Engineering Skills Conference Highlights Need for Youth-Centric Approaches to Bridge Sector Skills Gap

Published 4th November 2024

Over 160 delegates gathered at BMet’s Matthew Boulton College in Birmingham for the 2024 Engineering Skills Conference, co-hosted by Next Gen Makers and MSC Industrial Supply Co. UK. The conference brought together industry leaders, young apprentices, and teachers, united by a goal to inspire, attract, retain, and develop new talent within the engineering sector.

The event commenced with presentations from speakers, including Chris Corkan of Make UK, Katherine Watson from WISE, Calum Nisbet of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, and Rob Ewels from Waterfit Ltd, alongside young apprentices representing companies like Williams Jet Tenders, Teledyne e2v, and Collins Aerospace.

Key themes throughout the day included understanding and engaging Gen Z and Gen Alpha, adopting strategies for early career development, and improving mental health and well-being initiatives for apprentices. A highlight of the event was the apprentice panel, where young voices shared firsthand perspectives on creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. They stressed the importance of integration, feedback, and mentorship, noting that “buddy” systems and clear paths to career advancement can make a significant impact on engagement and retention.

For many apprentices, career integration is a critical concern. “Sometimes we feel like a spare part, doing tasks no one else wants,” one panellist shared. “It’s essential to have support that shows us the bigger picture and the role we play in the business.”

In one of the workshops, Calum Nisbet emphasised the need to approach mental health with the same rigour as health and safety standards in the workplace. This approach, he argued, is vital to building sustainable support systems for young apprentices navigating the pressures of modern work environments.

Attendees were optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead, with initiatives in place to continue fostering engineering talent across the UK.

‘It is clear that there is still a lot of work to do in not only filling vacancies within the engineering sector, but also in showing and streamlining opportunities available to young people and those looking for a potential career change. The D&T Association continue to forge links with FE, HE and companies to ensure that D&T is ‘on the map’ and seen as a vital conduit between school and industry. Events such as this allow us to consider new routes and possibilities to support both education and industry.’

Adam Tipper, Managing Director of Next Gen Makers comments, "We have been blown away by the demand for this event. We knew from the success of the inaugural Engineering Skills Conference that there was an appetite for the model, but we could have sold out twice over if we had the capacity. We’ll build again next year as the event expands as a fixture in the calendar. Our members and non-members alike from across the country were able to take advantage of an insightful, inspiring half day of best practice sharing, insight and networking, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for next year's iteration”.

As companies move forward to fill skill gaps, the event demonstrated the role of inclusive recruitment practices and practical support, such as CV writing and interview preparation, to help young talent see a pathway in engineering. One apprentice even shared how their role as a toolmaker could lead to work on projects as prestigious as Disney Cruise Ships, showcasing the global opportunities available within engineering careers.

The Engineering Skills Conference 2024 successfully captured the potential of the next generation, and through its shared insights, laid the groundwork for a more robust, inclusive, and forward-thinking engineering workforce.