Scotland’s engineering companies are warning of the disastrous impact of a widening skills gap unless the government invests more to support work-based learning and apprenticeships.

Trade group Scottish Engineering says skills shortages could seriously restrict the existing industry and new opportunities in offshore wind, energy transmission renewal and other potential growth areas.

A survey identifies the need for a 58% expansion in engineers by the end of 2027 across 31 key roles, over three-quarters of which are delivered by apprenticeship programmes.

The group says “this is more than a skills crisis; this is a potential economic disaster and jeopardises the entire economic programme of the Scottish Government.

“It’s not hyperbole to say that this Government’s economic policy and prosperity agenda; Its support for business, industry and manufacturing; It’s Green Industrial Strategy and its National Strategy for Economic Transformation are all at risk.”

A critical point is that the survey only covers existing industry in Scotland. The multitude of opportunities for growth from inward investment are not included.

The group warns that inward investment, while always welcomed, “should not accidentally become a state supported wrecking ball to our existing manufacturing base which for decades has invested, developed, and grown our Scottish economy”.

Scottish Engineering’s chief executive Paul Sheerin said a change of direction is needed “to ensure that Scotland does not miss out on an Industrial Revolution-sized opportunity due to a lack of skills pipeline.

“The reality from the draft Scottish Government budget is there is a real-terms cut in apprenticeship funding when this year one-in-five potential high quality engineering apprenticeships have been lost due to the lack of funding.”