“Hundreds” of roles are lying vacant due to a shortage of engineers, it has been claimed.
Stoke-on-Trent South MP Jack Brereton has raised in Parliament an issue of some “fantastic” engineering companies in Stoke-on-Trent struggling to fill vacancies, whilst seeking support to try to fill them.
North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association (NSEG), based in Hanley, works with over 100 local manufacturing and engineering companies and supports them with recruitment of apprentices, fulltime staff, health and safety training and consultancy.
It currently has 20 manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship vacancies as well as other jobs on offer.
CEO Paul Williams said: “A lot of the companies we work with are finding it difficult to find skilled engineers, particularly in areas such as welding and CNC programming and machining.
“The engineering sector has seen a lot of people leave in recent years – mostly through retirement – but new intake has decreased significantly through schools putting an emphasis on academic routes rather than apprenticeships.
“We’re working hard to promote engineering, upskill and provide qualifications and fill the gap, because companies are asking us for recruits all the time.”
NSEG has helped over 80 unemployed people gain an industry-recognised qualification in the past six months, of which 78 per cent have progressed into employment or further education.
Jack Brereton MP said in Parliament: “We have some fantastic engineering companies in Stoke-on-Trent, including Don-Bur, IAE and Rayne Precision Engineering. However, they are struggling to fill what amount collectively to hundreds of vacancies.”
Guy Opperman MP, Minister of State for Department of Work and Pensions, told him work is ongoing to offer training and jobs fairs to fill the specialist roles.
An apprenticeship careers fair, organised by Stoke & Staffs Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, takes place on 8 February at Port Vale FC between 10am and 6pm.
