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Bridging the UK's manufacturing skills gap: Uniting for progress
Raising awareness and fostering collaboration among businesses, educational institutions, associations and the government can contribute to developing a skilled workforce capable of driving the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sector forward.
A campaign dedicated to amplifying efforts in the engineering and manufacturing sector to bridge the skills gap
Between engineers and innovation
Between diversity and manufacturing
Between young minds and engineering careers
Meet the #UnsungHeroes in Manufacturing
Nominate your #UnsungHero in Manufacturing
Every industry has legends-those who inspire, innovate and make things happen. Now’s your chance to give them the spotlight!
Why should we #MINDTHEskillsGAP?
of manufacturing companies agree that it will be difficult to fulfill the skills needed for 2030
of manufacturing businesses were concerned that their current workforce would leave the company*
of current job openings have been difficult to fill due to a lack of required skills*
*2030 Skills – Closing the gap (Make UK report)
Cause and effect
- A massive skills shortage is affecting over 80% of businesses in engineering and manufacturing.
- 20% of workers in the sector are expected to retire in the next 5 year
- High demand for new skill sets, including automation, digitalisation, and robotics.
- Reduced availability of skilled workers from EU countries, affecting the supply chain landscape.
- 55% increase in “Green” engineering roles.
- There are currently 95.000 vacancies in the manufacturing industry.
Bridge-It Library
Closing the Skills Gap, One Resource at a Time
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
The Women in UK Manufacturing 2025 report provides an overview of the progress made over the past year and the challenges that remain for women in the manufacturing sector. This edition
focuses on leadership and inclusion, examining how workplace culture and organisational
practices shape women’s participation and advancement. It combines sector-wide data with insights from surveys and interviews, offering evidence-based analysis of the barriers and opportunities that shape women’s experiences in manufacturing.
Share your contributions
We’d love to hear from you! If you or anyone in your network has any relevant resources or insights that could support this campaign, we’d greatly appreciate it if you could share them with us. Together, we can make a lasting impact in tackling the skills challenge in manufacturing.
If you #MINDTHEskillsGAP, what can you do to be the bridge
- Continuously train employees with the latest industry skills through in-house workshops and online courses.
- Collaborate with industry bodies and government to shape long-term skill development policies.
- Work closely with educational institutions to ensure curricula match future industry requirements.
- Publicize successful strategies and outcomes to inspire and guide similar initiatives across the sector.
- Regularly communicate current challenges and needs at industry forums and through media to drive relevant changes.
- Keep abreast of emerging trends to ensure your workforce is prepared for future industry demands by 2030.
- Push for comprehensive and sustainable educational policies starting from primary school to cultivate early interest and skills in engineering.
- Explore and integrate skills from other sectors that can be adapted to enhance capabilities within engineering and manufacturing.
- Actively recruit women and professionals from varied backgrounds to enrich the workforce and bring diverse perspectives
- Establish mentorship programs where seasoned professionals can transfer critical knowledge to younger employees
- Increase the visibility and availability of apprenticeship programs to attract and train the next generation of engineers and manufacturers.
They #MINDTHEskillsGAP
Join us in building bridges across the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing.
Every initiative, whether it’s upskilling your team, fostering new talent through apprenticeships, or advocating for diverse and inclusive policies, is a step towards closing this critical gap.
Share your stories and strategies under the banner of #MINDTHEskillsGAP to inspire and engage a broader community. Together, we are not just filling gaps—we are building a stronger, more connected industry.
Reach out if you want to get involved!
