EDT partners with ERA Foundation to target Engineering and Manufacturing Skills Gap in the Black Country

We are delighted to announce that we have partnered with the ERA Foundation to launch a new pilot strengthening pathways into engineering, electech and advanced manufacturing careers for thousands of young people in the Black Country.

The region has been selected for the pilot due to its strong industrial base and concentration of advanced manufacturing and engineering employers, alongside higher-than-average levels of youth disadvantage and skills need. Employers across the region continue to report challenges in recruiting skilled local talent, while schools and young people often face fragmented access to sustained, high-quality STEM and employer engagement.

The initiative launches against the backdrop of a national engineering and technical skills shortage, with UK industry requiring an estimated 173,000 engineers and technicians each year to meet demand by 2030. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected, particularly where work experience offerings are limited, while many don’t have access to industry role models or mentors.

The new regional pilot aims to bring together schools, colleges, employers and community partners to deliver structured, Industrial Cadets accredited pathways that develop technical knowledge alongside word readiness skills, while instilling softer skills such as confidence and teamwork.

The three-year partnership will empower young people from early engagement through to sustained employer-led projects, with clear progression routes into apprenticeships, further education and higher-level study.

The pilot will inform the development of future Industrial Cadets regional clusters across the UK, supporting national priorities around skills, productivity and social mobility. The ERA Foundation will be recognised as the founding partner of the pilot, playing a catalytic role in shaping a scalable, place-based approach to engineering outreach and workforce developement.

Andrew Everett, CEO and Executive Secretary  of the ERA Foundation, said: “The Black Country has a proud engineering heritage and remains central to the UK’s industrial future. However, realising that future depends heavily on strategic partnerships like this to build a strong, inclusive local skills pipeline.

“Our partnership with EDT allows us to support a region where the need and the opportunity is clear, while testing a model that can strengthen engineering pathways and widen access for young people who might otherwise be left behind.”

“We look forward to seeing how this pilot helps the EDT as they look to develop regional clusters”

Julie Feest, Chief Executive of EDT and Industrial Cadets, said: “This partnership brings together the Engineering Development Trust and Industrial Cadets in a way that strengthens the entire pathway for young people. By combining EDT’s national reach with the Industrial Cadets framework, we can ensure that more young people—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—gain high-quality, employer-led STEM experiences that genuinely connect education with future careers.”