£200m project to boost jobs launched - 19-05-2008 - 10:40

A £200 million project is set to be launched today to convince people of the merits of construction and engineering jobs above other career options.

Specialist facilities are set to be built to train people in industries suffering a shortfall of staff as the government proposes a solution to these skills shortages.

It is estimated around two million workers need to be trained across the construction, engineering, finance, IT and science sectors to make sure Britain remains competitive.

John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, told the Guardian progress has been made but too much reliance has been placed on employers to train staff in the skills the economy needs.

He continued: "If we are to be certain our economy is equipped to face future challenges, we will need in the future to do more than to continue to rely on hope."

The government's pledge to fund the training of staff in construction and engineering is likely to be welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Building.

Its latest survey suggested the skills shortage is likely to worsen, while demand will increase.

ACE calls for end to engineering student tuition fees - 14-05-2008 - 10:42

The number of people in engineering jobs will increase if tuition fees to study the subject are scrapped, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) claims.

According to the group, it would provide "much-needed resources" for the sector, Online Recruitment reports.

Nelson Ogunshakin, ACE chief executive, said the industry has been working hard to close the salary gap between engineering jobs and comparable professions but needs more help to "incentivise" people to follow it as a career.

Increasing the demand for engineering courses will lead to "the number of professional engineers the nation so badly needs", he explained.

Mr Ogunshakin continued: "We are entering a critical period for our education system; maybe our last chance to get these policies right before highly-skilled jobs start to disappear overseas.

"This is a radical but proportionate proposal and I urge all engineering organisations and government to work to make this proposal a reality."

Full-time undergraduate students are currently liable to pay up to £3,145 per year.

Record numbers of distance learners passing engineering NHCs - 12-05-2008 - 16:27

It has been a record year for students passing engineering NHCs by distance learning, A-1 Technical Training has announced.

The organisation claims those who have passed will now be able to find engineering jobs and move on to better paid positions, reports Engineeringtalk.com.

People wishing to complete a course within the existing programme have been warned it expires on May 31st but it has been suggested this is still an achievable time to gain a pass of "a committed attitude and hard work" is shown.

Courses are being offered across a variety of engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering, electronics and chemical process engineering.

Recognised worldwide and accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, open learning courses are said to be particularly useful for those who cannot attend college and are.

Applicants, A-1 technical training says, will be assessed on an individual basis with inbuilt flexibility.

The call for more students comes after the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) said changes need to be made to attract more people to engineering jobs.

It said the image of hard hats and overalls has to be dispelled to engage young workers.

Guardian education guide recommends engineering as 'step forward' - 01-05-2008 - 11:00

Engineering has been recommended as an educational step forward that will give any student taking a degree in the subject the skills necessary for engineering jobs

The Guardian education guide has also recommended a degree in the subject as a means of taking ideas "from the drawing board into the real world".

A degree in engineering, it comments, will give students general skills like how to work out how to manage a budget, solve problems and overcome obstacles.

In relation to engineering jobs specifically, students are expected to learn how to develop, provide and maintain infrastructure, from the research stage to producing products and services.

Mechanical engineering in particular is described as a "meaty area" by the guide, where an interest in cars and construction is a "definite plus".

Skills acquired on an engineering degree, the guide states, should equip the candidate for a host of engineering jobs.

The Institute of Engineering and Technology, meanwhile, recommends potential students in the subject determine they best match a course with their skills and interests, and determine the type of engineer they would like to be and remain mindful of work opportunities in the country they wish to practice in.

New construction centre opens in Wrexham - 21-04-2008 - 15:58

A £5.2 million engineering and construction centre has been opened at Yale Tertiary College.

The centre, which was funded partly by the Welsh Assembly government, will attempt to create a skilled workforce for Wales.

Rhodri Morgan, first minister of Wales, said: "Excellent training facilities such as these provide a firm foundation for the future. I'm delighted to open this latest addition to Yale College's impressive facilities that will be used to train students of all ages."

He added that supporting skills academies in key manufacturing sectors is a commitment in the Assembly Government's One Wales programme and the funding was given to Yale College with the aim of "improving learning facilities in identified priority areas".

