Monday 2nd November marks the beginning of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week - a week dedicated to inspiring the UK’s next generation of engineers.
EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation have provided some statistics about to explain why it is so important to attract young people into a career in engineering as part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week.
According to EEF there will be over 2.5 million job openings in engineering companies up to 2022 and the industry needs to find almost a million workers in manufacturing to replace those retiring or leaving the industry.
In the next three years two thirds of manufacturers plan to recruit at least one engineering graduate with another 66% saying that they plan to recruit an engineering apprentice in the next 12 months.
According to Engineering UK, 66% of engineering and technology graduate were in full-time employment within six months of graduating in comparison to 58% of all graduates.
According to 72% of manufacturers, raising awareness of apprenticeships will encourage more young people into manufacturing and 63% say the same of STEM promoting initiatives between schools and business. Six in ten firms also believe that better informed careers advice will encourage more young people into engineering.
Verity O’Keefe, Employment and Skills Policy Adviser at EEF, says: “This week is about sending up a flare to alert young people, parents and teachers to the wealth of opportunity in engineering. A career in our sector ticks all the boxes, offering jobs, good pay and the chance of an interesting and dynamic long-term career.
“But the opportunities go deeper than that – engineering also offers young people the chance to choose the career path that is right for them. There is no right or wrong way – whether you choose to ‘earn and learn’ as an apprentice or join industry as a graduate, the fact is that your choice will be respected and your ability and ambition rewarded.
“It’s critical that we get this message out – our sector has much to offer and by helping young people to understand this we will give them every reason to want to get involved.”
