Future-proofing UK Manufacturing: The Importance of Upskilling in Automation

As highlighted in Automate UK’s recent article on elevating the manufacturing sector, there’s a need to upskill and reskill the workforce given the rise of automation. Workers must be equipped with the skills to make the most of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other advanced technologies. Such a commitment will also help to bridge the skills gap, ensuring that current and future employees can fulfil new job requirements.

We’ll explore the importance of upskilling in more depth here, focusing on the initiatives offered by the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) to support training and development across the fields of automation and robotics.

Addressing the Skills Gap

The skills gap is clear, with Make UK research revealing that 36% of manufacturing vacancies are proving hard to fill due to the lack of applicants with the appropriate skills, qualifications, or experience. EngineeringUK has revealed a need for 59,000 skilled technicians annually to keep pace with technological advancements.

Issues such as the ageing workforce, supply chain disruptions, and the continued drive for innovation are having particular impacts, with an apparent need for reskilling across various levels – from management to production and operations.

The UK is among several nations struggling with the shortage of skilled and unskilled workers, as confirmed by Automate UK’s Manifesto for Automation. This impacts all manufacturing sectors, with end users, equipment manufacturers and those employed in distribution and logistics competing in a shrinking pool of talent.

Commissioned by WorldSkills UK in partnership with BAE Systems and undertaken by the Learning & Work Institute, the Manufacturing Excellence Report revealed that 57% of manufacturers have faced difficulty in accessing a skilled workforce. And 55% confirmed the struggle in attracting employees with advanced manufacturing skills.

Essential Upskilling

Upskilling and reskilling will be vital for the continued competitiveness of UK manufacturing on the global stage. There’s an obvious need for change to overcome the lack of available talent, with many workers nearing retirement age and an image problem limiting the attraction of the next generation. Manufacturing roles will ideally be seen as offering exciting opportunities for career development, with technologies being integrated for collaborative support.

Returning to the Manifesto for Automation, there’s also a clear need to bust the ‘robots take jobs’ myth. Instead, the focus should be on the potential for robots to fill vacancies that fall into the dull, dangerous, and dirty categories. This can be achieved partly through sharing the kinds of positive automation-focused stories regularly featured in Machinery Update.

Manufacturers are also encouraged to take a gradual approach, ensuring that workers come to see the benefits of robot collaboration over time. Robots could be used for highly repetitive and physically demanding tasks, with human workers freed up for tasks that make optimum use of their high-level creativity and knowledge.

BARA Training Initiatives

Recognising the need to change the narrative, BARA continues to develop training programmes, certifications, and educational partnerships with a focus on skill development. Aiming to spread the word about the positive impacts of robotic technologies, it takes a lead role in the arrangement and presentation of conferences, seminars, and exhibitions. BARA provides a vital voice for the robot and automation industries in dealing with the Government, financial, and academic institutions.

From innovation-focused webinars to automation guides, there are a variety of BARA resources to explore on the Automate UK website. Members stand to benefit from access to independent consultants with knowledge of ideal applications and suppliers. The certification for systems integrators also goes a long way in separating the best from the rest – raising standards and increasing capacity for robot integration in the UK.

Future-proofing Commitments

While BARA’s initiatives are having a positive impact, further action is needed to increase the availability of skills and boost the UK’s manufacturing sector. BARA must be supported by the UK Government, with policies for the promotion of skilled migration, incentivisation of training programs, and support of continuous learning. Educational partnerships will also be vital, with young people actively encouraged to take training opportunities focused on subjects such as AI and smart manufacturing.

A long-term commitment must be made to develop a workforce with the skills to meet current and future demands. Combining the adoption of productivity and efficiency-boosting technologies with the development of a tech-ready workforce, UK manufacturers can maximise the prospects of sustained success. It’s a matter of supporting tomorrow’s skills, today.

Read more about the different forms of support and get in touch with BARA directly to discuss the upskilling opportunities for your business. In the meantime, UK manufacturers are encouraged to explore the Automate UK website or contact us and learn more about how Automate UK can support you.