*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 *** *** Setting the wheels in motion SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY ENGINEERING CAREERS IN Thursday, November 26, 2009 jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ca The Daily Telegraph I In association with Engineers are vital to thriving economies but, in the UK, demand outstrips supply. Thea Jourdan reveals whats being done to attract more young people into the profession Engineering is increasingly being referred to as one of the brightest hopes for the economic future of the UK. According to a new study from the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), it has become a more popular and desirable career since the financial downturn. Today, 85 per cent of the general public would recommend a career in engineering to their family, friends or children, compared to 66 per cent in 2008, while 45 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds view engineering as a desirable or very desirable career, compared to 40 per cent in 2008. We are impressed by the speed of the turnaround in attitude and we need to capitalise on that, says Paul Jackson, chief executive of the ETB, which promotes the vital role of engineering in society. The door is ajar and we have to push it wide open and reveal the rich canvas that is a career in engineering. Todays challenge is to ensure there are enough talented engineers to keep up with predicted demand. At the moment, there are not enough young people opting for science, technology, engineering and maths at age 17, and then following through at degree level. We have been addressing this problem for some time but it is getting more critical now, says Professor Matthew Harrison, director of education programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering. Robin McGill, 54, Chief Executive of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) which employs 4,500 staff, almost half of whom work in engineering-related disciplines agrees. Engineers are always important, but in times of stress, like a recession, they are crucial because they are the ones who turn ideas and opportunities into reality, he says. As it stands now, as Britain continues to climb out of the credit crunch, engineers will be in high demand but short supply. Much is being done to encourage more people to consider engineering. Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, has announced a major review of higher education. His vision includes asking universities to focus more on practical training and science and engineering courses with links to industry. Looking at a younger age group (14-19), the diploma in engineering, rolled out in 2008, has already been taken up by 6,000 students at schools and colleges. This should ensure young people have the tools to enter a career in engineering, should they decide to do so. Key employers are also being proactive. BAE Systems supports work experience for 14- to 16-year-olds and has around 300 active science and engineering ambassadors within its workforce, whom it can call upon at any time. Looking at studies, it is obvious that there is a particular point (in the early years of secondary school) when subjects like maths and science suddenly become difficult. Our view is that you have to grab childrens attention at the right time, show them why its worth persevering, and get them through this stage, says Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of Programmes and Support at BAE Systems. The companys annual schools roadshow is designed to do just that and is targeted at both primary and secondary schools. Whitehead, a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says his own childhood experiences determined his career path. I visited an aircraft factory when I was nine and my life went from monochrome to technicolour. I knew I wanted to be an aeroplane engineer and I worked hard to get there, including doing an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce over four consecutive summers from the age of 17. Apprenticeship schemes still thrive today. BAE Systems currently has around 1,200 apprentices (and 400 graduates) in training, and runs one of the largest advanced apprenticeship schemes in the UK, covering business administration, engineering and information technology. Meanwhile, AWE recently won the Learning and Skills Councils south east Large Employer of the Year award for its Apprentice Academy, which last year saw around 30 young people starting a three- or four-year training programme. We recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy intake of young people. Expanding and developing our academy is something we are looking at for the future, says McGill. AWE also has a graduate recruitment scheme. Atkins, an international design and engineering consultancy, has taken steps to tackle the engineering skills gap within the oil and gas sector. It has joined forces with other Aberdeen-based international oil and gas organisations to collaborate on a new University of Aberdeen masters degree programme. Women, who represent just four per cent of engineering graduates, are also being wooed into this traditionally male sector. AWE has an outreach programme that includes sending female mentors to schools and colleges. We hope that they can excite a new generation of women into Engineers are always important, but in times of stress , like a recession, they are crucial... they turn opportunities into reality this profession. We want women to realise that engineering is just as accessible to them as it is to men, says McGill. BAE Systems now has a UK workforce that is 20 per cent female something that Whitehead is keen to see increase. What we have found is that there is a different approach taken by employees of different genders and backgrounds. There are stronger solutions if you have a diverse team. Once engineers find their niche, they tend to stick with their jobs, which often turn out to be rewarding, challenging and diverse. Whitehead is emphatic that he made the right choice in becoming an aerodynamicist. It is a fantastic job you know you are contributing something truly worthwhile. P2: NEW SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC PROBLEMS P3-P6: NECR EXHIBITION 2009 LATEST ISSUES P8: THE NANOTECHNOLOGY BOOM
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 *** *** Setting the wheels in motion SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY ENGINEERING CAREERS IN Thursday, November 26, 2009 jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ca The Daily Telegraph I In association with Engineers are vital to thriving economies but, in the UK, demand ou
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*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 *** *** VII Project Manager (Group PM Development) Eimco Water Technologies, part of the GLV group of companies, is a growing organisation with ambitious plans for the future. Working in the water supply and treatment industry, its future grow
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