Manufacturing skills and the national curriculum

That this House notes that innovation in manufacturing is of vital importance to the UK economy; further notes that UK manufacturing accounts for some £191 billion of output providing 2.7 million jobs; recognises that closing the skills gap in manufacturing will require 186,000 skilled individuals to be hired every year until 2024; notes that the current national curriculum does little to prepare young people for a career in the sector; recognises a nationwide lack of awareness of manufacturing as a potential career; further notes the calls of small and medium-sized manufacturers for an urgent review of provision in this area; and urges the Government to put manufacturing-centric skills at the heart of the National Curriculum.