BIS launches website to help defence based engineers back into work
13 July 2011
A new national web based system, Talent Retention Solution (TRS), that will help match skilled employees facing redundancy to UK companies in growing sectors of advanced manufacturing and engineering who are recruiting, has been launched by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS). It is the result of work undertaken by the Skills and Jobs Retention Group and the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies) to support defence engineers.
Mark Prisk
Following a short implementation phase, TRS will become fully operational by January 2012, when it is expected that over 1500 employers across the UK will have signed up to the system, ranging from large organisations in each sector to the smallest SMEs. The system will provide live data broken down by skills and geography.
Manufacturing and engineering companies which have already signed up to the system and who are recruiting over the coming year include Rolls-Royce (1,000), Siemens (500), Nissan (200) and Airbus (600). Supply chain companies will also be able to use the system for redeployment and recruitment.
Launching TRS, minister for business and enterprise, Mark Prisk (pictured) said that the defence sector makes a substantial contribution to the country’s skills economy through high value jobs and as a key sponsor of apprenticeships and training. "This easily accessible web based system will play a vital role in ensuring that these skills are not lost by redeploying highly skilled workers into growing sectors of advanced manufacturing such as automotive, energy, infrastructure and aerospace," he said.
At present, the demand for skilled engineers far exceeds supply. TRS will complement existing commercial recruitment activity by creating a talent pool of skilled defence employees who need redeployment. The intention is to then expand the scope of the system so that it can redeploy skilled employees from across the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors. It is intended to be an important tool in situations where large scale redundancies are occurring.
The TRS website is initially focused on defence employees seeking redeployment and companies who are recruiting. It can be found here.
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