Alex Rowley is pushing for more apprenticeships to tackle skills shortages in Scotland’s engineering sector, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
Fife: Alex Rowley is really stepping up to address the skills shortage in Scotland. He’s reached out to the Higher and Further Education minister, Graeme Dey, to share his worries. He even put together a motion in the Scottish Parliament to push for more apprenticeships. Rowley believes we need to invest in the next generation of skilled workers to fill the jobs of tomorrow.
His concerns come after a report from Scottish Engineering highlighted some serious gaps in the skills pipeline for current industries. Rowley pointed out that while there are plenty of job opportunities in the green sector, without skilled workers, those opportunities won’t mean much.
He stressed that our economic future relies heavily on a solid engineering and industrial base. The report showed that Scotland will need 58% more engineers by 2027, with most of those positions filled through apprenticeships. Unfortunately, funding cuts have left 20% of the demand for apprentice training unmet this year.
Rowley has been chatting with engineering reps in his area, and they all agree: the shortage of skilled workers is causing a scramble for talent across Scotland and the UK. This isn’t good news if we want to transition to a greener industry.
He believes it’s crucial for both the Scottish and UK Governments to collaborate on finding the necessary resources and funding for apprenticeships. Plus, he thinks the Scottish Government should create partnerships between schools, colleges, universities, and industries. This way, young folks can learn about job opportunities in engineering and what they need to do to land those jobs.
The Scottish Government claims it’s still investing in apprenticeships and working with employers to provide support. A spokesperson mentioned they’re focused on enhancing skills provision to help with the transition to net zero and have plans for 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship starts in the coming year.
