A new Transport Committee report has urged the Government to make the most of opportunities to support the transport manufacturing sector to develop skills.
The Committee’s report calls for action to seize the opportunities on the UK Government’s agenda on bus and rail services and cleaner fuels.
It explores the skills needs of the transport manufacturing sector and suggests a series of recommendations to attract entrants and support the retention and development of existing employees, especially women.
Evidence to the inquiry highlighted specific skills shortages across the aerospace, automotive, maritime and rail sectors, while the Committee heard that that “the journey to net zero has fundamentally transformed the skills required across the automotive and wider transport manufacturing industries”.
It states the Department for Transport should gather information from transport manufacturers on how well the UK’s vocational training system is delivering a pipeline of skills and share findings across Government to inform vocational training pathways.
In addition, it calls for Skills England to consult on the benefits of a ‘competency passport’ that would harness transferrable skills within the transport manufacturing sector and help workers to move between roles.
The report also acknowledges the UK Government’s seeking to re-balance funding to prioritise younger people but removal of funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for people aged 22 and older risks “jeopardising the supply of experienced and highly skilled workers for the transport manufacturing sector”.
It also calls for:
- Increased flexibility over how to use levy funding
- Transport skills requirements continuously reflected in the standards
- Gathering of information from transport manufacturers
- Consultation on a skills ‘competency passport’
- Review to ensure accessible training options
- UK Government levy funding to be contingent on employer’s meeting their own diversity targets
- The creation of a government report on progress towards women’s representation target
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said:
“The UK’s track record of manufacturing motor vehicles, buses, aeroplanes, trains and ships is something we can be proud of. But with the sector facing an array of challenges, how do we harness the talent we have and ensure that the sector continues to thrive?
“Our report sets out a number of recommendations to ensure that we seize the new opportunities out there, especially in growth areas such as electric vehicles and alternative fuels.
“The DfT should start by doing a deep dive to establish whether the UK’s vocational training system is cutting the mustard for young people, who are too often turning away from potentially lucrative and fulfilling careers in the transport manufacturing sector.
“Skills England should explore the idea of a competency passport to help existing workers make the most of their skillsets and the Government should bring back funding for level 7 apprenticeships for people over the age of 22 to ensure that we’re also able to develop the highly skilled workers that the transport manufacturing sector needs. In addition, we think there may be a strong case for making the release of Government levy funding contingent on an employer’s delivery against their own diversity targets in order that the immense talents of women are better acknowledged and supported in the sector.
“These are just some of the ways we could help to ensure that our transport manufacturing sector is not standing still while other nations motor ahead into new growth areas.
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