*** II*** *** THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH|***CAREERS IN ENGINEERING OVERVIEWTStudents are studying the wrong subjects, creating a skills shortage in critical areasFUTUREMAPPING THEENGINEERING IS AN INDUSTRY WITH A FEEL-GOOD FACTOR — A RARITY IN THESE CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES — AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN IT CAN HELP TO SHAPE THE WORLD FOR YEARS TO COME, WRITES ESME MCAVOYto plug the skills gap. Last month Lord Drayson announced a £250 million initiative to establish 44 UK centres to support more than 2,000 PhD students in tackling renewable energy, carbon emissions and other environmental and social concerns, such as Britain’s ageing population. “To me, the biggest limitation we have in tackling the important issues is technical resource,” says Parke. “We have nowhere near the technical resources and skilled people we need.” As professor Matthew Harrison, director of educational programmes for the Royal Academy of Engineering, says to students considering their career options: “Engineering is about to have its time and when it does we need the most talented people ready to take on the challenges.”@JOBS ONLINE: jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ careers-insider‘‘he global economic downturn means that wealth creators are needed more than ever. Many commentators believe that science and engineering, which already generate more than 21 per cent of the UK’s GDP, will play a key role in helping to secure Britain’s future prosperity. Those working in the sector are at the cutting edge of technological developments. According to Science Minister Lord Drayson — himself an engineering graduate — few careers are as hands-on and rewarding. He insists: “Science and engineering offer some of the most fulfilling, well-paid and interesting careers on the planet.” Yet despite growing demand in the UK and across the world, the engineering sector is suffering a skills shortage. There are around 600,000 engineers working in the UK, but the average age of chartered and incorporated engineers is 55 and more than a quarter are over 65, according to the Engineering Technology Board. Lord Mandelson, Business and Enterprise Secretary, recently called for more young people to embark on a career in the sector: “If you really want to change the world, choose a career in engineering.” Part of the problem is that engineering is seen as a ‘hard subject’, and students are shying away from it to pursue ‘softer’ options such as the arts and media studies. According to a report by the think tank Reform, Britain’s students are less likely to embark on highly technical degree courses than those elsewhere in Europe, such as Italy and Germany. It claims many students are studying the wrong subjects at the wrong level, creating skills shortages in critical areas. However, once you embark on a career in engineering, the opportunities are endless — and there is plenty of feel-good factor in the industry. For example, engineers of the future will be called upon to help tackle the problem of the country’s future supplies of energy. By 2015 the power stations that meet 40 per cent of our current electricity needs will be decommissioned. “We’re being forced to phase out our coal-fired power stations and we need to replace them. A new wave of nuclear power stations is most likely and they will require specialist engineers in nuclear energy,” says Tim Healey, engineering director for construction firm Capita Symonds.‘‘As policies to curb climate change bite, engineers with knowledge of low-carbon technologies will be in demand too. “We need engineers right across our business,” says Gary Parke , CEO of energy management firm Evolve Energy, which helps companies reduce their energy use in big buildings. “There’s a dearth of people with the right qualifications in energy engineering so we set up our own apprenticeship scheme to develop the skills set we need.” In London, the capital’s ageing infrastructure needs attention. “There are new rail lines being built and massive, multi-billion pound upgrades of the Tube network,” says Healey. “The Thames Tideway Tunnel is another big project: a 32kilometre tunnel set to run right through London directly under the river to intercept sewers and increase the capacity of the existing sewage system. It will be the largest such project ever undertaken in this country.” The Government is taking stepsGIRLS ALLOWED! Stick with physics — that is the advice of Terry Marsh, director of Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE) to girls thinking of giving it up after their GCSEs. “Girls continue to outperform boys in their GCSEs and thousands excel in physics,” says Marsh. “Yet 93 per cent of girls who get an A or A* at GCSE walk away from the subject at A/S level. “Our mantra to girls is ‘stick with physics’, which is key to going on to specialise in engineering. Most can’t imagine what they could possibly do with physics other than be a science teacher. They can’t see the wealth of exciting opportunities available. That’s not because they lack imagination; it’s because they’ve never been told.” She believes the new GCSE science syllabus is a positive step. The theory is deliberately linked to ‘real world’ situations so students can understand its role in everyday life. “Some engineering companies are doing great outreach work, inviting students to come in and see the sort of work they do,” she adds. “We encourage those companies to think about what that experience is like for girls. Ensuring schools bring equal numbers of girls and boys, for instance, can mean the girls don’t feel intimidated or out of place. It’s a small thing but it can really affect a girl’s perceptions. It might be the only engineering open day she attends. “Only 15 per cent of university engineering students are female and they make up less than three per cent of engineering apprentices. Although numbers are growing, it’s slow progress. Choosing to study physics and later engineering as a female is a test of courage in many ways.” ESME MCAVOYGETTY
The talent squeeze PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY page 2Extreme behaviour HUMAN INGENUITY IS HELPING TO TAME THE PLANET page 5Caught up in the net THE INVISIBLE FORCE THAT MAKES THE WEB WORK page 6SCIENCEPHOTOLIBRARYEngineeringCAREERS INThe Daily Telegraph Thursday, January 15, 200
*** II*** *** THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH|***CAREERS IN ENGINEERING OVERVIEWTStudents are studying the wrong subjects, creating a skills shortage in critical areasFUTUREMAPPING THEENGINEERING IS AN INDUSTRY WITH A FEEL-GOOD FACTOR — A RARITY IN THESE CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES — A
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009*** ***| IIIPEOPLE CAREERS IN ENGINEERING LEANNE AYRE 28, A PROCESS ENGINEER WORKING IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING FOR THE PROJECT SERVICES COMPANY AMEC “I enjoyed science at school and knew that I wanted a job with variety. In Year 10 I went on work e
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*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009*** ***| VINNOVATION CAREERS IN ENGINEERINGGOING TO EXTREMES ENGINEERING GENIUS HAS MADE LIVING, EXPLORING AND EVEN ART APPRECIATION POSSIBLE IN THE MOST HOSTILE OF ENVIRONMENTS, SAYS ADAM RAMSAY Anything’s possible: The Halley VI Antarctic resea
*** VI*** *** THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH|***CAREERS IN ENGINEERING THE INTERNETPeople expect the net to work the same way they expect water to run from the tapoptimisation) engineers, internet developers and those who work for website hosting companies. “The internet jobs market,
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009*** ***| VIIRAILWAYS CAREERS IN ENGINEERING GETTYPLATFORM FOR CHANGE EVERY DAY MILLIONS STRUGGLE THROUGH CROWDED OLD STATIONS. ADAPTING THEM AND BUILDING NEW ONES REQUIRES INGENUITY, SAYS JAN BARDENMany of our railway stations are masterpieces of
*** VIII*** *** THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH|***CAREERS IN ENGINEERING BRIDGESGOING FORTHDEMAND FOR A NEW BRIDGE ON SCOTLAND’S EAST COAST PRESENTS AN EXCITING CHALLENGE, WRITES RICHARD MILTONA computer-generated image shows the proposed new Forth Road Bridge, left, the existing bri
