Engineering needs to dispel its image of hard hats and overalls if it is to attract more people into the profession, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

“Raising awareness that choosing, or retraining, in a career in engineering and technology is entering into a profession which presents well paid, creative and rewarding opportunities is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry,” said IET Deputy President, Chris Earnshaw.

Mr Earnshaw, was speaking at an IET seminar, ‘Skills shortages: who will keep the lights on?’ at which David Lammy, MP, the UK’s Minister for Skills, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), was the key note speaker.

Mr Lammy said: “The Government is determined to do all it can to meet the outstanding skills needs faced by the engineering and technology sectors. We are committed to working with employers in driving change in the education and skill systems, promoting STEM (science, engineering, technology and mathematics) subjects and supporting young people through school, higher education and into science-based careers.

“Furthermore, we are working to maximise the number of apprenticeship opportunities offered by employers, improve the responsiveness of higher education institutions to employer needs, and expand the Train to Gain service. I call on employers to make full use of the range of support we are putting in place, and look forward to discussing ways forward with the IET at today’s event.”

Mr Earnshaw concurred: “Employers have a real responsibility to recognise that the employees of today are the ones who will fill the needs of the future. Sevety-five per cent of the people who will be our workforce in 2020 have already left education. There has to be an awareness of the gap in skills and a practical solution found to resolve this. Targeting these gaps and implementing training or retraining programmes is crucial.

“That is why, in 2004, the IET launched one of its most significant initiatives - the Power Academy. Since that time, it had doubled in size and today encompasses seven universities and 18 partners from industry, including such names as EDF, Siemens, the National Grid and the Learning Council. The IET manages the academy on behalf of these members, providing professional advice and support. The academy also sponsors 60 undergraduates in the engineering sector each year.

“However, it’s about tacking the problem at all levels and we must all work harder to make the STEM subjects more attractive to young people. The IET recently published its review, ‘Studying STEM: what are the barriers?’ and we took this publication to the highest level of Government. It reviewed students across different cultures, different countries and examined the ways in which they had dealt with a similar situations – which was not always the most traditional.

“The Government has a target of 10 per cent electricity in the UK to be supplied by renewable sources by 2010 (compared with current levels of about 4.5 per cent) with an aspiration to double this by 2020. A technical workforce with significantly greater range and depth of skills will be required to meet the targeted CO2 reductions. Many energy-efficiency measures are already proven technology but their widespread roll-out will also require a highly trained workforce.

“We must use our position to inspire young people and work together to tackle these challenges so that we do, not only, keep the lights on but meet our targets in terms of reducing emissions.”

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a leading professional organisation working to develop science, engineering and technology

Institution of Engineering and Technology