Action Plan
Advanced
Manufacturing
& Engineering
Services
-“
If we are to enable Northern Ireland to
compete globally, it is fundamental that
we increase our export base and in this
context, the advanced manufacturing
and engineering services will be pivotal.
To achieve these aspirations, it will be
essential that the workforce have the
skills and technical knowledge to produce
innovative products and to adapt to
the challenges facing the sector”
Dr Stephen Farry
Minister for Employment
A key aim of the Northern Ireland
Programme for Government is to achieve long term economic growth by improving our competitiveness and building a larger and more export driven private sector. The Northern Ireland Economic Strategy sets out a vision to both rebuild and rebalance the local economy to ensure that it is modern, knowledge intensive and export driven.
The Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, ‘Success through Skills – Transforming Futures’, published in May 2011, aims to support the vision of the Economic Strategy and support the Executive’s number one priority by facilitating a better educated and more highly skilled workforce that meets the needs of the economy.
In February 2012, the Minister for Employment and Learning identified advanced manufacturing and advanced engineering, as one of a number of priority economic sectors, in light of its importance in rebalancing the economy. Following concerns from employers about skills issues within the advanced manufacturing and engineering services sector, Minister Farry brought together a range of stakeholders from the sector to discuss the skills issues they face. On 25th June 2012, the Minister
announced the creation of a Working
Group to consider ways in which
identified engineering skills, in particular, could be addressed. This complements the work already being taken forward in relation to the Food and Drink
Manufacturing sector and the ICT sector. This sector is strategically important to the Northern Ireland economy as it accounts for a significant proportion of our exports and many of its activities are considered to be high value added. The advanced manufacturing and engineering sector currently employs approximately 80,000 people in
Northern Ireland. It makes a significant contribution to export levels and
research/ development in Northern Ireland, both of which are central to wealth generation. Evidence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s (DETI) Manufacturing Sales and Export survey highlights the
importance of the sector to the Northern Ireland economy. The survey shows that the total sales from manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland in 2011/12 were £15.95 billion which represented a 6.5% increase from 2010/11. Exports from the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector totalled £4.2 billion which represented a 7.7% increase from 2010/2011.
The Advanced Manufacturing and
Engineering Services Working Group has brought together employers, Government Departments and Agencies including DETI, the Department of Education (DE), the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Invest NI, Further
Education colleges and universities (see full membership list at Annex A) to develop and oversee the implementation of a short term action plan which will focus specifically on addressing the demand for individuals with engineering skills and competences. The action plan forms part of the Government’s delivery of the Economic Strategy.
In order to inform the Working Group a scoping study was undertaken to
ascertain the scale and precise nature of the skill needs within the sector.
Following the first meeting of the Working Group it was decided to complement this report with a more detailed forecasting model to inform policy making. RSM McClure Watters was appointed by the Department in 2013 to complete research into the supply of skills required for advanced manufacturing and engineering and to forecast future requirements for these skills.
published in May 2014 can be accessed via http://www.delni.gov.uk/advanced- manufacturing-and-engineering-services-action-plan
Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services Skill Needs Over the last decade, the Northern Ireland advanced manufacturing and engineering sector has experienced significant
challenges as the result of technological changes and the pressures from
competing businesses around the world. Understanding the demand for
professionals in this sector is vital to ensure there is a pipeline in place to deliver an appropriate number of quality skilled people to work in the industry. The demand for people entering the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector is projected at 3,000 per year and the overall projected demand for these occupations in the next seven years is
not likely to exceed the overall supply of individuals obtaining qualifications relevant to the sector.
The Working Futures Model 2010-2020 used by RSM McClure Watters to assess future skills demands, is the fourth in a
It focuses on a ten year picture of the labour market for 2020; including employment prospects for industries, occupations, qualification levels, gender and employment status for the UK overall and for the devolved nations. The Working Futures Model concentrates primarily on a quantitive, economic based approach which focuses on sectoral and occupational employment structures, qualifications and general workforce trends (including replacement demand). The projections for this report have been developed by the Institute for Employment Research at Warwick University.
