Skills Support for the Workforce

Sector Skills Reports Overview

Background

Research Methods

Common Themes

Skills Gaps

Training Requirements

Recommendations

Legacy

The reports were commissioned as part of the ESF-funded Skills Support for the

Workforce (SSW) programme and focused specifically on the region’s small to

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), although information on larger companies was

also gathered. Reports were required to included an analysis of:

► current and emerging skills gaps and training needs across the sector up to

2022.

► how aware Humber’s SMEs are of the skills needed to drive sector growth.

► the willingness of SMEs to invest in developing the skills of their workforce.

Background

Sector Skills reports

Health & Social Care University of Hull

Creative and Digital East Riding College

Construction East Riding College

Visitor Economy East Riding College

Ports & Logistics Team Humber Marine Alliance

Chemicals, Renewable Technology & Green Energy HCF CATCH

Engineering, Manufacturing & Food Manufacturing KFM Training Ltd

Research Methods

Different organisations used a variety of methods to gather research and views

from industry working with SMEs across the Humber to:

Research was conducted between August 2017 and December 2018

Over 100 121 interviews were conducted

Over 240 Surveys were completed

Over 20 Networks were invited to contribute including THMA Maritime &

Offshore Skills Group, CATCH Contractor Competency Scheme, The Humber

Training Group, Visit Hull & East Yorkshire and the Bridlington Guest House

Association.

Contributors

Common Themes

Uncertainty of what Brexit will bring

Lack of awareness of schemes and opportunities

Disconnected training solutions

Recognising the need to for industry involvement

Requirement for ‘fusion’ of skills

Bre

xit

Concern

s

Lack of awareness

Some sectors do this well through organised network groups like THMA and

CATCH, CITB and Humber Training Group.

Lack of knowledge of how to get involved with programmes to access support.

Not aware of new courses or industry updates. Often reliant on word of mouth.

Opportunities for funding or support often not advertised in formats or places

that Micro businesses and SMEs would see them.

Some businesses said they don’t have time to look for these opportunities as

they are too busy doing the day job.

Training Disconnect

Ample training options but the training available doesn’t always fit business

requirements:

Some businesses stated the way some training is delivered has a negative impact

on business due to the time spent studying for the qualification. (C&D, VE)

Courses didn’t always meet industry needs or prepare learners for real work

situations and demands. (H&SC, C&D)

Feedback across the industries implied Apprenticeship frameworks and standards

didn’t always cover the training elements they required for their job roles or that

the training didn’t impact at the speed required by the business. (C&D, E)

Funded training programmes often can’t cover industry specific qualifications or

higher level training. (M, GE&R, C&D, P&L)

Industry Involvement

All sectors acknowledged that having a presence and sharing what they do

can have a positive impact in raising awareness of the industry and the job

roles and skills within it. In turn increasing new entrants.

Recognition from businesses that they should be more involved and

influential with training providers to shape training to meet their needs.

Where businesses or Networks have had interactions with local schools or

careers event days they have noticed raised awareness of the industry with

young people who in turn are seeking out future job opportunities within the

sector. (Ch,Con, P&L)

Skills Gaps and Training Needs

The majority of businesses across all sectors understood the benefits to investing in

developing the skills of their workforce. All sectors are anticipating future growth with

an expectation of recruitment and upskilling to support this.

Where mandatory training is required within the sector most companies tend to

have a training budget in place, however it usually doesn’t extend past required

qualifications.(M,H&SC,C)

Sectors with a high turn over of staff are hesitant to invest in training above

mandatory requirements as job roles can be seasonal or temporary or viewed as

‘under valued’ and the investment can be seen as futile. (VE,H&SC)

Emerging technologies are creating new skills gaps as drones start to be used in

agriculture and ports and new social media platforms emerge. Most businesses

acknowledge the need to keep on top of this upskilling but stated it can be time

consuming and costly due to it’s bespoke nature. (P&L,M,C&D)

Skills & Training Gaps - Generic

Companies were asked which job roles are difficult to fill and where do they lack

skills within their company that are holding them back from increasing productivity

and securing new business.

Across the majority of sectors, businesses identified they are now requiring a

‘fusion’ of skills. More sector neutral attributes to compliment the industry

specific skills. E.g. business acumen, partnership working, report writing, sales,

negotiations and customer service. (E,M,C&D,VE)

Other skills required across multiple sectors include managerial, social media

marketing, website management and account management to drive business

and increase new customers through an increasing variety of media used

across the sectors. (E,FM,VE, C&D)

Skills & Training Gaps – Construction

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Construction Project Managers

