Engineering needs to continue to build enthusiasm for sciences
Good People @ Aug 26, 2010
This week it emerged that the number of pupils taking GCSE sciences has risen by 32%. however, despite these encouraging figures, the engineering industry has been warned that it must continue to build enthusiasm for the graduates for the future.
"The industry must continue to build enthusiasm. There are a couple more hurdles to get the GCSE students through to A-Level and degrees and into the engineering sector,” says Sarah Taylor, associate director at technical recruiter NES.
One reason for the shortage of graduates for the engineering sector may be careers in financial services, which also require analytical skills. The pay is in finance can be more generous initially and these jobs often require less training than careers in engineering.
Britain does manufacture a lot, particuarly cars and pharmaceutical goods, it's just manufacturing has gone the way agriculture (which employed so many in the 19th Century) in terms of increased mechanisation and less labour. 200 years ago, many in this country thought that land was where the money was - who would want lots of unnecssary manufactured goods? Wheaeas today, the iPad is de riguer.
Also, contrary to the popular mood, the finance sector continues to be a positive factor in the nation's overseas earnings - we'd be in real difficulties without it. Last year in the UK financial services contributed a 40bn surplus to our balance of trade last year. It just doesn't go around the world on a ro-ro ferry.
"The industry must continue to build enthusiasm. There are a couple more hurdles to get the GCSE students through to A-Level and degrees and into the engineering sector,” says Sarah Taylor, associate director at technical recruiter NES.
One reason for the shortage of graduates for the engineering sector may be careers in financial services, which also require analytical skills. The pay is in finance can be more generous initially and these jobs often require less training than careers in engineering.
Britain does manufacture a lot, particuarly cars and pharmaceutical goods, it's just manufacturing has gone the way agriculture (which employed so many in the 19th Century) in terms of increased mechanisation and less labour. 200 years ago, many in this country thought that land was where the money was - who would want lots of unnecssary manufactured goods? Wheaeas today, the iPad is de riguer.
Also, contrary to the popular mood, the finance sector continues to be a positive factor in the nation's overseas earnings - we'd be in real difficulties without it. Last year in the UK financial services contributed a 40bn surplus to our balance of trade last year. It just doesn't go around the world on a ro-ro ferry.
Comments
#1 Dale @ Aug 26, 2010