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UK engineering skills boost could add £27bn a year to national economy

Attracting new talent into engineering jobs across the sector will generate an additional £27bn a year for the UK economy from 2022, according to the latest State of Engineering report from EngineeringUK.

However, solving the current skills shortage and filling the demand for new engineering jobs means doubling the number of engineering apprentices and graduates entering the industry now, says the research. 

Research for the EngineeringUK report estimates that engineering companies will need 182,000 people a year with engineering skills in the decade to 2022 and puts the current annual shortfall of skilled workers at a challenging 55,000.

“The engineering community is increasingly involved in a collective drive to inspire the next generation, who will ensure the continued growth and success of the industry in the UK. This collaborative work must continue" Paul Jackson EngineeringUK.

“Engineering is a vital part of the UK economy, not just in terms of significant turnover but also with regards employment,” said Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK. 

“For every new engineering role an additional 2 jobs are created in the economy,” he added. “The engineering community is increasingly involved in a collective drive to inspire the next generation, who will ensure the continued growth and success of the industry in the UK. This collaborative work must continue if we are to come even close to realising engineering’s potential.”

The State of Engineering report analyses the engineering industry’s capacity and capability for growth and details engineering in education, training and employment. 

Engineering, it says, accounts for a quarter of UK turnover - 9% higher than at the start of the recession – but, it points out, more engineers are needed to continue driving growth into the economy. 

The economic reward for boosting engineering talent in the UK will, the report estimates, be the equivalent of building 1,800 schools or 110 hospitals, 

Commenting on the report Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, agreed that a strong British engineering sector was vital to the long term sustainability of the UK’s  economic recovery and said that increasing supply of engineers is at the heart of this effort.

“In Government, we’re working hard to make sure we have the skills we need in 2022 and beyond,” he said. “But we need to work with industry to make sure we inspire the engineers of tomorrow, today.”

EngineeringUK report call for a range of so-called “collaborative action” across government, industry and the wider community to turn around the current skills situation: 

  • Either a doubling of the number of engineering graduates or a 50% increase in the number of engineering  and technology and  other related STEM as well as non-STEM graduates who are known to enter engineering companies.
  • A doubling of the number of young people studying GCSE physics as part of triple sciences and a growth in the number of students studying physics A level (or equivalent) to equal that of maths. This must have a particular focus on increasing the take-up and progressing by girls.
  • A two-fold increase in the number of Advanced Apprenticeship achievements in engineering & manufacturing technology, construction planning & the built environment and information & communications technologies.
  • Provision of careers inspiration for all 11-14 year olds. This should include opportunities for every child in that age bracket to have a t least one engineering experience with an employer. This inspiration must highlight high value placed on STEM skills and promote the diversity of engineering careers available.
  • Support for teachers and careers advisors delivering careers information so that they understand the range of modern scientific, technological and engineering career paths, including vocational/technician roles. 

The Engineering UK 2015 The State of Engineering (#EngUK15) report is available from www.engineeringuk.com.

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