67% of manufacturers worried that skills shortage will affect their business

This is according to a new poll of over 600 industry professionals commissioned by engineering supply chain exhibition Subcon in association with The Engineer, which runs its annual conference alongside Subcon.

When asked what industry and the Government can do to encourage more young people to consider manufacturing as a career, respondents singled out improved engineering education at school level, Investment in apprenticeship training, promotion of potential career progression and improved pay as factors that could help make a difference.

There was also a lukewarm response from respondents on government’s recent efforts to prioritise engineering skills: specifically through the introduction of the apprenticeship Levy, the £170 million investment in technology institutes and the introduction of T-Levels. Nearly three quarters of those taking part in the survey believe that government could do more, whilst 40 per cent of respondents to the didn’t know whether The Apprenticeship Levy (introduced on 6 April 2017) is a good thing.