justin grainge
Organisers of the UK’s biggest processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision event will address one of the biggest challenges to the sector when it returns to the NEC, Birmingham in September: the skills gap and how to bridge it.
The PPMA Show® 2026, which will take place from 22-24 September, is the must-attend event for professionals from across the manufacturing spectrum, providing access to brand-new technologies, live equipment demonstrations, tried and trusted advice from industry experts and and crucial networking opportunities.
Amongst the wealth of insight available to visitors to this year’s event will be on-the-ground advice and support on how to bridge the skills gap within their organisations courtesy of Automate UK’s own initiatives.
Scott McKenna, Chief Operating Officer at Automate UK said: “Of all the challenges facing the manufacturing industry at present, a diminished workforce and shortage of skills is perhaps the most pressing.
“Automate UK has an established reputation for encouraging and supporting young people seeking careers in engineering, automation, robotics, and manufacturing, and the PPMA Show® is the perfect platform for those looking to work within the sector, and businesses looking to address those workforce challenges to find out more about the work we do.
“This year’s show will be the first we’ve hosted since the launch of our Apprenticeship Cluster programme. This initiative, teamed with our expert seminar sessions, will provide employers and young people looking to enter the workforce with huge opportunities,” he explained.
Automate UK’s groundbreaking Apprenticeship Cluster programme, a fully funded initiative designed to address critical skills shortages in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, was launched in January 2025.
It brings together businesses, educators, and apprentices to shape the future workforce through a collaborative, sector-wide approach. The initiative is fully funded through Automate BEST — Automate UK’s charitable arm — using profits generated by its members to create a sustainable future for the sector and its workforce.
Scott added: “One of the best-attended seminars at last year’s PPMA Show® was a panel discussion focused on addressing the skills gap, focusing on both education and training, and attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
“We hope that this year, in addition to providing a platform for the latest state-of-the-art technologies, we can play a vital role in bringing new talent into the sector, providing them with a route into the industry that combines hands-on experience with structured, high-quality training, and in turn offering businesses opportunities to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive marketplace.”
With more than 350 exhibitors and 1,500 brands in attendance, The PPMA Show® 2026 is free to attend. To register, visit: https://www.ppmashow.co.uk.
For full details of Automate UK’s Apprenticeship Cluster initiative, visit http://www.automate-uk.com/.