DESCRIPTION OF SECTOR
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AMM) has a long tradition in South East Wales and today several strong hi-tech employers are based in the region. The sector utilises innovative new processes and technology to produce high value-added products, for example, within aerospace, automotive, pharma and includes other sub sectors such as food manufacturing. As with other parts of the regional economy, micro to medium sized employers are dominant across the sector. It should also be noted that while AMM is an important sector, it contains several individually significant sectors including Transport Engineering.
KEY JOB ROLES
Key job roles within the sector include:
• Production Managers
• Engineering Technicians
• Inspectors and Testers
• Process Operatives
• Aircraft Engineers
• Packers, Bottlers, Canners and Fillers
• Assemblers
SECTOR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The CCRSP AMM Cluster group identified the following opportunities & challenges for the CCRSP Employment & Skills Plan 2022-2025:
• Promote Apprenticeships and work to ensure that Frameworks are fit for purpose and offer parity with the Apprenticeship Standards in England.
• Support the implementation of the Qualifications Wales Sector Review for Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Energy and maximise opportunities to ensure that developments meet industry needs.
• Support training providers to recruit and train assessors for apprenticeships at Level 4
• Work with Welsh Government to ensure funded support for training is aligned to the needs of the sector including bespoke training for the implementation of new technology such as Automation, Robotics and associated digital skills.
• Capitalise on opportunities presented through the UK Government Levelling Up agenda, and the Shared Prosperity Fund.
• Remain aware of the impact of Covid/Brexit and work to ensure skills of displaced employees (potentially through plant closures) can be utilised in sub-sectors that face recruitment challenges.
• Build on approaches to careers education, information, advice and guidance and promote the sector as a viable career option.
• Address issues related to gender imbalance and continue to increase the numbers of females entering the labour market.
• Improve the content of STEM focussed teacher training and work to introduce fit for purpose work experience placements in industry to drive equality.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The CCRSP engages strategically with:
Industry Wales https://www.industrywales.com/
Make UK https://www.makeuk.org/
Manufacturing Wales https://manufacturingwales.com
ECITB https://www.ecitb.org.uk
CS Connected https://csconnected.com/
Technology Connected https://technologyconnected.net/
Celsa Steel UK https://www.celsauk.com
Royal Mint https://www.royalmint.com
Aspire Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/aspire-to-change-your-life-with-help-from-qa/
TSW Training https://www.tsw.co.uk/
CAVC https://cavc.ac.uk/en