Mr Morgan concluded that the new centre demonstrates the realisation of the Assembly Government's "vision for learning".

Yale College is based in Wrexham and has approximately 3,000 full time students as well as 10,000 part time students.

CDE on the look-out for engineers - 27-03-2008 - 11:04

CDE, a quarry equipment manufacturer based in Cookstown, has announced it is looking for 40 new engineers.

The company, which is moving into new property in the near future, is looking for graduate engineers, design engineers and project engineers as it continues to expand globally.

Brain McCullough, CDE's design manager, said: "We are currently looking to build the engineering department at our head office in Cookstown, which is central to the ongoing success of the company."

He added that the design process for all of the company's work across the world "originates from the hub" which is in Cookstown.

The firm's products are being used on a large number of projects around the world currently, orders have been secured from places such as India, the Middle East and the USA.

CDE's new base is currently being built on the Ballyreagh industrial estate in Cookstown, which is a town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

More construction workers needed - 13-03-2008 - 17:43

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has stressed the need for more construction workers as the UK witnesses a growth in building activity.

Brian Berry, the director of external affairs at the FMB, illustrated that the country was seeing a high level of development reminiscent of the end of the Second World War.

"We need 87,500 new people to go into the construction sector every year from now until 2011 to meet current demands," he confirmed.

However, Mr Berry indicated that due to a "serious skills shortage", migrant workers were increasingly important in being able to fill the gaps in construction recruitment.

The Department for Work and Pensions has seen an eight per cent increase in the number of overseas nationals entering the UK in 2007 before after reviewing the number of national insurance numbers (NINo) allocated to foreign migrants.

In 2006/07, the total number of NINo registrations to overseas nationals in 2006/07 was 713,000, an increase of 51,000 on 2005/06.

Engineers urged to pass on skills - 14-02-2008 - 17:49

Engineers operating in the UK have been urged to help out the sector as a whole by becoming further education teachers and passing on their skills to others.

It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of engineering jobs going unfilled around the country because of a lack of qualified people and the 'Pass on your Skills' scheme is designed to tackle this concern.

Anyone who decides to play a part in the scheme, which has been launched by the Lifelong Learning UK charity recently, can do so on their own terms and offer as little or as much time as they are able.

Making clear the purpose of the exercise, Saskia Coplans told Eureka magazine: "Many professionals in the engineering sector have experience and expertise which could help train the workforce of the future."

In their effort to promote the Pass on your Skills initiative, the team behind it has suggested that experienced engineers can often find a sense of satisfaction in passing on their expertise to a new generation.

Postgraduate engineer numbers drop - 01-02-2008 - 10:55

The number of graduates who are going on to take postgraduate engineering courses has dropped despite the number of people in the UK taking postgraduate courses rising over the past ten years, according to a new report.

Research from the Royal Society has revealed that there are an increasing number of people taking courses in psychology, biology and sports science after they graduate, but there is not the same increase when it comes to scientific subjects such as engineering.

Professor Judith Howard, chairwoman of the society's working group, said: "While postgraduate study in the UK is very successful in terms of the overall numbers of people studying and the income generated, the skills base our economy needs is still well behind our competitor economies."

The number of postgraduates studying engineering and technology represents only 5.7 per cent of graduates doing stand alone masters degrees, compared to 9.3 per cent ten years ago.

At the cutting edge of scientific progress, the Royal Society is the national academy of science in the UK.

Network Rail to offer engineering qualification - 29-01-2008 - 11:11

Network Rail has been given awarding body status by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which will give it the chance to offer qualifications to its employees.

Along with McDonalds and Flybe, Network Rail the companies have become the first employers in the UK to be given the status.

Professor Andrew McNaughton, chief engineer of Network Rail, said: "The ability to award nationally recognised, transferable qualifications will enable us to keep on setting industry standards for technical rail skills training in the UK and attract and develop highly trained and motivated people."

The first qualification which can be awarded to employees of Network Rail is set to be track engineering and will cover areas such as health and safety as well as technical aspects.

Granting awarding body status to the companies is part of the QCA's new pilot scheme called Qualifications and Credit Framework.

