Window of opportunity for engineering
26 Jan 2010
Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK recently provided his views for the Careers in Focus section of Process Engineering magazine
It may sound slightly corny, but the most inspiring part of engineering for me is the life-changing advances it can bring. As one example, I spent the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake on the19th floor of the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. What kept that building, and all the others around it, upright was great engineering. That quality of engineering is also needed in parts of the world where a 7.0 earthquake could kill thousands.
By that time, I had moved on from contract R&D, largely working on radar techniques for humanitarian mine clearance, to the technology press and that gave me an opportunity to meet a tremendous range of engineers and see their work up close.
Looking at the main issues facing the UK process industries sector today, I believe that process engineering will require more skilled engineers and at a more advanced level over the next 10 years.
Managers and employees in the process sector should keep developing professionally: the world doesn’t stand still and the best engineers develop their capabilities and keep developing their personal contribution. That means being flexible and adaptable - and looking to the future.
There are challenges and opportunities out there for harnessing, but we need to bring together teams to create the right skills for the future, and be prepared to invest in change. We all have a part to play and Government, business and education providers must work together to develop a clear road map for the UK engineering sector.
Popular choices
Chemical, process and energy engineering courses have increased in popularity, especially amongst non-traditional groups, with 19% more women completing degrees in these subjects in 2008 than in 2007. And engineering itself is enjoying increasing popularity with recent EngineeringUK research showing that eight out of 10 members of the general public would now be willing to recommend an engineering career to their family and friends.
Having said that, there is still a long way to go, and one of the key things that the sector could do to improve its appeal, is to ramp-up its connections with the green agenda. We know from our Engineering UK 2008 report that a genuinely green agenda and the opportunity to change and improve the environment are excellent motivators for young people. There will be an increasing number of jobs in these areas as global warming, renewable energy and other sustainability issues move up the global agenda.
My number one tip for people starting out on their careers in the industry today would be to make sure you’re as well informed as you possibly can be. If you get the chance, get involved in this year’s Big Bang event in Manchester. Learn more about your possible career options on reliable careers websites, such as FutureMorph, and consult the Sector Skills websites for specific sector information.
In today’s competitive markets, you need to make sure you’re reliable and adaptable. This means that, as well as ensuring you have all the appropriate engineering skills, you need to keep a strong hand on the softer skills, like literacy and teamwork, to help give yourself all-round appeal. Even better still if you are able to demonstrate how your skills would be useful to employers.
Though it is not without its difficulties, and these must not be ignored, a window of opportunity has opened for engineering in the current social and economic climate. At EngineeringUK we believe engineers and engineering will play a key role in rebalancing the global economy and addressing the global challenges of the 21st Century.