Semta is first Sector Skills Council to be relicensed by UK government

- Recession skills support to continue
- Advanced manufacturing, life sciences, green and emerging technologies get critical focus

Sector Skills Council Semta today announced it has been relicensed by the Secretary of State. Representing Aerospace, Automotive, Electrical, Electronics, Maintenance, Mechanical, Engineering, Marine, Metals and Engineered Metal Products, Bioscience, Science and Mathematics, Semta was one of the first four skills councils to successfully complete the relicensing process conducted by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

Sector Skills Councils are increasingly important as they influence skills policy, qualification reform and the way in which learning provision is delivered. Semta’s work is critical as the recession continues and to support future demands of advanced manufacturing and emerging science and technology industries. Semta research estimates that 15% of all UK engineering companies are at risk because they are not hiring, or training and do not know what their workforce skills gaps are. That’s over 10,000 companies and over 46,000 jobs at risk as they are not equipped to face skills challenges.

Science, bioscience, engineering and manufacturing are strategic UK industries. The UK’s engineering and science sectors’ turnover was £204 billion in 2006 and UK engineering exports amounted to £137 billion in 2006: 40% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top investment location for pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development. 75,000 companies and a 2 million workforce are represented by Semta.

Philip Whiteman, Chief Executive, Semta, said: “We are delighted to have this licence renewed. Our work is essential in supporting strategically important industries through the recession and in pinpointing the skills needed for the UK to compete in emerging industries. We must ensure employers have the right people with the right skills at the right time.

“We have continuously improved our employer leadership and increased employer engagement. In 2007/2008 Semta worked directly with 5,500 companies.

Semta’s support for continuous skills improvement is essential. Pre-recession, hard-to-fill vacancies in engineering were costing the UK economy £823 million a year in lost revenue. To support recovery our focus is on delivery of real economic benefit through our recession toolkit and our Leadership and Business Improvement Techniques (B-IT) programmes where we are seeing a 6:1 return on investment.

“Semta’s commitment to determining the right skills for the sector and helping its employers access funding for skills investment is exemplified by its £100 million ‘compact’ agreed with government for companies in England to help them invest in their workforce. To date around £40 million has been allocated. Semta also advises and assists companies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to access a wide range of funding and to navigate the sometimes complex application processes.

“In looking to the future, one of our key priorities is working with other skills bodies to make it easier for employers to improve the match between skills supply and demand at a local level. We must ensure that every employee can be developed to their full potential as we need a highly-skilled and adaptable workforce, particularly to support advanced manufacturing, life sciences, green and emerging technologies.  We will continue to help governments identify where funding would have most strategic impact. We will also increase the number of apprenticeships for workers of all ages, and do more to respond to the challenges of replacing an ageing workforce. By promoting the Diploma qualification and in supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM ) subjects we want to better prepare the workforce of the future and give young people a good career headstart.”

Skills Secretary John Denham said: “Now more than ever we need to make sure that all employers are given the support they need to invest in skills and prepare for the upturn. SSCs play a vital role as advocates for their industries and in identifying and tackling strategic skills needs. The four SSCs re-licensed today have shown that they are of the highest calibre and are providing a good service to employers in their sector.”

Background on how Semta makes a difference:

Semta’s research team publishes regular surveys and analysis to maintain a detailed, up-to-date picture of its sector. Activities include comprehensive Labour Market Intelligence surveys which monitor industry trends, skill levels and record skills gaps, skills shortages and gaps in provision. A solid research base helps Semta accurately target its actions and guides its work with partners.

In the last five years, Semta has represented these employer skills needs to governments and influenced the planning, funding and delivery of education and training to maintain and raise the sectors’ competitiveness. Semta has produced a UK Science Strategy and concluded four Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) which bring together employers, trade unions, government and funding providers to identify and agree action to tackle skills gaps and hard-to-fill vacancies that affect productivity and competitiveness.

Skills ‘Balance Sheets’ produced by Semta’s research department for each of the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland analyse skills supply and demand issues for specific geographical areas. Skills Balance Sheets inform the regional implementation of Sector Skills Agreements. They are a powerful tool to help employers, Regional Development Agencies, training providers and other stakeholders plan for the skills needed in their localities.

To help deliver these plans Semta operates three subsidiaries – National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, Metskill and EAL which allow it to deliver skills and improve qualifications. The Academy has established a network 500 trainers and assessors and 64 approved providers. It supported almost 5000 learners through NVQs in FY2008/9 and  created over £50m benefit to the manufacturing base. Metskill offers a full training management service and in 2008 helped employers recruit and develop a record number of apprentices. This helps SMEs which often lack in-house recruitment resources.

Semta is highly active across the UK. For example it established Shared Apprenticeships schemes to benefit SMEs in Wales and Northern Ireland, and in Scotland developed a new Life Sciences Modern Apprenticeship and completed a successful Productivity and Competitiveness pilot.

Semta increased the volume of N/SVQ registrations by more than 40% from 2003 to 2007. Current registrations number over 72,000. Semta has played a key role in developing new Diplomas for England in Engineering, Manufacturing and Product Design and Science.

Semta is also committed to widening participation and diversity and providing career progression for groups who have previously not being well-represented in many of these industries, in particular ethnic minorities and women. For example Semta runs a successful Women and Work programme to help sector companies attract, develop and train the best female talent in both England and Wales.