Since the formation of the UK Metals Council in 2020 Colin Leighfield has chaired the Metals Council’s Education, skills and training delivery group.

Under Colin’s leadership, the group has been activity involved in promoting the skills needs of the metal sectors with a range of government departments.  It has also raised awareness of the sector’s unique skills requirements and has lobbied for improvements in areas such as skills funding, the apprenticeship levy system and support for SMEs.

While remaining active in the sector and continuing to champion the skills needs of metals manufacturing, Colin has passed the Chair role to Howard Boswell.

The Chair of the UK Metals Council, Chris McDonald, said, “We are extremely grateful for the hard work and commitment that Colin has contributed to the Council on skills issues.  Colin has certainly raised the profile of our sector and has been the champion for all levels of training required in the unique businesses of our member organisations.”

On accepting the Skiils Group Chair role, Howard Boswell said, “I intend to build on the solid foundation Colin has set for this Group.  The metals sector is entering a period of great change and the skills of our people need to be recognised and developed to meet the future challenges faced by modern manufacturing businesses.

“As a Group we are actively involved in the major skills groups and initiatives.  We must continue to ensure that our voice is heard, and the sector is fully supported by the UK Government, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and academic institutions.  The metals sector often misses out on public funding support and it is important that reverse this trend and ensure that the sector’s skills needs are recognised in readiness for future challenges.”