The skills development organisation Enginuity has warned that the supply chain to the UK manufacturers is teetering on the edge of collapse this summer, and needs urgent government intervention. A ‘perfect storm’ brought about by a ‘Brexit exodus of European drivers’, Covid testing delays at UK and European ports, self isolation, a hiatus in driver training and summer holidays are blamed for the acute shortage of drivers.
Enginuity’s research shows nearly 100,000 vacancies for HGV one and two and delivery drivers, and more than 4,000 unfilled positions for transport planners and analysts. The shortage of lorry drivers, which is reportedly already causing food shortages, is beginning to disrupt the manufacturing process across the country, the business claims, and experts fear that the situation is going to get a whole lot worse.
Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity Group – a not-for-profit organisation supporting skills development across engineering – has called for urgent talks with government to avoid a catastrophic breakdown in the production line. “This constitutes a very dangerous situation which threatens to derail the Covid recovery,” she said, calling for ‘urgent intervention’ before the parliamentary recess on Thursday 22 July.
“Manufacturing is of strategic importance to the UK economy, and never more so as firms seek to assert themselves globally post-Brexit. Supply chains have already seen major disruption due to parts and materials shortages caused by Covid.
“We are seeking a collective solution that will protect industry from the ripple effects of this crisis. Unless our supply chains function effectively, firms risk their own financial security – something which will have major knock-on effects for employment and skills. In the short term, we are urging the government to reconsider adding foreign drivers to the shortage occupations list – a move which would provide some immediate easing and reduce the need to relax drivers’ hours rules.”
The majority of HGV vacancies exist in the southeast of England, the east and west Midlands, the east of England and the northwest – all major manufacturing hubs. For more information about Enginuity, visit www.enginuity.org.
