Scottish skills body launched
1 min read
Scottish industrialists have come together to launch a new group, the Forum for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Skills (FAMES), to significantly increase the number of apprentices recruited in the sector this year while also taking on more graduates and upskilling existing workforces.
The group will be made up of representatives from champion employers, business membership organisations, training providers and key stakeholders, who have joined forces to speak with one voice on the issue.
FAMES is being co-ordinated by Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, with the aim of giving Scotland a stronger voice to provide an integrated way of developing demand-led solutions to skill issues.
Among the companies meeting to draw up plans plans to identify common issues and to engage businesses across the country, were: Spirit Aerosystems, Babcock Engineering Services, Selex Galileo, Clydespace, Steel Engineering Weir Group, Siemens, Thales, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, Strathclyde University.
Some of the key areas FAMES will look at are:
* Only 29% of all engineering establishments in Scotland employ apprentices or recognised trainees
* 15% of all employers in Scotland reported skills gaps (21% for UK)
* 61% of Science, Engineering and Manufacturing technology employers believe technical and practical skills need to be improved (48% for all employers)
Chair of the Forum, David Watson, manager, Composite Development Centre, Spirit Aerosystems (Europe) Limited, said: "There are a number of challenges facing Scotland's advanced manufacturing sector and we are determined to work more closely together to ensure this country continues to playing a leading role in the global economy and remains attractive to potential investors."