Around 28.5% of those gaining STEM related qualifications will be required to enter employment in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector to meet the demand projected by the Working Futures Model.
The skills mismatch in the sector relates to insufficient numbers of people coming through with professional, associate professional, skilled trades and managerial skills.
The Oxford Economics report
‘Forecasting Future Skills in Northern Ireland’ April 2009, suggested that growing sectors of the economy will require an increasing number of Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) qualified graduates and the Programme for Government recognises the important challenge to encourage young people to study STEM subjects.
One measure to help address this is the offering of a scholarship which requires the partnership of an employer and a student with the added incentive of retention for both parties; the student has the opportunity of a permanent job after graduation and the employer has the opportunity to develop and recruit best talent.
The current proposal being developed by the Department for Employment and Learning would be to support up to 40 scholarships in Computing and
Engineering over the next two years to demonstrate to STEM Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) the value and
benefits of scholarships while raising the awareness of students and parents. This will be the beginning of a greater shift in the future for best local talent to be recruited and retained by local employers with the aim of retaining that talent in Northern Ireland.
There are some areas within the sector that are expected to grow substantially over the next few years including aerospace, agri-food and sustainable energy.
Some of the key issues highlighted by the RSM McClure Watters research are:
• Demand and supply of skilled workers;
• Apprenticeship training and up-skilling existing employees;
• Salary issues;
• Actions necessary to increase attractiveness of the sector to potential employees;
• Gender imbalance;
• Actions necessary to build skills of potential entrants to the sector to meet the needs of businesses;
• Actions necessary to ensure that sufficient skilled resources are retained in Northern Ireland to support the sector; and
• Issues specific to SMEs.
Each of these issues will be addressed in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services Action Plan.
Structure of Action Plan The action plan is structured around three thematic themes: • Theme 1 - Skills Provision;
• Theme 2 - Sector Attractiveness; and • Theme 3 - Co-ordination and
Communication.
Under each theme, key issues and associated actions mainly in the short to medium term are outlined. For each action the lead responsibility is identified along with other
organisations which need to provide input and/or support for the action to be delivered. See action plan for a detailed list of actions.
Dr. Stephen Farry MLA, Chair Minister for Employment and Learning
David Adams Michelin
Dr Alan Blair Colleges NI
Dr Brian Burns Seagate Technology Dr Peter AJ Calvert A J Power Limited Gavin Campbell Bombardier
Rory Galway Bombardier
Dr. Brian Hill Northern Regional College Mark Huddleston European Space Propulsion David Hughes Department of Education NI Stephen Kelly Manufacturing NI
David Kennedy Thales UK John Leighton Chair, SEMTA Kevin McCann Invest NI
Jennifer McFarland Magellan Aerospace
Ann McGregor Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
Bernard McKeown Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Membership of the Advanced Manufacturing
and Engineering Services Working Group
Annex A
Dr Bill McGinnis CBE DL NI Adviser on Employment and Skills Kirsty McManus CBI Northern Ireland
Professor Tom Millar Queen’s University Belfast Ronnie Moore Energy and Utility Skills
Dr Leslie Orr ADS NI
Gordon Parkes Northern Ireland Electricity Dr Roisin Ramsey JTI UK
Ann Semple Moyola Precision Engineering Helena Shone Magellan Aerospace
Cathy Taylor Caterpillar
Steve Thomson Schrader Electronics Professor Colin Turner University of Ulster Gillian Winters SEMTA
June Ingram Department for Employment and Learning Michael Gould Department for Employment and Learning George Wilson Department for Employment and Learning
Ensure supply of skilled workers meets demand from industry
.
