The Paul Jackson Column
The government is keen to promote engineering as a career that is vital to the future of the country, says the EngineeringUK chief executive; but it’s vital to make sure this momentum doesn’t plateau
Who do you think said this?
“I want the next decade to be the decade of the engineer.
In doing this we will build a more balanced and sustainable economy, delivering high skills and innovation with engineers of all kinds at its heart.”
Here’s a clue: it wasn’t Santa.
This was Business Secretary Vince Cable MPs comment on the launch of Engineering UK 2014, EngineeringUK’s annual report on the state of UK engineering. The second part of this statement is a fact that readers of The Engineer know only too well of course. But to have this recognised by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with the intent to make the next ten years ‘the decade of the engineer’ shows that our message is gathering real momentum where it matters.

The Perkins Review in November stepped up the drive another gear, prompting Government investment in funding for engineering skills to the tune of £49 million. This included £250,000 to support the engineering community in its collaborative efforts under Tomorrow’s Engineers to join up efforts to promote engineering careers in schools.
Perkins’ call to action to Government was received more positively and took up significantly more column inches in national and regional media than most reports of this kind ever would as a rule; largely because it was published to coincide with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ launch of the first Tomorrow’s Engineers Week.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week was further evidence – to those who still needed it – that public awareness and appetite for engineering careers inspiration is on the up. Traffic to the Tomorrow’s Engineers website increased by 173% over the Week, thanks to hundreds of activities and events held by over 70 partners across the UK. The number of 11-14 year-olds who would consider a career in engineering rose by 6% in just seven days – testament that the central aim of the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme to coordinate collaborative engagement across the engineering community can make a big impact. EngineeringUK will pick up the mantel and coordinate the Week in 2014.
”Engineering is high priority across Government departments – and they too see the value in working together
Business and industry, Professional Engineering Institutions and the education sector have shown broad support for both Tomorrow’s Engineers and Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and, as the skills shortages highlighted in Engineering UK 2014 attest, it is vital that this momentum does not plateau.
Thankfully there is no sign of a slow-down; in December I attended a roundtable at 10 Downing Street dedicated to a discussion on increasing women in science, technology, engineering and maths careers. The meeting was hosted by the No.10 Policy Unit, David Willetts MP, Michael Gove MP and Elizabeth Truss MP. This is a good indication that engineering is high priority across Government departments – and that they too see the value in working together.
As a sector that is invaluable to our economy, to industrial growth, to global competitiveness and to youth employment, I think the Business Secretary is too modest in his ambitions for engineering. Engineering is in it for the long game, and a decade is way too limiting. We are aiming for an era of engineering – without limits. I hope to work with more of you to keep the engineering agenda moving in 2014.
I always know when my posts to our ‘blog’ really hit the spot! The moderator fails to publish them!
Here is one! following an infrastructure piece. Pointing out that there is a shortage of Engineers
Engineers Salaries of $1,000 per day? for manipulating nature’s laws to the benefit of us all?
I know several groupings who’s members can charge that much an hour for manipulating man’s laws to the benefit of whoever got to them first and pays the most! Not only that but they make work for four other sets of their ilk! Small wonder that HM Government, in the person of the Minister of Justice, has finally, on behalf of we tax-payers, said “enough is enough!”
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“a shortage of Engineers and technologists?”
I am old enough to recall the furor when the first Soviet Sputnik (satellite) was launched in 1957. The West were apparently several years behind. I was doing my ‘O’ levels and can recall well our Physics master’s comment: “this will bring Engineering and technology up the scale of interest and reward and recognition” -because its the only profession who’s members can ‘match’ the Soviet advances.
What happened in the intervening 57 years? We may not have enough Engineers, but as sure as…we have far too many lawyers, accountants, PR puffers, patent agents, auditors, estate agents, insurance sales staff, bankers, …and media consultants, politicians, civil servants, actors, writers, celebrities, sports stars….even journalists, military and vicars…all who have to be paid for from the taxable efforts of the wealth creators (us!) and/ or from borrowing!
I have posted on these topics before.
Perhaps we are close to that wonderful moment when at last, society will see us for what we are? I live in hopes. [response from another blogger – “don’t hold your breath!”]
i actually created the “era of the engineer”. i manage Young Guru (engineer, dj and professor).