WHENEVER I am visiting businesses in the Stroud Valleys and Vale, I am often reminded of the value or engineering to our local economy. After all, one in five local jobs is connected in some way to engineering and manufacturing. Boosting this part of the economy matters in so many ways, including employment.
The central place engineering and manufacturing has in our history and our contemporary economy is the principle motivation for the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering to be held during week beginning Monday 11 November. A key part of this festival is to raise young people's awareness of the excellent career prospects in the sector. There are ten appealing characteristics of engineering.
First, it drives economic growth by adding value to products and services. It is a transformational activity. Second, it plays a decisive role in developing skills for the future workplace. Already, 2.3 million skilled engineers are at work in the UK.
Third, engineering underpins our energy and power supplies. Meeting the challenges of diverse supplies and climate change is all about engineering.
Fourth, innovation – ideas and imagination – is at the heart of engineering. Modelling, development and design all play their parts. Fifth, engineering ranges across many, many disciplines and areas of research. It is all about pushing out the boundaries. Sixth, building a sustainable future requires clean technologies and engineering will bring these into reality. Green growth is engineering growth.
Seventh, communications relies on engineering in virtually every respect. Today, there are 6.8billion mobile telephones in use worldwide. Eighth, engineering depends on and stimulates international investment. Investors of the future need to know about engineering. Ninth, as we face demographic changes, so engineering will continue to play a part in alleviating suffering and improving wellbeing.
Finally, engineering is also about infrastructure. Connections and transport, building, and supplies all depend on engineering. The world is shaped by engineers and I encourage young people to explore the many opportunities to be a part of the future. If you are interested in the issues raised above, please contact me on 01453 751572 or visit my website – www.neilcarmichael.co.uk. Now, you can also follow me on twitter @neil_mp.