An alarming gap between the number of UK technicians and the skilled jobs that will be needed by 2020 to boost competiveness and growth has been revealed in a review from the Technician Council (TC).
As part of that review, the TC has made recommendations to employers, Sectors Skills Councils and professional bodies designed to help fill the gap.

The TC's 18-month review claims that, a Although demand for technical skills is rapidly increasing, recruitment of technicians is failing to keep pace.

Steve Holliday, CEO of National Grid plc and chairman of the Technician Council, said, 'Increasing the pool of home grown technical skills in the UK is good for our economy and good for individuals. There is evidence that our competitors around the world have already recognised the value of technical skills and are taking action to get at the forefront of technology and innovation.

'There is also evidence that jobs requiring higher levels of technical expertise provide a unique, transferable and increasingly sought after skills - as well as providing an interesting and worthwhile career route.

'The pace of technological development in the modern workplace is creating an urgent and growing demand for higher levels of technical skill and professionalism. An estimated 450,000 job opportunities will be created by 2020, which require these higher skill levels. We need a clear, credible plan of action to up-skill and increase the pool of home grown talent if we are to maintain a competitive edge and boost growth in the UK economy through innovation and creativity.'

The TC has eight recommendations following the review.

John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: 'We must promote the professional standing of technicians, raise their profile and encourage businesses to nurture our home grown talent if we are to ensure we have the skills we need to compete in the high-tech, high-skilled economy of the future. Elevating the practical is at the heart of the Government's plans.'

The eight recommendations from the Technician Council review are to:

- Endorse and promote professional technicians across every sector of employment, within professional bodies or education and training
- Support the registration and professional development of technicians
- Offer active support for professional technicians and promote their skills and contributions within the sector
- Improve communications on career choices and include the different training and skills pathways, sector skills transferability, development programmes, gateways to higher levels
- Raise the profile of the professional technician in Government communications to the young
- Use the professional technician brand as widely as possible
- Promote greater diversity within the technician workforce ensuring the future professional technician population is more representative of society
- Sustain the work of the Technician Council to promote and increase the numbers of professional technicians over the next three years, ensuring a sustainable platform for the future

For more information, please visit www.professional-technician.org.uk

The Technician Council was formed in July 2010 and aims to raise the profile of technicians and provide professional recognition and robust development for those working in technical based roles.