EngineeringUK Pushes for National Engineering Workforce Strategy

EngineeringUK, an independent, not-for-profit organization that supports the engineering and technology sectors, is encouraging the new government to form a national engineering and technology workforce strategy to address the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and workforce shortage. With the National Engineering Policy Centre, EngineeringUK issued a press release on July 5 stating that it looks forward to “the new government acting on its manifesto commitments to develop workforce and training plans and a post-16 education strategy to ensure that more young people gain access to apprenticeships and training opportunities.” Engineering and technology are predicted to grow faster than any other sectors through 2030, so it is imperative the new government work with industry to address barriers to young people joining the workforce, EngineeringUK stated. Components of the manifesto highlighted by EngineeringUK include recruiting an extra thousand careers advisors, developing a broader curriculum and addressing STEM teacher recruitment and retention.