Open letter to government helps tackle UK engineering skills shortage

24/01/2022

Over 150 world-leading engineers, scientists and technology giants have joined forces to urge the government to help tackle the UK’s engineering skills shortage by embedding engineering into current primary school learning and to support the Engineering Kids’ Futures campaign.

Professor Danielle George MBE, Immediate Past President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and ambassador for the Engineering Kids’ Futures initiative, has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister signed by BINDT, along with more than 150 others, including individuals such as Major Tim Peake, Carol Vorderman MBE, will.i.am and representatives from Rolls-Royce, Vodafone and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to appeal to the government to work together with educators and industry to develop practical support for teachers of our youngest children and embed engineering in their existing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.

Children eagerly learn about science and maths, but the connection to engineering – the link between these subjects, their purpose and application to the world in which we live – is not currently being made. Clearer learning outcomes for these subjects linked to engineering need to be ensured.

It is considered to be vital that the government joins the campaign and commits to securing the country’s future as a nation of innovators; innovators whose skills will be more crucial than ever in the coming decades as the global challenges posed by achieving net zero and meeting COP26 pledges are tackled.

Reports from the IET estimate a shortfall of over 173,000 workers in the STEM sector: an average of ten unfilled roles per business in the UK. What is more, the IET’s latest Skills Survey identifies that almost half (49%) of engineering businesses are experiencing difficulties with the skills available to them when trying to recruit.

However, this challenge has not appeared overnight. It is a growing issue that the IET has tracked for the last 15 years; longer than the time it takes for a primary-aged child to complete their education.

Professor George commented on the campaign: “To ‘build back better’ and fully embrace the ‘green industrial revolution’ promised by the government, it is essential to start with solid foundations. By adding more focus on misunderstood terms such as engineering and technology, where we know there is a perception problem, it will help young people from all backgrounds to learn vital engineering and tech skills early on and increase their career aspirations.

“We propose collaboration between the government, STEM education supporters, academia and industry to provide teachers with the tools to showcase that science, design, technology and maths have vital elements of engineering within them and proactively encourage the teaching of engineering in our primary schools.

“This focus and support for schools is fundamental if we want to future-proof the next generation of engineers. And these benefits extend far beyond the classroom: from higher earnings to better job satisfaction, our research shows that those in STEM careers can hit life goals such as financial independence much sooner than their peers.”

Together with representatives from world-leading institutions, including BINDT, the Engineering Council, WISE, the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) and Engineering in Motion among others, and STEM pioneers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology has signed an open letter to government calling for Engineering Kids’ Futures to be formally introduced into schools in 2022. This letter has also been signed by leaders at many of the UK’s leading engineering and technology employers, including Rolls-Royce, Thames Water and E.ON.

www.theiet.org/media/campaigns/engineering-kids-futures

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