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World skills 2011
[19/05/2009]

Philip Whiteman, chief executive of Semta, the employer-led skills council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK, looks at the importance of attracting more engineering apprentices to 2011's event

With almost three years to go until the 2012 Olympic Games in London, preparations are already well under way. Athletes and their coaches are mapping out their training schedules and the stadiums are already taking shape. The great news for those looking into vocational education in industry is that 250 new dedicated apprenticeship opportunities are to be created on the Olympic park, including the Olympic village, on top of an existing commitment to 2,000 training and apprenticeships opportunities.

But just six months before the 2012 games commence, London will be hosting another major world event, this time designed to showcase the great work that young people, and apprentices in particular, are doing to improve the nation's skills. In October 2011, some 1,200 competitors from around 60 competing nations will descend on London for the World Skills competition, of which Semta is a key sponsor, and which is expected to attract around 250,000 spectators. As the largest skills-based event in the world, World Skills gives young people from across the globe, who have chosen a vocational route in their working life, a chance to compete to win a gold medal for their country.

Image: Fraser McLean, the UK's only CNC Turning finalist for 2011

GOLD, BRONZE, SILVER
The four-day event sees competitors take part in around 40 skill competitions covering the five vocational areas – built environment, engineering, cultural and creative areas, IT and business administration, professional and hospitality services. The ultimate prizes are gold, silver and bronze medals. Medallions of Excellence are also awarded to those young people who achieve or exceed the World Class score of 500 points out of a maximum of 600 across the four days of competition.

Semta is backing the competition because we believe it represents a fantastic opportunity to put the best examples of skills and training provision in the UK engineering sector under the spotlight. It is a chance for us to inspire employers to tackle skills gaps and boost productivity by investing in high quality training; and, by doing so, increasing the opportunities available to workers to progress their own careers.

Semta is supporting World Skills UK in a number of ways, including co-ordinating a number of the regional and national competition heats in areas such as Aircraft Maintenance; CNC Milling & Turning; Engineering Challenge; Industrial Electronics; Mechanical Engineering CADD; Mechatronics; Mobile Robotics; and Welding. By doing this, we are helping to encourage young people aged 15 to 23, who are undertaking vocational training at college or at work, to sign up for these competitions. The heat winners will be eligible to qualify for the UK Squad for 2011.

We have also been encouraging employers to enter their brightest and most skilled advanced apprentices and technicians to complete in WorldSkills UK competitions. By doing this, we aim to raise awareness of the support and financial assistance that is available to British employers to ensure they have a workforce with world-class skills. Research shows that, in the engineering sector, skills shortages cost the industry £700 million per year in England, and the new £65 million funding agreement secured by Semta is already helping English businesses to fight skills shortages by investing in engineering apprenticeships.

Image: Elliot New, CNC Milling hopeful

Our aim is to get as many engineering apprentices on board as possible for the 2011 World Skills competition to showcase their great work. Last year saw a boom in apprenticeships, but early indications are that, as the recession bites, employers are cutting back on this key skills investment – provisional start figures for August to October 2008 (Q1 2008/9) show a 14% decrease in the number of 16-18 apprenticeships.

THREE-YEAR PAYBACK
Employing apprentices delivers significant return on investment for business, and we want the competition to show this. According to the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, the total net cost of taking on an engineering apprentice (£28,762), for example, will get paid back in just under three years. Employers also believe apprenticeships can improve competitiveness and productivity, while reducing staff turnover and providing the skilled workers required for the future.

Sheffield Forgemasters – a manufacturer of large-scale bespoke steel components for diverse industries – is one employer that has reaped the benefits of apprentice training and plans to enter its staff into the World Skills competition. The company employs 795, of whom 70 are apprentices, and has turned from a loss-making company into a world beater in less than 10 years. Apprentice training forms a key part of its succession planning to ensure it has the skills it knows
it will need in the future.

"We don't poach people from other companies – we grow our own," says Sheffield Forgemasters' chief executive, Dr Graham Honeyman. "Each of the operations directors on the site is involved in planning apprentice intake for the future to replace skills lost through retirement and other reasons. Our belief is that, if you motivate young people and give them a chance, they will shine. Apprenticeships help them to do this, and we will be encouraging many of our apprentices to register for the competition."

As Britain prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2012, in London, the people developing the facilities and infrastructure take on a huge importance. Engineering apprenticeships are playing a leading role in ensuring that the country can meet these skills challenges and the UK World Skills competition is a great opportunity to showcase the country's best talent.

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About WorldSkills 2011

Deadline for entries: 9 April 2009

From 6 to 9 October 2011 at ExCeL London,
organised by UK Skills – a not-for-profit company sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

The largest skills competition in the world, taking place every two years. It is an opportunity for young people to test themselves against tough international standards, improve and showcase their skills in a range of fields

The next World Skills Competition takes place from 1-6 September 2009 in Calgary, Canada.

First published in Engineering Apprentice, Spring 2009