Nearly 10,000 people have been helped in learning the skills needed to work in the region’s engineering and manufacturing sectors thanks to a £22 million investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The scale of the support given since 2019 was revealed by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, during a keynote speech on 6 September to more than 40 businesses attending the Enterprise Forum at Make UK’s Technology Centre in Aston.

The Forum, which was organised to look at how skills and education are the key to the Government’s levelling up strategy, also provided an important opportunity for businesses to explore how they can work more closely with the WMCA to improve local people’s education and skills.

Pictured (from left to right) Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, Celia Charlwood, head of Government affairs, Make UK, Andrew Cumpsty, chairman of The Enterprise Forum, Chris Corkan, interim region director, Midlands and East of England, Make UK

The Mayor has responsibility for the allocation of the region’s £165 million Adult Education Budget (AEB) and oversees the WMCA’s work with businesses in shaping training programmes.

The advanced manufacturing and engineering (AME) sector is worth more than £16 billion to the region – around 15 per cent of its total economy – providing around 200,000 jobs. There are currently around 7,000 job vacancies with the AME sector which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and other economic factors.

WMCA has therefore prioritised this further investment to support residents to improve their employment prospects and to provide a talent pipeline for local businesses. The WMCA Engineering and manufacturing plan outlines its strategy to address the shortfall, enhance productivity, and drive growth. By partnering with colleges, universities, and training providers the plan aims to improve the range of sector-specific training available and make it more flexible in delivery. 

The WMCA Apprenticeship Levy Scheme, has also secured £45 million of funding to support 3,806 people into apprenticeships at 1,444 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “Since 2019, we’ve invested £22 million to equip more than 10,000 learners right across our region with the skills they need to succeed - supporting our engineering and manufacturing sector. That is a remarkable milestone worthy of celebration and - by ensuring we have a skilled workforce in what is a highly specialised sector – we’re boosting our growth prospects in the months and years ahead.”

Cllr George Duggins, the WMCA’s portfolio holder for productivity and skills and leader of Coventry City Council, added, “I would encourage manufacturing businesses to work with the WMCA to further strengthen partnership working, particularly on curriculum development and on linking our training to skills demand.

“This includes supporting more young people into apprenticeships through businesses getting involved in our Apprenticeship Levy Scheme and opening up more opportunities for residents to access on-the-job training and other live opportunities.”

Jamie Cater, policy lead employment, Make UK said, “Manufacturers of all sizes across the country are continuing to invest in apprenticeships, providing high-value training to create the workforce of the future.

“Those vital technical, digital and green skills are critical to the sector if it is to keep its place at the forefront of the global stage. This is a time to celebrate the wonderful opportunities being created here in the West Midlands, delivering well-paid and highly skilled jobs with enviable career paths.

“It is also the time to be honest about the apprenticeship system, which need a root and branch overhaul allowing businesses to use the funds more flexibly to address ongoing skills and labour shortages, to provide continued workplace training for employees to make sure those skills gaps are filled.”

The Mayor was joined by David Gaughan, head of employee services at the WMCA and senior point-of-contact for the region’s business leaders.

The WMCA Employer Services Team that engages with a range of businesses, small and large to identify and resolve skills challenges. Email the team at employers@wmca.org.uk for more information.

About The Enterprise Forum

The Enterprise Forum www.enterprise-forum.co.uk, is an independent, not for profit organisation that has been providing a Forum for front bench politicians to engage with business since 1997.  Membership ranges from SME’s to FTSE 100 companies, trade associations to charities.