Stephen
Metcalfe MP: supports getting more engineering employers involved in local
schools
Stephen
Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has pledged his support to help fix the engineering skills
shortage. He pledged to encourage employers in South
Basildon and East Thurrock to work with schools to give young people
work experience opportunities and inspirational information about the many
exciting careers in engineering and technology.
Stephen Metcalfe commented:
“We have now reached a point where more than half of employers are having
difficulty recruiting the staff they need for their businesses to expand. It is
vital that we support the inclusion of employers into our schools to help
inspire our young people to consider some of the great career choices available
to them.”
All 650 MPs were invited to
the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) parliamentary reception
to inspire the next generation of engineers on 10 September. They were asked to
urge employers in their constituencies to work proactively with local schools
and colleges to inspire more young people to become engineers as part of the
wider STEM curriculum. The IET’s pledge also calls for MPs to encourage girls
and boys to consider STEM careers, promote the value of vocational STEM
subjects and promote STEM careers with parents.
The motivation for the pledge
comes in response to findings from the IET’s 2014 Engineering and Technology
Skills and Demand in Industry survey, which indicate that 53 per cent of
employers believe they should get more involved with schools, colleges and
universities to help change the perception of engineering among young people.
Stephen Metcalfe commented:
“Initiatives such as this are crucial in bringing new job opportunities to our
young people, and are a benefit for all those involved. Not only can we inspire
interest in new careers and opportunities, but we can also encourage more innovation
and more employment in business through new these new recruitment strategies.
It is also incredible that
still just six percent of engineers are female. There is absolutely no reason
why this should be the case, and for attitudes and prospects to change, we need
to start early”.
IET Chief Executive, Nigel
Fine, explained: “Demand for engineers in the UK remains high. We need 87,000
new engineers each year for the next decade, so there is a critical need to do
more to promote engineering as an appealing career choice to young people.
It is encouraging to see from
our survey that over half of engineering employers recognise that they have a
crucial role to play here - as well as in helping to shape the curriculum so
that young people enter the world of work with the skills that employers want.”
