Recruiting staff is childs play

11 November 2011

A decline in the number of people entering the UK electronics industry at degree level has raised concerns for its long term sustainability and growth. David Davies, MD of Axiom Manufacturing Services in south Wales, looks at ways of nurturing today’s talent.

Manufacturing over the past few years has faced a number of challenges; the most recent is the decline in the number of skilled workers entering the industry. This growing crisis threatens to engulf the industry due to pressures to replace workers leaving due to retirement.

It is important to consider different ways of nurturing this talent and for this reason, the industry needs to support and engage with local schools, colleges and higher education institutions. Manufacturers shouldn’t just ‘wait’ to be approached by education establishments. Their own need for skills should be sufficient motivation to knock on the doors of schools and colleges to help identify and nurture the engineers of the future.

Starting early and nurturing younger talent, through organising primary school visits is another simple action manufacturers can take. It is not only good fun for the school children, but is great for the business as like many manufacturing plants; pupils attending the local schools are the children of its employees. So it works to build good working relationships with staff and the community.

Without doubt, manufacturing is vital to communities across the UK, it provides jobs, generates money for the local economy, and often gives back in terms of training and donations. Equipment donations in particular can be a great way to help change perceptions; it not only helps ease the burden on budgets but helps students gain hands-on experience of life in the workplace.

Many universities are now running summer schools to encourage young electronics and engineering students to take part in design and build challenges. Although this is a promising response to the industry’s concerns, more still needs to be done.

Changing the perception of manufacturing will also prove crucial. After all, the term ‘manufacturing’ encompasses many skills e.g. sales, purchasing, logistics, software development, electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, IT, finance etc. Students do not think of these disciplines when they think of a career in ‘manufacturing’; so there is an image problem that needs addressing.

Ultimately, the UK electronics manufacturing industry is among the best in the world and its long term sustainability is dependent on attracting high calibre, innovative and creative students, implementing these initiatives might just help it stay that way.