The ‘
Advanced Manufacturing
and Engineering Services Skill Needs’ Research report highlighted difficulties in filling skilled positions for: •Systems design /stress engineers; •CNC programmers /engineers; •R&D Engineers; •Production managers/engineers; Plant Engineers;• •Project Managers; •Manufacturing Systems Engineers; •Electrical technicians; •Fitters; •W
elders; and
•
Skilled F
abricators.
vices Action Plan
To develop a shared vision for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services sector in line with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy and Programme for Government.
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
LEAD RESPONSIBILITY
Government will work with businesses in the sector to quantify the actual demand for engineering skills in the job roles quoted in the report as being hard to fill. Where there is demand from businesses, Government will introduce training interventions to provide suitably trained staff to fill these job roles. This will include aggregating demand amongst SMEs and other companies. By September 2014 Government will have quantified the actual skill shortages within the sector for these job roles.
Employers, DEL, Invest NI
By December 2014 Government will have designed appropriate training interventions to overcome these skills shortages, for example - Academies, Bridge to Employment, Skills Growth F
und.
Employers, DEL, Invest NI DEL, Industry
By December 2014 DEL will have undertaken research to ensure supply meets demand. Recommendations for action will be developed if appropriate. Tool to be in place by July 2014 and utilised by ten employers by November 2014.
Introduce a workforce planning tool to identify workforce issues across the sector
. Determine if the Energy
and Utility Skills tool is appropriate for use across the sector
.
Energy and Utility Skills, Employers
Assess the job opportunities and skills needs of the renewable energy sector
Industry and FE/HE should agree the possibility of establishing a curriculum group which would meet regularly to ensure that courses and qualifications remain relevant to business needs. By September 2014 we will establish a curriculum group to ensure courses and qualifications are relevant to the industry
.
DEL, Universities, FE Colleges, Employers
Co-ordinate skills pathways to have clear progression routes and promote same, for example - HND/ HNC/ Foundation Degrees/ B
Sc.
Identify formats to be used, for example - websites, methods of delivery to employers/ schools/ careers. By September 2014, establish progression routes for five job roles and promote these across industry
, particularly within SMEs:
1. Crafts P
erson
2. T
echnician
3. Project Manager 4. Quality 5. Research & Development Industry representatives
vices Action Plan
To develop a shared vision for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services sector in line with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy and Programme for Government.
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
LEAD RESPONSIBILITY
Actions needed to ensure that sufficient skilled resources are retained in Northern Ireland to support the sector
.
Northern Ireland companies should prepare for the potential risk of engineers being attracted to positions outside of Northern Ireland and develop plans for ensuring they have sufficient resources coming through HE/FE to meet their needs. Graduate salary information to be collected annually and used to inform pay strategies. First year of graduate data to be collated and disseminated by March 2015.
Industry representatives, DEL Industry representatives
Further develop and utilise the Talent Retention Solution to re- deploy skilled workers within the sector
. T
o be rolled out across the
industry by December 2014.
DEL to continue to develop the concept of industry
-led STEM
scholarships in the fields of Computing and Engineering to attract and retain top graduate talent. There will be up to a maximum of 40 students undertaking a STEM scholarship (20 in Computing and 20 in Engineering), 20 in September 2014 and 20 in September 2015. DEL, Employers, Universities
Apprenticeship training needs to meet industry requirements through the implementation of the recommendations from the Ministerial Review on apprenticeships. Develop Higher Level Apprenticeships by September 2014 in: • Engineering; and • Aeronautical Engineering
DEL, Employers Employers, Government, Education providers
Larger companies should be encouraged to support SMEs in their supply chain to take on apprentices.
W
orking with the Review of
Apprenticeships T
eam, the Group will
explore the possibilities for over
-training large companies and SMEs within their supply chain by December 2014.
DEL, Employers
Industry to increase the number of apprentices in the sector
.
Increase the number of apprentices participating in relevant frameworks from 1000 in 2014 to 2000 in 2016.
Employers
Group to act as a sectoral partnership for apprenticeships for the sector to ensure apprenticeships deliver a balance of benefits across the key partners of employer
, employee and
Government.
SMEs not involved in the supply chain should be given incentives to help with the costs of taking on apprentices.
