This
project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
the European Social Fund
INDUSTRY
FOCUS
FOCUS ON THE AUTOMOTIVE RETAIL SECTOR
This issue’s Industry Focus looks at the automotive retail sector which caters for some 30 million motor vehicles currently in nationwide use. Around 584,000 people are employed by an estimated 69,000 establishments that make up the sector, with the South East boasting the highest proportion of automotive retail establishments in the UK. The Sector’s footprint focuses on all aspects of the repair, maintenance, sale, rental and leasing of motor vehicles of all types including motorcycles, light and heavy trucks, specialist vehicles and passenger cars.
Within our sector overview, we will provide a national overview as well as key headline figures relating to automotive retail within the South East. We will take a look at skills gaps, shortages and requirements within the sector for people joining the industry and people already employed in automotive retail establishments. We will also detail qualifications that are needed for people to gain employment within the sector and the major job roles it encompasses. Finally, we provide a list of useful sector links including major employers, trade bodies and local learning providers offering automotive related courses. As with all our Industry Focus articles, click here to access the website for further commentary, useful information and links.
Please email enquiries@geresearch.co.uk if
you have a particular industrial sector that you
would like featured in the bulletin.
FOCUS
ON THE MARITIME & BOATING SECTOR
This issue’s Industry Focus takes a look at the maritime and boating sector,
which is not only relevant to our costal areas, but also covers activities relating
to inland waterways. This sector covers water-based transport of passengers,
freight and petrochemicals (and port operations); catching fish and shellfish;
supporting offshore exploration, and production; water-based search and rescue;
marine cruise holiday operations; and leisure boating.
The sector employs around 125,000 people nationally.
In our review of the sector we have provided a national overview, information
about a range of job roles in various parts of the sector, along with details
of relevant training and qualifications. We take a look at the future skills
needs of the sector, as identified by the Maritime Skills Alliance, and provide
many useful web links to major employers, recruitment agencies and industry bodies.
As with all our Industry Focus articles, click
here to access the website for further commentary, useful information and
links.
Please email enquiries@geresearch.co.uk if
you have a particular industrial sector that you would like featured in the bulletin.
FOCUS
ON HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, TRAVEL AND TOURISM
This issue’s Industry Focus provides an overview of them Hospitality, Leisure,
Travel and Tourism (HLTT) sector.
The common link between business in this sector is the provision of food, drink,
accommodation and leisure activities: including catering; hotels; pubs and nightclubs;
travel agencies; and visitor attractions.
The sector employs around a quarter of a million people in the South East, in
around 180,000 workplaces. Much of the sector is characterised by variable hours
and shift patterns, and a high degree of temporary work opportunities. The HLTT
sector also has quite a young workforce, with a third of workers aged under 25.
In our review of the sector we have provided a national overview and some South
East headline figures, information about some key qualifications of relevance
to the sector, including the new Diplomas for 14-19 year olds. We also provide
many useful weblinks to major employers, recruitment agencies and industry bodies.
As with all our Industry Focus articles, click
here to access the website for further commentary, useful information and
links.
FOCUS ON PASSENGER TRANSPORT
This issue’s Industry Focus
provides an overview of the Passenger Transport sector.
This broad and varied sector includes: Rail, Road
Passenger Transport (Bus and Coach, Taxi and Private
Hire, Community Transport), Water Transport and Aviation.
In the UK, around 662,000 people
are employed in the passenger transport industry,
of which around 555,000 work in the sector in England
and 95,000 in the South East region.
In our review of the sector we have provided an industry overview and some
South East headline figures, along with information on qualifications & learning
and occupations within the sector. As with all our Industry Focus articles, click
here to access the website for further commentary, useful information and
links.
INDUSTRY
FOCUS MARCH 2007: CHEMICALS, NUCLEAR, OIL & GAS,
PETROLEUM AND POLYMER INDUSTRIES
The chemical industry is vital in producing key ingredients and materials which
help to make pharmaceuticals, soaps, toiletries and cleaning products. The
majority of products we handle everyday at home and at work are to some extent
derived from or supported by the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum
and polymer industries.
The sector is represented by around 2,600 workplaces in the South East. The
industries are considered to have greater stability within their workforces
and fewer barriers to providing training for employees than many other sectors.
While the workforces are stable, they are also aging, and therefore considerable
inward recruitment (particularly at level 3 and above) is predicted over the
next ten years to replace retirees.
