EngineeringUK FAQs
Frequently asked questions about EngineeringUK.
What does EngineeringUK do?
EngineeringUK is an independent, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote the vital contribution that engineers, and engineering and technology, make to our society. We also aim to inspire people at all levels to pursue careers in engineering and technology. Communication is at the heart of what we do as we aim to tell young people and those who influence them of the value of engineering to society and the benefits of engineering careers. Our approach is an engineering one, using research to identify the right audiences and how to reach them, and then evaluating success.
Why is promoting engineers and engineering important?
At EngineeringUK we believe engineers and engineering will play a key role in addressing the global challenges of the 21st Century. We also believe that there is a real window of opportunity for engineering to raise its profile in the current economic climate. The effects of the financial crisis and the growing recognition that the key challenges that face us, from climate change to upgrading our ageing infrastructure, all require the practical solutions that only engineering can provide, and have raised public awareness of the importance of engineering dramatically. Only by sharing this vital message with young people and their influencers will the UK be equipped with the engineers and technicians it needs to keep it on a par with the rest of the world, both financially and ecologically.
How is EngineeringUK funded?
Through a combination of fundraising, matched funding and registrants’ fees. Working in collaboration with partners and sponsors, we will seek maximum engineering awareness – and value for registrants - by delivering effective and exciting programmes, and we will aim to at least double the funding from registered engineers by persuading Government, business and other charities to work with us in our aims. We will facilitate ever more far-reaching programmes whilst exploring also diversity issues.
What informs EngineeringUK’s work?
Our programme of activities is primarily informed by our research activities, most notably our annual statistical guide to the state of engineering in the UK, the Engineering UK Report. Compiled and updated annually, the report looks at supply and demand issues, skills gaps, emerging technologies, diversity, sector-specific trends, and developments in training and education. Both this, and our additional research papers, are used to inform our activities and programmes, and are widely available and on this website.
On the policy side, we are also informed by a range of expert panels, including our Business and Industry Panel, our Education and Skills Panel, our Professional Engineering Panel, and our Careers Panel. Details of all these panels can be found on this website.
What specific projects is EngineeringUK involved with?
We are currently working on three core strands of work. The first strand, The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair, has seen real success in 2009. Bringing together the efforts of over 50 organisations and attracting 6,500 visitors, The Fair achieved high profile media coverage on GMTV, the BBC’s Today Programme and, more significantly for our young target audience, online too. It features the National Science & Engineering Competition, a real celebration of the talents developing in the next generation, and at double the size, the Big Bang 2010 is set to be even more successful.
The second strand, Tomorrow’s Engineers, is a joint initiative by EngineeringUK and The Royal Academy of Engineering. It is designed to support organisations that provide engineering enrichment and enhancement activities, the fun stuff in schools to supplement the curriculum. Bringing together various programmes that work with over 200,000 students including EDT, The Industrial Trust, Primary Engineer, The Smallpeice Trust and Young Engineers, Tomorrow’s Engineers will target an additional 30,000 young people across the country, with a focus on hard to reach schools.
The third strand, EngineeringUK’s ‘Communications Hub’, is now taking shape, delivering briefing papers and press releases informed by discussions with our four expert advisory panels, as well as holding a number of business, industry and policy discussions and activities at the House of Commons and in the devolved nations.
