VALUE OF SKILLS HIGHLIGHTED AT SUBCON

Visitors to the forthcoming Subcon 2009 event at the NEC in Birmingham will be offered the opportunity to find out how they can boost performance and profits through effective skills training. The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing (The Skills Academy) has teamed up with the BERR Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to deliver a series of workshops throughout the three day exhibition which gets underway on June 9. On day one of the show - which attracts UK and overseas visitors from a wide range of manufacturers, suppliers and industry leaders - The Skills Academy and MAS will be focussing on Strategic Workforce Planning, on day two attention will turn to Supply Chain Management and on day three we will be focusing on Business Impact, how can manufacturers improve productivity and competitiveness in an increasingly challenging global market place. Bob Gibbon, Managing Director of The Skills Academy, explained: “The first workshop will demonstrate how skills are vital to the long-term sustainability of UK manufacturing, and how businesses can predict future skills requirements. “Those taking part will be able to build an overview of where their business is now and the first steps they need to take to achieve excellence in this field. “On day two we will be demonstrating our Supply Chain Diagnostic that provides a high level view of purchasing activities and how the supply chain is viewed and managed within an organisation.” Throughout the show there will also be a number of guest speakers, including Christian Warden of Semta, the Sector Skills Council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies in the UK. He will be delivering a skills workshop on the first afternoon of the show whilst the final day includes a discussion on the business impact of effective training and development. “We have designed a programme of activities that is both informative and interactive, allowing visitors to one of the sectors most important events a chance to see for themselves the benefits of investing in skills,” added Mr Gibbon who will be joined by other members of The Skills Academy team on a stand at the show. Also on the stand will be representatives of the MAS, and the organisation’s National Network Resource Manager, Roger Parr said he was pleased to be exhibiting alongside the Skills Academy at this year’s Subcon. “Skills and manufacturing best practice are inextricably linked, and with the government’s renewed push with the UK skills agenda and the recently published manufacturing strategy ‘Manufacturing: New challenges, new opportunities’, it is absolutely key that we continue to build upon our already excellent working relationship,” he said. “Manufacturers across the UK are concerned, and rightly so, about the future. What MAS and The Skills Academy can do is provide them with expert advice and support on key areas of their business, helping them to survive the harder times and prosper when economic conditions are more favourable.” - E N D S - Editor’s Notes The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing (“The Skills Academy”) puts employers firmly in the driving seat to raise the standards of skills and work-based learning. Tasked by the Government to work in partnership with employers, training providers and support organisations we deliver an independent national standard for manufacturing training content, delivery and process. The Skills Academy provides a beacon of security for employers, ensuring that all training providers are approved to deliver the best content in the most powerful and cost effective way possible, so that our programme members receive the best value training to world class standards. The BERR Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) MAS offers easy access to dynamic, articulate and approachable manufacturing specialists who can provide hands-on practical assistance focused on real bottom line benefits. Launched by the Government in 2002, MAS plays a vital role in giving UK manufacturers the support they need to improve productivity and achieve success in an increasingly competitive global economy. MAS provide the following key services: • Direct helpline support through the Regional Centers; • A free one-day on-site diagnostic visit by a MAS manufacturing specialist to review a company's entire manufacturing operation; • Regional Centers can follow up to deliver up to ten days' in-depth consultancy - to introduce, for example, lean manufacturing techniques, product or process innovations, or design advice; • Best practice activities, training and workshop activities for manufacturers across each region.

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