THE DAILY TELEGRAPHTHURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009jobs.telegraph.co.ukJ 5The Daily TelegraphOPPORTUNITIES CAREERS IN ENGINEERINGWhere the work is Sir Anthony Cleaver is chairman of the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB). Here he talks to Lisa Sewards about the sector’s increasing demand for new talent in spite of the recession WHY IS ENGINEERING SO VITAL? It covers such a vast range of disciplines — civil, electrical, electronic, structural, chemical, mechanical, medical, aero and nano engineering, to name just a few. Many people don’t appreciate just how much day-to-day life relies on successful engineering because we tend to take it for granted until something goes wrong. HOW IS THE RECESSION AFFECTING THE DEMAND FOR ENGINEERS? Peter Mandelson recently said that in the current economic situation, “Britain needs an economy with less financial engineering and more real engineering”. He is correct because there is a national need, particularly in sectors such as nuclear, coal, oil, gas and renewables. With unemployment rising, it is important to publicise the message that there is a real and dramatically increasing demand for engineers in the UK. The ETB’s flagship publication, Engineering UK, reports that 61 per cent of the nation’s skills shortages are in technical, engineering and engineering-related roles, such as motor mechanics, auto and electrical engineering. WHAT ARE THE KEY PROBLEM AREAS? The UK is facing two key energy challenges: to tackle climate change and to ensure the security of our energy supply, which is expected to be much diminished by 2017. Delivering the right skills at the right time to the right standard is critical to the UK’s strategy. The main growth areas are nuclear and renewable energy. We have already seen a significant increase in the workforce for decommissioning nuclear power plants, but with the new generation of nuclear energy and the Government’s plans for 11 potential new nuclear power stations, Engineering UK estimates that by 2022 we will need 40,000 more nuclear engineers. In terms of fulfilling future requirements for renewable energy, Engineering UK data from SummitSkills estimates we will need a further 261,000 trained engineers, technicians and related workers in solar power and photovoltaics, as well as an extra 126,000 working in wind and hydro power. (www.nuclear.nsacademy. was set up to meet the demands of this rapidly changing industry. It aims to address the large gap in appropriately skilled engineers and technicians due to the many changes in the industry, from operating to decommissioning, through to the current building of new nuclear plants. Similarly, the National Skills Academy for Power (www.national skillsacademy.co. uk/academies/ sectors/power/ index.html) has been set up to tackle skills shortages in the generation of electricity, including renewables and fossil fuels. The academy also trains students in power transmission, distribution and metering to ensure the sustainability of the country’s power. WHY IS ENGINEERING A GOOD CAREER CHOICE? It is challenging and fascinating, offering high job satisfaction. Previous studies have also shown people are likely to be earning up to £2,500 more than their peers not long after graduation. The average starting salary for a graduate in the sector is £24,000, up 4.3 per cent on last year; the average for a graduate in oil and gas is £30,000, up 1.7 per cent on last year. Engineering graduates are also more likely to find employment after graduation, with 62 per cent entering full-time employment within six months compared to 58 per cent from all courses.Sir Anthony Cleaver: “There is a real and increasing need for engineers in the UK”HOW IS THE ENGINEERING WORLD WORKING TO BOOST RECRUITING? We are encouraging the study of, and interest in, the related subjects of maths, chemistry and physics from school age. We are delighted with this year’s introduction of the Engineering Diploma in England (http://yp.direct.gov.u It’s an alternative to GCSE and Alevel routes into the profession. Otherwise, entry into a career can be with a general or specific engineering degree, or via a college diploma or apprenticeship. We are also working closely with other agencies to encourage all those in need of work or who want a career change to think about the benefits of training in engineering. The Government’s new National Skills Academy has been set up to tackle skills shortages and make our economy more competitive. It provides advice and support for training and re-training. A specialist division of the academy, the National Skills Academy for Nuclear‘People are likely to earn £2,500 more than their peers not long after graduation’IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A MAN’S WORLD ENGINEERING IS IN HANNA SYKULSKA’S BLOOD — AS A CHILD SHE WAS OBSESSED WITH CONSTRUCTING LEGO MODELS AND SOLVING RUBIK’S CUBE. At school Sykulska, pictured, studied maths, further maths, physics and chemistry at A level, then read engineering at Oxford and did a PhD at Imperial College London. Now 26, she was recently named Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. “An engineering career offers a diversity of activities,” says Sykulska. “Mine has involved problem solving, lateral thinking, design, programming and inventing. Even in this economic downturn, employers are still recruiting engineering graduates and the starting salaries are generous. “I have worked in the Electrical Engineering Department at Imperial College for 41?2 years. In 2008 I worked as an instrument downlink engineer at NASA mission control in Arizona. My work involved analysing data transmitted back to earth from the Phoenix Mars Lander. Previous space orbiters had discovered ice on Mars and our project aimed to analyse this in detail.” Women account for fewer than one in five engineering graduates and one in 20 professional engineers. Sykulska hopes her award will act as an encouragement to females working in the field, or thinking of going into it. “The number of women going into engineering has increased slightly over the past 10 years, but there still aren’t many of us,” she admits. “I haven’t personally encountered discrimination — although I was the only female engineer in the UK to participate in the NASA mission.” Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET): www.theiet.org@JOBS ONLINE: jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ careers-insiderREBECCA WALLERSTEINER
THE DAILY TELEGRAPHTHURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009CAREERS INThe Daily Telegraph IN ASSOCIATION WITHjobs.telegraph.co.ukJ 3EngineeringThursday, May 7, 2009 jobs.telegraph.co.uk/caProduced byTelegraph Special ReportsVital cogsThe nation is in urgent need of young men and women with flair in the technical sphere
J 4jobs.telegraph.co.ukTHURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009THE DAILY TELEGRAPHCAREERS IN ENGINEERING PEOPLEThe Daily TelegraphFor the love of the job Life can be full of challenge and creativity with tangible benefits for others, too. Four engineers tell Natasha Mann what’s so good about what they do MALCOLM RICHA
THE DAILY TELEGRAPHTHURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009jobs.telegraph.co.ukJ 5The Daily TelegraphOPPORTUNITIES CAREERS IN ENGINEERINGWhere the work is Sir Anthony Cleaver is chairman of the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB). Here he talks to Lisa Sewards about the sector’s increasing demand for new talent in
J 6jobs.telegraph.co.ukTHURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009THE DAILY TELEGRAPHCAREERS IN ENGINEERING ALL-ENERGY’09The Daily TelegraphSun rises on a new generation The All-Energy exhibition and conference is growing in significance as the search for renewable power intensifies, says Thea JourdanABERDEEN EXHIBITION
