The need for workers with advanced leadership and sustainability skills is a rising concern for those in the trade, infrastructure and engineering industry.
To address the current talent shortfall, the industry needs to attract and upskill top talent, and apprenticeships have a crucial role to play, says Stacey Hayes-Allen, director of corporate partnerships at Arden University. Here, she explains how apprenticeships can shape careers, and why businesses should invest more in apprenticeships to close the widening skills gap.
Tackling the worker shortage
The engineering industry plays an integral part in the infrastructure and trade sector. With the UK ramping up its focus on becoming a net zero economy, there are new skills those in the engineering sector need to develop. For instance, a report commissioned by EngineeringUK found that demand for engineers is predicted to grow faster than for other occupations, with vacancies for ‘green engineering’ roles increasing by more than half (55%) over the last five years.
However, from misconceptions about the industry to a lack of diversity and opportunities for the younger generation, the reasons behind the skills shortage are manifold.
A key solution, which can often be overlooked by businesses in the sector, is degree apprenticeships. Many people are drawn to apprenticeships because they offer practical, hands-on experience, allowing people to learn a trade or profession, while gaining an industry-recognised qualification, without incurring student debt. They are also appealing to those who prefer learning by doing rather than via traditional academic routes. As such, they can be the perfect way to attract and retain talent within the industry.
The opportunity to earn while learning, alongside gaining real-world experience and industry connections, makes apprenticeships an ideal way to shape the careers of those who want to make a mark in the engineering and infrastructure industry, with one of our apprenticeship students stating: “Without the recognised qualification, it’s harder to progress in my career. Now, not only do I have an extra accreditation for my CV, but I also have additional knowledge that allows me to be more informed as a professional.”
The role apprenticeships have to play
The advancements in this industry – including advancements in technology and sustainability measures – mean businesses also need workers who are absorbing new skills on the job. A Screwfix survey revealed that more than half of all jobs being carried out by UK tradespeople over the past year have had an energy-saving focus, up by a third when compared to 2022, for instance, meaning businesses in this industry need to have a sustainable-first mindset in order to keep growing and attracting customers.
Jonathan Hornagold, apprenticeship manager at Amey – a leading provider of full-lifecycle engineering, operations and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure and complex facilities – agrees with this, explaining how the speed of digital and IT is impacting the engineering industry. He said: “Keeping pace with the changes that are occurring in the engineering industry – and beyond – is certainly a challenge for many businesses. Our purpose is to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions and to protect our shared future; upskilling, therefore, is a massive part of that.”
Jonathan does this by placing several employees on a Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Degree at Arden University. This senior leader apprenticeship helps businesses in the infrastructure and engineering sector refine and sharpen their employees' existing skills.
Upskilling serves a twofold purpose: it keeps businesses relevant in a rapidly transforming economy, while also showing that your business is investing in and cares about your employees’ development and career goals.
On top of this, it ensures leadership teams are equipped to navigate the challenges the industry is presented with, as consumer demands change and the economy fluctuates.