NEARLY two thirds of manufacturing businesses in the north are growing, yet are still struggling to recruit new people - and just 6 per cent of young people see the sector as a career option.
And it has now vowed to tackle the talent shortage head on, and correct its gender imbalance, with a series of hard-hitting actions being developed in conjunction with the Centre for Competitiveness and Queen's University.
A 'Manufacturing Talent Rules' summit in Belfast, led by QUB Faculty for Engineering and Physical Sciences, has attempted to dispel the image of manufacturing as a dirty, unsatisfying job, with long hours, poor pay and few professional development opportunities.
Keynote speakers from Denroy, Avondale Foods, Procter & Gamble, Collins Aerospace, Thales, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottlers and Moyola Precision Engineering all called for a better definition of manufacturing.
They also recognised that proactive collaboration was the only way to engage with schools, students and parents to demonstrate that manufacturing was even more attractive as a career than technology and more accessible to upskilling on the job.
Claire McAlinden, operations director for the faculty of engineering and physical sciences at Queen's University, who came from a successful career in manufacturing with Procter and Gamble, said: “We see our goal as helping our manufacturing sector become a world leader by supplying top-class graduate talent, by providing cutting-edge research and innovation and working with the sector to ensure it is one of the most highly regarded in the world.
"That future revolves around talent and we will continue to work in close partnership with industry to maintain the flow of graduates equipped with the right type of skills to meet demand. We will also continue to support the sector by helping upskill those in work to make sure the sector’s investment in talent is as effective as possible.”
Brian Gillan, head of corporate and business banking at First Trust Bank, which sponsored the summit, added: “Manufacturing companies play a vital role within the Northern Ireland economy and we are investing in the sector over the longer term, including opening a £500m lending fund.”
