Addressing the skills shortage
14 Jan 2014
As the skills shortage continues to be a concern for the process sectors, industry bodies must form strong partnerships with employers in order to deliver the skills firms actually need.
Over the course of last year there were several funding initiatives, skills reports and calls to action designed to inform the government, businesses, industry sectors and future engineering talent of the wider skills shortage issues.
In the early part of November the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published the Perkins Review. Professor John Perkins, chief scientific advisor to BIS and author of the review, called for industrialists, professional bodies and educators to work together to ensure the UK’s engineering base is “fit-for-purpose”.
“I have highlighted the challenges currently faced by the engineering industry and the importance of all partners working together to attract future engineering talent in order to grow the UK economy,” said Perkins following the publication of his review.
It is suggested within the review that, to avoid a skills shortage, the UK will need around 100,000 new scientists, engineers and technologists every year until 2020 to replace those leaving engineering practice, mainly through retirement.
It also outlines 22 recommendations and responsibilities that the government and the wider engineering community should address to ensure the skills shortage is successfully tackled.
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