Aug 13, 2019
To help inspire the next generation to consider a career in engineering Tomorrow’s Engineers is asking early career engineers, technicians and engineering apprentices to tell the story of their job and the route that got them there. By seeing what people do in their day-to-day work and learning how they started their careers, through both academic and vocational paths, the case studies aim to help young people understand how jobs in engineering can be achieved and how their interests can play a central part of their future professional life.
Engineering skills remain in short supply, with almost half of engineering employers reporting recruitment difficulties and the shortfall of engineering graduates and technicians estimated at as much as 59,000 annually. Getting young people to enter the engineering workforce is imperative if we are to meet the annual UK demand of 124,000 core engineering roles.
Women are underrepresented in engineering, making up only 12% of the workforce, and at A level only 29% of girls’ take STEM subjects. Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are also underrepresented in the engineering sector and to that end Tomorrow’s Engineers is particularly keen to hear the stories of engineers working in the UK from a BAME background. By showing young people that engineers from similar backgrounds to themselves are engaged in well paid and fulfilling careers and by letting them know how to go about pursuing such a career for themselves, Tomorrow’s Engineers hopes to show young people that there is potentially a place for them in engineering.
The Real Jobs section of the Tomorrow’s Engineers website features interview case studies with people working in all areas of the engineering world but is additionally seeking voices from newer and expanding areas of the sector – from computer and software to biomedical engineering. Tomorrow’s Engineers would also like to hear from engineering professionals who have entered their career through a vocational or apprenticeship route.
Depending on time pressures, availability and location of the participant the stories on the website can take the form of a short, written piece or a video interview.
Engineers interested in helping promote their work and taking part are encouraged get in touch and the Tomorrow’s Engineers communications team will follow up shortly.
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