Lincolnshire Institute of Technology tackling the lack of higher levelled skills in the county
It comes as new research suggests the UK is at risk of having to fight for qualified workers in industries such as technology
The UK is at risk of having to fight for highly skilled workers in industries such as technology and banking, according to new research.
It is among the top five countries to face a prevalent shortage of talent, recruitment firm Hays said in a report.
Alongside New Zealand, Portugal, Canada and Switzerland, the UK could face major challenges in finding people to fill in-demand and emerging roles in the future.
On the other hand, the US, China, India, Germany and Brazil rank in the top five talent networks across all the sectors it analysed.
Hays said it collected a large global dataset using job adverts and candidate profiles from 31 countries.
It then examined five sectors it viewed as the strongest in terms of how they are adapting to rapid digital transformation. These were technology, engineering, manufacturing, life sciences and financial services.
The analysis found that the UK has a "pressing need" to address its skills shortages or it risks falling behind international peers.
"To ensure the UK can continue to compete on the global stage, it needs a steady supply of talent with the right skills," said Nigel Kirkham, the chief executive of enterprise solutions at Hays.
The competitiveness of the UK as a place for growth and innovation has been a focal issue for both the current and former government.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said delivering economic growth is "our national mission" and identified the financial services sector as being "at the heart" of its growth agenda.
Meanwhile, recruitment firms including Hays have flagged a slowdown in hiring over the past year.
They say many employers have been cautious to take on new staff as a result of economic and political uncertainty, and wider cost pressures squeezing their finances.
The Lincolnshire Institute of Technology partnership supports the economic growth and prosperity of Greater Lincolnshire by preparing individuals for work and supporting their development and progression within employment.
They aim to support Greater Lincolnshire as a great place to learn, work, recruit, invest and innovate in the engineering and manufacturing, digital, and construction sectors.
Mick Lochran is the Project Director at the Institution and tells us more:
"So in five years we've put 3000 learners through a level four or five qualification, and we've just signed with the Department of Education for another five years, and we're aiming for 5000. So the shortage is still there, and the demand's there, and as technology changes, there's going to be more and more demand.
"In Lincolnshire, yeah, we've got sort of two sides. We've got some really forward thinking companies; some of the larger companies like Siemens Energy and the wind turbines, British steel, and working with chemical companies. The bigger companies have got their act together and are really pushing this.
"Where the challenge for the next five years is, those SMEs, the smaller companies and how we work with them. So we're really looking at the curriculum at the moment and trying to have what we call micro credentials or bite size qualifications, where a smaller company can release somebody, just to come and learn about AI or learn about industry 4.0, and do a module from that.
"I mean Lincolnshire is 15% behind on level 4 qualifications. So it's a big gap that we've got to fill just to get to the national average. Plus there's a 23% gap in productivity, and the two are interlinked really. So, yeah, I don't think we're going to run out of people to train in the next in the next five years."
The Lincolnshire Institute of Technology is a partnership between the University of Lincoln, North Lindsey College and University Campus North Lincolnshire, University Centre Grimsby, Boston College, Grantham College and University Centre, Lincoln College, Riseholme College and Lincoln UTC.
It was founded over four years ago and has built on its existing provision and strong employer relationships, to continue to develop and deliver training and qualifications that meet regional needs.
Institutes of Technology have been established by the Department of Education as leaders in the provision of high-quality, higher-level technical education and training across a range of STEM occupations and industries. [www.institutesoftechnology.org.uk/about ](http://www.institutesoftechnology.org.uk/about |newtab)