In line with the Ministerial Review of apprenticeships, the Department is currently developing proposals to examine how it might best incentivise and support employers, particularly SMEs and micro- businesses, to participate in apprenticeships. Proposals setting out the way forward will be published in the summer of 2014. DEL, Employers, Industry representatives
vices Action Plan
To develop a shared vision for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services sector in line with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy and Programme for Government.
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
LEAD RESPONSIBILITY
Up-skilling existing employees. Government should increase awareness of training support for businesses.
The Department and Invest NI will promote their training offer to all businesses in the sector to raise awareness and encourage the uptake of training. Contact to be made with businesses by December 2014. DEL, Invest NI, Industry representatives, ADS
Review the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining course within three months of the completion of the pilot programme. Assured Skills will evaluate the current CNC pilot training programme by December 2014. If successful, the programme will be offered to two additional companies by June 2015.
DEL, Employers
Larger companies should consider the opportunity to involve trainees from their SME supply chains in training programmes. The Department will work with the sector to respond to identified training needs by March 2015. Employers, DEL, Invest NI, Industry representatives
W
ork with businesses/training
providers to ensure that the management training provided is tailored to the sector
.
The Department and Invest NI will work with Education providers to explore the possibility of a new leadership programme for the sector
. Proposals to be developed
by October 2014.
SMEs need external support to identify training needs within their companies. The Department and Invest NI will work together to streamline their training offerings to employers, including SMEs by December 2014.
eview of the Careers Ser
vice to ensure that provision reflects the needs of a
y economy and that all individuals have access to independent, high
.
ttractiveness
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
Understand the perceptions/awareness levels of career opportunities in the sector
.
Benchmark perceptions of parents, teachers and pupils.
By June 2014, develop and carry out a survey to benchmark perceptions. A second survey to measure effectiveness of interventions to be completed by March 2016.
Parents, careers/subject teachers and other stakeholders need to be made more aware of the opportunities in the sector and STEM in particular
.
Improve perceptions of the sector amongst school children, teachers and parents. Develop a brand to feature in all sector attractiveness initiatives organised by the industry by September 2014.
vices Action Plan
To develop a shared vision for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services sector in line with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy and Programme for Government.
The sector should work with primary schools to increase awareness and interest in engineering as part of STEM activities.
W
orking Group will liaise with
delivery partners to develop and trial an appropriate activity for primary schoolchildren by March 2015.
UK Aerospace Y
outh
Rocketry Challenge.
Expand this initiative to include more schools from 7 in 2014 to 14 by March 2015.
Send cohort of top STEM students from FE/HE plus lecturers and NI Rocket Challenge winners to Futures Day at F
arnborough
Air
-show on 18 July 2014.
22 personnel to attend F
utures
Day to include top STEM students from FE/HE plus lecturers and NI Rocket Challenge winners
Look at ways to utilise existing Ambassador networks, for example, STEMNET
.
Link with existing network so that the sector is well represented in Ambassador networks to raise the profile of the sector amongst pupils at Y
ear 8 and beyond.
60 schools to be visited by Ambassadors from the sector by March 2016.
Industry to build on relationships with local schools, FE/HE and Careers Service. This will be considered as part of the Careers Review
.
20 employers to facilitate site visits from 30 schools by March 2016. Short workplace activities. to provide industry insight visits for 25 DEL Careers Advisers by March 2015. Industry representatives, DE ADS, Industry DEL, ADS Industry representatives Employers, Industry representatives DEL, Industry representatives, Employers
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
LEAD RESPONSIBILITY
Industry to work with FE/HE to design and develop work experience workshops as taster sessions for pupils by March 2015.
FE/HE, Employers
Employers to attend annual University Open days to raise profile of the sector
.
Employers, Universities
Provide a ‘Snapshot’ report to support existing career evenings with parents. Accurate and up to date careers information will be gathered and disseminated to schools with the first "Snapshot" report due March 2015 and a second one due March 2016.
