1、The skills needed to support an industrial strategyAUGUST 2024makeuk.orgtuc.org.uk3INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXTInternationally,the UK risks being squeezed between the US Inflation Reduction Act alongside the European Unions Green Deal Industrial Plan which are already having a significant detrimental im

2、pact on UK investment.Yet,as we face these challenges the UK remains the only developed economy without an industrial strategy.Never has the case been clearer to adopt one.Every other major economy,from Germany to China,has a long-term national manufacturing plan,underlying the importance of an indu

3、strial base to the success of its wider economy.If the UK is to compete on a global stage,particularly for top talent,a national manufacturing plan is imperative.Fundamental to this is a coherent set of policies that promote business investment in skills and infrastructure to support their developme

4、nt.The foundation stone of an industrial strategy is people.Owing to the above factors,we now face a perfect storm:the demand for upskilling and reskilling has increased at the very same time as the pipeline of workers,teachers and talent into the sector has diminished.Particularly alarmingly,engine

5、ering and manufacturing apprenticeship starts have fallen drastically since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.Meanwhile,T Levels,a newer post-16 qualification originally designed to replace BTECs,are suffering from their own unique issues,including low uptake.THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUPPORT A

6、N INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY In recent years,the UK economy has grappled with a number of unprecedented challenges,including the COVID-19 pandemic,Brexit and geopolitical conflicts.As we usher in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,obstacles to the UKs economic and industrial success remain,including occupati