As seasoned engineers at CB Technology, Jaimie McGinty and David Robinson have witnessed firsthand the challenges facing the electrical manufacturing industry in attracting and retaining top talent. What are we doing about it? Read on to find out.
Scotland needs more electrical engineers, particularly in electronics manufacturing (EMS). As Silicon Glen's influence diminished at the turn of the century, the industry has faced challenges in attracting younger generations to pursue careers in electronics. Addressing this scarcity is crucial for the industry's advancement.
What’s Silicon Glen you ask? In the past, Scotland's tech sector was nicknamed ‘Silicon Glen’, inspired by Silicon Valley in the USA. At its peak, the central belt of Scotland was home to several leading international and local electronics companies, with around 50,000 employees. However, the number of companies and employees has steadily decreased over the last two decades.
At CB Technology, we are proactively working to reverse this trend, reaching out to the next generation of potential engineers. And what better place to start than visiting local schools on our patch?
Catch them young and watch them grow
We recently visited a careers pathway event at James Young High School, where we connected with students and shared our own experiences. This was a real eye-opener, as many students had little to no awareness of the thriving electronics industry right in their own backyard!
By taking the time to explain what we do, the technology we develop, and the various career paths available, we were able to spark their interest and inspire them to consider a future in this field.
For us, it's not just about filling immediate skills gaps – it's about nurturing a long-term pipeline of talent. By reaching out to secondary school students, we're able to plant the seed early on and demonstrate the rewarding and fulfilling careers that can be found in engineering and manufacturing.
Green shoots of recovery
One of the standout moments from the event was meeting a young lad named Sean, who had previously done two weeks of work experience at our Livingston facility.
The fact that he recognised us (especially since we are not celebrities) and took the initiative to reconnect showed us that our efforts were paying off. We were so encouraged to see that he was eager to learn more about the apprenticeship opportunities at CB Technology.
Indeed, Sean's story is a testament to the power of this grassroots approach. By actively engaging with the local community and showcasing the exciting possibilities that lie within our industry, we're not only building our own workforce but also contributing to the broader economic and social development of the region.
As we look to the future, we are fully vested in expanding our outreach efforts and continuing to inspire the next generation of engineers. It's a long-term investment, but one that we believe will pay dividends for both our company and the wider electronics sector in Scotland.
What are you waiting for?
If you are thinking about a career in electronics or have the slightest interest in seeing how a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility works - get in touch with Jaimie at jamie.McGinty@cbtechnology.co.uk or David at david.robinson@cbtechnology.co.uk.
Our school outreach programme complements our highly successful apprenticeship programme which you can read more about in our other blogs by clicking here.