190,000 additional skilled energy workers needed to hit net zero targets

Micro Spring and Presswork (MSP), a manufacturer of springs and stamping, highlighted in their White Paper, ‘Sustainability: State of the Industry’, that the National Grid estimates that 400,000 roles will need to be filled to build a net zero energy workforce by 2050.

This skills gap poses a significant barrier to the UK’s ability to meet its net zero commitments, making immediate action by manufacturers and educators necessary.

The white paper also reveals that, although manufacturers struggle to find workers with the necessary qualifications, 51% are not working with education or skills providers to help them address the skill gap.

MSP highlights a significant lack of understanding about manufacturing careers revealing three in five young people are unlikely to consider a career in manufacturing due to misconceptions and lingering stereotypes.

T Level qualifications, introduced in 2020, aim to equip young people with the industry specific knowledge and skills required for sectors like manufacturing over a two-year period.

Commenting on the recent findings, Andrew Durdey, Sales and Marketing Director at MSP, said: “The existing misconceptions around careers in manufacturing are a significant threat to the sector’s capability to attract young talent.

“But the recent enrolment of over 10,200 students in the past year, 14.7% of whom are studying manufacturing, is a positive sign.

“It suggests that the availability and growing popularity of T Levels are helping to bridge a gap by offering more students clear paths into different sectors.”

MSP’s white paper explores the current state of the manufacturing industry and the journey to net zero by 2050 and offers actionable insight for industry leaders, educators, and policymakers.