Metal industry backs lifelong learning

Citation

(2003), "Metal industry backs lifelong learning", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 27 No. 2/3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2003.00327bab.001

Metal industry backs lifelong learning

Metal industry backs lifelong learning

The European Metalworkers' Federation has offered to help the EU to draw up a set of reference levels for qualifications and competencies, including common principles for certification, in the European metal sector.

The offer is contained in a memorandum entitled Managing Change and Lifelong Learning in the European Metalworking Industry, in which the federation says it would like to see lifelong learning an integral part of industrial and employment policies. Lifelong learning will make it possible for all workers to maintain and develop their value in the labour market, improve their employment prospects and help to reduce poverty in Europe.

Meanwhile, the UK metal industry has announced a major injection of funding to support metal companies throughout England in getting the skills that will be vital to their future success.

More than £800,000 has been secured by Metals Industry Skills and Performance (MetSkill) from the National Learning and Skills Council to spearhead the industry's campaign to develop a new generation of team members and leaders who can adapt to the changes in the industry and embrace the latest working practices.

The spin-off from the recent mass rationalization in metal companies and the introduction of new technology in a bid to sustain competitive edge has been a rising demand for better employee skills to underpin and drive through performance improvement. The funding will mean that metal companies can gain access to industry-developed training for less than 25 per cent of the standard cost.

More than 2,000 employees, from 80 companies, have so far benefited from metal-industry skill-development programmes, from Corus businesses to small metal-forming, casting and stockholding companies.

Stephen Tilsley, MetSkill chairman and Metsec plc managing director, said: "Times are tough for metal companies, and manufacturing generally, and it is difficult for us as individual businesses to look beyond the immediate problems facing us. But working more strategically as a metal sector through MetSkill gives employers the advantage of a collective industry approach and access to quality frameworks. Companies like my own have experienced real improvements from introducing relevant industry skills development in key areas such’as communications and problem solving."

Based on the development of effective and flexible self-managed teams, the training focuses on skills such as communications, problem solving, quality management and health and safety.

Lesley Morgan, Orb Electrical Steels training and development manager, commented: "We had been looking for something to help to support our team leaders in their first-line manager roles and the underpinning knowledge provided through this programme was exactly what was needed. The four candidates we selected to test the programme had varying levels of experience but all found the course content totally relevant to their responsibilities in their workplace and they are all now more confident in their leadership skills."