Page 20 - October 2019

SETTING THE

PRIORITIES

IGEM joins the rest of the engineering profession to call for action to secure the UK’s future

he National Engineering Policy
Centre, which represents
nearly half a million UK
engineers, has published a
T manifesto for a prosperous and
secure economy and society, calling
on government to work with them to
invest in skills, innovation, digital and
traditional infrastructure, and clean
energy technologies.
Backed by the UK’s leading engineering
organisations, Engineering priorities for
our future economy and society highlights
critical policy recommendations to
enhance the UK’s status as a world-
leading innovation and engineering
hub, ahead of the forthcoming spending
review, the UK’s exit from the EU and a
possible general election.
This is the first joint publication by 1
the National Engineering Policy Centre,
an ambitious new partnership between
39 UK engineering organisations,
including IGEM, led by the Royal of these challenges in ways that more jobs and prosperity, and meet the
Academy of Engineering. optimise efficiency, economy, safety future needs of our society in a way that
The National Engineering Policy Centre and reliability. Engineers are problem- is faster, more efficient and sustainable.
was established to give policymakers solvers and innovators, with a unique
access to the best independent advice, perspective on the world. Skills
skills and expertise of the engineering From increasing productivity and Implement the recommendations
profession, which generates £420.5 renewing infrastructure, to the skills 1 of the Perkins Review to secure the
billion of UK GVA and employs over 5.8 gap and the threat of climate change, engineering skills necessary for the
million people. It aims to apply engineers’ these challenges rightly lie at the heart UK’s future.
problem-solving skills to some of the of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
biggest problems the UK faces today. Most of these big challenges are long Ensure the funding for further education
The UK faces a number of defining term in nature and require cross- colleges reflects the higher cost of
challenges to its prosperity, security government action. Engineering is providing engineering programmes,
and wellbeing. Navigating these central to delivering on them. especially with the forthcoming T-levels in
challenges will require making trade- The report sets out the priorities for engineering and manufacturing, as well as
offs and dealing with uncertainties in upcoming policy and spending decisions delivery of higher level technical skills.
the face of these escalating pressures in the UK. These are the actions the Why? Further education is critical to
with limited resources. National Engineering Policy Centre the skills pipeline and its funding in
Engineers have the skills, insights proposes will enable the UK to make 2019/20 is set to fall by 13 per cent in
and ingenuity to help tackle many investment decisions that will create real terms since 2010.

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