Record number of students sign up to chemical engineering - 28-01-2008 - 10:16

A record number of students chose to study chemical engineering at UK universities this year, according to a new report.

UCAS 2007 admission figures showed that there was a rise of 11.5 per cent in students who have selected to take the course, which could provide relief for employers in the sector who are worried about a skills shortage.

Professor Jonathan Seville, head of chemical engineering at Birmingham University said: "In the last few years we have seen a concerted effort by departments, IChemE and committed individuals to project the image of the subject as widely and as excitingly as possible."

He added that this has made the difference between "simply recovering a bit" and the "really strong recovery we are now seeing".

With 1,455 new students studying chemical engineering the subject has seen a 55 per cent rise in uptake since 2001.

Meanwhile, a woman from Wrexham has won a national engineering award after beating around 100 other entrants, reports the Daily Post.

Lovell apprenticeship scheme blooming - 16-01-2008 - 10:37

Lovell has welcomed the latest batch of apprentices to its firm, carrying on its training scheme for youngsters interested in construction careers.

The housebuilding company currently has 135 apprentices on its books who get experience working on site and also attend the Lovell Craft Academy based in Leicestershire.

People development manager for Lovell, Bruce Boughton said: "Giving youngsters the opportunity to learn their trades and work alongside our skilled trades people to gain knowledge and experience is crucial to their continued development."

He added that the firm is "delighted" with the progress that the new apprentices have made and now hopes "they will enjoy long and successful construction careers with us".

Out of the apprentices who have attended the academy, there is an 85 per cent pass rate which is more than double the success rate of the industry nationally.

Lovell has nine regional offices in England, Wales and Scotland and works in partnership with local authorities and housing associations.

Budding engineers given diploma boost - 20-12-2007 - 11:51

Young people attempting to start engineering careers have been boosted after it was announced that vocational diplomas will be given the same value as three and a half A-levels by universities.

Engineering is one of the subjects that will be available to be taken as a diploma, which start next year.

Martin Temple, director-general at manufacturers' body the EEF, told Personnel Today: "Industry will applaud this announcement as a welcome recognition by the universities that the new diplomas will have sufficient prestige. This is one more step on the road towards bridging the divide between academic and vocational routes into higher education."

People looking to get construction jobs have also been boosted by the news that a vocational diploma will be available in that subject.

Students will get 420 Ucas points for achieving top marks in all parts of the diploma.

The EEF works on behalf of over 6,000 companies in manufacturing, engineering and technology.

Scheme launched to encourage more women in construction - 14-12-2007 - 14:28

A specialist housing service provider has launched a CD to help companies in the construction industry recruit more women.

Stonham has aimed the CD, called "Gender on the Agenda", at managers and human resources staff in the construction sector.

Andrea Butler, Stonham area business manager, said: "Ensuring diversity in your workforce is vital to success. Diversity isn't a campaign, an initiative or a set of boxes to tick. It's the way to attract the largest possible number of potential staff or customers. A business that encourages a diverse culture attracts people and helps the organisation perform at its best."

The CD provides firms with guidance on recruitment and was funded by Equal, a European Social Fund scheme.

Only ten per cent of the construction industry's workforce is female, according to ConstructionSkills.

ConstructionSkills represents every part of the construction industry in the UK. It covers all areas of the skills agenda.

New construction recruitment initiative launched - 14-12-2007 - 09:55

Emap Construction has launched a construction recruitment initiative which will aim to find the industry's management executives of the future.

The scheme is designed to find exceptional young talent in the four categories of architecture, construction, engineering and quantity surveying.

Young professionals in the sector are being encouraged to enter and they will be tested in three stages to find an eventual winner. The stages consist of a written submission, a challenges stage and an interview.

Emap's industry publications including Construction News and the Architects Journal, will be promoting the event.

The 40 applicants who make it through to the final stage will be invited to a celebratory event and party on March 28th. The deadline for entries is December 21st.

The initiative has been created in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Building and ACE.

Emap Construction is a network of magazines that are aimed specifically at the construction industry.

