The engineering sector is vital to the economy in the United Kingdom. It represents a fifth of the total gross value added in the UK. Nevertheless, anyone who works in the industry at the moment recognises that there is a substantial skills shortage, and it is a big concern.
Statistics have shown that a minimum of 182,000 individuals with engineering skills are going to be needed every year from 2022. Therefore, it is critical that solutions are found to plug the engineering skills gap, and this must start with apprenticeships and getting more people on board with such programs.
With that being said, continue reading to find out more about the apprenticeship skills gap within engineering and how this is having an impact on businesses when recruiting.
Key facts regarding the state of engineering
27% of enterprises in the United Kingdom are engineering-related
Annual shortfall of up to 59,000 engineering technicians and graduates
46% of engineering employers have experienced recruitment difficulties
Just 27% of 11 to 14-year-olds understand what engineers do
Outline of the key challenges in the engineering sector
Too little understanding of apprenticeships
Too little homegrown talent
Too few women becoming engineers
Limited access to STEM careers activity
Too few STEM teachers
The disconnect
There is no denying that apprenticeships have the power to make up for the current skills shortage we are experiencing in this sector. From safety and road line marketing to mechanical engineer, the areas of progression are extensive. You can read more on why line marking on roads is important. However, one of the main issues is that there is a disconnect when it comes to schools and employers. Employers have widely commented that graduates and school levels are not ready for work when they finish their education. On the flip side, those involved in education believe that information regarding vocational opportunities is not readily available to them. This disconnect needs to be overcome if the apprenticeship skill shortage is going to be resolved. Young people need to be shown that engineering apprenticeships are rewarding and interesting, and that they are just as valid as any other attempt to get your foot on the ladder in this sector. Apprenticeships are not being promoted in schools as a valid route into a career, whereas higher education is heavily pushed.
Experts in the industry have commented on the fact that the engineering skills gap is being driven by apprenticeship ignorance. This is something that the chief executive of Engineering UK, Mark Titterington, has commented on. He has stated that together with the government, they need to make sure that the apprenticeships provided are of high quality on a consistent basis, and that they are open and attractive to a diverse selection of young people. He noted that it is especially important that these positions are advertised to girls. There is also a real issue when it comes to students understanding what an engineer does and that apprenticeships are a valid route.
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