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

Lewis, Paul Andrew, The Missing Middle: Technicians, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing (June 8, 2020). The Training We Need Now: Essays on Technical Training, Life-long Learning and Apprenticeships, ed. D. Goodhart (London: Policy Exchange, 2020), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3622019 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3622019

Paul Andrew Lewis (Contact Author)

King's College London ( email )

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+44 0 20 7848 3970 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/politicaleconomy/people/academic/lewis.aspx

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