The UK manufacturing industry is calling on government to step up and do more to encourage young people to consider engineering as a career and, thereby, help to close the ongoing skills gap.
This is according to a new poll of over 600 industry professionals commissioned by engineering supply chain exhibition Subcon in association with The Engineer, which runs its annual conference alongside Subcon.
Key findings
- 67 per cent of UK manufacturers are worried about the future availability of skilled staff for their business
- 72 per cent don’t believe Government is doing enough to promote skills training
- 83 per cent believe there are not enough young people working in UK manufacturing and engineering
- 88 per cent claim engineering is a good career choice for young people
- 90 per cent claim the industry would benefit from more young people working within it
- Just 54 per cent currently train apprentices
When asked what industry and the Government can do to encourage more young people to consider manufacturing as a career, respondents singled out improved engineering education at school level, Investment in apprenticeship training, promotion of potential career progression and improved pay as factors that could help make a difference.
There was also a lukewarm response from respondents on government’s recent efforts to prioritise engineering skills: specifically through the introduction of the apprenticeship Levy, the £170 million investment in technology institutes and the introduction of T-Levels. Nearly three quarters of those taking part in the survey believe that government could do more, whilst 40 per cent of respondents to the didn’t know whether The Apprenticeship Levy (introduced on 6 April 2017) is a good thing.
Offering his own take on the solution to industry’s skills problem, Birmingham City University’s Prof Alan Pendry, who will be speaking at The Engineer conference said: “Apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity for UK companies to grow the essential skills needed by our growing manufacturing industry and to take us into the fourth industrial revolution. If I were in Government and wanted to encourage more young people and women into engineering, I would get rid of ‘career politicians’ and replace the cabinet with engineers: 50 per cent male and 50 per cent female, educate school teachers as to what engineering and manufacturing in the 21st century is and promote positive action without the perceived fear of discrimination in the appointment of women to engineering posts.”
Another conference speaker, Sid Shaikh, Engineering R&D Manager at Ocado added: “If Government is to encourage more young people to work in the industry, we should introduce engineering qualifications earlier in the education process, create targeted promotion and incentives for women and young people to take the Engineering GCSE, and create a culture that is more welcoming to new starters that are keen to learn.”
The survey of more than 600 UK manufacturing professionals was carried out by Subcon and leading industry trade magazine The Engineer. Subcon is the UK’s premier manufacturing supply chain show, taking place 6-8 June 2017 at NEC, Birmingham. Visitors can register for a free pass at www.subconshow.co.uk.
“I would get rid of ‘career politicians’ and replace the cabinet with engineers:”
Prof Pendry’s idea is sound – (even though it implies a coalition government with fewer than 10 members -t he total number of Engineers presently in Parliament) BUT what on earth are we going to do with the other 640 -who jointly and severally would not even recognise a differential or any equation for that matter…, let alone have any idea how to solve it! Fellow bloggers will be aware of my views: confirmed yet again when I watched a so-called debate amongst a series of ‘leaders’ (albeit the two largest parties were absent!) which as usual ended up as a shouting match such as I might expect in a kindergarten amongst 4 year olds, denied toys. Come to think of it, perhaps that is what I was actually watching! We have as Engineers given these buffoons faster and faster ways of doing things that are less and less necessary. Lunatics, asylum?
I think we need to remember that every sector in the economy would like more of ‘theirs’ at the ‘top table’
Thank you for taking the time to read and think about my words: even though they were slightly tongue-in-cheek, they were intended to promote debate.
If companies want more youngsters engaged with engineering but don’t really trust the Government to do so then why aren’t more offering apprenticeships and bursaries? University is behind industry and government even further behind them. If it were up to me I’d involve HM Gov as little as possible in the process.
The best thing for companies to do is to get into local schools directly and enthuse young people as they are considering their options. We get to play with some really cool kit in our profession and the kids love great big shiny lumps of stuff. If you want the best then make it for yourself, that’s what the great companies of old did.
I’d encourage people to find a video called ‘portrait of an engineer,’ listen to the constructive and thorough approach to apprenticeships and self-directed learning and contrast it with today’s attitudes.
One of the problems is that many of todays youth are not prepared to subject themselves to the discipline of turning up at 8.00am in the morning five days a week for a number of years, and at the same time doing an evening class or maybe a day release course. Two companies of which I have knowledge each managed to find two out of twelve applicants who were prepared to stay the course for more than a week. Most simply did not bother to turn up after a few days or on time for a similar period. One applicant refused to use a file on the basis that he was an Electrical Apprentice and that didn’t include filing! Needless to say he didn’t last much longer. Many seem to be waiting for their opportunity to appear on ‘Britains Got Talent’ to be into the big bucks without effort on their part. Their prime talent seems to be the inability to get up in the morning.
With respect, that’s rubbish. I train teenagers to be beach lifeguards, and they are the most self-motivated and inspirational people. I also know many adults who I wouldn’t rely on in any sort of a crisis.
Young people are just people.
I agree “I would get rid of ‘career politicians’ . But do engineers support other engineers when they are standing for election? You can guess why I ask that question.
One way to deal with “career politicians” is to require tham to stand for election in a different constituency every other parliament, drawn by lot. Reduces the cronies and safe seats. No they would never vote for that!
Taking Ken’s hypothesis to the ultimate (that cronies and safe-seats are the norm) I believe it can be shown that it is possible to boil-down the ‘contentious’ aspects of an election to the votes of three old pensioners, Arthur, Mary and Frances in British West Hartlipool {I jest and the names have been altered to protect the innocent!}
So 80+% of manufacturers think there aren’t enough young people going into engineering despite it being a good career and thinking the industry would benefit – yet only 54% train apprentices … If I was in government and they came asking for money, the phase “physician heal thyself” would come to mind…