Research
We use our research to promote the vital contribution that engineering and technology makes to society. Every year our research team analyse data, break down the facts and present them in our flagship publication, Engineering UK: the state of engineering.
It’s a detailed statistical analysis of essential information about the engineering industry and its place in the UK economy. We use our figures to support and advise the engineering community, government and the media, who know our report is accurate, up-to-date, relevant and dependable.
The report tells us about the size of the engineering and manufacturing industries. It shows how the UK, its businesses and engineers are keeping up with a modern economy that needs innovation in all sorts of industries, from superfast broadband to low-carbon technology and the space industry. It has figures for apprenticeships, graduate destinations, employment figures and salaries. It includes the number of students taking STEM subjects and much more. It’s a dissection and snapshot of the industry from top to bottom. We also use it to monitor our progress, evaluate assumptions and identify what we, and the engineering community, need to do.
The heart of the matter
We include our research in the planning for everything we do. We want The Big Bang Fair, the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme and all our activities to be as enjoyable as possible but also effective and well-targeted. Put simply, our detailed, in-house research helps inspire young people to pursue engineering careers.
For example, feedback from 2012’s Big Bang Fair shows that 81% of girls and 74% of boys aged 12-19 now view engineering “much more” or “slightly more positively” than before they went to the Fair. We’re pretty pleased with this – it shows we really can give young people a fresh perspective on where science, engineering and maths can take them.
Research and briefing papers
Throughout the year EngineeringUK produces a range of briefing papers on key policy issues surrounding science, technology, engineering and maths. You can access these below.
Tomorrow’s Engineers qualitative evaluation
Tomorrow’s Engineers qualitative evaluation
Analysis of HESA’s longitudinal data
HESA’s longitudinal 2010 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey allows the examination of the employability and careers of engineering graduates three and a half years after graduation.
Embedding learning materials and information from The Big Bang Fair into lessons
This summary provides an insight to how STEM teachers use and embed learning materials and information from The Big Bang Fair back in the classroom.
Tomorrow’s Engineers evaluation
A quantitative evaluation of the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme in 2011/12.
The 2012 Engineers and Engineering Brand Monitor
Annually EngineeringUK undertakes research to measure the perceptions of engineers and engineering in order to inform our own and partner programmes and gauge if progress is being made in this key area. Our research is conducted across five key audience groups: The general public 17-19,the general public 20+, Educators, School children aged 7-11 and School children aged 12-16.
Executive Summary of the evaluation of The Big Bang Fair visitor experience
This executive summary explores visitor expectations, prior to the event and their experiences at The Big Bang Fair 2012. It also looks at the impact of the Fair on their perceptions of STEM.
Engineering Graduates in China and India
Coverage of the scale of engineering graduates coming out of China and India has been a cause for concern for some in western countries who fear that they are losing their technological edge due to the millions of globally competitive Chinese and Indian engineering graduates qualifying each year. This research was undertaken to establish the reality of this situation.
STEM teachers careers information survey
This research was undertaken to find out where teachers seek out information about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers; and what sources they recommend to young people seeking information about STEM careers. The research looked specifically at the types of sources teachers prefer as well as the trusted resources and websites they already use.
Student subject decision making aged 14 and 16
This research report examines students subject decision making process aged 14 and 16 which are key decision points.
International Gender research
This report investigates why the UK has the lowest proportion of female engineers in the EU and makes three key recommendations which we believe if enacted will help, over time, redress the STEM gender imbalance within the UK. This research stemmed from earlier findings related to women in engineering that were reported in our Engineering UK 2011 the state of engineering report.
Climate Change Omnibus Survey
This Omnibus survey was commissioned during June 2010 by EngineeringUK and undertaken by ICM Research in order to provide a UK representative insight into public perceptions on Climate Change.
Women in Engineering and Technology
This briefing paper examines the gender imbalance in engineering in order to establish a baseline for future comparisons, identify any serious issues and make recommendations for future activities.
The Apprenticeship Renaissance
This briefing paper provides an analysis of the current state of Apprenticeship training. Whilst this paper concentrates its analysis1 and recommendations on engineering and technology only, it is expected that many recommendations will be applicable to other framework areas.
Where do Engineering Graduates Go?
This briefing paper provides EngineeringUK’s annual review of Engineering and Technology Graduate Destinations. Encompassing Graduate application numbers, graduations and destinations this addresses the perennial engineering community question of Where do Engineering Graduates Go?