Page 32 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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Challenges and Drivers of Change and Demand
The majority of businesses that engaged with the process indicated that one of the most significant challenges they face is the recruitment of a suitably qualified workforce. This is especially prevalent for businesses based in rural locations.
‘The most significant challenge we face is finding employees. Due to our location it is so difficult to find the right employees with the right skills for our industry. Unfortunately, our work load is forever increasing. We are having to turn down work as we don't have the workforce to complete the required works in time.’
Additionally, further challenges reported are sustaining a commercially viable business and sourcing work at the right price. These are key aspects in ensuring the sustainability of any business, these factors are fur- ther exacerbated by the challenge of sustaining their skills base through effective recruitment, retention and training.
The nature of the sector means that it is heavily reliant on global demand and the economy. Many businesses cited that customer demands were a key driver for them, this is coupled with fluctuations in commodity prices such as oil, gas and steel and the strength of UK Sterling against US Dollars or Euros.
A further driver which has substantial effects on outputs and the workforce is changing technology and the modernisation of engineering processes. One business stated;
‘We are a traditional engineering company with labour intensive processes and a lack of availability of a skilled workforce. We need to improve technology to increase business efficiency and profitability. Newer machinery has the potential to be operated by semi-skilled staff.’
Underpinning all of these factors is of course legislation and general political directions, this is especially a consideration for those business operating in the Energy and Environment sector.
Difficult Roles to Recruit
The majority of employers engaged with stated that they have faced difficulty in recruiting some roles, these are detailed below;
Small
Technical Staff
Office Administrator
Skilled Engineers
Design Engineers
Higher Management
Medium
Project Management
Construction Management
Estimators
Engineering
Technical
Large
Technical Valve Engineers
High Tech Engineers
Maintenance Planners/Schedulers
Temporary Craft Labour
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Sector Profiles