In our review of the sector we have provided a national overview and some South
East headline figures, a focus on major employers within the sector in the
South East, and routes into the industries. Click
here to go through to the website.
INDUSTRY FOCUS FEBRUARY
2007: LOGISTICS
Logistics involves the planning, routing and the movement of freight across
all the varying transport modes, such as road, rail, sea, waterways and air.
Approximately 1.7 million people spanning some 65,000 companies are employed
in the sector within the UK. More than 254,500 of these are employed in the
South East.
The Logistics sector transgresses a wide number of industries and plays a vital
part in our every day lives. A vast array of differing jobs fall under the
logistics banner, ranging from Airport Baggage Handler to Warehouse Operative,
and Van Driver to Contracts Manager.
In our review of the sector we have provided an industry overview and some
South East headline figures, along with a section on issues within the logistics
sector. Information on qualifications & learning, occupations within the
sector and an interview with a General Manager of a logistics company are also
available. Click
here to go through to the website.
INDUSTRY
FOCUS DECEMBER 2006: Active Leisure and Learning
Industries
The Active Leisure and Learning
sector employs around 600,000 people in the UK. More
than 68,000 of these are employed in the South East.
The sector is a wide ranging industry and includes
occupations in sport & recreation, health & fitness,
the outdoors, playwork and caravans. Between 1998
and 2002 there was an increase in employment in the
sector by over 14,700 jobs.
An increase in obesity related
illnesses has led the Government to attempt to improve
the health of the nation and improve participation
in physical activity. One current initiative is the
Youth Active B Active Campaign which aims to encourage
young people to take part in sporting activities.
Skills and jobs in this sector are needed to carry
such initiatives forward.
The 2012 London Olympic Games
and Paralympic Games are also a great opportunity
for people with an interest in careers in the active
leisure and learning sectors to get involved and
participate in sporting activities.
In our analysis of the sector
we have provided an industry overview and some South
East Headline Figures along with a section on issues
within the active leisure and learning sector. There
are also sections on qualifications & learning
and occupations within the sector. Visit our website to
access this information. The website also contains
a number of links which offer further details on
the sector, jobs available and information on gaining
training and qualifications.
The Health sector employs
around 2 million people in the UK, and around a
quarter of a million in the South East, which equates
to 1 in every 16 workers. The sector overall is
female dominated, with 79% of the workforce in
the South East being female and 21% male. There
was a growth in the Health sector workforce of
13% between 1999 and 2004, and this increase is
expected to continue by 1% a year between 2002
and 2012.
Our commentary on the sector is broken down into the following sections, Industry
Overview, South East Headline Figures, Occupations in the Health Sector, Qualifications
and Learning and Getting into Health Jobs. By visiting our website and
reading these sections, you can find a more detailed overview of the industry,
including facts and figures and the sub categories of occupations within the
health sector. Valuable information can also be accessed on how young people
can find jobs in the Health sector, especially via the Skills for Health "Open
Road Programme". This programme aims to increase the number of young people
embarking on healthcare careers.
The website also contains numerous links to companies within the health sector,
hospitals, professional bodies and agencies. A link to the NHS Careers website,
which provides detailed descriptions of hundreds of different job roles within
the NHS, is also available.
INDUSTRY
FOCUS SEPTEMBER 2006: Audio Visual Industries
In this edition we highlight the Audio Visual Industries for our Industry Focus.
These industries are responsible for the creation of an increasing proportion
of our media output. Between them, the audio visual industries are estimated
to employ in excess of 400,000 people.
In our analysis of the audio visual industries we have looked at the contribution
of the sector to the UK economy and labour market. By visiting our website you
can read more detailed articles including interesting and useful facts and
figures about the sector nationally and regionally, along with links to ‘Skillset’,
the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries.
Skillset has established a detailed careers website for the audio visual industries,
with profiles of a wide range of jobs in different areas of the sector. Anyone
with an interest in working in an audio or visual industry (in any capacity)
can receive free learning and careers advice by telephone on 08080 300 900
between 8am and 10pm 7 days a week, or by e-mail via an enquiry form on the
Skillset Careers website. Click
here.
A separate web / e-mail system is available specifically for careers
advisers.
SMEs and freelance working dominate the industries. These non-traditional employment
patterns are expected to continue to be important, with freelancing increasing.
Other key trends anticipated are the increasing reliance upon new communication
technologies, and greater decentralisation of production.
