Mark Gray, UK & Ireland Manager at Universal Robots discusses the wider role of education in preparing for industry 5.0 in the UK, how sectors in tech – including robotics – can better attract young talent through working with educators and policy makers, and the role of apprenticeships and T-level qualifications.

“For the thousands of young people who received their GCSE results last week, many will be determining their next steps – whether that involves stepping straight into the world of work, or pursuing further education as part of A level courses or apprenticeships.

 “In the UK, tech roles now account for 14% of all job opportunities – and the advent of emerging tech such as generative AI, means future workforces must able to adapt to new digital skills. In the manufacturing industry, automation and robotics will play an increasingly important role in our future. But to prepare the next generation for Industry 5.0, we need to capture the imaginations of young people, as well as work with educators and policy makers to engage secondary school leavers ready for ‘new’ roles. Some steps are being taken in the right direction, with the introduction of T-levels, but such initiatives need to keep up with the rapidly changing job landscape.

“Improving visibility and awareness of tech innovation within the classroom is a good place to start. For instance, providing students with direct access to robots will encourage practical training and help them solve real-world problems that involve tasks such as programming. Encouraging alternative learning pathways whereby skills are acquired through vocational courses or apprenticeships, will increase accessibility and help students build much needed digital acumen.”