The government has joined forces with engineers, industry experts and businesses to change perceptions around engineering – and highlight the scale of opportunity that careers in the industry hold for young people in the UK.
This year is officially the ‘Year of Engineering’ and will see a national drive to inspire young people. The new campaign is aimed at filling gaps and changing misconceptions, with activities including:
• a Siemens See Women roadshow aimed at inspiring women, including more black, Asian and minority ethnic girls, into pursuing STEM careers
• a brand new children’s book on engineering from Usborne
• the Science Museum and London Transport Museum will be capturing children’s imaginations with interactive exhibitions
• schools will get the chance to go behind the scenes at Airbus to meet engineers working on the Mars Rover
• Thales in the UK will be inspiring inventors of the future with robot clubs in primary schools
• Sir James Dyson, through the Dyson Institute, the James Dyson Foundation and the James Dyson Award, will continue to invest in inspiring young engineers by providing opportunities to apply engineering principles to projects that solve real world problems
Says skills minister Anne Milton: “I want to see everyone whatever their background, wherever they live to have a chance to get a rewarding career or job in engineering whether they come via a technical or academic route.
“The Year of Engineering gives us a great opportunity to work together with business to inspire a new generation of world class engineers. We want to build the science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills that we need for a growing economy, as highlighted in the government’s Industrial Strategy.”
All week, engineers, businesses, schools and universities will be marking the launch of the campaign by celebrating the positive impact of engineering.
The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has also thrown its support behind the campaign.
Says MTA chief James Selka: “The UK has a world-wide reputation for engineering ingenuity and is at the forefront of technological break throughs that are shaping the world we live in. It is our responsibility to champion engineering’s present and future.
“All of the companies, suppliers, institutions and funders who have signed our letter, recognise how vital it is that we attract new talent in to the engineering sector and by coming together we can amplify support for this excellent project.”
As well as the MTA, companies who have signed this letter include BAE Systems, Siemens, Renishaw, Yamazaki Mazak and DMG Mori. The letter is also supported by many respected UK institutions, such as, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the University of Huddersfield.
Selka adds: “The fast-changing word in which we live is shaped by engineering and we are pleased to throw our support behind this campaign. The UK advanced engineering sector is something to be very proud of.
“As a trade association and as the team behind the UK’s largest industrial showcase MACH 2018 which will be held in April, we feel the time is right to shine a light on all that is great and good in UK engineering and ensure we continue to be world leaders in this field. Therefore, we wholeheartedly support this campaign to make 2018 The Year of Engineering.”
