Our key priorities for the next government

Workforce planning plus STEM education and skills are our key priorities for the next government 

EngineeringUK has today launched its policy asks for the next government which are centred around 2 clear priorities: workforce planning and STEM education and skills.

With engineering jobs expected to grow faster than other occupations across the UK between now and 2030, and a lack of both people and skills to meet the needs for infrastructure improvements, decarbonisation and growth, the new government needs to urgently address skills shortages and the UK’s changing labour market needs.

EngineeringUK wants the next government to take a more strategic approach to address skills shortages and the UK’s changing labour market need, and for this to be led by the Cabinet Office. The not-for-profit believes consolidating the work of existing skills taskforces under a new cross-departmental skills committee will encourage collaboration and reduce silo-thinking and support the next government’s ambitions to grow the economy.

EngineeringUK also wants the new government to develop a holistic STEM education and skills plan, which, if acted on, will help deliver the engineering and technology workforce that the UK so urgently needs, which will address issues and concerns in the education sector.

EngineeringUK’s policy priorities for the next government:  

• Strategic workforce planning: 

• Establish a national engineering and technology workforce strategy 

• Ensure a strategic approach to workforce planning based on workforce needs 

• Enhance diversity in the STEM workforce 

• Support international talent via appropriate immigration and visa systems 

• Link STEM education and skills planning to the strategic workforce plan

STEM education and skills plan: 

• Deliver on careers provision 

• Grow and sustain engineering apprenticeships for young people 

• Commit to T Levels 

• Improve STEM teacher recruitment, training and retention

Head of Public Affairs and Policy, Beatrice Barleon, comments, “We are asking the next government to take urgent action on workforce planning and address the critical challenges we are facing over STEM skills and teacher shortages in schools and FE providers.”

“Specifically, we want the new government in its first 100 days in office to commit to a national workforce strategy.

“On apprenticeships and T Levels, we want to see better access for young people and a commitment that T Levels will continue in England. We also need a long-term careers strategy to ensure schools and colleges have the funding and up-to-date knowledge of 21st engineering careers required to support and inspire young people."

EngineeringUK are calling on the next government to tackle the STEM teacher shortages head on and invest more in Continuous Professional Development training for STEM teachers. Evidence shows CPD training has a positive impact on teacher retention.