Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Acknowledged
Significant challenge persists in increasing diversity within the transport manufacturing sector.
Conclusion
There is a significant and complex challenge to be overcome in increasing diversity in the transport manufacturing sector. We welcome the Department for Transport’s commitment to work with industry to change outdated perceptions of manufacturing and strongly endorse the Government’s target to increase women’s representation in the advanced manufacturing sector to 35 per cent of the workforce by 2035. (Conclusion, Paragraph 72) 34
Government Response Summary
The government restates its commitment to increasing women’s representation in the advanced manufacturing sector to 35% of the workforce by 2035 and references work with industry via the Make UK Equality Taskforce.
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.