The government has today published its Industrial Strategy, setting out a ten-year plan that aims to boost investment, create skilled jobs and improve collaboration between government and high growth industries.
Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:
“At last, we have an industrial strategy that recognises the need for a holistic, long-term approach to driving growth, which is coordinated across government departments. We have long called on government to set out an ambitious vision that draws on our strengths in engineering, innovation, research, and manufacturing, and today’s announcement is a big step in the right direction.
“It recognises major barriers the engineering community has highlighted, such as energy costs, skills and technology adoption, and the importance of the engineering skills. Engineering underpins each of the growth sectors identified by government, and it is essential that we equip our nation with the skilled workforce needed to meet the future challenges of sustainability and technological advancement. Continued investment in technology adoption and a holistic approach to AI that considers the perspectives of users and communities in design and roll out will also be vital to make the most of the opportunities presented by emerging technologies.
“The devil will be in the detail of delivery, so that this ambition tangibly changes the fortunes of the engineering businesses that drive employment and growth across the country.”
Academy Chief Executive Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE says:
“We are delighted to see the announcement of new skills packages for tech, engineering and defence, recognising that the Industrial Strategy’s objectives simply cannot be delivered without a significant boost to investment in our engineering and tech talent base. These packages provide a much-needed opportunity for government to take a holistic view of the rapidly changing skills landscape, and to work with partners across industry and professional bodies to make sure the UK tackles its longstanding skills and diversity deficits in these crucial areas. Today is International Women in Engineering Day – a reminder that we still have much to do to deliver equitable participation in these high-value jobs, and better outcomes for people from all parts of the UK.
“The Royal Academy of Engineering looks forward to supporting government in taking forward these recommendations, including through our new Skills Centre. We also welcome the publication of the Technology Adoption Review and hope that this will result in meaningful action to increase the capacity of the UK’s industrial base and public sector to deploy existing technologies at the scale and pace demanded in today’s tech-driven world.”
Notes for editors
The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond.