Skills STEM is often cited as a key part of the skills shortage issue within the UK, but this can be a rather exclusive term. We hear about several companies visiting schools to talk about STEM, which relates mainly to children who are particularly good at science and maths. This can, of course, exclude many creative students who are better at working with their hands or are better at learning new skills on the job. I understand why there is a focus on STEM because this is obviously important from a skills perspective. However, I believe we should move away from using this term too much. Instead, when looking at future employees I think companies should consider all student types and what they could bring to a company, whether in terms of working on the shop floor, in the warehouse, in admin, purchasing, HR, sales and marketing, field service – and the list goes on. Apprenticeships Of course, we need engineers, and in the past many people who became engineers went to university. This is still the case to a considerable extent, but we have some great apprenticeship schemes available now. Whilst students still need to achieve good grades for many of these apprenticeships, this can be a very positive route for those who perhaps are better at leaning whilst they’re doing a particular type of job rather than focusing primarily on the academic side in the first instance. Also, when we talk about manufacturing, it’s not just about being an engineer. There are many other important roles within manufacturing. Certainly, within the fluid power industry there are many other roles where young people don’t need to be engineers to undertake them to a high standard. So, rather than just focusing on STEM and engineering per se, I think we need to look at the bigger picture regarding manufacturing. Engagement At Marvelous Manufacturing, we try to encourage manufacturers to engage with their local schools. Many of these companies are SMEs and sometimes they say they are too busy to enter into that type of engagement. So, we say these companies should find whatever time they can give but focus on areas where this type of communication can bring The value of engagement 38 www.bfpa.co.uk By Angela Lawlor, Managing Director, Marvelous Manufacturing.
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