Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Acknowledged
Ensure apprenticeship standards are updated every three years with transport manufacturer involvement.
Recommendation
Skills England should ensure that, notwithstanding the recent change to remove the requirement to undertake reviews at fixed points, apprenticeship and other technical education training standards are revised and updated at a minimum of every three years. It is essential that transport manufacturers are closely involved in these reviews, to ensure that technological changes, current skills shortages and requirements specific to certain transport sectors are reflected in the standards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 49) Attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce
Government Response Summary
The DBT has developed a target, in consultation with industry, to increase women’s representation in the sector to 35% by 2035, and are working with industry to improve representation and diversity across the sector, including through a Make UK Equality Taskforce due to be launched in the coming months.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity by building skills for opportunity and growth so that every young person can follow the path that is right for them. DfT is delivering against the Opportunity Mission by managing transport skills policy and providing training opportunity with our major projects, including HS2 apprenticeships. DBT has developed a target, in consultation with industry, to increase women’s representation in the sector to 35% by 2035. Although precise figures fluctuate, the latest report from the Women in Manufacturing initiative from the Institute for Manufacturing, places the number of women in the manufacturing sector at 28.4%, although representation in certain occupations remains lower than this. We want this to change. This target applies to advanced manufacturing sub-sectors as set out in the Sector Plan - transport manufacturing is an important part of this (with aerospace and automotive being two of the relevant sectors), but the target encompasses other Advanced Manufacturing sectors. We are working with industry to improve representation and diversity across the sector, including through a Make UK Equality Taskforce due to be launched in the coming months. This body will bring together industry representatives and change makers and will consider how to achieve this aim, as well as to establish an Equality Charter across advanced manufacturing sub-sectors. We expect that it will also consider issues around recruitment and improving the perception of the sector, as you have raised. We will be led by the Task Force’s expertise, and do not want to pre-empt their findings at this stage. We would be pleased to update the select committee in due course once the Task Force has tangible recommendations for both Government and industry. 13