Earlier this year Composites UK released a position paper addressing the ongoing skills crisis in the UK composites sector. The paper highlights a persistent shortage of qualified and experienced professionals that has plagued the industry for over a decade. This issue has been exacerbated with EU-Exit, which saw many European workers return to their home countries. With an ageing workforce and a lack of younger employees entering the field, the situation is poised to deteriorate further. Companies are already resorting to “poaching” staff from one another by offering slightly higher salaries—a practice that is ultimately unsustainable.
The paper goes on to stress that the whole UK composites sector has to take responsibility for developing their workforce of the future if they are to remain operational and competitive going forwards, the whole community has to engage.
In response, Composites UK has today unveiled its plans to support member companies in this task. The association is undertaking the sector’s first equity, diversity, and inclusion review, which will lead to the creation of an industry framework to assist companies and demonstrate the industry’s commitment to these values.
The Composites UK skills pledge for member companies also launched today with several members from across the supply chain already committed ahead of the official launch. By supporting the pledge, companies agree to actively engage with their local education communities. To facilitate this, Composites UK has developed educational materials to aid companies in their outreach efforts.
Matt Bradney, Prodrive Composites and Chair of the Composites UK Workforce Development Group said “We either do this or we don’t have an industry. Businesses are planning for growth and will require significant increases in the number of trained staff in the workforce. These personnel are not currently available, and it is increasingly difficult to attract youngsters into manufacturing.”
Composites UK members can download supporting material from the member resources area on the website.
Find out more here: Composites UK Skills Pledge | Composites UK