The Made in Group met up this month to discuss ‘People and Skills’ in a discussion group chaired by Fiona Tatton and attended by Dan Stephenson, Pryor Marking Technology; Rebecca Kilby, Kilby Packaging; Neil Williams, Rowan Precision Ltd; Zoe Brown, TecQuipment; Luke Appleby, Equilibrium Risk; David Lobo, Mankiewicz UK; and Lindsay Clark, MWS Ltd.
As the battle for talent intensifies in the manufacturing and engineering space, the Made in Group industry meet-up, the group discussion covered broad and wide-ranging points of interest.
Following on from the preceding presentation session around employer branding there was discussion amongst the members around what employer branding meant for them in the context of their businesses. A strong and well-articulated employer brand was thought to be key to both talent attraction and retention.
Fiona Tatton provided an overview for the attendees of Made in Group’s inclusion pledge as a means for members to commit to learning about and implementing equality and diversity best practices. She also outlined how signatories can access bespoke Made Futures / Made Equal branding and social media assets, as well as post their vacancies on a Made Futures job board.
In addition to the challenges faced by all the participants in attracting (and crucially retaining) talent, David Lobo from Mankiewicz UK discussed the need for language skills too as manufacturers operate in increasingly international markets.
The issue of inclusion and attracting diverse talent was also discussed as a way of growing the talent pool. Most of the organisations present had already developed relationships with local colleges as a way to find apprentices but it was felt that many young people had already discounted STEM careers at an early age due to being forced to make choices and specialise too early.
The group was split over whether to recruit directly or whether to use an agency, with the perceived expense of agencies being a concern.
The Made in Group continues to organise a spectrum of events throughout the year, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering a competitive edge. These events, ranging from online sessions to face-to-face meet-ups, feature industry experts and thematic discussions aimed at enhancing competitiveness and productivity.
For those eager to join our meetings and access these invaluable insights, simply log in to your dashboard and navigate to the events page. Not yet a member? Join us online by visiting www.madeinthemidlands.com/register or www.madeinyorkshire.com/register and become a part of a thriving community committed to fostering business excellence.
