The scheme will run over the next three years and help build stronger links between education and employment in engineering and advanced manufacturing for thousands of young people living in the area.
The Black Country has both a strong manufacturing base and a large number of young people who are likely to require these kinds of career opportunities in the coming years. Local employers in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors have consistently reported being unable to find enough skilled workers within the local labour market. Many young people in the Black Country have limited or no sustained exposure to STEM subjects, work experience, or role models in industry.
There is also a national shortage of engineers and technicians in the UK. Industry requires approximately 173,000 per annum to meet its demand by 2030. This collaboration aims to address this issue at a regional level with aspirations to scale nationally.
The pilot will operate through the Industrial Cadets Framework, a nationally recognised accreditation sponsored by His Majesty King Charles III. The program brings together schools, colleges, employers and community partners to deliver structured, accredited pathways. Young people will develop their technical knowledge of the subject, alongside developing their work-readiness skills, such as confidence and teamwork.
Progression routes are clearly defined to lead to apprenticeships, further education, and higher-level studies.
The organisation hopes that the Black Country Pilot will provide a basis for establishing further Industrial Cadets Regional Clusters throughout the UK. The ERA Foundation acts as the Founding Partner to assist in developing a scalable, place-based approach to engineering outreach and workforce development.
CEO and Executive Secretary of the ERA Foundation, Andrew Everett, said: “The Black Country has a proud engineering heritage and remains central to the UK’s industrial future. However, realising that future depends heavily on strategic partnerships like this to build a strong, inclusive local skills pipeline. Our partnership with EDT allows us to support a region where the need and the opportunity is clear, while testing a model that can strengthen engineering pathways and widen access for young people who might otherwise be left behind. We look forward to seeing how this pilot helps the EDT as they look to develop regional clusters”
Chief Executive of EDT and Industrial Cadets, Julie Feest, added: “This partnership brings together the Engineering Development Trust and Industrial Cadets in a way that strengthens the entire pathway for young people. By combining EDT’s national reach with the Industrial Cadets framework, we can ensure that more young people—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—gain high-quality, employer-led STEM experiences that genuinely connect education with future careers.”
