A pioneering campaign to transform the way young people see
engineering and boost numbers entering the profession has been
launched today (15 January 2018).
Ministers from across government are joining forces with
engineers, industry experts and hundreds of businesses to change
perceptions around engineering – and highlight the scale of
opportunity that careers in the industry hold for young people in
the UK.
2018 is officially the Year of Engineering and
will see a national drive in all corners of the country to
inspire the young people who will shape our future.
Engineering is one of the most productive sectors in
the UK, but a shortfall
of 20,000 engineering graduates every year is damaging growth.
There is also widespread misunderstanding of engineering among
young people and their parents and a lack of diversity in the
sector – the workforce is 91% male and 94% white.
The new campaign is aimed at filling those gaps and changing
misconceptions, and will see government and around 1,000 partners
deliver a million inspiring experiences of engineering for young
people, parents and teachers.
Activities will include:
- a Siemens See Women roadshow aimed at inspiring women,
including more black, Asian and minority ethnic girls, into
pursuing STEM careers
- a brand new children’s book on engineering from Usborne
- the Science Museum and London Transport Museum will be
capturing children’s imaginations with interactive exhibitions
- schools will get the chance to go behind the scenes at Airbus
to meet engineers working on the Mars Rover
- Thales in the UK will be inspiring inventors of
the future with robot clubs in primary schools
- Sir James Dyson, through the Dyson Institute, the James Dyson
Foundation and the James Dyson Award, will continue to invest in
inspiring young engineers by providing opportunities to apply
engineering principles to projects that solve real world problems
Secretary of State for Transport said:
Engineers – whether they are working on cutting-edge technology
in aerospace, energy or artificial intelligence – are vital to
the lifeblood of our economy.
We want to show young people and their parents the immense
creativity, opportunity and value of the profession. By
bringing them face to face with engineering role models and
achievements we can send a clear message that engineering
careers are a chance for all young people, regardless of
gender, ethnicity or social background, to shape the future of
this country and have a real impact on the lives of those
around them.
Skills Minister, said:
I want to see everyone whatever their background, wherever they
live to have a chance to get a rewarding career or job in
engineering whether they come via a technical or academic
route.
The Year of Engineering gives us a great opportunity to work
together with business to inspire a new generation of world
class engineers. We want to build the science, technology,
engineering and mathematics skills that we need for a growing
economy, as highlighted in the government’s Industrial
Strategy.
Crossrail Chair Sir Terry Morgan said:
The Year of Engineering will be a fantastic opportunity to
inspire others to take a fresh look at engineering and show the
range of opportunities there are for training and jobs in this
sector. We look forward to showcasing the role engineers have
played in creating such an amazing project before the Elizabeth
line opens to passengers at the end of 2018.
Mark Richardson, Ocado Chief Operating Officer, said:
Encouraging more young people to enter the engineering
profession is essential to ensure the growth and development of
new technologies and businesses in the UK. At Ocado we build the world’s most
advanced automated warehouses for online grocery, and we hope
our involvement in this campaign will offer young people from
diverse backgrounds a real insight into the exciting and
rewarding life of an engineer.
All week, engineers, businesses, schools and universities will be
marking the launch of the campaign by celebrating the positive
impact of engineering. Events include:
- students in Bolton using engineering to tackle real life
challenges for people with disabilities with charity Remap
- pupils at a London school taking on a cybersecurity
competition
- engineers, STEM ambassadors
and schoolchildren will gather for the unveiling of Tim Peake’s
spacecraft at the National Railway Museum in York
- Ocado in Birmingham will give schoolchildren the chance to
see robots in action
