EEF

Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation, Terry Scuoler comments on the publication of the Apprenticeship Levy funding guidance: “High quality apprenticeships cost more and it’s good to see the Government has recognised this, particularly through the uplift of funding for STEM apprenticeships. The manufacturing industry already punches above its weight in both the quantity and quality of apprenticeships it provides and will see this as a green light to train even more.”

To prepare UK manufacturers for the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) EEF and Oracle have joined forces. 4IR is being driven by digitisation, big data and other rapid advances in technology. Eight in ten manufacturers say that this next industrial transformation will be a business reality within the next ten years.

Manufacturer’s business confidence has dropped across the board, following the vote that led to Brexit, a report has shown. Every region shows a decline in optimism. South East and London manufacturers suffered the biggest fall in confidence, along with Wales. Contrasting the region to see the least decline in optimism is the North East.

Close Brothers has announced the launch of phase two of its SME Apprenticeship Programme, in partnership with manufacturers’ organisation EEF and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA). 

EEF has appointed Professor John Perkins – the Government’s former Chief Scientific Adviser for business and author of its ground-breaking review of engineering skills in the UK - as an adviser. 

Manufacturers are being urged to take a simple new test to check how cyber aware they are. The free test has been designed by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, after new research revealed that companies could be unknowingly leaving themselves vulnerable to a cyber attack, with smaller businesses particularly at risk.

A record number of manufacturers are looking to recruit apprentices this year, according to a new survey by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. Almost eight in ten (79%) plan to recruit a manufacturing and engineering apprentice, while 45% intend to recruit an apprentice for other roles, such as IT, marketing and management.

EEF has launched a new Apprenticeship Matching Quiz to help young people find the right apprenticeship for their interests and skills. The move will enable many more young people to set off on the right career path and comes as EEF expands its apprenticeship programme to include Higher Apprenticeships for the very first time. 

Commenting on the announcement by SSI of a halt in production, Gareth Stace, Director UK Steel, said:  "This is an extremely worrying development. It comes just 24 hours after the Government agreed to hold a crisis summit about the UK steel industry and this cannot happen soon enough. I trust ministers will put in place the machinery to get on with this as a priority and that they will bring tangible offers of support. The time for warm words has passed.  

Today’s UCAS figures spell good news for the future of British engineering, with the number of applications to study engineering increasing by 7% on the previous year for all domiciles, and up by 9% for UK applicants.

New research out today shows that Britain is on the cusp of a global, technology-driven 4th industrial revolution, with eight in ten manufacturers (80%) saying it will become a business reality by 2025. However, the UK’s ability to be a frontrunner hangs in the balance. In a stark warning to the next Government six in ten manufacturers (58%) say that the UK is in danger of being left behind:

Commenting on the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee’s report on energy network costs, Gareth Stace, EEF’s Head of Climate and Environment, said;

Commenting on the Hauser Review on Innovation published today, Ms Lee Hopley, Chief Economist at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said:  

EEF is urging Britain’s manufacturers to take advantage of a £30 million Government matched funding scheme to give employers the skills they need to realise their growth ambitions.

Verity O’Keefe, Employment and Skills Policy Adviser at EEF, says: “Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is a golden opportunity to rekindle realistic and achievable career aspiration in the young. By making it clear that our sector has plenty of interesting jobs available, pays well and offers good long-term career prospects, we will be ticking many of the boxes for young people and their parents.

Britain’s ambitions for a better-balanced economy could be seriously undermined by escalating energy costs, warns a new report out today from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. It projects a 50% hike in electricity costs by 2020 and says that this would hit investment, margins and competitiveness, potentially applying a brake to economic growth. In fact, such is the impact that just 4% of manufacturers would be left unscathed.

UK companies are being urged to provide the University’s students with challenging ‘real life’ mechanical and electrical engineering projects. The scheme, spearheaded by The University of Bolton and EEF, will see companies and second and third year students working together on selected engineering projects, giving students experience of ‘real world’ problem-solving.     

The hunt is on once again for the British manufacturers who have done the most to invest in their employees and young talent at regional and national level. EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and JAM Recruitment have launched two prestigious awards which will give companies the opportunity to demonstrate they are the best amongst their peers across the UK.

Manufacturing companies are being urged to get involved in the government’s ‘Red Tape Challenge’ (RTC) and start to dismantle some of the barriers holding them back from growing their businesses.

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the promotion of export services to manufacturing and engineering companies across the UK.