2018 CAMPAIGN ‘THE YEAR OF ENGINEERING’ TO INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS

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  Posted by: electime      15th January 2018

A pioneering campaign to transform the way young people see engineering and boost numbers entering the profession has been launched today in order to tackle a major skills gap and inspire the engineers of tomorrow.

Ministers from across government are joining forces with engineers, industry experts and hundreds of businesses to change perceptions around engineering – and highlight the scale of opportunity that careers in the industry hold for young people in the UK.

Engineering is one of the most productive sectors in the UK, but a shortfall of 20,000 engineering graduates every year is damaging growth. There is also widespread misunderstanding of engineering among young people and their parents and a lack of diversity in the sector – the workforce is 91% male and 94% white. The new campaign is aimed at filling those gaps and changing misconceptions, and will see government and around 1,000 partners deliver a million inspiring experiences of engineering for young people, parents and teachers.

Activities will include a Siemens See Women roadshow aimed at inspiring women, including more black, Asian and minority ethnic girls, into pursuing STEM careers.The Science Museum and London Transport Museum will be capturing children’s imaginations with interactive exhibitions.

Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said: “Engineers – whether they are working on cutting-edge technology in aerospace, energy or artificial intelligence – are vital to the lifeblood of our economy. By bringing them face to face with engineering role models and achievements we can send a clear message that engineering careers are a chance for all young people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or social background, to shape the future of this country and have a real impact on the lives of those around them.”

All week, engineers, businesses, schools and universities will be marking the launch of the campaign by celebrating the positive impact of engineering.

To find out more about the Year of Engineering, visit the website or follow the campaign on Twitter and Instagram.