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Craft and Skilled Trades
Duration: 22 April 2002 to 30 May 2002
Research Briefs
Related Links
Resources
Workshops
Good Practice
The second SLIM theme examined the causes and possible remedies for the growing shortage of skills in a group of occupations that are crucial to productivity and competitiveness - the Craft and Skilled Trades.
The craft and skilled trades includes: fitters, welders, bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, scaffolders, plant operatives, steel/structural erectors, maintenance workers, electricians and plumbers. It also includes specialists in the 'heritage' skills, such as stone masons, wood carvers, farriers and wrought iron workers.
These skills are crucial to economic productivity and competitiveness. Yet the proportion of the population in the South West, and the UK generally, operating at NVQ Level 3, which is typically required for many of these trades, lags badly behind our European neighbours such as Germany and Holland.
Research shows high numbers of employers finding vacancies in these trades hard-to-fill, because candidates do not have the right skills. The consequences, reported by companies of all sizes, include loss of business, delays in introducing new products and services, reductions in quality, increased costs and a lack of adaptability to technological change. Sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, where craft skilled trades are concentrated, are particularly hard hit.
With an uneven supply of provision, an ageing workforce, and difficulties attracting new young entrants, the skills shortage in many craft and skilled trades appears set to get worse.
Many of the occupations are changing fast, with the existing workforce having to work hard keep up with technological developments and to develop 'generic' skills such as process control, team-work, scheduling, ordering and managing customer relations.
Yet pay levels in many craft and skilled trades are high. Many trades offer considerable opportunities for self-employment and small business development. And the recent 14-19 Green Paper, recognises the need to achieve parity of prestige and make these professions more attractive to young people.
Addressing this developing skills gap involves answering crucial questions, such as:
- Why are young people apparently reluctant to enter the craft and skilled trades?
- How do we make these occupations / courses / employment opportunities more attractive?
- How can we encourage employers to develop more proactive recruitment and training strategies?
- Where is the effective practice?
THEME ACTIVITIES
During the Theme SLIM researchers:
· identified, summarised and contextualised research on the issue for
participants
· interviewed policy makers
· identified projects demonstrating good practice and wrote these
up as case studies
· facilitated a 4 week on-line discussion, starting on April 22nd
· Held a workshop, scheduled for Thursday 30th May at Bishops Hull House, Taunton.
Resources
will be highlighted via the on-line discussion and made available through
the buttons at the bottom of this page.
For those who lack the time to take an active part in the Theme,
we will produce research briefs, summarising our research and findings.
The Theme culminated in a workshop which brought together participants to
reflect on the findings and discussion and to develop recommendations for
our Final Report. The report was distributed widely in the region and fed
back to policy makers by Theme participants.
| The second SLIM theme examined the causes and possible remedies for the growing shortage of skills in a group of occupations that are crucial to productivity and competitiveness - the Craft and Skilled Trades.
The craft and skilled trades includes: fitters, welders, bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, scaffolders, plant operatives, steel/structural erectors, maintenance workers, electricians and plumbers. It also includes specialists in the 'heritage' skills, such as stone masons, wood carvers, farriers and wrought iron workers. These skills are crucial to economic productivity and competitiveness. Yet the proportion of the population in the South West, and the UK generally, operating at NVQ Level 3, which is typically required for many of these trades, lags badly behind our European neighbours such as Germany and Holland. Research shows high numbers of employers finding vacancies in these trades hard-to-fill, because candidates do not have the right skills. The consequences, reported by companies of all sizes, include loss of business, delays in introducing new products and services, reductions in quality, increased costs and a lack of adaptability to technological change. Sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, where craft skilled trades are concentrated, are particularly hard hit. With an uneven supply of provision, an ageing workforce, and difficulties attracting new young entrants, the skills shortage in many craft and skilled trades appears set to get worse. Many of the occupations are changing fast, with the existing workforce having to work hard keep up with technological developments and to develop 'generic' skills such as process control, team-work, scheduling, ordering and managing customer relations. Yet pay levels in many craft and skilled trades are high. Many trades offer considerable opportunities for self-employment and small business development. And the recent 14-19 Green Paper, recognises the need to achieve parity of prestige and make these professions more attractive to young people. Addressing this developing skills gap involves answering crucial questions, such as: - Why are young people apparently reluctant to enter the craft and skilled trades?
|
THEME ACTIVITIES For those who lack the time to take an active part in the Theme,
we will produce research briefs, summarising our research and findings.
|
 
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SLIM is funded by the South West Regional Development
Agency and European Social Fund |
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