Last week’s poll on how Brexit could widen the skills gap was taken by 309 respondents and the results could not have been closer.
The poll was prompted by industry concerns about hiring British recruits with the necessary skills for their operation. Consequently, a number of employers look to recruit from other EU nations, a situation that many would like to preserve. Following a survey of 243 UK companies, EEF argue that post-Brexit restrictions to migration will see skills shortages become worse.
From our poll, a total of 29 per cent agreed that a points-based system should be introduced to ensure the flow of skilled workers.
Just under a fifth (19 per cent) thought it wise to implement a STEM route for immigration, 16 per cent thought EU nationals should have a five-year window to work in Britain, and eight per cent agreed that inter-company transfers could help plug the skills gap.
The remaining 28 per cent elected to choose the ‘None of the above’ option, and the comments that followed point to the continuing disquiet that surrounds Britain’s ability to produce its own skilled STEM-qualified workforce.
“The only good long-term solution is training British people,” said Mohammed Amin Abdullah. “Plugging the skills gap with ever more immigration is not a viable option.”
Part of 20 Cent’s comment said: “Longer term it is essential to train and retain future workers in the skills the country needs for future stability, and governments of all shades should stop trying to outdo each other by getting as many graduates through any courses they can simply to boost the numbers.”
Andy Smith added: “Better school subjects. Better training in UK industries. Better Apprenticeship schemes. Most UK engineering companies have been reluctant to improve their training provisions. We need a much higher investment in training from these companies.”
As The Engineer has been reporting for many years, the situation surrounding skilled STEM-recruits does not appear to be abating, which will likely necessitate the acquisition of skilled workers from outside Britain’s borders, starting with our neighbours in mainland Europe.
What do you think? Continue to let us know via Comments below.
The only good long-term solution is training British people. Plugging the skills gap with ever more immigration is not a viable option.
Completely and absolutely agree with this.
Mohammed is correct, the problem has been caused by lack of investment in STEM training dating from Maggie’s time, and needs to be solved by developing the skills here. Buying the skills from overseas does not solve the problem in the long term.
Brexit is not about stopping immigration into this country, but controlling who comes in. If the country needs skilled workers they will be allowed in. The same as it was before we were in the EU. The same as it should always have been – selective immigration.
Longer term it is essential to train and retain future workers in the skills the country needs for future stability, and governments of all shades should stop trying to out do each other by getting as many graduates through any courses they can simply to boost the numbers.
Mohammed has hit the proverbial nail on the head. We need to educate people into engineering. Give it an appeal so that young people want to become engineers. Automotive engineering in this country is the envy of the world especially in motor racing, now if we could push the many other forms of engineering to that status!
Our engineering bodies (I.Mech.E. IEEE etc.) do a good job in promoting engineering but I feel that until the term ‘engineer’ gets protected status then the title will get little respect.
Better school subjects.
Better training in UK industries.
Better Apprenticeship schemes.
Most UK engineering companies have been reluctant to improve their training provisions. We need a much higher investment in training from these companies.
Why not have “business as usual” for people with STEM qualifications.
No one had any problem with qualified people immigrating and emigrating. It’s a two way process that sort of balances it self out.
The problem is mass migration of unskilled workers, where the flow in in millions and one way.
The fact that 3m EU workers are based on this little island as opposed to only 1m of us over there coupled with the highest ever number of people in work would indicate we are doing something right when it comes to employment. Add all the other people from the rest of the world into the mix and the numbers become staggering. The government must ensure that we do not make this country a one in exile from the global work force.
Most british people are unable to speak a foreign language. Hence no job
acceptance in EU . A shame since wage rates in G , AU , CH nearly double and better working conditions – equal to office jobs.
UK has turned into dump literally . Can’t even copy the perfect recycling system that has operated over here for 10 years.
Wishing you the best of British !!
Ron
This has been discussed before and no doubt will be again and again. If we want to maintain skill sets then we have to invest in proper engineering academies. Young people wanting an engineering qualification in whatever discipline must be schooled to the highest standards, to my mind military standards. You cannot allow young people to ‘mess around’ during training and expecting to achieve at the end of their course the required pass mark and accreditation, a three strikes and you are out rule might work? and once out no return.
Training needs to be dramatically improved. Further education courses need to be prioritised. We don’t need a stadium full of “degree” educated hair-dressers, pedicurists or students of the media. Let’s get rid of admission charges for those courses which are meaningful and desireable. We can’t just beat our breasts about skill shortages if we take no steps ourselves to reduce them from within.
Agree with the comments. In particular, I am concerned that the Brexit fear campaign is being deliberately continued by some sectors: skills are not a Brexit matter in any way.
The uncertainty regarding immigrants working here is far more damaging. many immigrants contribute well to the UK and should not feel threatened: we ought to take unilateral action in re-assuring these people that they are very welcome.
We have already done this;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40403431
It is a unilateral offer to EU citizens in the UK. The EU’s response to this announcement was negative (presumably intended to damage the PR impact of the UK’s declaration) and so far no reciprocal offer has been made by the EU regarding British citizens resident in the EU.
Presumably the EU is going to use these citizens’ as yet unsettled rights as a bargaining tool.
