• News & events
• Archived news releases
• 2011 archived press releases
• Unite reaction to Barclays’ decision to move jobs abroad
• Salisbury stands up against the cuts
• Unite's reaction to the IoD's call to scrap collective bargaining in the NHS and education sectors
• Project Merlin lacks any magic - Unite reaction to banking statement
• Unite comment on Burton’s Foods ruling out any chance of keeping the Moreton site open
• Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of manufacturing, says Unite
• Trade unions react angrily to prime minister’s comments on Forestry Commission staff
• Liberal Democrat ministers Vince Cable and Ed Davey branded ‘hypocrites’ over support for NHS ‘privatisation’ bill
• Unite comment on Barclays’ bonus story
• Charities facing ‘St Valentine’s Day massacre’ says Unite

Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of manufacturing, says Unite

2 February 2011

Unite proud to support National Apprenticeship Week: 7-11 February

Unite, the UK’s largest trade union, has called for the government to make more funding available to make manufacturing apprenticeships more attractive to youngsters to ensure that young people are attracted to the manufacturing sector, or risk facing a skills gap.

The union maintains apprenticeships are one of the best solutions to ensuring a highly skilled and appropriately trained workforce and that apprenticeship schemes should be at the forefront of vocational education.

Unite also wants to dispel the common misconception that apprenticeships are only for young people. School leavers will clearly benefit from the training and qualifications offered through apprenticeships, but older and established workers can also benefit from developing their skills, and so can people who are unemployed and looking for work.

Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: “Skills development is vital for productivity in any industry. The government now needs to make sure that funding is available to go in to schools and careers’ services to show that there is nothing wrong with manufacturing.

“Unite also wants to see manufacturing companies lead the way and develop the best people with the best skills. We know from experience that using apprenticeships can help all kinds of businesses develop their staff and maximise their productivity.

“Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of manufacturing and provide vital skills and experiences necessary for people entering the workplace today.”

Unite believes a strong and growing manufacturing sector will prove essential for the rebalanced economy as the country comes out of the recession.

Unite assistant general secretary, Tony Burke, said: "Unite wants to see more young people and people looking for re-training to look to a career in manufacturing through a skilled apprenticeship. But we need the help of manufacturing employers to ensure they take on more apprentices to avoid a skill shortage for the future.

"The media still portray manufacturing as ‘smokestack’ industries - but we have some of the most advanced manufacturing companies in the world in the UK - in engineering, science, chemicals, printing and packaging, electronics, process etc - all with high quality training. We need to promote manufacturing as a positive career path."

Unite, along with unions Prospect and the GMB and sector skills councils Cogent, Improve, Proskills, Skillset and Semta have produced a leaflet detailing the funded apprenticeship frameworks available for a wide range of manufacturing industries. Download the apprenticehip leaflet.

ENDS

For further information contact Tony Burke on 07831 659939 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.

NOTES TO EDITORS
The manufacturing sector is diverse, comprising a wide-ranging number of different industries and technologies, all of which make major contributions to the economy. In 2009, manufacturing as a whole generated £140 billion in gross value added (11 per cent of the total for the UK), and employed some 2.6 million people, representing over eight per cent of total UK employment.

Manufacturing apprenticeships are thought of very highly by companies who use them:

• 77 per cent believe apprenticeships make their businesses more competitive;
• 76 per cent say that apprenticeships help develop higher productivity;
• 80 per cent feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover;
• 83 per cent of employers rely on apprenticeships to provide skilled workers for the future;
• 65 per cent of employers believe that apprenticeships help them fill vacancies more quickly;
• 88 per cent believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce;
• 74 per cent say that apprentices make a valuable contribution to the business within their first few weeks.

National Apprenticeship Week is taking place from Monday 7 February to Friday 11 February 2011. The aim is to highlight the talents and skills of apprentices and celebrate the value of apprenticeships.