Among the 9-18 year olds questioned by researchers, only a few (10%) were actively considering a career in engineering but two-thirds (67%) would consider a career in engineering if it allowed them to help the world, the environment or save peoples’ lives.
During Tomorrow’s Engineers Week (6-10 November 2017) a series of films is being released showcasing engineers on a mission to tackle the issues young people care about the most, such as homelessness, saving lives and helping animals.
Sujith Kollamthodi, practice director at Ricardo, said: “I use my engineering skills to help improve our air quality and cut the levels of pollution from cars, trucks and buses.
“An engineering career really can be a dream career as it allows you to contribute to society and make a real difference to people’s lives”.
Beth Elgood, director of communications at EngineeringUK, added: “Engineering careers offer young people what they tell us they’re looking for: the opportunity to make a difference and to earn salaries that are higher than average, whether they take a graduate or apprenticeship route.
“During Engineers Week we are showcasing a range of engineers working for organisations as diverse as the Red Cross, GSK and the Royal Veterinary College.”
Grahame Carter, managing director at Matchtech, an engineering recruitment firm, commented: “Engineering is all about solving real world problems and employers in the sector are increasingly looking to recruit passionate young people keen to make a difference. Getting young people into engineering apprenticeships and graduate roles helps them tackle social and global issues and ultimately work towards mitigating the skills gap.”
Tomorrow’s Engineers www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
