May 22, 2009 - Despite the current economic climate, many UK manufacturers can secure their long term future by investing in the skills they need to embrace emerging environmental technologies.
That’s the view of many industry leaders, including Bob Gibbon, Managing Director of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing (the Skills Academy) and Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KB CBE, Director and Founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group based at the University of Warwick.
Recently, the Skills Academy hosted a lecture by Lord Bhattacharyya at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) which highlighted the fact that environmental concerns presented the opportunity for manufacturing firms to lead the world.
Mr Gibbon explained: “It’s clear that many manufacturers are suffering because of the recession, but there are plenty of opportunities for forward looking companies.
“Lord Bhattacharyya also stressed that to make the most of this ongoing ‘green revolution’, UK companies needed to invest in new skills.
“At the Skills Academy we also believe that this investment in skills training also has a wider benefit, particularly in times of recession.
“Those firms that resist the temptation to cut back on training or lay off skilled staff will reap the rewards once the recovery gets underway.
“One of the most important lessons we have learnt from the last serious recession is the need to retain skills within manufacturing – once they are gone they are gone forever.”
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Semta is the employer-led skills council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK. The sectors it represents are: Aerospace, Automotive, Bioscience, Composites, Electrical, Electronics, Maintenance, Marine, Mathematics, Mechanical, Metals and Engineered Metal Products, Renewables and Science. Its role is to raise skills levels and competitiveness in the 76,000 companies and 2 million-strong workforce that make up these sectors. Its National Skills Academy for Manufacturing delivers an independent national standard for manufacturing training content, delivery and process by focusing on business return which is typically 6:1.
www.semta.org.uk
www.nsa-m.co.uk
Media contact:
Martin Farrow
CHANGEWORKS Communications
T. + 44 (0) 1785 247588 / + 44 (0) 7771 970025
E.
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