National Grid is hoping to switch young people in London 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 in London and the South East are currently pursuing rewarding careers with National Grid and a number of these have now spoken out to try to encourage their peers to follow in their footsteps (see case studies below).
Paminder Taank, 27, who lives in Finchley, joined National Grid’s Graduate Programme two years ago and has undertaken various placements in different parts of the company.
She currently works as a Process Support Officer in National Grid’s Gas Distribution Operations department in North London. Here her responsibilities include working on National Grid sites to ensure jobs are done safely and on budget, and dealing with customer relations.
Encouraging others to consider an engineering career, Paminder said: “Every day brings something new! If you are like me and enjoy a fun environment, constant challenge and being in charge of your own time then engineering at National Grid is for you. I love being able to physically see the results of my work, it is a sense of great achievement.”
Though working as a National Grid engineer can be challenging the rewards are great with scope for career progression and an excellent pay and benefits package.
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 Antony Quarrell National Grid Media Relations on 07810 853075
Cast Study:
Name: Paminder Tank
Job Title: Process Support Officer, Gas Distribution, Operations.
Age: 27
What does your job involve?
I am responsible for working with on-site supervisors to ensure everything is in place for our gas operations jobs to be done safely, on budget, with the customer in mind.
This involves dealing with customer complaints, meeting customers on site, inputting into planning our resources as efficiently as possible and making sure that we are compliant with our on-site inspections.
How long have you been working at National Grid?
Two years
What inspired you to study engineering?
I did not study engineering but I was inspired to apply for an engineering role. I very much enjoyed my placement with the Operations central team and felt that it would be an area of the business that I would like to return to for a permanent position.
Before applying for the permanent position I arranged to spend some time with a FCO (First Call Operative) within Operations visiting gas escapes. I experienced first-hand what it is like to attend a gas escape and be responsible for the safety of yourself and others. Every visit was different and brought interesting challenges.
The FCOs I met were dedicated to doing a good job and were great to be around, which helped me decide to take a role in Operations.
My career so far
I joined National Grid on the Graduate programme and undertook various placements around the business. Two of these placements were in Gas Distribution including with the Operational Support team in Hinckley and the Operations central Strategy team in Warwick. I also undertook a placement with Humman Resources.
Would you encourage others to consider an engineering career?
Definitely! Every day brings something new! If you are like me and enjoy a fun environment, constant challenge and being in charge of your own time then engineering at National Grid is for you. I love being able to physically see the results of my work, it is a sense of great achievement.
How would you sum up your job in 3 words?
Different every day!