Fast-growth engineering and technology industries compete to attract top talent
1 min read
Six fast-growth engineering and technology industries could significantly boost the UK economy, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). However, it warned that action was needed now to ensure that skills shortages and lack of investment do not hamper their potential.
In its report, Ones to Watch, the IET identified promising and innovative engineering and technology industries where the UK is already among the global leaders, or has the potential to achieve that position in the near future. These are space, robotics, 3D printing, new energy networks, food manufacturing and cyber security.
However, said the IET, to achieve their full potential, challenges had to be to overcome including competition for skills, acquiring new skills, investment, faster adaptation of new technology and the need to tap into a more diverse talent pool.
Nigel Fine, IET chief executive, said: "This report shows that these promising and exciting industry areas offer the UK tremendous opportunity for growth and global leadership. But we also hear straight from the horse's mouth that the biggest barrier to that growth is meeting the need for high numbers of engineers and technicians with an increasingly transformational skillset – especially as these industries grow and new jobs are created."
He added: "Government and employers in these industries will need to engage with each other – and with all stages of the education system to produce a talent pipeline with appropriate skills and talent. Investment and faster adaption of new technology are also important factors for them to address.
"We need to act now. The last thing we want to happen is that these innovative new industries fail to achieve their potential because they don't have the skills, talent, technology and investment they need to grow."
