NOVEMBER 2019
We are a global
technology business
that supports
engineers all over the
world with products
and services. However,
both here in the UK and globally,
we are seeing a shortage of
engineers with the skills to meet
the changing demands in industry.
Technology and innovation is
disrupting the market and the
demand for digital and technical
roles to support this evolution is
increasing. With the onset of
Industry 4.0, IIoT and artificial
intelligence, our existing
workforce is struggling to adapt
and our education system needs
support in providing the next
generation with the skills they
need.
So there is a need both to
upskill our existing workforce and
prepare the engineers of the
future, and ensure there is a
pipeline of talent both for our
business and the wider industry in
order to secure our future
infrastructure.
Doom and gloom? Not entirely.
We are already seeing a shift in
momentum with increased focus
on the STEM curriculum and
related careers from the
government and leading
organisations in the industry. The
recent Year of Engineering (now
Engineering Take a Closer Look)
initiative being a case in point,
which celebrates the world of
engineering and encourages young
people to make a positive impact
on the future.
Increased focus on STEM in
the curriculum is encouraging but
the challenge we are hearing when
talking to schools is “how do we
Tackling the
challenges of
an industry
skills shortage
head-on
deliver this?”. Students are not
short of imagination but there is a
general lack of support, resources
and necessary skills to deliver
meaningful STEM activities which
can bring this imagination to life
and importantly, link STEM
subjects with the wide variety of
roles that will be available in the
future.
As a result we are seeing a drop
off in students that pursue core
STEM subjects after GCSEs in
A-levels and through to degree
level. No more so is this prevalent
than in girls, who are seemingly
deterred by careers in engineering
by out of date perceptions of an
historically male dominated
industry – much of which has been
unintentionally derived from their
key influencers: parents and
teachers. Understandable then
that only 11 per cent of qualified
April 2020 / www.theengineer.co.uk 34
engineers in the UK are female, the
lowest in Europe. We must
challenge these perceptions and
demonstrate the changing
landscape in engineering in order
to address the gender imbalance
within the industry
According to STEM Learning,
the UK’s largest provider of
education and careers support in
science, technology, engineering
and mathematics; the UK industry
is spending £1.5bn per annum on
closing a shortfall of skilled
workers in the UK, in 2018 this was
estimated to be a shortage of
around 173,000.
So what can we do to address this?
We need to support our educators
in school and at home with
engaging content that brings
STEM subjects to life. This is why
RS has developed Imagine -X, free
WE CAN ALL PLAY A CRITICAL PART IN
SHOWCASING THE WIDE RANGE OF CAREERS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGINEERING
curriculum-aligned lesson plans
and resources for pupils aged 7-14,
that links dynamic, exciting STEM
subjects to real people who have
used these skills to make the world
a better place
Hands on engagement is key
– giving young people experience
of using technology and learning
skills that will prepare them for
the future workplace. RS has
developed a series of STEM
workshops which cover
everything from coding and
robotics to soldering and drill art,
that can be delivered by our
extensive network of STEM
Ambassadors at schools, clubs and
events.
Encouraging schools to take
part in regional and national STEM
competitions such as the IET First
Lego League will give students the
opportunity to develop not only
their technical skills but also core
life skills in teamwork, respect and
innovation that will give a strong
base for future careers.
The key to all of this is to bring
industry and education closer
together. Regardless of how big or
small the business or the
interaction, we can all play a
critical part in showcasing the
wide range of careers that are
available in engineering, prepare
students for the future workplace,
change perceptions of the industry
and inspire the next generation. At
the same time we can also learn
from the students who are already
interacting with technology in
ways that could shape how we
evolve as an industry in the
future.
James Howarth is head of STEM
Strategy at RS Components
COMMENT Skills
James Howarth - RS Components
/www.theengineer.co.uk