Manufacturing firms attending manufacturing showcase MACH 2012 were urged by Semta to make investment in skills a top priority to support economic growth.
The message will be reinforced throughout the week-long event designed to promote the manufacturing sector on the world stage.
Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, will join many businesses and organisations that will exhibit at the event being hosted at Birmingham’s NEC.
Semta data reveals that 82,000 scientists, engineers and technologists need to be recruited between 2012 and 2016. However, only 15 per cent of businesses across Semta’s sectors currently employ apprentices.
Susan Evans, business development director at Semta, will deliver a seminar linking business improvement to skills investment and the benefits of taking on an apprentice.
Ms Evans said: “We have strong evidence that businesses which invest in training existing staff and recruiting new skills are more competitive and better placed to take advantage of business growth opportunities. In a climate of continued economic austerity, it is vital that businesses assess their skills needs and make the investment to address them.”
At the event, Semta will also unveil a number of e-learning courses and online diagnostic tools that are now available on the organisation’s website.
Photo by Tim Parkinson
