EngineeringUK Spring Statement response

EngineeringUK responds to today's Spring Statement 

Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Beatrice Barleon responds to the Spring Statement and why more needs to be done to address the financial barriers to technical and vocational entry routes into engineering and technology for all young people.

"The Chancellor’s recognition of the importance of investing in skills through a new training package for up to 60,000 new construction workers is welcome and essential to delivering on the government’s growth mission, which is underpinned by plans to build 1.5 million homes and to strengthen the UK’s national security.

"EngineeringUK is calling on the government to go further in the Spending Review and Autumn Budget later this year and look to address the financial barriers to technical and vocational entry routes into engineering and technology for all young people. Government must recognise its role in training the next generation and look to move towards a new model of directly funding apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year-olds to help reverse the decline in uptake of apprenticeships for this age group.

"Government must also look to invest in programmes and activities we know work in getting young people interested in careers in engineering & technology, and support the teachers that will help deliver them. We look to government to reverse recent cuts to Continuous Professional Development for STEM teachers and continue to support outreach programmes reaching into schools.

"The investment in construction training announced today is a positive step in the right direction, but this action needs to be replicated through investment across the full STEM skills pipeline.”