Engineering and Manufacturing Task Group
East Sussex is a centre for engineering and manufacturing, with a wide range of size and variety of type. The county is known for its specialism in vacuum engineering with clusters of activity in Hastings and Eastbourne.
The Task Group meets quarterly to champion employability and skills and coordinate activities and support the to address the strategic priorities of Skills East Sussex for these sectors. The group sets a strategic plan annually in September, to drive forward partnership activities.
The Task Group includes representatives from local employers, these include
- Kurt J Lesker
- Marshall Tufflex
- General Dynamics
- Edwards Vacuum
- Interface Precision Engineering Ltd
- Focus SB
- Photek
There are also representatives from education and training and other stakeholders including
- East Sussex College Group (ESCG)
- Bexhill College
- University of Brighton.
- University of Sussex
- Sussex Council of Training Providers (SCTP)
- DWP Job Centre
- Institute of Directors
- National body support (including Royal Academy of Engineering, Engineering UK, Society of Operational Engineers)
The task group is chaired by Dan Wahnon of Marshall-Tufflex.
Chair Dan Wahnon, Operations Manager Marshall-Tufflex
As the Operations Manager at Marshall Tufflex, a British manufacturer of cable management solutions, I'm committed to ensuring that engineering and manufacturing sectors in East Sussex thrive with a skilled, work-ready talent pool. Chairing the Engineering and Manufacturing Task Group enables us to shape career pathways, influence curricula to meet industry demands, and strengthen ties between education providers and employers. Our efforts support not only young people's future in this sector but also the continuous professional development of educators, ensuring our workforce remains adaptable and innovative.
2024/25 Strategic Plan activities
Engineering Task Group meetings
| Partnership activities | |
|---|---|
| 1. Raise the profile of the sector | Roll out delivery of Royal Academy of Engineering (RAENG) funded Engineering After School Club project. Working with two primary schools to pilot engineer-led after school clubs with year 5/6 pupils to raise the profile of the sector and spark curiosity. The learning of which is hoped to act as a blueprint for roll it our wider and into other sectors. |
| Access the resource and expertise of national sector bodies to support activities/raise the profile of the sector at a national level. | |
| Submit funding bid for delivery of a year long careers campaign, including a STEAMfest event, increasing engagement with sector and young people/job seekers. | |
| 2. Help industry to engage with education/training provision (inform curriculum/ respond to industry need) | Map gaps in provisions to help direct activity |
| Build in real world opportunities for careers/teaching staff and students (eg Open Doors through the careers hub) | |
| Progress potential for skills bootcamps | |
| Increase employer engagement in course development and through the task groups. | |
| 3. Resources provision | Develop re-branding approach – simple cohesive explanation on what the sector is for use by partners. |
| Map employability and skills best practice – what could be embedded or delivered in East Sussex | |
| 4. Widening the net of recruitment/diversity into the sector (linked to activity 1) | Information provision for businesses on alternative recruitment methods to support diversity into the sector (eg neurodiverse, females, young job seekers etc). Using peer sector experience to encourage involvement |
| Access armed forces organisations as means to widen the pool of interest in sector jobs | |
| 5. Value of Maths and English in the workplace | Bringing employer voice to young people – how maths and English are practically applied in the sector (relating curriculum to real life) |
| Map good practice both locally and nationally, work to embed this across the county | |
| Addressing barriers of maths and English qualifications to uptake and success in employment and apprenticeships |
Contact Skills East Sussex if you are a sector employer, training or education provider and want details. Other than your time, and occasional travel, there are no costs to joining Skills East Sussex meetings.
Please find below the action notes of recent task group meetings.
- Engineering Task Group minutes, 8 December 2023, held remotely on MS Teams
If you wish to see minutes of a meeting not listed, please email Skills East Sussex and we will do our best to help.
Task group achievements
- Piloted a new ‘strategic plan on a page’ approach for the task groups, engaging national sector bodies to offer expertise and resources and insight and ongoing support for the group.
- Successfully awarded funding from the Royal Academy of Engineers Ingenious Awards programme for a pilot Engineering After School Club in Hastings during 2025. The learning of which is hoped to act as a blueprint for roll it our wider and into other sectors.
- Supported development and delivery of Engineering and Construction Tutor Encounters Day, a CPD knowledge and upskilling event for tutors on a specific sector. It is an opportunity to hear from employers, make connections, and inspire their students to consider a career in the sectors.
- Development of a new CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) course with East Sussex College, Hastings.
- Introduced job roles videos on the Careers East Sussex website, including CNC machinist and heat pump engineer, with more planned.
- Culture Shift led a project called ‘Your Town’. The project was funded through the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Fund. This allowed young people aged 11 to 18 in Hastings, Eastbourne and Newhaven to meet with engineers and find out more about what they do.