Engineering skills ‘vital’ for economic growth, says IMechE

Of the 2,000 members of the public surveyed, 75% said that increasing the supply of science and engineering professionals was essential to the economic wellbeing of the UK, while some 72% said that boosting the UK's engineering, manufacturing and science sectors would help bring the UK out of recession. "What these results show that there is strong public support for government to do more to back UK STEM skills in particular," said Dr Colin Brown, director of engineering at the IMechE. "Boosting the country's engineering, manufacturing and science sectors is crucial to the country's economic recovery – but this can only be done if we have sufficient numbers of skilled professionals entering these sectors. "Government needs to consider incentives like subsidies for students pursuing STEM subjects at university, and more needs to be done to promote STEM subjects in schools and colleges." Dr Brown continued that there was also an urgent need for schools, technical colleges and universities to develop better links to industry, "to ensure that people have the right skills to excel in the commercial world, and to inspire children and students about the possibilities of careers in STEM".