Page 8 - Industrial Technology magazine February 2021 issue

INDUSTRY

UPDATE...

93% of industry without skills

to meet 2050 climate targets

ONLY 53% OF UK ENGINEERING FIRMS THINK NET ZERO BY 2050 IS ACHIEVABLE FOR THEM. AND HALF
ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A SKILLS GAP OR LIMITATIONS IN THEIR CURRENT WORKFORCE (46%),
HOWEVER DUE TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, IS CURRENTLY THEIR LOWEST PRIORITY.

nly 7% of engineering companies in the UK thirds (67%) say it’s integrated into their overall business
with a sustainability strategy say they have the strategy. The report also looks at the type of skills that
skills needed to fulfil it, a survey by the were lacking in new recruits. Employers are divided as to
OInstitution of Engineering and Technology (IET) what type of skills their organisation will need in order to
reveals. The survey, which looks at the skills engineering deliver their sustainability strategy, with equal proportions
employers need to meet 2050 net-zero targets, uncovers citing the need for innovative thinking (62%), manage-
that only half (53%) of UK engineering firms think net ment strategic skills (60%), and agility skills (60%).
zero by 2050 is achievable for them. When considering Stephanie added: “The majority of employers think
who should be accountable for tackling climate change, their engineering and technical staff will need more skills
businesses think the majority of responsibility lies with and knowledge to respond to the changes being made to
national Government (25%), followed by business and lower their environmental impact. Therefore, it will be
industry (20%). Over half (56%) are doubtful that highly important for these engineering employers to be
achieving net zero in the UK by 2050 is possible. are also concerns over the apprentices that enter the able to effectively address their skills gaps, particularly
When addressing skills, one in two engineering firms engineering industry. Over a third (38%) of employers looking at digital skills and complex problem solving.
state they are currently experiencing skills gaps (46%), agree that apprentices don’t understand the realities of Employers should also be flexible in their expectations of
with most choosing to upskill/retrain existing employees work in their industry and that they don’t have the young people leaving education who may have missed
(47%) or hire new employees with those skills (44%). It’s necessary technical skills (34%). out on key training and practical opportunities caused by
less common for them to recruit apprentices/graduates Stephanie Baxter, IET skills and innovation lead, said: lockdown.
and provide training, although this is still an action taken “To deliver on the UK’s net-zero challenge, the standout “It’s disappointing to see there is still a low perception
by roughly a third (32%). issue with recruitment is a lack of people with the right to the quality of young people entering the engineering
The economic impact of Covid-19 has however seen specialist skills or knowledge and this poses a huge risk sector. We believe by improving the understanding of the
a shift in priorities. Twelve months ago, increasing to advancing our green recovery. This is coupled with a net-zero challenge we face; we will be able to create work
profitability was the top priority for businesses (50%). huge change in business priorities as a result of the ready recruits that understand the importance of
This has been replaced by the well being of their staff Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst only 7% of businesses with a sustainability and ability to tackle problems that don’t yet
(68%) and dealing with economic changes/uncertainty green recovery strategy say they have the right skills have a known solution. The responsibility to reduce the
(68%). Recruiting staff with new skills is currently the needed to fulfil it, recruitment overall at this time is their impact on the climate rests on all of us and industry,
lowest priority for engineering employers (35%, lowest priority. We now need to consider the economic government and educators now need to collaborate to
compared to 38% 12 months ago) and this continues to impact this will have on furthering the UK’s sustainability identify and deliver the essential skills needed to deliver a
be the case in their expectations for one year from now agenda and our collective ability to achieve net-zero fit for purpose workforce to achieve our net-zero targets.”
(35%), however, employers will need to start addressing targets by 2050.” The report details ten recommendations for education,
this in order to rebuild the economy post-Covid. The IET’s ‘Skills for net zero and a green recovery’ government and policy and skills which include greater
On hiring new recruits, 43% of engineering employers report shows that only (55%) of engineering employers collaboration to improve work-readiness of recruits,
agree that university graduates don’t have the necessary have a sustainability strategy that has specific activities improve the understanding of the net-zero challenge
skills needed to work in their industry. However, there and goals. Of those with a sustainability strategy, two and building a more flexible and dynamic workforce.

Manufacturing salaries are lagging behind

RAPID ADVANCES ARE TRANSFORMING MANUFACTURING, BUT A NEW
SURVEY FINDS THAT SALARIES IN THE SECTOR ARE NOT KEEPING PACE
ech salaries across the manufacturing industry insurance, energy, finance and aerospace sectors.
are lagging behind top paying business sectors by Technology is driving a new era of automation in
as much as 20%, according to a global survey of manufacturing. Cloud computing and the rapid advances
Tmore than 15,000 developers and tech recruiters in AI, robotics and machine learning are transforming
conducted by developer recruitment platform CodinGame. almost every facet of manufacturing, from production and
Developers working in manufacturing earn on average design to supply chain operations.
£33,820, compared to an average salary of £40,586 in But the report by CodinGame, suggests tech salaries
the security sector. aren’t keeping pace with the transformative changes, recruitment platform CodinGame, comments: “As digital
Developer salaries across the manufacturing industry driven by technology, that are taking place across transformation spreads across manufacturing, there will be
are also significantly lower than those in the technology, manufacturing. Aude Barral, co-founder of developer increased demand for developers; from AI security and

8 INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • Jan/Feb 2021