INDUSTRY FOCUS JULY
2006: FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND – BASED
INDUSTRIES
Environmental and land-based industries are directly responsible for managing
more than 85% of the UK landmass, employ around 1 million people and a further
500,000 volunteers. This sector is much broader than agriculture, fishing and
forestry, and is now generally discussed in terms of:
o Land Management and Production
o Animal Health and Welfare
o Environmental Industries
Lantra (The Sector Skills
Council for Environmental and Land-based Industries)
was established in 2004 to drive forward the new
skills, training and business development agenda
for the sector. Lantra has produced two detailed
and informative websites aimed at people wishing
to enter careers in environmental or land-based
industries, which can be accessed via our web pages,
along with links to many other useful websites
relating to jobs, training in this sector. http://www.lantra.co.uk
In our analysis of the sector, we have looked at the contribution that the
range of industries makes to the economy and labour market nationally and regionally.
If you visit our website you
will find a report that allows access to some facts and figures on this sort
of information, and on the current skills demands.
Looking to the future, there are several areas of employment growth and opportunity.
Sustainable land management, biodiversity and protection of natural resources
are increasing the demand for skilled jobs associated with the management of
waste, the development of renewable energy and tourism linked to the natural
landscape. The successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics in London will have
a positive impact on landscaping, arboriculture, sports turf management, and
floristry businesses within the South East region. The sector will have increasing
needs for ICT literacy, not only at management levels, but for more and more
day-to-day tasks across a wide range of job roles.
INDUSTRY
FOCUS MAY 2006: FOCUS ON ICT
ICT – Information and Communication Technology
In this edition we highlight the ICT Sector for
our Industry Focus.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) transgresses all business types
and sectors, and is a huge part of all our everyday lives. The ICT sector is
diverse, and difficult to define as it supports all industries. Our feature
article highlights a few key aspects for the sector going forward. The rapid
onward advancement of new technologies requires ICT professionals to constantly
upgrade skills. Emerging Occupations, Careers in ICT, and Qualifications and
Routes into the Industry have all been highlighted providing valuable insights
into the future needs of an ever changing sector.
In our analysis of the ICT sector we have looked at ICT staff by occupation
or employment in the ICT industries by sector. If you visit our website you
will find an ICT focus that allows access to some facts and figures on this
sort of information.
A further area of change for the ICT sector that is highlighted is the impact
on the sector of changes in the Labour Market. The Labour Market is starting
to witness the first entrants from the so called ‘i-generation.’ This
term basically refers to those youngsters who have been brought up using computers,
mobile phones, the internet and games consoles to name a few, and have advanced
ICT skills. The next few years will be very interesting with this influx of
skilled youngsters moving into a variety of jobs and industries.
In response to feedback from
the bulletin, in this edition we highlight the Construction
Sector for our Industry Focus.
The construction sector is diverse.
Even defining the sector makes for an interesting
task, with the supply chains for the industry stretching
into manufacturing for construction to quarrying
and so on. In consequence, the contribution of construction
to the output and labour market is huge and the opportunities
within the construction and related sector are wide-ranging.
Much has been said about the
boom and bust nature of the construction industry.
However, the industry has enjoyed a long period of
growth only punctuated by skills shortages – hence
more opportunities for jobseekers. Change within
the sector has also affected the skills required – more
IT use in project management; requirement for more
communication and people management skills; business
management for productivity are some examples.
One area of concern for the industry
is diversity within the construction labour force.
Our focus feature contains information on equalities
and an interview with an employee of the Construction
Industry Training Board to find out what this means
for your clients.
Did you know:
Latest statistics
from the Department of Trade and Industry indicate
that the output of the construction industry
totals £102.4 billion
One in 10 people
employed in the UK work in construction and 1.68
million work for contractors (DTI: Apr 2004)
ConstructionSkills – is
the Sector Skills Council for the Construction
Industry.
The Association of
Plumbing and Heating Contractors state that there
are now 26,000 people on plumbing courses and
that there are not enough jobs for them.
Childcare
The childcare sector has been under increasing scrutiny and pressure not only
through inherent changes in the labour market but also as part of the national
skills and equalities agendas.
The industry faces several challenges of interest to the information, advice
and guidance professional. First, the industry is able to attract new staff
but finds it difficult to retain them. Second, related to the retention issue
is the problem of pay and conditions; and third, the industry is trying to
promote itself to encourage men to join the industry which employs a disproportionate
amount of females.
New guidelines on the requirements of childcare and play settings to have minimum
qualifications are also exacerbating a shortage of skilled workers in the sector.
