The UK automotive industry and government are working to plug a 100,000-person future skills gap by encouraging young people into manufacturing and supply chain careers as part of a joint See Inside Manufacturing initiative.
Throughout October, UK-based automotive manufacturers across the country will hold events to help increase students’ awareness of the vibrancy and variety of top career opportunities the industry offers.
The events include interactive technical challenges, behind-the-scenes factory tours and insights to the skills, prospects and diversity of automotive careers. A number of UK facilities will show students of secondary school age, specifically those considering their GCSE and A-level options, what an automotive industry career could offer them. Participating organisations include BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren, Michelin, Millbrook Proving Ground, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall.
SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes said, “The automotive industry will continue to invest heavily in careers and schemes for graduates and apprentices to ensure that the UK has the necessary skills pool to maintain our engineering and manufacturing strengths for years to come. Important initiatives like See Inside Manufacturing provide the social investment needed to inspire the next generation to take on careers in the automotive industry.”
Business Minister, Michael Fallon MP said, “See Inside Manufacturing gives young people the opportunity to see exactly how manufacturing works on a day to day basis, dispelling old myths about factories and inspiring the next generation of engineers. So far the scheme has been hugely successful in doing this, with nearly nine in 10 young participants saying they would now think about a career in manufacturing.”
An initiative run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, See Inside Manufacturing was launched exclusively with the automotive industry in 2011 with the objective of giving young people and teachers a first-hand view of modern manufacturing and exciting careers. Following its success, the programme was expanded to include a further two sectors in 2012. This year, 10 industry sectors will run programmes, including automotive, aerospace, chemicals, construction, electronics, food and drink, life sciences, nuclear, offshore wind and oil and gas.
In July this year, the government and automotive industry announced that it will need to increase its scientist, engineer and technologist workforce to 820,000 by 2020. This includes an additional 7,600 apprentices and 1,700 graduates in the next five years. The strategy will see £1 billion funding injected into the industry to ensure that the UK is a world leader in automotive technology and manufacturing.
For full details on the See Inside Manufacturing events taking place within the automotive industry throughout October, go to www.smmt.co.uk/see-inside-manufacturing.
