New manufacturing techniques will lead to a skills revolution

The pace of development driving technological progress and new processes is outstripping the nation's ability to skill its workforce, the report concluded and SMEs have a particularly acute challenge ahead of them. The hard hitting report, carried out for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, reveals that many companies are already struggling to secure the skills that they need. Plastic Electronics (plastic components that conduct electricity), new composites and additive manufacturing are becoming increasingly important to new aircraft and vehicle design, the report suggests. Yet training in these specialisms remains limited. The report, compiled by Semta highlights 'wide-ranging' employment difficulties with many UK plastic electronic companies already being forced to recruit non-UK graduates and facing a decision to move production overseas as a result. "This is a matter that does need attention," said Sarah Sillars OBE, Semta's chief executive. "The good news is that industry and science continues to accelerate the evolutionary process – finding new ways of manufacturing and new things to manufacture – but the report underlines the stresses that this brings to bear on training and the supply of a newly skilled work force," Sillars added. "The complexity of new manufacturing processes will require a multi-faceted flexible workforce that can work across a number of disciplines. SMEs make up a large part of the sector – and Semta will provide them with a raft of support to help them rise to the challenge. "Semta is in discussion with the Automotive and Aerospace industries to help make this happen," she added. Indro Mukerjee, CEO Plastic Logic and Chairman of UKESF, welcomed the report: "This report is a valuable contribution to the national skills debate, which is crucial for the electronics sector in the UK, and should help inform responses to the challenge across the wider stakeholder base. It is a timely reminder of the need for a coordinated industry-led response to the skills challenge. "There is a welcome recognition of the importance of newly emerging sectors such as plastic electronics, their skills agenda and the potentially exciting career opportunities they offer". Full details of the report can be found on Semta's website.