The skills gap is getting worse or not improving in the UK, say 40% of engineering project managers in a recent survey by the Association for Project Management (APM), carried out ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (February 5-11).
The skills gap is generally defined as the disparity between the skills that employers need or find desirable, and the skills possessed by employees or prospective workers, to meet job role demands. The term was coined in the late 1990s and multiple sectors have long raised concerns over the issue, exacerbated by globalisation, the pace of technological change, and specialised skillsets required.
The engineering project managers who thought the skills gap was getting worse said long-term solutions to bridging the problem over the next five years were through apprenticeship programmes (selected by 56%). This was followed by wider recruitment (33%) and additional training at college, university or apprenticeships (22%).
“I believe apprenticeships can help bridge the skills gap as they allow you to practically expand the skills you learn at university. The most I’ve personally learnt about project management has been through practically working on a project with other project professionals at Mott MacDonald who are able to advise, share their knowledge and expertise, and give feedback,” said Lydia Lewis, a degree apprentice at Mott MacDonald. “University helps me to understand the theory of why we do certain processes and how they can be improved. But I think the on-the-job training is something that typical university routes miss out on, meaning students may not always be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge for their profession. On-the-job training makes apprentices more work-ready when they graduate.”
Degree apprenticeships were launched as a flagship policy as part of a package of reforms to the apprenticeships system in England in 2015. Apprentices study at university and work part-time at an employer relevant to their qualification without paying tuition fees. Meanwhile, almost one in five (22%) engineering project managers in the survey said their organisation doesn’t run an apprenticeship programme for project professionals.
“For decades, the UK has been beset with skills shortages caused by many entrenched and complex reasons, from digital transformation to post-Covid effects, and it is alarming that four in 10 project management professionals in the engineering sector think the problem is either getting worse or staying the same in 2024, despite all the well-publicised and well-intended initiatives in recent years,” said Professor Adam Boddison, APM Chief Executive. “And while it is positive to see many organisations investing in skills by offering apprenticeships, there is a sizeable minority who aren’t doing so currently. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help plug the skills gap since they blend a professional qualification with supported learning and development while in a full-time role.”
