The Skills Vision, a report compiled by Semta, the not for profit organisation, which represents 138,000 companies in advanced manufacturing and engineering, was handed to the new business secretary Sajid Javid.
Ann Watson, CEO of Semta, said: "When industry thrives – so does our nation. We consulted the sector and asked what it needed to get the job done at this crucial moment in our history.
"With the Government's laudable target of three million new apprenticeships in the next Parliament, we would urge them to protect FE and Adult Learning funding for STEM courses – to help give the sector the skills that it craves."
She added: "Skills Vision is a blueprint for change – to galvanize the Government – to do the right thing. Industry has spoken –its voice must be heard."
The document which was created after consultation with the sector, calls for policies to ensure:
- Stability – "a long-term view on apprenticeships, skills and science funding".
- Quality apprenticeships – "We call on the new government to ensure that apprenticeships are of the right quality, with qualifications or certification included in all and employers in control of the funding for training and of standards."
- Employer engagement in schools – "The last five years have seen new initiatives like free schools, studio schools and UTCs launched, with employers encouraged to get involved. We want to see a continuation of that emphasis."
- Preparing young people for work – "School structures matter, but what happens within schools matters more. We need to do more to prepare young people for the world of work."
- Growing the sector – "More women, more people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, more disabled people, a real social mix; this is how we can ensure the skills gap in advanced manufacturing and engineering AME and the wider STEM sector is closed in the medium term."
