Leeds Manufacturing Festival provides template for saving 'lost generation': Greg Wright
Historians will probably refer to them as the lost generation. The bleak revelation that more than a million young people are neither working nor learning is rightly regarded as a source of national shame.
The former health secretary Alan Milburn has warned a “whole system failure” has led to nearly one in seven of the UK’s 16 to 24-year-olds not being in employment, education or training.
Mr Milburn’s report, which was commissioned by the Government, warned the figure could rise to one in six by 2031, representing 1.25 million young people. It also estimated the crisis is costing the UK around £125bn a year, after taking into account factors such as losses in taxes alongside higher health and welfare spending. It is a sum surpassing annual education spending in England and could rise if the situation deteriorates. The evidence does not support a single explanation for this crisis, according to Mr Milburn. He believes it’s a combination of factors, including the long term impact of the pandemic, smartphones, and young people displaying a lack of readiness for work on leaving school.
So what’s the solution? On Thursday, June 4, I will be proud to stand on stage at Leeds Beckett University and bang the drum for one sector which is giving young people a chance to prove themselves in the world of work. The Leeds Manufacturing Festival awards shine the spotlight on employers who are willing to invest in young talent, and provide them with an opportunity to carve out long-lasting and potentially lucrative careers. The festival aims to improve perceptions of manufacturing and engineering careers among young people and showcase the range of opportunities available.
Ben Wilson, the managing director of MPM Group who acts as a spokesperson for the festival, said the quality and volume of entries this year reflects the strength of talent coming through into the manufacturing and engineering industry.
What stands out is the ambition and professionalism of many young people entering the industry. Employers have told organisers they are seeing their apprentices, graduates and other younger employees bringing fresh ideas, embracing technology and developing quickly into leadership roles. There is an urgent need to show that in the manufacturing sector, young people can secure rewarding and highly skilled careers.
Outdated views must also be challenged. The sector has undergone revolutionary changes over the last 40 years. We’ve left the world of rags and spanners far behind. Modern manufacturing is technology-driven and full of opportunities to progress.
Faced with skills shortages, manufacturers around Leeds decided to roll their sleeves up and provide a platform for a sector which is seeking a new talent pipeline. Schools also have a vital role to play. Too many employers report that school leavers are simply unprepared for the world of work. The best way to tackle this is for schools to forge deep ties with local manufacturers. Once children see the dazzling complexity of roles available in modern manufacturing they are likely to develop a life-long love affair with the sector. Over time, our economy will be in a much a healthier place.
Greg Wright is the deputy business editor of The Yorkshire Post