£49 million funding for engineering skills as Perkins Review published07 November 2013

The Coalition has announced £49 million of funding to help develop badly needed engineering skills to coincide with Tomorrow's Engineers Week – the campaign to promote careers in engineering to young people and especially women.

The revelation follows publication of the Perkins Review of Engineering Skills, launched this week (4 November 2013), and government is calling on industry to support its findings and consider what must be done to encourage more young people into engineering.

In his report, Professor John Perkins CBE FREng, chief scientific adviser to BIS (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) sets out the skills shortage issues and offers a call to action, aimed not only at government but also industry, education and the engineering institutions.

Business Secretary Vince Cable explains that the government will spend up to £30 million in the New Year that employers can bid for to inspire future engineering talent.

He also says that £18 million has been earmarked for an elite training facility at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry – part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which works with companies including Rolls-Royce to develop next-generation technologies.

Beyond these, Cable says £250,000 of seed funding will be made available to the Tomorrow's Engineers scheme to accelerate the nationwide rollout of its employer-backed programme, aimed at encouraging children to consider engineering careers.

And he points to £40,000 being granted to the Daphne Jackson Trust for a new fellowship to support people returning to engineering jobs after a career break.

"Engineering has a vital role to play in the future of UK Industry. It is important that we act now to ensure businesses have access to the skills they require to enable them to grow," says Cable.

"We cannot do this alone, so I am calling on employers and education professionals to get involved and inspire the next generation of engineers," he adds.

"I have highlighted the challenges currently faced by the engineering industry and the importance of all partners working together to attract future engineering talent in order to grow the UK economy," comments Professor John Perkins.

"My report exposes a series of structural and behavioural barriers that must be tackled in order to improve the longer-term talent pipeline. This is especially the case in inspiring young people throughout their education," he continues.

"In addition, we should be concerned over the quality of parts of the supply system and pinch points that inhibit the development of the types of engineer which current and future industries require," he adds.

But Perkins, like Cable, insists that, while his review sets out issues that government needs to address, "employers and professional bodies need to step up".

In fact, of his 22 recommendations, which are geared to achieving both short- and long-term change, no fewer than 15 require active engagement from industry, the engineering profession itself and the education sector – with as many young people as possible exhorted to study "rigorous curricula in maths and science".

Industry and the institutions have been wholeheartedly supportive.

"We welcome the report," comments Peter Walsh, chief executive of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). "In particular, the SOE is heartened that vocational education and development of engineering technicians has been included within the review and highlighted as having skills shortages going into the future."

He continues "The SOE looks forward to working with government, academia and industry to increase the uptake of apprenticeships and vocational training for school leavers.

And he adds: "SOE also welcomes the drive to increase the diversity of engineers, and particularly to encourage women into the industry."

Stephen Tetlow, chief executive of the IMechE, adds a sense of urgency: "The UK urgently needs 87,000 new engineers every year to give our economy any chance of future growth, yet we currently only manage to recruit 51,000. As each day goes by, the UK loses 100 skilled engineers."

"There are 22 recommendations, all of which urgently need government, academia and industry to coordinate and action their implementation. It is far from certain that this will be achieved, but, if we fail, we risk not only a lost generation of British engineering talent, but also a rapid and irreversible decline."

Dr David Brown, IChemE's chief executive, adds: "We welcome this review and believe it is a firm foundation for attracting more young people to the engineering profession, improving education standards and avoiding skill shortages in the long-term.

"It is clear that some change is needed and all stakeholders can do more to inspire young people and make it easier for industry to find the skills and people they need. IChemE is committed to achieving this aim."

And Nigel Fine, IET chief executive, comments: "We welcome the Perkins' Review: its recommendations offer a clear way forward to close the engineering skills gap... It's heartening that the review focuses on galvanising [policy makers, academia and employers] into action to deliver its recommendations.

"Only an 'all hands on deck' approach can address the problem with conviction."

Brian Tinham

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