Engineering news
The research shows that young people know almost nothing about apprenticeships and vocational routes, and that their popularity is in decline.
The Engineering UK 2018: State of Engineering report was released ahead of Apprenticeship Week (March 5-9), and reveals that 58% of 11-14 year olds say they know very little about apprenticeships, with only 46% of parents saying they know what apprentices do.
Annual demand for those with ‘core engineering’ skills stands at 124,000 per year, with another 79,000 workers needed in related roles. The government introduced an apprenticeship levy last year in an attempt to fund more vocational career paths, but early data for 2017 suggests numbers are dropping.
“There continue to be too few entrants into the industry and this, compounded by the uncertainty created by Brexit, is creating further uncertainty around recruitment, said Seán Harris, Membership Director at the Institution of Civil Engineers. “This shortage will continue to be exacerbated as new technology continues to transform the infrastructure sector, increasing demand for high-skilled workers. For example, we have the potential to revolutionise our transport networks but this can only be realised if we are able to secure the technically-trained workforce needed to deliver major built environment projects, such as the 7,200 trained engineers needed to work in high speed rail by 2020.”
“Engineers play a critical role in sustainably powering our lives, looking after our health and well-being, feeding the world, and helping people to live and move around more efficiently,” said Mark Titterington, chief executive of EngineeringUK. “The types of jobs people actually do are very different to what might be expected and, in this Year of Engineering, it’s incumbent on all of us to help young people to see how apprenticeships in particular can offer a very credible, valuable and rewarding career route into engineering.”
Peter Finegold, Head of Education Policy at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said the government has made significant progress in promoting technical careers, there was a challenge in translating people considering them into those actually pursuing them. “Solutions to this include fully resourced implementation of the Government’s careers strategy, as well as meaningful exposure to industry for pupils and their teachers,” he said. “The point is reinforced by the fact that over half (58%) of 11-14 year olds say they know little about apprenticeships.”