Wood Trades

Bricklayers

Plumbers & HVAC Trades

Electricians

Labourers

Roofers

Plasterers

Scaffolders

Civil Engineers

Managers & Team Leaders

Surveyors

Plant Operatives

Plumbing

Electricians

Brickwork

Wood Occupations

Thermal Heating Installation &

Maintenance

Fork lift

PASMA

IPAF

Project Management

Leadership & Management

Skills & Training Gaps – Health & Social Care

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Health &

Social Care

Clinical roles

Residential Nursing Staff

Residential Care Workers

Dental Hygienists

Domiciliary Care Workers

Auxiliaries

Cleaners

Dementia Awareness

Care for the Vulnerable and the Elderly

Safeguarding

Customer Service

Dental Hygiene & therapy

COSHH

End of Life care

Dignity in Care

Infection Control

Nutrition & Hydration

GDPR

Fire Safety

First Aid

Skills & Training Gaps – Visitor Economy

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Visitor

Economy

Chefs

Kitchen Assistants

Bar Staff

Cleaners

Waiting Staff

Front of House

Customer Service

Team Members

Chef Training

Catering & Hospitality

Food Safety and Hygiene

Health & Safety

Customer Service

Website development & maintenance

Social media Marketing

Advertising

Business Management

Coaching & Mentoring

Team Working

Fire Safety

First Aid

Skills & Training Gaps – Creative & Digital

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Digital

Technology &

Computer

programming

PHP Developers

Computer Programmers

across multiple coding

IT Engineers

Professional writing skills

Creative writing skills

Post production effects

Elixir

Marketing/PR

Agencies

Content writers

Marketing across multiple

platforms

Senior Marketing roles

Creative Director

Facebook Advertising

Content writing

Professional writing skills

Photoshop

Branding

Search Engine Optimisation

Creative,

Theatrical &

Performing

Arts

Project management

Video Editing

Creative writing skills

Post production effects

Theatrical production

Story boarding & project management

Tax & Accounting for theatre companies

Marketing

Skills & Training Gaps – Ports & Logistics

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Ports Deck Hands

Marine Engineers

Workboat crew

Naval Architects

Marine Surveyor

Chief Engineers

Shipbuilding Trades

Stevedores

Port Operatives

Proposals Engineers

Robotics

Marine Engineering

IOSH

NEBOSH

Maritime Studies

Project Management

Offshore wind blade repair

Stevedoring

Sea Survival

Marine & Offshore High Voltage

Logistics Crane Drivers

Shipping Agents

Logistics operatives

Procurement Operatives

Technicians in heavy lifting

Crane Operating

Logistics

Warehousing

LGV & ADR driving

Skills & Training Gaps – Renewable Technology, Green Energy & Chemicals

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Renewable

Technology,

Green Energy

& Chemicals

Construction Operatives

Maintenance Operatives

Site Planning

IT Engineers

Multiskilled Turbine Technician

PLC Electrical Engineers

Process Engineers

Instrument Engineers &

Technicians

Asset Integrity Inspectors

Safe use of Drone training

L6 + Engineering

Offshore wind blade repair

Turbine Technician

Project Management

Manual Handling

Fire Safety

Working at Heights

Sea Survival

First Aid

Marine & Offshore High Voltage

Courses

Skills & Training Gaps - Engineering, Manufacturing & Food Manufacturing

Area Job Role or Skill Gap Training Need

Engineering Fabricators (UPVC & Steel)

Machinists

Press-brake Operators

Welders

Electrical & Mechanical engineers

Maintenance engineer

Experience of working on highly

hazardous assets

Degree qualified Electrical engineers

Project Management

Welding

NEBOSH

IOSH

Manufacturing Forklift Drivers

Manufacturing Technicians

Shift & Line Supervisors

Machine specific skills

VNA Forklift licence

Management & Team Leading

LEAN Management

Warehouse & Distribution

Performing Manufacturing Operations

Food

Manufacturing

Food Manufacturing Engineers

Production Managers &

Supervisors

Management & Team Leading

LEAN Management

Food Safety for Manufacturing

Recommendations ► Allow funded training programmes to provide qualifications at level 3 and above. This will

support the drive to improve standards across the sectors and make them more globally

competitive.

► Effective promotion of schemes and projects that can benefit businesses. Targeted marketing

ensuring new participation with micro businesses and SMEs via a variety of appropriate media.

► Encourage industry support and mentoring between companies particularly in the more

dominant micro business areas such as hospitality, engineering and construction to share

good practice, industry knowledge and updates.

► Consider creation of Talent Pool for high turn over and in demand roles.

► Encourage SME involvement with careers and training events to promote the diversity of job

roles and skills within the sectors and influence design and delivery of training to achieve the

right mix of skills needed by industry.

► Inspire more females into careers in Engineering, Manufacturing, Ports & Logistics,

Construction and Creative & Digital where there are currently a lack of suitable candidates and

anticipated increase in vacancies. Utilise LMI Humber sector events, WiME and TechTalent

Charter to attract new female applicants of all ages.

Legacy

► There remains some strong employer network groups within the region who

welcome this engagement.

► New network established within the Health & Social Care sector. Follow up

event was held late January 19.

► Through SSW over 200 new courses adapted and developed for micro

businesses and SMEs aimed at improving their service and growth. Including:

Pigment Mixing, Mould Making, Sign Language for Doulas and Laser Alignment

► Recognition from businesses in some sectors that they need to address future

staffing needs by attracting a more diverse workforce (P&L, C&D, M&E,GE&R)

► Raised awareness among businesses of the opportunities available to them to

explore business growth and invest in their current workforce. The interest from

businesses and focus groups contributing to these reports demonstrates that

organisations are keen to drive the growth agenda.