Workforce Foresighting
How do we build a skilled workforce for tomorrow's industries? The Workforce Foresighting Hub has developed a structured process, aligned with national policy, to help deliver a workforce to exploit innovative technologies in the UK. We’re supporting industry, policymakers and educators to adapt to continuing change.
Addressing the skills challenge
The global marketplace is changing at a rapid pace and the continued development of innovative technologies is creating opportunities for growth in all sectors.
Whilst we are well placed to take advantage in the UK, the Government and industry have identified that we need a workforce able to adapt to new capabilities that require different and often higher skill sets.
This is everybody’s challenge. We’re on a mission to help develop the future workforce, prevent a skills shortfall and provide future-thinking organisations with the capabilities to adopt innovation, to enable to UK to build a prosperous economy.
And we want you to help us do it.
Failure to address the workforce development challenge will mean missing out on opportunities to build the UK’s manufacturing base and to take market leading positions.
— Manufacturing the Future Workforce
Participant onboarding - Workforce Foresighting Hub
Learn more about what's involved in a Workforce Foresighting cycle and how your participation can make a difference.
HOW IT WORKS
The foresighting process
Workforce foresighting is a systemic approach to identifying the organisational capabilities and workforce skills necessary to enable industry to adopt and exploit innovative technologies. Find out more about the six key steps.
Read more
MAKE AN IMPACT
Innovate UK Catapults and Centre of Innovation
The Innovate UK Catapult Network and Centres of Innovation already play a crucial role in shaping future workforce development in line with technology innovation. This makes you the ideal partner to support the development and work of the Workforce Foresighting Hub by convening the experts needed. Find out more about how you can drive impact.
Read more
Workforce Foresighting Cycle Participants
Experts from relevant centres of innovation and technology.
Technologist and Domain Specialists
Through online workshops gain the opportunity to network and share ideas with fellow technology experts to help shape the innovation solutions to address national challenges.
Read more
Experts with experience in curriculum development from education providers.
Educators
Through online workshops help to shape and guide the foresighting cycle, network with other education leaders and play a part in delivering a workforce to meet future demand.
Read more
Industry experts with experience across operations and delivery.
Industry employers
Through online workshops gain the opportunity to network and share ideas with fellow business leaders to help shape the capabilities required to adopt innovative solutions to prepare for future demand.
Read more
Discover the Workforce Foresighting Hub
Aligned with national policy, the Workforce Foresighting Hub is initiated and funded by Innovate UK, built in collaboration with the Innovate UK Catapult Network. We’re bringing together industry, policymakers and educators to help shape the future occupational profiles and educational provision required. Learn more about our work, our approach, our structure and the benefits of getting involved.
Download brochure
Workforce foresighting reports
Each foresighting cycle culminates in a report, which details future supply chain capabilities, prototype future occupational profiles and recommendations to drive action in that specific field.
Explore reports
Report schedule
-
- Manufacturing led construction (MTC part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Gaseous tanks for H2 (NCC part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Design and use for cryogenic storage for Aircraft (NCC part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT DUE
- Autonomous inspection of Offshore (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Decarbonising of current homes (Energy Systems Catapult) – GET INVOLVED
- HV dynamic cabling (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- EV –assembly of lithium batteries – REPORT PUBLISHED
- EV –battery manufacture (WMG part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT DUE
- Advanced shipbuilding techniques (NMIS part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
-
- Real-time rendering (Digital Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- IOSM – Active debris removal (Satellite Applications Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Next generation 5G Communications (Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult) – GET INVOLVED
- AI image generation and maintenance (Digital Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Quantum accelerator programme (Digital Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Adoption of robot automation in metalworking SME’s construction (MTC part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT DUE
-
- Continued manufacturing of RNA therapeutics (CPI part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT PUBLISHED
- Recycling and reduction of Fossil-Based Solvents through the Development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Manufacturing Processes. (CPI part of the HVM Catapult) – REPORT DUE
- Digitalisation & Automation for cell and gene therapy – Cell and Gene Therapy – REPORT PUBLISHED
Related News
17/07/2024
Workforce Foresighting Hub podcast series
The Workforce Foresighting Hub Podcast brings together coaches, system developers, participants, and convenors from the Catapult Network to discuss how we can work together to start addressing the skills challenge.
Read more
22/04/2024
UKRI invest £8m into the Workforce Foresighting Hub
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, has announced an £8 million investment into the Workforce Foresighting Hub programme.
Read more
Related Opportunities
Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 19
Opens: 09/01/2025 Closes: 05/03/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.
More Information
Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Round 4 Discovery - January 2025
Opens: 27/01/2025 Closes: 26/02/2025
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £30m (exc. VAT), for projects on network development, heat flexibility, resilience and net zero.
More Information
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2025 – 2026 Round 1
Opens: 17/02/2025 Closes: 09/04/2025
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults, working with businesses or not for profits, can apply for a share of up to £9m.
More Information
Get involved
Help to build a skilled workforce for tomorrows industries. By adapting to continuing change and enabling adoption of innovative technologies we will realise a prosperous UK industry. How can you get involved?