This six-month long project entailed consulting with manufacturing students (89), course providers (20), training providers (4), employers (60), and industry and awarding bodies (8 and 5 respectively) to establish how well the current range of qualifications meets their respective needs. In order to ensure a thorough coverage of all industries, we approached the field research by utilising focus groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, conducting a significant number of face-to-face interviews along with additional telephone interviews.
Scotland, with its different qualification structure, was covered separately. Quite clearly, the industry is perceived to be dying, not only by employers but by students too. This is in light of competition in the form of cheaper products from abroad - resulting in factory closures and mergers. The research questioned continuing AVCE, VGCSE and GNVQ provision and recommended the development of (or identification of existing awards in) manufacturing qualifications based on specific skills, such as pattern-cutting, robotics, logistics and 'first fix' maintenance to ensure the continuity of machine production. The work also offered effective solutions to address the careers, implementation and delivery barriers.