Big increase in engineering and manufacturing apprentices
29 Jan 2013
London – The number of people starting engineering and advanced manufacturing apprenticeships in England has risen by more than 85% in the past two years, according to sector skills council Semta.
Every area of England has seen a significant rise in new apprentices with the West Midlands (227%), East Midlands (174%), North East (133%) and Yorkshire & Humber (109%) leading the way, a Semta survey revealed.
The sector skills council for science, engineering and advanced manufacturing found that most of the new starts have been at intermediate level (142%), with a smaller rise (23%) in the number of advanced and higher level apprentices.
“To have 31,070 new starters in the sector in 2011/12, compared to 22,300 in 2010/11, and 16,760 in 2009/10 shows how much excellent work has been going on to meet the skills challenge by both organisations,” said Semta chief executive Sarah Sillars.
“These are real jobs, many paying well above the national average, with young people earning as they learn new skills,” she added.
However, Sillars is warning against complacency, noting that engineering and manufacturing still have an image problem and that more teachers and parents need to understand “apprenticeships will benefit their children and not somebody else’s.”
Meanwhile, Semta estimates that the sector needs to recruit 82,000 people just to cover retirements up to 2016. It is working with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Government on a programme to double the number of advanced and higher level apprenticeships for the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector by then.
Despite various campaigns, there were still only 18% of employers in the sector who have or offer apprenticeships. The number of 16-24 year-olds makes up just 7% of the advanced manufacturing and engineering workforce compared to 11% for all sectors, while women are also under-represented at 20% compared to 49% for all sectors.
“We cannot stress enough how more work needs to be done to educate teachers, parents and even some employers,” Sillars said. “It is worrying, for example, that the Institute of Physics found 49% of maintained co-ed schools sent no girls on to take A-level physics in 2011, and 12% sent on no boys.
“It is simply not good enough. We need boys and girls to be encouraged take STEM subjects then come into industry.
“Companies need to understand an apprentice may not always contribute towards a business in year one but in years two, three and four they make a major contribution becoming a valued, loyal employee, earning money and providing home-grown skills.