Thanks for the link, I’m not clear about whether EU reciprocity is or is not required from the statement, but good to see that an offer was made: looks fairly reasonable to me.
This is all about supply and demand of skilled people. If the UK cannot train enough of its own people then it will need immigrants. Unlike in many other countries, the UK struggles to get enough of the best people into engineering. Your article “Engineering salaries send a worrying message to the top graduates” 16/1/15 stated that “And the divergence of top salaries was even greater. The most you can earn as a graduate at a top engineering firm is £31,000. In accounting, finance, law, media, retail and the public sector, the best candidates will land over £40,000.”
Many youngsters graduate in engineering but then change into another career where the salaries are higher. Also schools are judged on how many pupils they send to University and do not encourage them to go into good apprenticeship schemes which lead to equally good careers.
What about the Managers/Management?
So in summary from the previous comments we have:
• Problem of not enough skilled engineers after Brexit- so need to train more etc
• Automotive engineering in UK is envy of the world
The whole Brexit/immigration debate is, I think, a diversion.
What is rarely discussed on these pages in the poor level of managers/management in the UK – there are many articles on this out there, but Andy Haldane from the Bank of England is pretty good on this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/03/20/bad-managers-blame-uks-productivity-crisis-says-bank-englands/
“Just as most people believe they are better than average drivers, so most firms believe they are highly productive, he believes.”
Of course some Engineers develop into mangers and many good ones come from outside engineering. But just having the Skills in ‘Engineering technology’ isn’t enough, not to mention that as new productive technologies are developed the old skills are not enough (although the oft scoffed at Academic ‘non –skills’ ie principles might actually help.
For my pennies worth I think our management layer (of course with exceptions) just doesn’t have the pure drive, ambition or appetite for risk required for C21 business, whether we are in the EU or not. Or the capability to demand long term thinking from investors. Or the ability to train staff (where ever they are from) or develop NEW production and even design methods that don’t need the old skills. Or ultimately to even stand up for Engineering as a world improving discipline.
While the short term need can be met by STEM bases immigration it should only be there until we can adequately train and educate British citizens. That is what Brexit was about after all!
The comments presented are all in agreement that the UK needs to up its game with regards to training. We have some of the top Universities in the world producing some of the best scientists and Engineers.
The problem I perceive is one of attitude not only in our young people but in adults who should know better. We adults do not challenge our young people or even ourselves enough, we make excuses for poor behaviour, lack of intelligent thinking and a dumming down of standards.
If we are to improve we first must improve ourselves, set standards and live up to them and challenge poor attitude. Learning to invest in ourselves and encouraging young people to do like wise may take time but will benefit both individual and employer.
Brexit provides opportunities on a global stage and will take talent form that stage, it will not stand still and sharpening our skill set to meet the demand will require a daily work out.
Kevin, Should that be “dumbing” down?
Why should EU workers have an easier path to working in the UK?
There should be a level playing field for those who have the required skills to come from anywhere in the world. A points based system appears most appropriate.
1.6 million still unemployed. How about we try training them first?
In our country…Manipulate man’s puny laws to benefit whoever can pay the most (often HMG) and you are a well-paid saint? Manipulate Nature’s Laws to benefit all mankind……you are a poorly paid sinner (and Engineer?) Deal with that and everything else that ails will drop away?
Basically the same attitude is expressed here as the one that drove Zimbabwe’s “Indiginisation” efforts. I hear all the same rubbish over again and it’s a bit depressing. Just a question for you all: when do you expect Britain to make all its own TVs, cars, computers aircraft, food etc? I would say that the day you don’t have to import skills will be about the same time.
We have always had immigration, and always will have. The Triumph company was started by two German immigrants lured to Coventry by its engineering base. Seigfried Bettman even became Mayor in 1913, and I am sure that there are many similar stories from across the country. Pre EU freedom of movement, small numbers of skilled and talented people came to our country and prospered, adding to the success of our country, and that will continue irrespective of the form that Brexit takes. What we cannot continue with, is a situation where vast numbers of unskilled people come here annually, lured by a higher minimum wage than in their own country, which is further boosted by Tax Credits and Child Benefit. To allow it to continue damages both our own country and the home countries that people abandon when they come here.
As JK Galbraith-one of the Economists that other economists rated! did opine:
“It will take the UK economy 100 years to recover from Thatcher’s policies, if ever!”
Flog-off anything that moves, or used to belong to the state: remove proper training and apprenticeship, stuff portfolios with electronic/paper ‘shares’ and create the ‘what’s in it for me, me first, and s*d you’ casino….and all the ills described above follow automatically.
There are times when I used to believe that I was the only person who had twigged!
The purpose of all this ‘political’ (not beneficial to the nation as a whole) shenanigans.
To reduce manufacture and encourage the greed of individuals and ‘retail’ to thrive, as a route to neutering them! Those who stood and stand in the way of control by the Right for ever? Gathered together into Unions? I said: “was I the only person who had worked it out?” No, I believe even those who have opined that those who do not think as they are left-ist pinkos have realised as well: even if they are unable to say it out loud: so I will say it for them!