Massive shortfall of engineers feared

That is the verdict on the state of UK engineering arrived at by EngineeringUK's annual report, which states that over the next five to 10 years employers will need an additional 2,217,500 engineers. The report has predicted a massive surge in engineering jobs, but fears these might well disappear overseas, if the UK skills base could not meet the demand. Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK, says the message for parents, teachers and young people in the UK is "take physics and maths" – two of the subjects that are required for most engineering careers. "We must make sure our children keep their options open, in order to be able to play a role in this growing industry. If a lack of skilled workers means that we can't take advantage of emerging technologies, the industry and the jobs will go elsewhere. "One of our underlying challenges is to re-invigorate public perception about what it means to be an engineer in the 21st century. From large infrastructure projects like Crossrail or next year's Olympics, to the massive impact at a microscopic level of robotic surgery or blood monitors that will help diabetes sufferers, there are numerous excellent opportunities to showcase UK feats of engineering," he states. Engineering generated £1.15 trillion in turnover in the year ending March 2010 – nearly 25% of the turnover of all business in the UK, according to the report, which places engineering as central to ensuring economic growth. Moreover, it credits engineering with having a major role in helping to tackle global challenges, including climate change, health, food security, biodiversity, water security, population and energy security. In the UK, the challenge for the engineering, manufacturing and science sectors was to develop and exploit emerging technologies, such as advanced manufacturing, and low carbon and environmental goods and services. But the UK can only achieve success in these areas, if future graduates have the skills that are rooted in maths and the sciences. EngineeringUK's report also found that GCSE biology, chemistry and physics had all tripled their size over the past decade and, in 2011, the number of entrants for physics rose by 16.4%. However, Jackson points out that challenges still exist in encouraging girls to take maths and physics A Levels. "In 2010, 16,624 students achieved an A*-C grade in both maths and physics A Level, generally considered a pre-requisite to studying a degree in engineering," he comments. "Of these, just 21.4% were female. Only 8.7% of professional engineers, in the UK, are female. This is the lowest percentage in Europe. We are closely monitoring girls' involvement in our programmes, which make a dramatic impact upon attitudes toward science and engineering. Over 50% of the young people registered to attend The Big Bang Fair next March are girls, and there is a 50/50 split of girls and boys involved in our Tomorrow's Engineers programme." EngineeringUK is working with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and the Institute of Physics to develop a programme of careers resources that provides clear, consistent guidance for young people aged between nine and 16 and their teachers, he adds. Commenting on the report, Business Minister Mark Prisk says: "As this report shows, engineers will be at the forefront of our rebalanced economy, which is why we are working now to encourage young people to think about a career in engineering. Our 'See Inside Manufacturing' initiative [Engineering Careers, Winter 2011], where we open doors to factories so people can see what modern manufacturing is actually like, and the Make it in Great Britain campaign where we will be showcasing the best of British manufacturing at the Science museum during the 2012 Olympics, are both aimed at changing people's perceptions about what modern industry is like. That way, we can inspire our young people to be our inventors and engineers of the future."