Manufacturers are increasingly using technology and automation to drive precision, consistency, and greater operational efficiency of production lines. To underpin this investment, it is essential that we ensure that the current and future workforce have the skills and knowledge they require and any potential gaps in the skills and education support currently available are identified and addressed.  

Following the production of The Marches Local Skills Improvement Plan a collaboration of local Further Education providers including colleges, Independent Training Providers and Universities are working together to further understand the needs of employers in the sector.  

It is essential that we gather employer feedback on what is needed so we can provide the right skills solutions in the right place at the right time! 

The partnership is conducting a survey on behalf of The Marches to investigate the current skills that are needed to ensure that our employers remain competitive and identifies any barriers employers are experiencing when sourcing skills and recruitment solutions from FE. 

We are asking for your feedback; your individual responses will not be shared however your information will be compiled into a full list of skills and recruitment priorities that your sector deems essential to business competitiveness going forward. 

These priorities will be used to inform our strategy of what skills gaps exist and how we will develop our solution and determine levels of investment. 

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete but your responses will be crucial in terms of building on what works for you and where further development is required to support you moving forward.