MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
In this issue of the e-bulletin I draw your attention to two pieces of news about EEF’s Technology Centre in South Birmingham. The first tells you about the recent Adult Learning Inspectorate report, which once again praised the staff and EEF West Midlands for its continued backing of apprenticeships and the quality of the training provided. I would like to put on record my thanks to all the staff at the centre for their continued hard work.
The second article is about 30 apprentices training there and who are currently seeking employment with a company. If you are looking to take on an apprentice, I would encourage you to look at the article and contact Peter Winebloom or visit the Engineering Connections website.
One of the major problems facing our country today is the skills shortage. Figures just released by the Office of National Statistics have revealed that in the last 12 months there has been a 25% decrease in the number of 16 and 17 year olds gaining employment in the West Midlands.
At the same time people of pension age being employed in the region has rocketed by 40%. It is difficult to tell whether the figures are related but these trends started in 2002 and there is little sign of them being reversed. It does seem though, that companies are holding on to their older workforce in order to retain key skills. There is no doubt, training apprentices is an expensive process, and often difficult to justify for companies where cost reduction programmes and redundancies are a regular part of the business planning process. Of course the fact that the workers over 60 are finding employment is welcome news, but if this is a result of the skills shortage we are only creating problems for the future.
This country needs desperately to invest in apprentices to fill the skills gap. Although the government is making the right noises about apprentice training we are facing cuts in funding, making it all the harder to train talented young people. Last year at the last moment we were informed that funding for apprentice training from the LSC was to be cut by 13%.
We continue to invest in the centre on your behalf, to give apprentices the career they want and to provide companies with the people they need to compete in the global market. The cut in funding though is unsustainable and needs to be addressed, as does the skills shortage we are facing.
Ian Smith