Inspiring the next generation of Lifting Engineers
It’s never been more important to bring young people into the Lifting Industry. After all, they are our future. With fierce competition to attract fresh talent, LEEA seeks to take a proactive stance. Robert Rorison, LEEA Member Engagement Manager Scotland, Northern England and Ireland, charts the Association’s progress to date and highlights opportunities for LEEA members to play their part.
As an association, LEEA has always placed a high importance on looking forward. One of our strategic priorities is the professional development of people across the industry. Engaging with the next generation and developing their skills through approved programmes is a key part of that.
From classrooms to cranes
Sowing the seeds early is crucial. LEEA’s Think Lifting suite of materials is designed for use in schools and includes videos, presentations and activities. Teachers can access the materials from our website, however we encourage LEEA members to use them to engage directly with their local schools. We’ve provided everything you need to structure a session, allowing members to add value by sharing your experiences and answering pupils’ questions. It really benefits young people if they can hear directly from someone in the lifting industry. You may even be able to offer school pupils the opportunity to visit you on site. The picture above shows LEEA member AquaTerrra Training, which offers local school pupils on-site training courses.
Back to school
We’re all time-poor, and you may feel that you don’t have capacity to get involved with your local school. The good news is there are people here to help. In Scotland, LEEA works closely with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), which is a government initiative that makes it easier for employers to connect with young people. DYW has regional groups throughout Scotland who work with businesses to help them support and recruit young talent. Through DYW, LEEA has become a Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) pledge partner. As part of our pledge, we’ve committed to helping our members to engage with the next generation. Some of our Scottish members are also YPG pledge partners and we encourage others to join them. By getting involved you can tap into lots of free support to help you provide opportunities for young people.
Offering opportunities
How do you get young people to apply for your vacancy? Offering them a recognised qualification, along with experience and a wage is key. In England, our members can tap into the two-year Lifting Equipment Technician apprenticeship. In Scotland, some of our member companies offer their young workforce the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in Engineering.
LEEA is actively exploring whether a more defined lifting pathway could be offered as part of this qualification. This would hopefully increase its value and relevance for Scottish LEEA members and their young apprentices.
We’ve recently had positive conversations with Dame Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour Party Deputy Leader, plus a visit to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, leading to contact with Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education. We now plan to enter discussions with the national skills body, Skills Development Scotland. Watch this space for further updates.
Uniting with universities
There are lots of different pathways into our industry. Apprenticeships are one route, however links with colleges and universities are also important. LEEA is proud to sponsor an award for outstanding student performance in relation to Lifting Engineering as part of the Meng/BEng Mechanical Engineering Programmes at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen. You can read all about it in our TLE Q3 2024 issue.
A parting thought: our industry is an exciting one, with lots to offer. Let’s work together to ensure that the brightest young minds want to be a part of it.
Dame Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour Party Deputy Leader (pictured below), commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with Robert and LEEA in support of their efforts to secure Lifting Engineering Apprenticeships in Scotland. Allowing apprentices to specialise in lifting equipment as part of their training is common sense and is consistent with what already happens in other engineering sectors.
“We have an ageing workforce and high levels of demand, which will constrain the ability of businesses to operate and expand unless we take action. I understand that the Scottish Government has been in contact with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) who have confirmed that they are considering the possibility of creating optional units that are sector specific for each Modern Apprenticeship Framework, in this case Engineering. This is positive, and I hope that swift progress will be made to ensure apprentices in Scotland are skilled in the operation of lifting equipment.”
To find out more about Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and the Young Person’s Guarantee go to www.dyw.org.uk.
