UK manufacturers ‘massively hamstrung by a lack of skills’, Barometer reveals

In total, 53 per cent of companies said they would need to invest in increasing the skills of the workforce if they are to bring work home, with just over a quarter saying they have successfully brought contracts back over the last twelve months.

A similar number (23 per cent) have reshoring strategies, with the majority holding back due to restraints with their current and future workforce.

The findings from over 100 manufacturers highlight the current labour shortage hitting industry and indicated changing perceptions towards ‘growing your own’ staff.

Eighty two 82 per cent of management teams have indicated they are planning to take on an apprentice in the next twelve months, citing developing future talent as the most popular reason, followed closely by ‘filling a skills gap’. Just 12 per cent said the latter was their reason for investing in vocational learning in 2022, compared to 46 per cent in 2023.

“It’s a very complicated training and skills landscape out there at the moment,” said Gareth Jones, managing director of In-Comm Training.