Apprentices are scarce in UK manufacturing as a whole, but this is particularly the case in the UK aluminium industry. Why is this? Because of the vast skills gap the industry is currently facing. In a survey conducted across Aluminium Federation (ALFED) members, over 85% of respondents reported that between 0-10% of their workforce is under the age of 25. To add to this, when asked what percentage of their workforce is expected to retire in the next 10 years, over 28% of respondents reported the figure to be between 25-50%, and over 70% reported 10-25% of their employees to be retiring within the next 10 years.
Nevertheless, awareness of apprentices in the sector are on the rise, as when asked if they currently have an apprentice or young person’s scheme in place to introduce or train young people in the industry, over 70% of ALFED members reported that they do have such a scheme in place within their organisations. This tallies up to a recent survey conducted by Make UK and RSM UK, where results found that “56% of employers were somewhat confident they could fill their skills gap in the next 12 months”. However, over a third of manufacturers reported to not being confident in being able to do this, meaning that employers need to be able to retain existing employees, enhance their skills and attract new talent to the industry – and apprenticeships in manufacturing could be the key.
So, what are the benefits to apprenticeships in the manufacturing sector? In this article, we will dive into some of the key benefits that manufacturing apprentices can take advantage of and explain how the upcoming Apprenticeship Open Day held at Make UK’s Technology Hub in association with ALFED will be beneficial for ALFED members.
The Current State of UK Manufacturing
According to the Make UK Manufacturing: The Facts 2024 report, the manufacturing sector contributed £217 billion in output to the UK economy, supporting 2.6 million jobs in 2023. Additionally, businesses are now investing more than they did in 2023, with £38.8 billion worth of investment taking place in the industry. This, of course holds its own when we talk about how worth while it is to further support the industry by investing in apprenticeships, however a key benefit to the apprentices themselves is that the report highlighted that manufacturing roles are generally better paid than most, with average salaries rising to £38,769 this year.
To date, the UK is ranked in the top 15 world’s largest manufacturing economies, and when looking on the regional picture, the Northwest of England remains to be the leading manufacturing area of the UK, with output worth £29.5 billion , and is closely followed by the Southeast at £26.1 billion.
The Benefits of Engaging with Apprenticeships
In the survey produced by Make UK and RSM UK, it was revealed that 40% of job vacancies in the manufacturing industry are caused due to a shortage of skills, qualifications, or experience; which indicates that the sectors talent pipeline isn’t operating effectively. Therefore, by investing in apprenticeships to recruit, train, and upskill either young people entering the industry or more experienced employees, organisations will be more likely to create a more robust, skilled workforce, which in the long run would increase productivity and generate a larger return on their investment. Their survey also found that 77% of those who complete an apprenticeship are more likely to remain with their employer, so this not only would decrease the organisations employee turnover rate, but it also promotes apprenticeships as a more sustainable option for businesses to take.
Let’s summarise… Why should we be investing in apprenticeships?
- To address skills gaps by training up employees based on the specific industry skills that are required, rather than hiring what is readily available
- To develop, upskill and progress existing staff, thereby improving staff retention
- To create an internal talent pipeline
- To improve staff morale and wellbeing by creating a culture of continuous development
Join Team ALFED at the upcoming Apprenticeship Open Day at Make UK!
In the lead up to the launch of the inaugural Apprentice of the Year Award at the ALFED Annual Dinner on Thursday 28th November, we are keen to continue to show our support for apprentices in our sector. That’s why we are inviting ALFED members to join us at Make UK’s Technology Hub a 10.00am on the 19th November for a half-day event full of Make UK presentations about apprenticeship and skills, as well as information on discounts for future Make UK training courses, and there will also be a guided tour around the Technology Hub itself before the event comes to an end with a networking lunch.
Make UK’s impressive Technology Hub offers an extensive range of conference and event facilities, all designed to make your event memorable. To find out more about the hub, please click here.
Make UK Apprentice and Skills Training is dedicated to the future of manufacturing. Everything they do is designed to help manufacturing and engineering businesses evolve, innovate, and compete locally and globally. Having the right skills is vital for the future of our industry and we are dedicated to developing the workforce of today and of the future. Make UK are focused firmly on the skills our industry needs with comprehensive programmes that cover key manufacturing and engineering specialities.
To find out more about the Open Day, and to register your place, please visit: Make UK Apprenticeship Open Day – ALFED
If you are an ALFED member and have any apprentices in your organisation who you would like to put forward for the Apprentice of the Year Award as recognition for the hard work and dedication they have put into their roles, there is still time to nominate them. Please click here to find out more about the Award, and to complete the Application Form.
Please note, applications for the Apprentice Award must be submitted by Friday 20th September.
To find out more about ALFED, or to become a member, please visit: www.alfed.org.uk.