Industry representatives
Employers to attend Careers Service Regional Unit meetings. Careers Unit meetings are held monthly
. Careers Service will
invite employers to attend.
Employers, Careers Service
eview of the Careers Ser
vice to ensure that provision reflects the needs of a
y economy and that all individuals have access to independent, high
.
ttractiveness
vices Action Plan
Employers to attend Careers Teachers Annual Conference. Conference to be held on 27th November 2014 at La Mon House Hotel. Employers, Industry representatives
Develop skills competitions in Northern Ireland to help raise the profile of the sector
, promote the
higher skills agenda and gain recognition for the skills base. Increase the number of competitions and competitors from the sector by one third leading up to W
orldSkills Dubai 2017.
DEL, FE Colleges
Promote STEM subjects and careers among females. ‘Upskills to Compete’ Project. To develop 50 high potential female workers to progress their careers from 20 SMEs and four larger companies starting in April 2014. Addressing the Gender Imbalance – Reaping the Gender Dividend in (STEM) report was published in November 2013. The report contains a NI STEM CEO Charter
.
A good practice manual is also being developed and it is anticipated that this will be signed off by May 2014. STEM Business sub group co-ordinator STEM Business sub group co-ordinator in collaboration with the Equality Commission Northern Ireland
Link in with PR opportunities offered by the STEM Business sub group. Production of 24 employer STEM diversity plans. Produce 10 role models and 10 case studies. Promote STEM subjects to 1000 schoolgirls showcasing the existing opportunities in a career in the sector by 31 March 2015. Media articles, case studies for careers supplements etc. Three articles per annum. Industry representatives Employers, Industry representatives, STEM Business sub group co-ordinator
CHALLENGE
ACTION
DELIVER
ABLES
LEAD RESPONSIBILITY
Determine if a brokerage service for education and industry is required. Investigate the current procedures to manage the placement process between education and industry and determine if a brokerage service is required. Consider as part of the Careers Review due to be carried out in 2014.
Careers Independent Review P
anel, DE, DEL
eview of the Careers Ser
vice to ensure that provision reflects the needs of a
y economy and that all individuals have access to independent, high
.
ttractiveness
vices Action Plan
Co-ordinate a list of available Government skills provision for example - DEL/InvestNI Communicate and promote this across the sector amongst SMEs. Skills Solutions Service and Invest NI to collate a list of provision and disseminate this through e-zine and focussed engagement with employers from the sector by September 2014.
DEL, Invest NI
Industry representatives to engage SMEs in a variety of ways, for example, meetings, e-zine, websites, signposting. Regular e-zine for the sector; targeted efforts from Sector Skills Councils to engage SMEs eg utilising websites and signposting.
DEL, InvestNI, Industry representatives DEL, Invest NI
DEL and InvestNI to provide contact points for industry by September 2014.
Organise a Manufacturing and Engineering HR Conference to give opportunities for networking and sharing of best practice. SMEs can find out how to access Government provision, hear examples of best practice, learn about new technologies etc. Event to be held in F
ebruary 2015.
Industry representatives
Ensure better co- ordination with STEM Government sub group.
The STEM Strategy
, ‘Success
though STEM’, will undergo an evaluation in 2014. This will include a suggested methodology of working closer with all Ministerial W
orking Groups.
Carry out an evaluation of STEM Strategy
, ‘Success though STEM’
during 2014.
STEM Government sub group
Ensure that Careers education and guidance promotes the importance of STEM subjects.
DE and DEL to conduct a formal review of careers policies and practices to ensure provision reflects the needs of the economy and individuals have access to independent, high quality advice. This will help them maximise their potential and contribute to their community and the economy
.
The review will report in Winter 2014. Careers Independent Review P
anel, DE, DEL
vices Action Plan
Further Information:
telephone: 028 9090 5381
fax: 028 9090 5361
website: www.delni.gov.uk
THE DEPARTMENT:
Our aim is to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy. This document is available in other formats upon request.