Accountancy firm Monahans, which has offices in Swindon and Chippenham, is encouraging the Wiltshire’s manufacturers to have their say on the effect of the engineering skills gap 
as part of a major industry survey.
The firm is backing the survey, which has been launched by MHA, the association of accountancy and business advisory firms, and will look at barriers to growth and the long-term implications of failing to invest in engineering talent.
The results will be used to encourage the Government and public and private bodies to develop policies that meet the needs of industry.
Monahans partner and manufacturing specialist Iain Black, pictured, said: “Manufacturing has been identified by central Government as a key sector to promote UK growth and to keep the UK competitive in global markets.
“It is against this backdrop as part of our membership of MHA that we have launched the MHA Manufacturing Survey here in the South West in conjunction with Lloyds Bank.
“It is a real opportunity for manufacturers in the region to take a step back and assess their business needs and feed those into one of the largest surveys of this sector.
“I strongly believe that together we can make a real difference to the support and attention the sector receives from the highest levels of Government and taking part in this survey is one of the ways that manufacturers can make that difference.”
Head of MHA’s manufacturing group Chris Coopey added: “Engineering UK estimates that as a country we need either to double the number of engineering graduates we produce or take other measures, including supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) students and apprenticeships, in order to compete on the global stage.
“The reality is that many engineering and manufacturing businesses are finding recruitment difficult if not impossible, and not just for graduates and experienced engineers but even at apprentice level. This skills gap means a growth gap for the sector – and it will get worse the longer we fail to address the obvious.
“The rewards for encouraging many more secondary school students towards a career in engineering and manufacturing are potentially huge for the UK economy.
“If we get the balance right and find an answer to the skills gap, we could potentially add around £27bn a year to the UK economy from 2022 onwards.”
Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking’s head of SME manufacturing, David Atkinson, said: “The skills gap poses a major challenge for the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sector and the issue needs to be addressed in order for manufacturers to remain competitive and at the cutting edge of the global market. There’s a clear demand for talent at all levels and if tackled successfully, resolving the skills shortage will support the sustainable growth of the industry and ensure the sector continues to play a fundamental role in rebalancing the UK economy.”
The survey report will be available in late September and will include analysis by the prestigious WMG – the Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick – and from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ head of transport and manufacturing Philippa Oldham.
Monahans is staging a series of manufacturing breakfasts in Swindon in support of the town’s advanced engineering sector – the latest linked up with BMW’s Swindon pressings plant to look at the importance of apprenticeships and vocational training.
Monahans has 15 partners and more than 120 staff across its offices in Swindon, Bath, Chippenham, Frome, Glastonbury and Trowbridge.
The survey closes on July 31. Manufacturers can contribute by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/75L8XGP
