Employers unite over skills shortages

Hosted by Baroness Wall and organised by Semta, the event will hear from leading industrialists on how they are rising to the skills challenge facing the UK economy. Employers will be urged to take ownership of skills and work together to help drive an increase in the recruitment of apprentices and graduates as well as upskilling the current workforce. Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens UK Industry Sector will address delegates about what is required to rebalance the UK economy, Siemens plans and the opportunities that it will create for firms within the supply chain. Colin Larkin, plant manager at tractor manufacturer Case New Holland, which employs 950 people in Basildon, Essex, will talk about how investing in skills leads to a return on investment. Martin Rigley, managing director of Lindhurst Engineering based in Nottinghamshire with 45 employees, will discuss how small and medium-sized companies can work more closely together to share best practice and cluster services such as training to keep costs down.