In an inspiring demonstration of collective responsibility, over 50 member companies of Composites UK have now pledged their commitment to tackling the skills shortage facing the UK composites sector.
This milestone follows the launch of the Composites UK Skills Pledge, which was introduced to address the persistent skills crisis highlighted in the association’s position paper earlier this year.
The position paper underscored a decade-long challenge: a shortage of qualified and experienced professionals, compounded by the aftermath of EU-Exit and an ageing workforce. These factors have forced companies to compete for talent in unsustainable ways, such as salary-driven staff “poaching.” Without decisive action, the sector risks losing its ability to grow and remain competitive.
In response, Composites UK has called on the entire industry to take ownership of workforce development. The skills pledge serves as a rallying point, encouraging companies to engage with their local education ecosystems and foster future talent pipelines. To support this effort, Composites UK has created educational materials designed to assist companies in their outreach initiatives.
The pledge has rapidly gained traction, with 51 companies to date – spanning the composites supply chain – signing up to demonstrate their commitment. This momentum showcases the sector’s recognition of the urgent need for a unified approach to skills development.
In addition to the skills pledge, Composites UK continues its work on the sector’s first equity, diversity, and inclusion review. The forthcoming industry framework will further support member companies in embedding best practices, ensuring the composites sector attracts and retains a diverse and skilled workforce.
Matt Bradney, Prodrive Composites and Chair of the Composites UK Workforce Development Group, emphasises the significance of this initiative. “We either do this, or we don’t have an industry. To enable businesses to operate and plan for growth we need to attract more people into the sector. This pledge is the starting point for addressing these challenges.”
Composites UK members can access supporting materials, including guidance for engaging with schools, colleges, and training providers, through the member resources section of the Composites UK website.
This milestone reaffirms the sector’s collective commitment to ensuring its future success. As more companies join the pledge, Composites UK continues to lead the charge in fostering a thriving and sustainable workforce.
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