The survey shows that even whilst applicants are increasingly lacking technical skills, work experience and relevant qualifications. Companies are responding by increasing investment in training, Apprenticeships and in developing better links with schools and FE colleges.

However, only a minority of manufacturers are reporting that the government’s efforts to create a simpler demand-led skills system have made it easier for them to invest in the skills that they need.

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Manufacturers’ growing need for skilled R&D, design and technical, project management and craft and technician employees also show that we need raise our level of ambition for Apprenticeships and work harder to ensure that more young people are leaving education with good grades in key subjects like English and Maths.

Tim Thomas, EEF Head of Employment & Skills Policy, said: “Manufacturers are taking the initiative to ensure that skills gaps don’t hold them back from their ambitions to develop new products and services and expand into new markets. But despite the government’s best efforts, investing in apprenticeships and finding the right qualifications, training courses and provider is still far from straightforward.     

“The time is ripe to go further and put employers in the driving seat by giving them the power to set the standards for their industry, the scope to decide how to train their apprenticeships and by routing public funding for training through the firms that invest in it. In doing so the government should resist the vested interests of training providers to maintain the status quo and the calls to add more bureaucracy to the system by giving LEPs control of skills budgets.”  

“We also need to raise our level of ambition on apprenticeships and the Government should be targeting any increase in resources for apprenticeships on those that lead to higher skills” 

John Morris (above), CEO of JAM Recruitment - a specialist consultancy providing skills to the engineering and manufacturing industry - said: “Over the last few years, we have seen the definition of what is considered to be a ‘hard-to-fill’ position widen at an alarming rate. To remain internationally competitive, UK manufacturing needs a skilled, flexible labour force.

“That will only happen if the Government ensures the training market is coherent, accessible and delivering what employers need. In the long term it’s vital that STEM subjects are prioritised in the education system and that we get the message across to a new generation that there are fantastic career opportunities manufacturing.
 
“This report is a clear message from manufacturers that they are alive to the issues but need more assistance in tackling the skills shortage for the benefit of the UK as a whole.”

According to the survey, over half of respondents said their training spend had increased in the past two years and six in 10 said it would increase in the next two. Seven in 10 companies offer work experience to young people with others offering factory visits, internships and placements.

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Furthermore, manufacturers are investing significantly in apprenticeships with three quarters of companies having started manufacturing or engineering apprenticeships in the past 12 months, with most lasting four years. Whilst the investment by manufacturers is significant, the survey shows there would also be substantial payback for government by increasing the subsidy for Apprenticeships as three quarters of companies offer all their apprentices full time employment on their completion.

However, only a small minority of manufacturers report an improvement in the training market in terms of the relevance of vocational qualifications, the responsiveness of providers or the ease of finding appropriate courses and access to funding.

Key findings for manufacturers:

•  74% say finding and recruiting employees is a key concern, almost half said it was their main business concern
•  Large number of companies expect skill needs to increase in next three years – production (60%), craft and technician (58%) and R&D technical (41%)  
•  60% said training spend would moderately or significantly increase in next two years 
•  68% currently offer Apprenticeships, most for up to four years 
•  76% prioritise qualifications in maths and English when recruiting apprentices
•  43% disagreed that access to funding for training is easier than two years ago and only one in five reported increases in ease of finding right providers, or more relevant qualifications

In its ‘Route to Growth’ Industrial Strategy (1), EEF set out four ambitions, which are key to growth, including a need for the UK to have a more productive and flexible workforce.  Underpinning this, EEF urged government to adopt the following three targets to meet employers’ skills needs and those of the UK economy:

1. 65% of school leavers to achieve five GCSEs at A-C grade including English and maths
2. 25% increase in level 3 and above STEM Apprenticeships
3. A reduction in the proportion of ‘hard to fill’ vacancies to 20%

To achieve these amongst EEF’s key recommendations to Government are the following:

• Improve the priority for and, quality and relevance of, teaching in STEM related topics. This should include a review of the case for capping fee repayments for teachers in key subjects and a requirement for teachers to spend 2-5 working days a year in business.
• Ensure young people have a better understanding of industry and career options. This should include reintroducing compulsory work experience at Key Stage 4.
• Expand advanced and higher level apprenticeships by prioritising increases in public funding to achieve this.
• Re-direct funding to employers via reductions in National Insurance Contributions. This would encourage greater ownership by employers, as well as more responsiveness and innovation by training providers.
• Accelerate the Employer Ownership of the Skills Pilot model, which routes a proportion of publicly-funded training to employers, and look to ways of making it more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
• Task Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) with bringing together employers and providers to encourage greater collaboration. This should not, however, include giving LEPs control of skills budgets.
   

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