PROFESSION WATCH


APPRENTICESHIPS AIM TO MAKE STEM SELL


During the UK government’s National Apprenticeship Week this year, debate surrounded the use of the apprenticeship path into lifelong careers in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM), an area where significant skills shortages already exist and which are predicted to worsen in the future. According to the Royal Academy of


Engineering, more than half of engineering companies say they have had problems recruiting the experienced engineers they need. This demand for skilled and experienced engineers is set to increase considerably over the next three to five years with 90 per cent of engineering, science and hi-tech businesses expecting this to be the case. With an increasingly aging workforce


and the imminent reduction in access to suitable candidates from elsewhere in the continent, there’s a pressing need to bring young people into the profession and to address the issue of diversity.


DIVERSITY According to electric motor rewind specialist, Houghton International, diversity is a key action point for businesses looking to close the STEM skills gap. At present, under 10 per cent of the engineering workforce is female, while those from minority ethnic backgrounds make up just 6 per cent of the workforce. Women account for 50 per cent of all


apprentices in the UK. However, for STEM apprenticeships, they make up just 8 per cent. Houghton International believes that STEM employers are overlooking a great talent pool if they don’t concentrate on encouraging women into their companies. According to WISE (Women in Science &


Engineering), 5,080 women achieved a Core-STEM apprenticeship in 2016/2017, while 62,060 men accomplished the same in the same period. Houghton says if women are opting for apprenticeships in different fields, then STEM industries will continue to miss out on thousands of potential workers until the popularity of STEM careers increases among women.


A CHOICE OF CAREERS Some major industrial players are making inroads in attracting a diverse range of


38 /// Testing & Test Houses /// March 2019


young people into apprenticeships. Chubb Fire & Security employed more apprentices last year than in any previous year, expanding its apprenticeship programme to 28 new employees across many disciplines. Chubb has long supported the next generation of fire and security engineers with over 400 employees having completed apprenticeships and with 64 currently in intermediate, advanced and higher-level programmes. Technical support technician


apprentice, Taylor Murphy, is in her final year of a four-year NVQ Level Three programme and on completion has the opportunity to use education programmes to work towards degree level qualifications. “I’m kept very busy, with no two days


the same. The people I work with are great and my favourite role so far has been project co-ordination. I hope to go into this with the end goal of being a project manager – it is apprenticeships that give you the hands-on experience to help make these decisions,” she says.


A LOFTY GOAL While experiences such as Murphy’s at Chubb are welcome, there is much more that needs to be done across a greater range of companies in STEM industries. By 2020, the government aims to have 3 million apprenticeships starting, a lofty goal that requires more initiatives to encourage apprenticeship programmes in all sectors, including engineering. Existing initiatives include such


examples as those offered by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which offers around £1 million in prizes, scholarships and awards to recognise successful people in its industry. According to Houghton Industries,


careers in STEM industries must be presented positively at school in order to encourage young people to pursue a career path in that direction. Career advisors should make it clearer to kids that a university degree is not the only avenue to success and that the same level of fulfilment and opportunity is available with STEM apprenticeship programmes.


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