Industry is undergoing seismic changes, with workplaces and sector priorities evolving at a rapid rate.
Many businesses are striving to implement more sustainable practices, minimise their environmental impact and carbon footprints, while Industry 4.0 is changing the way companies work in a fundamental way.
Ensuring your business has the skills and talent to adapt to a changing landscape, and can seize on new opportunities, is essential to remaining competitive, now and in the future.
The energy transition and green skills
Research by McKinsey suggests the Net Zero transition could be worth over £1 trillion to UK business by 20301 and across the country, major investments are being made in areas including wind energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy storage, low carbon heating networks, hydrogen, sustainable fuels and electrification.
As new technologies blossom and existing industries race to decarbonise, there is a huge opportunity for engineering talent to be shaped to support a sustainable future. And there is a pressing need for more green skills in the workforce. According to PwC, there is a green skills gap of around 200,000 workers, which needs to be addressed if the UK is to meet its Net Zero target by 20502.
Engineering apprenticeships can therefore play a major role in helping companies to take advantage of the opportunities generated by the energy transition, driving sustainability and efficiency in businesses, reducing waste, and futureproofing workforces, while closing the skills gap.
Apprentices can help to enrich the skills base of a business and bring fresh perspectives to a company, and once qualified, they can support change as an organisation’s capabilities evolve.
So what engineering skills are needed to help build a more sustainable future?
Here are just a few examples…
• Process engineering – developing and implementing more efficient processes, and reducing waste
• Risk management – assessing and mitigating environmental risks
• Fabrication – skills applied to wind turbine manufacture, pipeline manufacture and renewable energy infrastructure
• Engineering design – designing sustainable systems and products
• Maintenance – maintaining renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines, port facilities, solar panel installations and vessels
Train’d Up offers a wide range of engineering apprenticeships which align to these skills requirements – you can view them here.
Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Workplaces are being reconfigured by Industry 4.0. The integration of sensor technology software and equipment – the Internet of Things (IoT) – enables different parts of factory to communicate with each other, speeding up processes and minimising downtime. Automation and robotics are increasing efficiency, AI is rapidly accelerating decision making across many industry environments, and digital twins, VR and AR are transforming training.
It’s vital, therefore, that businesses are able to leverage this technology for competitive advantage.
And that means giving your workforce the skills and knowledge it needs to work effectively as advances in technology, manufacturing processes and working practices progress.
Apprentices can be readily prepared for manufacturing environments which embrace Industry 4.0. They often learn using digital tools, and skills are honed both on the shop floor and via digital platforms. In addition, apprentices drawn from the Gen-Z demographic have grown up with the internet and have a high level of digital fluency – they are more likely to embrace digital technology than previous generations too.
At Train’d Up, we offer engineering apprenticeships that help prepare staff for modern, forward-thinking workplaces that embrace digitisation and IoT.
These include:
• Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician (level 4) – this includes training in technological development and innovation in the engineering sector, including Industry 4.0, IT networking and digital twinning.
• Project Controls Technician (level 3) – this includes skills development in using technology to model potential trends and resource use, and training in using data in planning and scheduling, cost and risk analysis, estimating and progress and performance monitoring.
• Engineering Manufacturing Technician (level 4) – this includes skills development in software systems or packages such as CAD, data analytics and databases.
Taking the next step
Engineering apprentices can help to enrich the skills base of a business and bring fresh perspectives to a company, and once qualified, apprentices can support change as an organisation’s capabilities evolve.
If you’re looking to shape a future-ready workforce, one that is ready to take on exciting industry challenges and opportunities, contact us about our engineering apprenticeships.