According to a report from EngineeringUK, "Engineering UK: the state of engineering 2013”, Britain has to double the number of engineering graduates to meet the expected demand by 2020.
Figures show there will be 2.74 million job vacancies to fill in the decade leading up to 2020, of which 87,000 each year will need candidates with degree-level qualifications.
EngineeringUK Chief Executive Paul Jackson says that there’s a need to lay the groundwork early: "This means doubling the numbers of young people studying GCSE physics as part of triple science, growing the numbers of students studying physics A level and providing robust and consistent careers information for young people that promotes the diversity of engineering careers available and the variety of routes to those careers”.
According to that report, there's a definite need for specialist physics teachers in schools, since there are two and a half times more students taking math than there are taking physics.
Business Minister Michael Fallon hosted the launch at No 11 Downing Street, where chief executives across UK engineering discussed the findings of the report and the actions that need to be taken.
The report says that the turnover for engineering companies was £1.06 trillion in the year ending March 2011, and that accounted for 23.9% of the turnover of all UK businesses, more than three times the size of the entire retail sector.
Starting salaries for engineering and technology graduates, says the report, is 15.7% higher than the average graduate starting salary.
In light of rising tuition costs and falling student numbers, and in light of the fact that many apprenticeship qualifications are actually at degree level, it's not necessarily true that there's a requirement just for graduates alone - in fact, industry should be looking for recruits with degree-level qualifications, whether they've had their training at university ... or through vocational education such as an apprenticeship.
And the way things are going, it would come as no surprise that many would-be future university students will be choosing the latter option – not least because there’s much more of a chance of being taken on as a more permanent staff member by the company where they’re serving their apprenticeship once their training is complete.
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