Member Article

Stop poaching and start training, manufacturing leader urges

Engineering and manufacturing firms in the North East should follow in the footsteps of Alan Sugar and look to apprentices to plug the skills gap, an industry leader is warning. Niels Vinther, President of EEF Northern, whose members comprise manufacturing, engineering and technology-based businesses across the region, has also spoken out against the industry practice of companies poaching apprentices once they are trained rather than investing in their own training programmes.Mr Vinther, who is Managing Director of Sunderland-based pump manufacturers Grundfos, believes that the North East’s engineering and manufacturing sector is dependent on plugging the skills gap. He said: “Apprenticeships are an investment in the future lives of young people and of business. Apprentices enter a scheme from which they enhance and build their skills for the rest of their working career – and they will be able to sell their skills to the highest bidder. “A career in manufacturing and engineering is not mentioned to the vast majority of school leavers, not promoted as an interesting and challenging kind of career. I personally find that very disappointing and it’s a huge mistake that these careers are not promoted more vigorously.” Mr Vinther is calling on parents and careers advisers to encourage young people to consider a career in engineering or manufacturing – and for the Government and industry itself to back the modern apprenticeship scheme and recognise the benefits. He added: “The scheme is not promoted adequately, but companies are not contributing either. “Everyone complains about the situation but they would rather go out and poach a skilled person from elsewhere than do the training themselves. Our apprentices are very, very sought after upon completion of the course – often I would love to keep some of them here, but they are poached by other companies. This is not an acceptable situation and it is up to us all to support the future of our young people and the North East’s engineering and manufacturing sector.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .