Source: SSDA Sector Skills Matrix 2004. Based on the Labour Force Survey.

The DTI recognises that manufacturing is central to the UK's future as a knowledge-driven economy. The need to develop the transition from education to employment in manufacturing and the development of skills is widely recognized. A number of initiatives and schemes are planned to provide support in this area. For example, the DfES 14-19 Green Paper included manufacturing as one of the recommended vocational GCSEs to be introduced.

Apprenticeships are being encouraged as a useful route for providing the skilled workers needed in manufacturing.

Source: DTI 2002

Manufacturers tend to under-invest in training compared to other sectors, with fewer training days, less management time devoted to training, fewer training plans and less new technology training. Many small and medium-sized enterprises in manufacturing find it difficult to fund training and face higher than average costs to train their staff. To combat these problems, the government is focusing more on the skills needs of employers in the supply of training and development in Further Education colleges, particularly for Level 3 (craft and technical) qualifications.

Source: DTI 2002

Proskills is the proposed Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the Process and Manufacturing sector and aims to provide training and development opportunities to improve skill levels and productivity.  It has a broad range of proposals to meet this objective including:

• instilling a culture of workforce development
• establishing flexible training and qualification routes 

Proskills aims to promote the importance of the sector and encourage the use of Apprenticeships, with continuous learning, to encourage job and personal fulfillment.

Source: DTI 2004 and DTI 2002