News 6 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk April/May 2025 Make UK’s Industrial Strategy Skills Commission has called for sweeping reforms to address the UK’s growing skills deficit, which is hindering economic and productivity growth. The Commission’s recommendations include the creation of a formal ‘Skills Covenant’ between government and industry to increase investment in workforce training and upskilling. Among its proposals, the Commission advocates for ringfencing the £800 million in unspent employer contributions to the Growth and Skills Levy and redirecting the £650 million raised annually from the Immigration Skills Charge solely to skills investment. These funds could train 40,000 new engineers, addressing the manufacturing skills gap that costs the UK economy £6 billion annually. The Commission also highlights the decline in vocational courses, particularly in engineering and manufacturing, due to financial pressures on education providers. To remedy this, it recommends increasing funding for key courses, such as the Level 3 engineering apprenticeship, and allowing levy funds to be used for investing in equipment and machinery. To further support upskilling, the Commission proposes a tax rebate for businesses investing in accredited training, along with a revamp of careers guidance in schools. It also calls for expanding the University Technical College (UTC) model to provide more technical training opportunities. Robert Halfon, Co-Chair of the Commission, emphasised the need for reform to support innovation in manufacturing and engineering, especially in new green technologies. He warned that failure to act could undermine the UK’s growth agenda. Make UK CEO Stephen Phipson echoed these concerns, criticising the current Apprenticeship Levy and urging immediate action to ensure proper funding for vital courses and recruitment of experienced trainers. The Commission’s message is clear: urgent action is needed to address the UK’s skills crisis and secure the future of its manufacturing sector. Make UK’s Industrial Strategy Skills Commission proposes sweeping reforms BPMA’s 25th Anniversary Awards recognise pump industry’s top innovators and winners On March 13, 2025, the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) returned for the third consecutive year to St George’s Park in Staffordshire, where it hosted the 2025 Pump Industry Awards presentation evening. Marking the 25th Anniversary of the prestigious awards, this year’s event was a resounding success, with a sold-out crowd of around 300 industry professionals gathering to celebrate excellence in pump manufacturing and distribution. The milestone anniversary saw a record number of submissions across the ten award categories, further highlighting the innovation and dedication within the sector. With entries reflecting the impressive breadth and diversity of the pump industry, the evening’s celebrations served as a powerful reminder of the value of in-person events, allowing professionals to reconnect, network, and honour achievements that are often hard to measure but essential to the sector’s ongoing success. Lee Tebbatt, Managing Director of Wilo UK and President of the BPMA, officially opened the evening with a warm welcome to the 2025 Awards Finalists. He emphasised their outstanding achievements, before turning to the BPMA’s work on non-compliant circulation pumps. Tebbatt also addressed the broader responsibility of the pump industry to address urgent global challenges, including water scarcity, energy shortages, and climate change—issues on which the sector’s innovations can have a profound impact. In keeping with the sporting theme that has characterised previous editions of the awards, the guest speaker for the evening, Perry McCarthy, delighted the audience with tales from his remarkable career. Known for his ‘against the odds’ journey to Formula 1, McCarthy captivated guests with anecdotes from his time as the original Stig on BBC’s Top Gear. The evening’s mood was further elevated as McCarthy took part in presenting the main awards and also participated in a charity game of ‘Higher or Lower,’ which raised £1755 for WaterAid—the BPMA’s chosen charity for the event. Wayne Rose, BPMA’s Director and CEO, expressed his satisfaction with this year’s awards programme, noting the enthusiastic participation and the high calibre of entries: “It was another great night celebrating the hard work and achievements of the pump industry. The awards dinner provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with industry colleagues and make new connections in a relaxed and friendly environment.” He continued: “I was again impressed by the quality of entries, and I am so pleased to have this fantastic annual showcase as part of the BPMA’s support package for the pump sector.” The evening culminated with the announcement of the 2025 Pump Industry Awards winners. With sponsorship from some of the most respected names in the industry, the
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