National Grid is hoping to switch young people in the Midlands on to a career in engineering after identifying a major skills shortage which needs to be filled by 2020.
The company, the UK’s largest utility, has identified a gap of nearly 1,000 engineers by the end of the next decade. Despite running successful graduate and apprentice schemes, is still predicting a shortfall in numbers.
Research published today by the company has shown that young people are deterred from following engineering careers by negative perceptions of the job. The report “Engineering Our Future” shows that people view engineering jobs as menial and blue collar, seeing engineers as people in overalls who fix things, rather than professionals with the ability to design complex processes and run highly technical operations.
Steve Holliday, chief executive of National Grid said: “This report makes extremely worrying reading for me. Engineers are at the heart of our business. Our current level of “growing our own” through graduate and apprentices schemes will just not fill this gap. We need a bigger pool of talented young engineers – not a shrinking one.”
“In common with many engineering-based industries nearly one third of our existing workforce can retire between now and 2020.
“We have to turn round these negative perceptions about engineering and get young people to see it as an important, rewarding and secure career. The challenge of rebuilding the gas and electricity networks to handle renewable energy is facing us now and we need people who can design, plan and operate these systems.“
Many young school and college leavers and university graduates from the Midlands are currently pursuing rewarding careers with National Grid and a number of these have now spoke out to try to encourage their peers to follow in their footsteps.
Hinkley based graduate trainee Joseph McCullagh (see case studies below) is currently working on a major project to build and operate a high-voltage electricity interconnector between Great Britain and north-western Europe.
He said: "I'd encourage anyone to think about engineering as a career. Engineers are fast becoming a valuable commodity and are in big demand so there are many opportunities to have a satisfying and well paid job."
This perception of the industry is not shared by most people. National Grid’s research shows that only 6 of out 10 young people could name a recent engineering achievement and parents and teachers were unsure about where engineers work and how to get into engineering. There was also low appreciation of the contribution that engineering makes to society making it almost “an invisible industry”. And for every 10 boys who would consider a career in engineering, there was only one girl.
Steve Holliday said: “This report has prompted a major review of our education and skills policy. We have to begin to inspire children at a younger age about the possibilities of what science and engineering can do and then keep engaged until they are at the point of thinking about their future careers.”
For more information on career opportunities for school, college and university leavers, go to www.nationalgrid.com and click on careers.
For details of the report go to: . http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Media+Centre/PressReleases/Documents/EngineeringOurFutureReport.htm
Ends
For further media information only, contact Jane Taylor, National Grid Media Relations, on
0121 333 2640
Case Studies:
Joseph McCullagh - Graduate engineer, Hinckley
Exciting, challenging and rewarding is how Joseph McCullagh would sum up his career so far. Joseph, who works as a power systems engineer at National Grid in Hinckley, reckons there has never been a better time to choose a future in engineering.
"I'd encourage anyone to think about engineering as a career because engineers are fast becoming a valuable commodity. Engineers are in big demand so there are many opportunities to have a satisfying and well paid job.
"I first became interested in engineering when I was at secondary school while studying a GCSE technology and design. It was then I realised I wanted to work with people to solve problems using technology. I chose a career in engineering because it seemed to be the best route into that line of work. I've always been quite capable at maths and physics so I suppose it was a natural choice."
Joseph studied MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Queens University Belfast where his course included summer placements working for engineering companies in Ukraine, Thailand and Macedonia. He also had a year’s placement working for Northern Ireland Electricity managing a generator business. After leaving with a 1st class honours degree he joined the National Grid graduate development programme.
"I now work for BritNed which is a joint venture between National Grid and Dutch company TenneT," said Joseph.
"I'm working on a major project to build and operate a high-voltage electricity interconnector between Great Britain and north western Europe. In my job I am overseeing the construction of the two converter stations which convert the electricity to DC (Direct Current) so it can travel through the undersea cables.
"Without a doubt, the best part of my job is the opportunity I get to work with experienced engineers who are experts in their field. You never stop learning in this job."
Jamie Brand - Resource planner, Hinckley
Hinckley-based resource planner Jamie Brand comes from a family of engineers so it was no surprise when he acquired an interest in science while at school.
'My father and both grandfathers were engineers and my school specialised in design and technology so, by the time I reached my A levels, I was set on a career in engineering. And I started early," said Jamie.
"During my studies I was offered a position on the Engineering Education Scheme and, along with some of my fellow pupils, worked with a local food company on a six-month project to design a machine to package slices of baked tarts and pies. We won an award for our efforts which confirmed to me that I'd made the right choice.
"My career so far has given me so many chances to work on all sorts of diverse and interesting projects. Before joining National Grid I spent a year testing protective clothing to destruction and designing new testing equipment. I also worked with a team rebuilding the pipelines and infrastructure at Buncefield oil refinery following the huge explosion and fire in 2005.
"Since joining National Grid two years ago I have helped to create a new in-house internet site and worked with the gas distribution teams in Leicester promoting keyhole technology. This technology will make real improvements to the way we carry out streetworks by reducing the amount of holes and trenches we have to dig.
"In my present job I am a resource planner which involves creating work plans and managing the processes for the gas mains repair engineers. It's a demanding job that needs careful attention to costs and targets."
Outside work Jamie likes to share his enthusiasm for engineering with others. As well as being a mentor for pupils in local schools, he also volunteered with other young engineers to arrange the 2008 Imagineering fair, an initiative that promotes engineering and sciences to young people.