Skills project highlighted in House of Commons

South Derbyshire Labour MP Mark Todd introduced an adjournment debate to showcase the achievements of Derby-based Midlands Engineering Industries Redeployment Group (MEIRG) and lobby for continued funding. The MP praised the project that has helped more than half of the engineers facing redeployment with remain within the sector, well above the national average of 30%. He said: “I hoped to draw attention to MEIRG's excellent achievements and to raise the project's profile amongst other MPs and its partner organisations emda and Advantage West Midlands. Their continued support is imperative in sustaining the excellent work of MEIRG. Ideally I'd like to see the project rolled out nationally so other regions may replicate it and benefit.” In response to Mark Todd the Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Competitiveness in the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, made positive and encouraging remarks and committed to writing to the chairs of emda and Advantage West Midlands to draw attention to the debate. He also wished the project good luck. Paddy Tipping, Labour MP for Sherwood commented that it was important for funding to be awarded. Since MEIRG began 22 months ago it has helped 800 engineers receive training and 380 companies through difficult restructuring. Over 3000 individuals have benefited overall. Some of these have gained employment through its online job search facility, C-Web. C-Web lists both employers looking for workers and those looking for jobs. It also has the capacity to match the two. Engineering in the Midlands is perceived to be in decline but there is currently a skills shortage which means in as little as five years time there will not be enough engineers for the jobs available. MEIRG is a unique pilot-project in the midlands which was set up in response to this skills shortage. Jan Staley, project manager at MEIRG added: “We are thrilled to have been the subject of a debate and hope by raising awareness of our work and successes we can continue to contribute to the East Midlands economy. We offer a range of services from helping employees write CVs and prepare for job interviews through to actually finding them jobs. We are confident the other regions can use our model to benefit their engineers. “We would also acknowledge and thank Simon Hemmings, Unite the Union (Amicus Section) national executive committee member for the East Midlands, who not only helped us establish MEIRG but has also strongly supported the project and helped our work with ministers.” Mark Todd added: “The response to this debate was encouraging so I am hopeful for a positive outcome for MEIRG.”