West Midlands Manufacturing Jobs Lead the UK – and Developing the Next Generation Matters
New research has highlighted the continuing strength of the West Midlands as one of the UK's most important manufacturing regions, with manufacturing job opportunities significantly exceeding the national average.
Research published by Rencol Components ahead of National Manufacturing Day found that the West Midlands currently has 67.6 manufacturing vacancies for every 100,000 working-age residents – almost three times the UK average of approximately 24.
For a region with manufacturing woven deeply into its economic and industrial history, it is an encouraging indication that the sector continues to create opportunities.
But it also raises an important question: how do we make sure the people entering and progressing through manufacturing today are equipped to lead the industry tomorrow?
The Midlands remains at the heart of UK manufacturing
Rencol's analysis of live UK job postings found that the West Midlands wasn't alone in performing strongly.
Northamptonshire recorded 64.2 manufacturing vacancies per 100,000 working-age residents, followed by Shropshire at 61.4, Herefordshire at 53.1 and Worcestershire at 49.7.
Nine of the ten highest-ranking counties were located in or around the Midlands.
It is a useful reminder that, despite enormous changes in technology, global supply chains and the wider economy, the centre of England remains a significant manufacturing hub.
The West Midlands in particular is home to manufacturers operating across automotive, aerospace, engineering and countless specialist areas of the supply chain.
For businesses like Anopol, which has operated from Birmingham for decades, the strength of this manufacturing ecosystem matters.
Opportunity needs to be matched by skills
The number of vacancies is encouraging, but attracting people into manufacturing is only part of the challenge.
Modern manufacturing increasingly requires people who can work across technology, operations, sustainability, quality and commercial decision-making.
And as those people progress, businesses need leaders capable of understanding how all of those areas interact.
It's something we've recently had an opportunity to support directly.
Anopol Managing Director David Cass joined WMG at the University of Warwick to contribute to the Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders programme, delivering a session within its "Lead Yourself" strand.
The programme brings together emerging manufacturing professionals and experienced industry practitioners, helping participants connect leadership theory with the realities of working within modern manufacturing businesses.
David shared lessons from his own career, including the value of gaining experience across different areas of a business, rigorous data-led decision-making and the importance of personal accountability in leadership.
Creating careers, not simply filling vacancies
Research highlighting manufacturing vacancies is particularly positive when those opportunities can become the starting point for long-term careers.
Manufacturing today encompasses an enormous range of disciplines and skills.
Alongside production and engineering roles sit opportunities involving automation, data, sustainability, quality, research and development, operations and leadership.
As Mark Walker, Operations Director at Rencol Components, noted when publishing the research, modern manufacturing careers are increasingly skilled and technology-driven.
That is an important message for the sector to communicate.
Manufacturing needs to continue attracting people who might not previously have considered it as a career – while simultaneously giving existing employees opportunities to develop, broaden their experience and eventually become the industry's next generation of leaders.
Investing in the West Midlands manufacturing community
At Anopol, we're proud to be part of a region with such a strong manufacturing heritage – but its future matters just as much as its history.
The latest employment figures highlighted by Rencol provide another encouraging indication of the level of industrial activity taking place across the Midlands.
Maintaining that position will require continued investment in technology, processes and sustainable manufacturing. Just as importantly, it will require investment in people.
Our recent involvement with the Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders programme is one small way Anopol can contribute to that wider manufacturing community.
For companies across the region, the opportunity is significant: attract talented people into manufacturing, give them the experience and skills to develop, and create the leaders capable of taking British industry forward.
Read the full Rencol Components research and county-by-county analysis:
Mapped: The UK counties with the most manufacturing opportunities
Find out more about the Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders programme:
Developing Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders