THE PPMA Show 2026 will look to tackle the skills gap and how to bridge it when it returns to Birmingham’s NEC from September 22-24.
Amongst the wealth of insight available to visitors to this year’s event, will be on-the-ground advice and support on how to bridge the skills gap within their organisations courtesy of Automate UK’s own initiatives.
Scott McKenna, chief operating officer at Automate UK, said, “Of all the challenges facing the manufacturing industry at present, a diminished workforce and shortage of skills is perhaps the most pressing.
“Automate UK has an established reputation for encouraging and supporting young people seeking careers in engineering, automation, robotics, and manufacturing, and the PPMA Show is the perfect platform for those looking to work within the sector, and businesses looking to address those workforce challenges to find out more about the work we do.
“This year’s show will be the first we’ve hosted since the launch of our Apprenticeship Cluster programme. This initiative, teamed with our expert seminar sessions, will provide employers and young people looking to enter the workforce with huge opportunities,” he explained.
Automate UK’s Apprenticeship Cluster programme, a fully funded initiative designed to address critical skills shortages in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, was launched in January 2025.
It brings together businesses, educators, and apprentices to shape the future workforce through a collaborative, sector-wide approach. The initiative is fully funded through Automate BEST, Automate UK’s charitable arm, using profits generated by its members to create a sustainable future for the sector and its workforce.
Scott added, “One of the best-attended seminars at last year’s PPMA Show® was a panel discussion focused on addressing the skills gap, focusing on both education and training, and attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
“We hope that this year, in addition to providing a platform for the latest state-of-the-art technologies, we can play a vital role in bringing new talent into the sector, providing them with a route into the industry that combines hands-on experience with structured, high-quality training, and in turn offering businesses opportunities to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive marketplace.”
