New report highlights progress towards a more diverse engineering and technology workforce
EngineeringUK Social Impact: Progressing towards our collective mission shows the impact of the work we do for all the communities we serve. It brings together evidence from across our 4 strategy strands - research, leadership, advocacy and activities for schools.
Our mission is to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and supported to progress into engineering and technology. Our strategy serves young people, teachers, careers leaders, employers, outreach providers and policy bodies. Our social impact is the change we create for these communities and for the future engineering and technology workforce.
The first EngineeringUK social impact report highlights our contribution to improving STEM outreach, increasing participation among underrepresented groups and helping young people build the confidence, knowledge and motivation to pursue engineering and technology careers.
Drawing on evidence from 2024 and 2025, it demonstrates impact across 4 key areas:
- improving the quality, targeting and inclusivity of outreach
- increasing connection and collaboration
- building young people’s capability, opportunity and motivation
- increasing reach and participation of underrepresented groups
The report highlights the role EngineeringUK plays as a trusted source of evidence and a convenor of organisations across the engineering and technology sector. It shows how activities and initiatives including the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code, Neon, The Big Bang Fair and the Climate Schools Programme are helping improve STEM engagement and careers inspiration. Evaluations show consistent gains in young people’s confidence, knowledge and aspirations relating to engineering and technology careers. Stakeholders find that EngineeringUK’s guidance, evidence and convening activities are helping to improve the quality and targeting of outreach across the sector.
The report also highlights the scale of EngineeringUK’s reach. In 2024/25, its activities engaged more than 206,000 young people, representing 43% of secondary schools across the UK. Half of which are priority schools, meaning they have higher proportions of students from groups underrepresented in engineering and technology.
The findings underline the importance of sustained collaboration and long-term action to address persistent skills shortages and improve diversity within the engineering and technology workforce.
This social impact report sets out how we are turning our mission into action. It brings together evidence from across our work to show where we are making the greatest difference and where there is more to do. None of this is possible alone. Progress depends on continued collaboration, shared responsibility and sustained commitment – and I am grateful to everyone who works with us to help make that change happen.
— Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive, EngineeringUK
