Scottish Engineering's Engineering Skills Gap Analysis for Scotland

That the Parliament notes the publication of Scottish Engineering’s report, Engineering Skills Gaps Analysis for Scotland; is concerned by the findings of the report, the production of which aims to allow industry and government to work in partnership to maximise the opportunities for Scotland's economy, and its society as a result; notes that the results in the report are derived from the output of a survey of 70 engineering companies based on their operations in Scotland; is concerned with the findings of the report that skills pipeline gaps for existing industry are “an immediately stark situation” with “no allowance for the additional demands” of offshore wind, grid infrastructure investment, decarbonising heat energy or green hydrogen production; notes the view from the survey that “unless there is a rapid change in the required skills investment there is a considerable risk of damage to incumbent industry [and a] risk to inward investors of failure to reach the skilled staffing levels they require, with negative impact on their projects, and reputational risk to Scotland’s ability to accommodate such opportunity”; further notes the view that the Scottish and UK governments must encourage the next generation of skilled workers and make the funding and resources needed available to provide the apprenticeships of today for the jobs of tomorrow, and notes the calls in the Mid Scotland and Fife region and across the country for the Scottish Government to take action to foster a new partnership between schools, colleges, universities and industry to ensure that young people are aware and able to take advantage of the opportunities available in Scotland’s industrial sector, and that the future of Scottish industry is secured for the benefit of people across Scotland.