The Missing Middle: Technicians, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing
The Training We Need Now: Essays on Technical Training, Life-long Learning and Apprenticeships, ed. D. Goodhart (London: Policy Exchange, 2020)
9 Pages Posted: 1 Jul 2020
Date Written: June 8, 2020
Abstract
This essay explores the nature and causes of the so-called ‘missing middle’ (that is, the UK’s failure to train sufficient technicians or workers with intermediate-level skills). Evidence is drawn from studies of UK advanced manufacturing industries, in particular those seeking to innovate by deploying new technologies. The root cause of the problem lies in a 'system failure' - as that term is understood in the innovation systems literature - in the UK education and training system.
Keywords: training, technicians, skills, advanced manufacturing, apprenticeships, system failure
JEL Classification: JO1, J08, J24
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation