineering technicians and production and process engineers, while one in four were looking to hire data analysts.
The government must ensure that the revised list of shortage occupations is in place as soon as possible to address the huge skills gap for data and digital technicians
Stephen Phipson, Make UK
Half of those interviewed said they could not find qualified personnel locally.
Make UK chief executive Stephen Phipson said: “To address the problem of labor shortages which is now at a critical point, the government must ensure that the revised list of shortage occupations is in place as soon as possible to address the huge skills gap in data and digital technicians. which are simply not available to domestic workforce employers.
“The Government should also seek to urgently establish an Employer Training Fund, funded by part of the unspent funds from the Apprenticeship Levy, to support the upskilling and retraining of existing employees in essential skills, as well as to provide support to move the next generation of talent through routes. such as T-levels for makers to train straight after school.
“This would also be a good time to introduce learning incentives in areas where skills are lacking, where targeted incentive payments are made available for learning courses in skills areas where there is the most supply. rare.”
