Inquiry seeks to boost engineering apprenticeships

Apprenticeship starts in the engineering and technology sector are 9% lower today than they were seven years ago. An inquiry to uncover the reasons behind this decline has been launched by EngineeringUK, the charity supporting young people into engineering. 

With a skills shortage and growing demand for engineers and technicians, the inquiry is looking to identify solutions for increasing the number and diversity of young people taking up technical apprenticeships. 

Employers, youth training providers, young people and those who work with them, are all being urged to get involved in the ‘call for evidence’ by submitting their views, evidence or ideas to improve this much-needed career pathway into the sector.  

Lord Knight, Inquiry co-chair and former Labour Education and Employment Minister, comments, “Britain must transition towards a more sustainable and productive economy. The skills shortage is a dragging anchor on that transition, particularly in key areas such as engineering. The fall in young people taking up engineering and technology apprenticeships is an urgent problem.”  

The call for evidence is seeking views on how apprenticeships help meet the UK’s skills needs; reasons behind the decline in engineering apprenticeship starts; barriers to apprenticeships and what will help increase the number and diversity of young people taking up and completing engineering and technology apprenticeships?

The inquiry - ‘Fit for the future: growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people’ is open for evidence until the 27 February 2023. IOA encourage our members, and anyone else with an interest to respond. 

For more information and to respond visit: www.engineeringuk.com/fitforthefuture