The Department for Education (DfE) is today (10 March) calling on
experts from the shipbuilding industry to apply to become a
member of the first UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce.
Following the publication of the refreshed cross-government
National Shipbuilding
Strategy, which sets out a package of government measures
aimed at fostering a shipbuilding renaissance across the UK, the
DfE will lead work to establish a UK wide Taskforce to develop a
world-leading skills strategy to support the industry.
The Taskforce will last for 18 months and aims to build a picture
of the industry’s skills needs and provide solutions to skills
shortages - particularly those related to new and emerging
technologies and zero-emissions shipping. Partnering industry
experts with training providers, the Taskforce will collect best
practice from across the shipbuilding sector to plug skills gaps
and promote shipbuilding career opportunities.
Minister for Skills said:
We are looking for a chair and members for our new Taskforce that
will supercharge the shipbuilding industry, bringing together
experts who will work together to develop a plan to plug
skills gaps and get more people into rewarding jobs.
These roles are an exciting opportunity for people who have the
skills, knowledge and experience to be at the forefront of this
vital work, helping to level up opportunities for people across
the UK and ensure our fantastic shipbuilding industry will go
from strength to strength.
Working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the
Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
and the Department for Transport (DfT), the Taskforce will also
work to ensure training providers are empowered to meet the
industry’s requirements, drawing on best practice from other
sectors and national skills approaches to optimise the available
skills funding and opportunities for shipbuilding.
Chair of the Maritime Skills Commission, Graham Baldwin, said:
The Maritime Skills Commission welcomes the establishment of the
UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce (UKSST) which comes at a crucial
time for the sector. The Commission is committed to ensuring the
maritime sector has the skills it requires for building back
better and the transition to net-zero, but it is imperative that
this supported by Government and industry. Attracting and
retaining a diverse pipeline of skilled workers is a priority and
the Commission will work closely with the UKSST to ensure this
happens. We are delighted to welcome the Chair of the UKSST onto
the Commission and together we will work closely to tackle the
skills challenges and opportunities now and into the future.
Applications are now open
online for a chair and members for the Taskforce with
experience in and a passion for shipbuilding.
