The inclusion of technical subjects for young people, such as Manufacturing and AI, is certainly a positive step towards building the workforce the UK requires in the years ahead.

Manufacturing has never been an industry that has been afforded the luxury of standing still, and with technologies like AI and robotics, the future of the industry is dependent on people who understand both the craft and the technology. Investing in young people’s manufacturing and AI skills is an investment in the future of UK manufacturing.

The best employees still need to understand how products are made, how different materials behave, what ‘good’ looks like and, crucially, what to do when something goes wrong. Automated systems and robotics handle repetitive tasks efficiently, but they don’t remove the need for technical knowledge.

Tomorrow’s workforce will need a blend of practical engineering skills, digital capability, and problem-solving. By equipping young people with both technical and manufacturing knowledge from an early stage, we are helping to build a stronger talent pipeline and strengthening the UK’s manufacturing sector for the long term.