Universities and Companies Working Together to Address the Skills Gap in Engineering

LONDON, November 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Some 53% of employers find that a typical new engineering recruit does not meet their reasonable expectations according to the Engineering and Technology Skills and Demand in Industry report published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The IET has launched a news-style programme in partnership with ITN Productions entitled "Engineering our World" which examines the need for universities and companies to work collaboratively in order to secure the next generation of engineers. The programme was launched at the IET President's Address on November 11. 

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/713382-a )

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151112/286769LOGO )

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151112/286768 )

"Engineering our World' is an in-depth online programme aiming to provide a greater understanding of the role engineering plays in our everyday lives and explores the challenge for organisations in the industry to find and develop the best talent. With a major skills gap and a growing demand for integrated solutions, the programme asks where are the next generation of engineers coming from and what are organisations doing to attract young people and women into engineering? Introduced by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, "Engineering our World" features key industry interviews and news-style reports along with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organisations.

Universities such as Queen's University Belfast and the University of Staffordshire highlight the need to produce a different type of graduate for today's competitive landscape and talk about their engineering programmes established in response to their working with industrial collaborators and partners. The University of Edinburgh also emphasises that bringing on the next generation of engineers to deliver quality research is fundamental to sustain innovation and maintain the UK as a leader in the sector.

However, securing the next generation of talent does not stop with universities. As National Grid CEO, Steve Holliday, says: "We need to break the stereotype of what engineering is all about. I think we've got to do that very early with children, and help educate parents and teachers as well (…) The only way to do this is for business to step up and do more." Companies such as Ansaldo Nes, National Grid, Thales, or Siemens showcased their apprenticeship schemes and mentorship programme initiatives to address recruitment and retention. Indeed, the IET's survey findings reveal that 64% of employers say that a shortage of engineers in the UK is a threat to their business.

Both universities and companies agree that they need to spread a message of pride and better champion career opportunities in the sector to get students enthused, particularly women. "Engineering our World" addresses challenges and issues, but also focuses upon the latest advances and innovations, to celebrate the exciting and varied opportunities in engineering.

Naomi Climer, IET President, said: "Engineering and technology has improved our quality of life beyond recognition. The future is set to be just as exciting and transformational.

"However, there is a serious skills shortage in engineering and we hope that this new online programme in partnership with ITN Productions will help to inspire, inform and influence people to understand that engineering is an exciting and rewarding career path with excellent prospects and an opportunity to make a difference in the world."

Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions said: "ITN Productions is delighted to continue its partnership with the IET to examine the major challenge of the skills shortage and the need for education to improve alignment with industry demands. We were excited to explore the sector of engineering further this year to inform professionals from the industry."

To watch the full programme, please visit the IET's website at http://www.theiet.org/itn

Notes to editors: 

About the IET 

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is one of the world's largest engineering institutions with over 163,000 members in 127 countries. It is also the most interdisciplinary - to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. Energy, transport, manufacturing, information and communications, and the built environment: the IET covers them all. The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians, and all those who are touched by, or touch, the work of engineers. We want to build the profile of engineering and change outdated perceptions about engineering in order to tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices. For more information, visit http://www.theiet.org

About ITN Productions  

ITN Productions is ITN's bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially valuable content for the corporate, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles. For more information, visit http://www.itnproductions.co.uk

Press contacts 

Robert Beahan 
The IET 
T: +44-(0)1438-767336
M: +44-(0)7595-400912
Email: RBeahan@theiet.org

Emilie Charron 
ITN Productions 
Tel: +44-(0)207-430-4708
Email: emilie.charron@itn.co.uk

SOURCE ITN Productions and the IET