Sector Overview
The metals and engineered metal products sector covers the
following activities:
- production, processing and distribution of ferrous and
non-ferrous metals
- production and casting of forgings
- fabrication
- recycling of materials at the end of their useful life
The metals and engineered metal products sector
Key Facts
- Metals play a key role in many sectors of the economy.
- The metals sector directly employs around 450,000 people in
more than 30,000 companies across the UK.
- The sector is around twice the size of the UK’s automotive
sector.
- 90% of the workforce is employed in companies with fewer than
250 people.
- With an annual turnover of £38 billion, the sector contributes
£15 billion of extra value to the UK economy – equivalent to 10% of
all UK manufacturing.
- Strong supply chain links operate between metals
sub-sectors.
Future Outlook
Metals production is a worldwide growth sector and is predicted
to increase by
1-1.5% per annum over the next 20 years.
Ability to add value and eliminate waste are major challenges
that face the sector into the future.
Sector employers have identified innovation and technology
transfer as key strategic drivers that will affect their future
success.
To progress into the future, the sector needs a culture change
at all levels. This means embracing process improvement
techniques and lean manufacturing principles and encouraging
employees to have a greater say in how jobs are done.
People and skills
To lead that change at the technical level the sector needs
high-quality engineers. Better management and leadership
skills are also needed at a strategic and operational level.
To meet the challenges of new technology employers need to boost
their skills levels and there is a greater need for people able to
work flexibly. This means both retraining the existing
workforce in transferable skills and taking on new recruits to
train up.
Employers have said that they need high-quality new people
coming into the sector. They are looking for good school and
college leavers to train through apprenticeships and other
recognised training schemes.
Good quality metallurgists and engineers are in short supply but
are critical to the sector.