THE NATIONAL
MANUFACTURING SKILLS
TASK FORCE

Working together to address UK manufacturing skills gaps

Introduction

The National Manufacturing Skills Task Force was formed in 2020, comprising representatives from industry and trade unions to work with Government colleagues as well as other stakeholders to collectively make a positive impact on the skills challenges facing all industries in the manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing powerhouse

Manufacturing is of strategic importance to the UK, not just in terms of its contribution to the UK economy but also in its determination to drive innovation, productivity and is a key part of the UK’s drive towards net-zero. Manufacturing provides individuals with high quality, transferable skills that can add value irrespective of their role or area of manufacturing.

The UK is the world’s 12th leading manufacturing economy delivering £217 billion of outputs in 2023/24 and representing 45% of the UK’s total exports.

The UK manufacturing sector employs 2.6 million people with salaries on average 10% higher than the rest of the economy. Manufacturing contributes 47% of R&D and 14% of business investment in the UK.

UK manufacturing supports:

  • Sustainability

  • Local communities and local jobs

  • Resilience of supply chains

And is a 21st century sector to work in.

Strength in numbers and a unified vision

Since its inception in 2020, the Task Force has continued to grow and attract new members to ensure complete coverage of the breadth of manufacturing.

Members of the Task Force are:

  • ADS Group

  • Association British Pharmaceuticals

  • British Ceramic Confederation

  • British Plastics Federation

  • Chemical Industries Association

  • Cogent Skills

  • Composites UK

  • CSEU & Unite

  • Construction Equipment Association

  • Engineering and Machinery Alliance

  • Enginuity

  • Food & Drink Federation

  • Furniture Makers/FIESTA

  • HVMC

  • Make UK

  • Make UK Defence

  • National Skills Academy: Food & Drink

  • SMMT

  • TUC

  • UK Metals Council

  • UK Steel

  • Chairs of Auto and Aero Skills Working Groups

The National Manufacturing Skills Task Force is an inclusive group that welcomes participation from organisations who are committed to providing cross manufacturing strategic leadership on skills, maximising collaborative opportunities, facilitating practical and impactful change and interventions, and promoting the role of the Task Force to manufacturing employers and individuals.

Purpose

The National Manufacturing Skills Task Force is the catalyst for bringing strategic leadership, critical mass, and a unified and strong voice to address the critical shared skills challenges. The principal aim of the Task Force is to work in unison to ensure that manufacturing both retains and attracts the skills and talent it needs now and in the future. Convening clear proposals for intervention, this unique forum has worked in partnership with Government and others, on a number of key initiatives, including:

  • FE Skills White Paper

  • HGV Driver Shortage

  • DWP Manufacturing Microsite and Podcasts

  • No 10 Skills Delivery Plan

  • DfE T Levels working group

  • Development of the Gatsby Educational Landscape guide

  • Subsuming the work of the DfE Apprenticeships in Manufacturing group

  • Advanced Manufacturing Plan

*Image credits: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, CPI, Manufacturing Technology Centre, National Composites Centre, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Nuclear AMRC, Warwick Manufacturing Group

Key objectives

The Task Force is keen to work with all parts of Government to:

  • Improve the image and recognition of the importance and diversity of the sector as an employer, and a fantastic place to work for people of all ages

  • Ensure the growth of high quality, appropriately funded apprenticeships at all levels

  • Identify the common skills needs of the existing and future workforce including:
    - Digital
    - Net-zero
    - Leadership and management
    - Creativity and innovation

  • Develop an appropriate and cost effective ecosystem to meet the upskilling and reskilling needs of employers

  • Improve the ‘user friendliness’ of the skills system for SMEs to drive their participation and investment

Value for employers and members

The National Manufacturing Skills Task Force is founded around the concept of partnership and cooperation bringing together manufacturing, employers and trade unions to work collectively to address common skills challenges by:

  • Emphasising the shared skills issues across all of manufacturing whilst recognising the individual nuances of the sectors within it

  • Working collaboratively for the common good of manufacturing whilst respecting the individual members need for an individual voice

  • Providing a focal point for discussion and intervention between employers and individuals across manufacturing with Government departments

  • Being a strong and single voice to represent manufacturing’s skills needs to Government and wider stakeholders and raise the collective importance of manufacturing

By being part of the Task Force, individual members can leverage all that is common and shared across manufacturing whilst also recognising, appreciating and supporting individual differences.

Get involved

The Task Force has a unified and ambitious vision to drive the interventions needed in the UK manufacturing sector. We don't underestimate the scale of the challenge, and welcome the support of other organisations who can help us achieve the Task Force's vision.

© The National Manufacturing Skills Taskforce 2024