Processors face engineering crisis

Britain’s manufacturing sector - including food - faces a looming crisis caused by a serious shortage of engineering graduates, according to business leaders.

The situation was highlighted by speakers at the launch of an industry initiative designed to encourage more students to study electrical and electronic engineering at university. The event took place on May 16 at the Institution of Engineering & Technology.

In welcoming the launch of the E3 Academy, Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), claimed the number of engineering graduates had hit crisis levels. Three-quarters of engineering companies surveyed by the CBI expected a shortfall in engineer numbers this year, said Lambert: “This kind of initiative is a great example of the way businesses and universities can work together.”

Lambert said the UK had a systemic problem in attracting and retaining engineers to the industry. This was partly down to the loss of the major engineering employers, which had been replaced by more smaller firms without the resources to provide the sort of career development required, he said. “It’s time for companies to put their money where there mouth is,” he added. “It is critical to the future competitiveness of UK industry.”

The number of engineering students has fallen year-on-year, from more than 11% in 1998 to just 7% in 2007. Of those undertaking an electrical engineering degree, many do not subsequently pursue a career in industry. The decline is set against a general increase in overall student numbers over the past 10 years. Industry leaders warned that this trend was already damaging UK’s ability to compete in the global engineering and manufacturing market place.

Bob Owen, general manager at Siemens Automation & Drives, said estimates in the shortfall varied from 20,000 to 40,000 engineers overall.

The E3 Academy has been created with support from several companies and two leading UK universities - Newcastle and Nottingham - in an attempt to reverse this damaging development. Industry partners include Siemens Automation & Drives, Control Techniques, Parker SSD, Cummins Generator Technologies, GE Aviation and Converteam.

Students who are accepted as part of the E3 Academy intake at Nottingham or Newcastle Universities, will enjoy a substantial support package during their years of study and beyond. The package includes an annual bursary of £2,500, eight weeks’ paid summer vacation training, places on summer schools, reimbursement of tuition fees after graduation and employment with one of the Academy partner companies.

The E3 Academy is entirely self-financing with partners contributing an annual membership fee to help fund the work of the Academy.

Students wishing to find out more about the opportunities with the E3 Academy should visit http://www.e3academy.org​