Dec 7, 2022
In the November column for The Engineer, Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, discusses the importance of showcasing the vocational pathways into engineering and supporting young people going down these routes.
“Does your company train apprentices and support vocational learning? Are you even an early adopter, offering placements for the new T Levels? If so, your commitment to vocational routes is hugely appreciated as these routes are entirely dependent on industry support and vital to unlocking future talent.
“There is a chronic shortage of skilled engineers and technicians to power UK industry. There is not one single way into engineering. Young people have the choice to go down an academic route like university or to explore the vocational options, where they can get first-hand experience of developing skills and working as an engineer or technician. Giving young people a range of routes to enter industry helps widen the talent pool. But we need more employers to support vocational these routes including through offering industry placements.
“We recognise that it takes a lot of commitment from employers to support vocational training routes and we want to help. EngineeringUK and Make UK have published ‘Unlocking talent: Ensuring T Levels deliver the workforce of the future’, a new report highlighting the benefits of T Levels for businesses who are desperate for more young skilled workers, as well as the challenges and barriers that employers face and recommendations to overcome them.”
Read the full column on The Engineer website.
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