The government will work with hundreds of industry partners in areas from technology, healthcare and food production to energy, culture and transport in a campaign which aims to galvanise industry, MPs, parents and teachers in a national push to inspire the next generation of engineers.
The Year of Engineering campaign will run throughout next year to offer young people across the UK direct experiences of engineering in a major push to tackle skills gap.
Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe (pictured) has been appointed government envoy for the campaign.
Activities will include large-sale outreach programmes, such as a £1m investment from Shell in the interactive Tomorrow’s Engineers Energy Quest programme for thousands of schoolchildren.
Partners including Siemens, the Science Museum, Ocado, Usborne, BAE Systems and Crossrail have also pledged their support.
Mr Metcalfe, formerly chairman of the Science and Technology select committee, will act as an adviser for the campaign, working with industry and the Government on tackling the engineering skills gap and widening the pool of young people who enter the profession. The industry is facing a shortfall of 20,000 engineering graduates a year.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “Engineering makes a significant contribution to our economy and this government is determined to strengthen it further.”
The campaign will encourage young people from all backgrounds, and their teachers and parents, to see the creativity, opportunity and value of engineering.
Mr Metcalfe said: “Increasing awareness of engineering and careers within the sector is vital to inspiring the next generation of engineers and ensuring our future economic success. Engineering has the ability to tackle some of the great challenges the country and the world faces while also providing well paid and rewarding careers.”
The Year of Engineering will be launched in January.
https://www.dft.gov.uk/year-of-engineering-2018/
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