Skills shortage hits kit vendors

Roger Crumpton, director of education, employment and training at the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM), said a handful of factors have combined to create a “perfect storm”.

He said: “40% of qualified engineers are within retirement age. Some universities are struggling to fill the places they have, and the number of kids doing A-level physics and maths is declining.”

Crumpton said the effect of a lack of qualified individuals was already being felt, with one in five IABM members reporting that their current quarter shipments have been affected by the skills shortage and some manufacturers unable to install products because they do not have enough engineers.

There are fears that the lack of students enrolling to study science and maths courses will be felt across the wider industry.

Alex Hope, managing director of Double Negative, the VFX firm responsible for the Oscar-winning effects in Inception, said there was insufficient talent available.

He wants university and college courses to be aligned with industry needs and for art and technology subjects to be promoted as complementary subjects.

Trilogy Communications general manager of broadcast Barry Spencer added: “Human capital is now a strategic issue.

“There is often a focus on the creative side, but the technical side is a critical enabler.”