More than 30 MPs have pledged their support for a national
campaign to get more young people into engineering, joining
government and industry in a united effort to tackle a major
skills gap.
The Year of Engineering, which launches in January (2018), will
see government work with hundreds of industry partners to raise
the profile of engineering among young people aged 7 to 16, their
parents and their teachers. This will include offering at least a
million direct experiences of engineering to young people from
all backgrounds – from behind the scenes tours and family days
out, to school visits and the chance to meet engineering role
models.
At an event in Parliament yesterday, (6 December 2017), MPs from
across the UK committed to supporting the campaign in their
constituencies. Pledges included connecting schools with local
engineering employers and encouraging businesses to take part in
open doors events for schools and families.
Minister for the Year of Engineering and Transport Skills
Minister said:
If we are going to create a country fit to meet all new
challenges, we need to train the next generation of
highly-skilled British workers.
Engineering and all it brings is at the heart of economic
success and provides exciting opportunities of fulfilling
careers through skills that will shape all our futures, but for
too many employers a lack of skilled engineers is limiting
growth. That’s why I am delighted to see so many of my
colleagues determined to promote engineering. Their
determination and dedication, enthusiasm and engagement will
help to make the year of engineering not only a year-long
campaign but a lifelong success.
Now, huge opportunities exist as the government’s strategic
investment in infrastructure bears fruit. New skills, new jobs
and new prospects will turn vision to reality, if we show young
people, their parents and their teachers what engineering can
mean: a career in engineering offers creativity, variety, the
chance to innovate and so make a real difference.
HMG Envoy for the Year of Engineering MP said:
The value of engineering skills is frequently underestimated,
outdated perceptions of the profession are still widespread,
and the industry continues to suffer from a lack of diversity
in its workforce.
The Year of Engineering aims to tackle these challenges, so
it’s vital that the campaign is championed across government,
parliament and industry.
We know how much enthusiasm there is in all parts of the
profession to encourage engineers of the future. We want this
campaign to unite those ambitions, and I welcome these pledges
of support from my fellow MPs which will be vital in helping to
drive this across the country.
The event was jointly hosted by government and the Institution
for Engineering and Technology (IET), marking
the publication of its annual Skills Survey report – which looks
at the skills challenges faced by engineering and technology
employers in the UK.
Nigel Fine, IET Chief
Executive, said:
The IET 2017
Engineering and Technology Skills Survey highlights a buoyant
sector with high value jobs being created. In order to deliver
on the skills challenge we must ensure we have enough people
with the practical and technical skills required by industry,
and recruit widely from a diverse pool of potential talent,
bringing in all sections of society.
The cross-government Year of Engineering campaign will be an
ideal way of celebrating the amazing contribution that
engineering makes to society, and encourage young people to
join the profession. The IET is
delighted to be supporting the campaign to highlight the
exciting, creative and rewarding world of engineering.
Hundreds of partners have signed up to support the Year of
Engineering, including Siemens, the Science Museum Group, Ocado,
Usborne, BAE Systems and Crossrail. Teaming up with partners from
many different sectors, the government will deliver a year of
UK-wide school visits, exhibitions and open doors events – all
aimed at encouraging young people and their parents to take a
closer look at engineering.
