Nearly two thirds (65%) of small to medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs) in Yorkshire & Humber are crying out for more Government funding to help them bridge the digital skills divide it was revealed today.
A new report produced by Oxford Innovation Advice has revealed that 84% of companies are looking to ‘digitally upskill’ their staff but are finding the biggest barriers to achieving this are cost and a lack of in-house knowledge.
72% of the businesses questioned are planning to invest in digital technologies, meaning there is a massive opportunity for the new Labour administration to deliver more specialised support to help boost skills and unlock the potential of UK industry.
Based on responses from the survey, Oxford Innovation Advice has developed a five-point policy action plan that it plans to submit to Government to build on successful programmes, such as Made Smarter Digital Adoption.
The recommendations focus on providing basic level training and advice to manufacturing SMEs to convert critical analogue data capture processes into digital ones. This is a critical first step for companies and gives them the ability to analyse processes and identify efficiency improvements.
Training should also be tailored to include a strong problem-solving focus, which could feature mentoring and one-on-one practical support to help manufacturers trial solutions and digitalise processes.
Finally, Oxford Innovation Advice is urging Government to involve companies in the design of businesses support, whilst also ensuring that programmes are available nationally and connect SMEs to their peers to sustain their digital journey.
“A massive 72% of manufacturers in Yorkshire & Humber are predicting growth in the next six months and this is great news. However, as the report clearly shows, how many more could be increasing sales and creating jobs if they had more help to improve their digital skills?” explained Jane Galsworthy, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Advice.
“The digital revolution is no longer the preserve of the larger companies, it’s here and needs to be embedded on the shopfloors, in the design hubs and in the offices of our smaller manufacturers.”
