ACE calls for engineering to be added to skills shortages list

In discussions with the Border and Immigration Agency today, ACE singled out civil, structural, building services, mechanical and electrical engineering as specialisms in which the UK is lacking personnel – and for which work permit regulations should be lowered for engineers from outside the EU. ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin says: “Along with healthcare and teaching, the current skills shortages list makes note of engineering as a key area for which work permit regulations should be lowered – but more disciplines need to be added immediately to address the short-term challenges facing the industry. “Until we manage to reverse the trend of decreasing numbers of engineering graduates coming through our own education system, we must find an alternative source of high-calibre professionals. Only in this way can we ensure the already acute skills shortages in the engineering sector do not reach crisis proportions.” As a follow-on from ACE’s recent ‘Skills Shortages and Recruitment Agency Behaviours’ investigation, the organisation is in ongoing discussions with the Border and Immigration Agency. “We understand that this is not the only solution to the problem, but it is at least part of the solution and will ensure the short-term viability of consultancy and engineering firms, who base their entire value on the quality of their staff,” says Ogunshakin.