More than half of manufacturers in the UK feel they don’t have the right skills to take advantage of the growing ‘reshoring’ trend according to the In-Comm Training Barometer.
Research by the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce member shows 53 per cent of companies said they would need to invest in boosting the skills of the workforce if they are to bring work home, with just over a quarter saying they have successfully brought contracts back over the last 12 months.
A similar number (23 per cent) have kickstarted reshoring strategies, with the majority holding back due to restraints with their current and future workforce.
The findings, which covered more than 100 manufacturers, hammered home the current labour shortage hitting industry and indicated changing perceptions towards ‘growing your own’ staff.
On a positive note, 82 per cent of management teams have indicated they are planning to take on an apprentice in the next twelve months, citing developing future talent as the most popular reason followed closely by ‘filling a skills gap’.
Just 12 per cent said the latter was their reason for investing in vocational learning in 2022, compared to 46 per cent this time around, highlighting what could be a real shift in how firms are taking a longer-term approach to overcoming ‘people’ shortages.
“It’s a very complicated training and skills landscape out there at the moment,” said Gareth Jones, Managing Director of In-Comm Training, which runs two state-of-the-art Technical Academies in Aldridge and Telford.
“Engineering and manufacturing seem very buoyant and we’re constantly hearing stories of growth and new opportunities, especially around future mobility and a resurgent aerospace sector.
“Our Barometer echoes this in part, but also paints a picture of a sector that is massively hamstrung by a lack of skills.
“An already huge gap has been accentuated due to Brexit and effects of the pandemic, not to mention the fact that businesses are fishing in a jobs market that is favouring the candidate more than the employer for the first time in years.”
The Barometer also found that although more than three quarters of manufacturers are worried about retirement causing an even bigger drain on skills, this is not directly reflected in the number of firms planning to upskill their existing workforce to fill some of the gaps that are appearing. Only 55 per cent of companies plan to boost the skills of their existing staff.
Gareth added: “This is where we need to engage the disengaged businesses. There are too many owner-managed companies not looking to grow or develop succession plans, resulting in some really good manufacturers failing due to a lack of planning.”
All the intelligence generated from the In-Comm Training Barometer will be shared with key industry stakeholders, technical partners and with Ministers to accelerate positive change when it comes to future skills funding.
The findings are also used to support industry.
A link to the full report can be found here.
