Defusing the demographic time-bomb

July 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Investing in skills development is crucial to the long-term health of the Coatings Industry, argues Gary Overton, Coatings Industry Lead at Proskills (the Sector Skills Council for the Process and Manufacturing industries), who explores employer assumptions regarding training.

Many employers are still recovering from the effects of the economic downturn and are only just coming to terms with the skills gaps that have been left. Some find it difficult to justify investing in skills when budgets remain tight and the order book has still not recovered to its previous levels. After all, why provide more than is expected when this is only going to create unnecessary costs, which in today’s highly competitive marketplace could be suicidal … or so the argument goes!

However, as they strive to provide high quality goods which will ensure they gain repeat orders and build a reputation for excellence, they are beginning to find that the world has moved on. Their customers expect even more for their money than before the recession and will shop around to find it.

Companies that fail to respond will quickly find themselves left behind.

So they now face the conundrum of how to improve productivity and customer service whilst simultaneously minimising costs. The answer very often lies in the hands of their staff.

It is not just the top line managers who affect the direction of a company; quite often the entire workforce can make a difference through a variety of continuous improvement schemes, cost savings projects and much more. Even those working on a production line have an impact on the business and thoughts on how it can be improved.

Their skills and abilities represent the lifeblood of a business, and while investing in training clearly leads to short-term costs, in the long-term it brings real benefits to both the employee and the company. By working together and developing as a team, you are tapping into a vast resource - a person’s potential, that when properly channelled adds real value to a business.

Like many manufacturing businesses, the coatings industry faces a demographic time bomb, in that the workforce is aging and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find people with the right balance of technical skills, knowledge and experience. Sadly, this situation is likely to only get worse as more of the workforce nears retirement age.

So isn’t it time for them to invest in what they have and to look towards youth as a potential answer to future skills shortages?

We at Proskills have heard many reasons why employers do not train their staff - the training available is not relevant, there is no time, training is too expensive or they fear that trained staff may leave to join competitors. We know the importance of training, and are committed to helping the UK’s coatings companies invest in skills development.

In the past year, Proskills has secured £2.9m of Government investment to support higher level skills that will help improve efficiency in the sector. We were awarded Joint Investment Programme (JIP) funds for 2011, and employers in the Proskills sectors can get up to 50% of the cost of training funded by the Government. Over 3,000 places are available in a variety of higher qualifications including business improvement techniques, management and leadership, sustainability and carbon management.

Money is also available for apprenticeship training, which represents a real opportunity for companies to build for their future. We are working with the BCF to develop a brand new apprenticeship programme which will deliver a high level of skills to both young people and existing staff, so there couldn’t be a better time to invest in training!

Schemes such as the JIP and Apprenticeships are an important source of potential funding for employers, particularly with Government support from programmes like Train to Gain disappearing and the economic outlook remaining uncertain. Companies are keen to keep costs down, but they also need to invest in training if they are to thrive in the modern marketplace, and the opportunities are out there to help them do so.  

At Proskills we visit coatings companies all over the country, from large multi-nationals to small businesses with just a few staff – all of whom are interested in the opportunities out there which can help them develop. Employer investment in training schemes will help the UK coatings industry become stronger and compete effectively.

We have to develop new techniques and skills if we are to compete for tomorrow’s business, and Proskills is here to help the UK’s coatings companies maintain their place at the forefront of development.

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Notes to Editors:
To interview Gary Overton, or for any other enquiries, please contact Proskills on 01235 833844 or info@proskills.co.uk

About Proskills Group
Proskills UK Group comprises Proskills UK - the Sector Skills Council for Process and Manufacturing Sector and the Proskills Academy.

Proskills UK is the bridge between employers and Government on skills and training.
Employer-led by nine key industries, Building Products, Coatings, Extractives, Furniture, Glass, Glazed Ceramics, Paper, Print and Wood industries which make a third of the UK manufacturing sector. Proskills UK helps to raise the profile and sets the skills standards and qualifications for the sector and ensures that the skills and funding delivers against the current and future needs of the industries.

As a commercial arm of Proskills UK, the National Skills Academy, Materials, Production & Supply, is the first step in identifying and accessing the training your business needs to reduce costs and boost productivity.

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Proskills UK is an employer-led organisation that represents the interests of the industries that make up the process and manufacturing sector to government.