CIC highlights lack of construction professionals - 07-12-2007 - 10:42

The biggest problem facing the construction industry is a shortage of construction professionals, according to the Construction Industry Council (CIC).

In the CIC's Professional Services Survey it was revealed that the industry is lacking in graduates coming through for architecture, surveying and engineering jobs.

With one in five construction professionals due to retire in the next year, the report highlights the need for young people starting out on their construction careers.

Over 50 per cent of firms said that they were anticipating difficulties in recruiting enough people in the next year. Firms are blaming the lack of recruitment on applicants not having a high enough level of skill.

Between 40 per cent and 53 per cent of companies with professional services say that they have vacancies that are hard to fill, according to the research.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper recently announced that local councils will be given £732 million to help them construct new homes.

Scaffolders and architects are 'highest paid construction jobs' - 04-12-2007 - 09:10

Scaffolders and architects have the highest paid construction jobs, according to a report by the GMB union.

The figures show that scaffolders had the highest average salary out of trade workers, while architects' average salaries of £40,845 made them the highest paid profession in the industry.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, hit out at the imbalance of wages across construction jobs and the entire economy. He said: "There are some people at the top earning 40 and 50 times those at the bottom. GMB want to see the tax system used to even out the rewards and the GMB want the national minimum wage to rise to £7 per hour to help those at the bottom."

Quantity surveyors earn on average £36,455 a year, more than civil engineers who make £29,608.

GMB is a general union that has almost 600,000 members in every part of the economy and has 25,000 union representatives.

Engineering and construction career exhibition at NEC - 20-11-2007 - 14:20

The National Engineering and Construction Recruitment (NECR) exhibition is to be held in Birmingham and London this month.

NECR is the largest engineering and construction recruitment event in the UK and offers advice and employment opportunities across all areas of the industry from aerospace to construction to facilities management.

Leading employers at the exhibit will include BAE Systems, Bechtel, Denso, General Dynamics, Honda, Jaguar, Marshall Aerospace, Network Rail, the Environment Agency and Tube Lines.

Also on offer is the Women in Engineering Forum, which will give visitors the opportunity to hear pre-eminent female engineers talk about how they overcame the challenge of working in a male-dominated industry.

And other highlights of the show include the Careers Advice Lounge, one-to-one consultation at the CV Clinic, the Interview Clinic and a wide range of individual career presentations.

NECR is run in association with the Sunday Telegraph and will be held at the Birmingham NEC on November 23rd and 24th and at the London Hammersmith Novotel on November 30th and December 1st.

Engineering graduate vacancies on the rise - 19-10-2007 - 11:11

Impressive growth in vacancies in the fields of science, engineering and technology means it may be easier for students and graduates to find a job in these sectors.

A survey of the UK Association of Graduate Recruiters revealed that compared to 2006 there were 50 per cent more vacancies in the energy and utilities sector, 41 per cent more jobs in civil engineering, 35 per cent more positions in mechanical engineering and 34 per cent more roles in electrical and electronic engineering jobs.

While a less impressive increase, the survey also discovered a 14 per cent rise in job vacancies in the engineering and industrial sector.

The sustainable energy sector, which has come to the forefront of the political agenda, is generating jobs as it grows, as are the nanotechnology, biotechnology and bioscience fields.

According to the Independent, vacancies in the engineering sectors are increasingly being opened up to postgraduate students as well.

BAE takes on 145 graduates, apprentices - 28-09-2007 - 11:27

BAE System's Barrow shipyard has taken on 145 new graduates and apprentices and there is hope that a further 700 jobs could be created at the resurgent site.

Barrow's shipyard, which at its lowest point employed 2,600 workers, is growing again, and apprentice and graduate hiring took the shipyard back over the 4,000 staff mark last month.

A total of 104 apprentices have been taken on, with 62 in the craft trades section, 24 in technical, eight warehouse apprentices, three in business administration and seven mature apprentices.

Some 41 graduates have also joined the graduate development programme, bringing the total at the shipyard to 65. But despite the high number of spots, competition for them is fierce.

Engineering training manager Martin Pulford told the North-West Evening Mail: "Demand is incredibly high for these positions.

"This enables Submarines Solutions to recruit the number and calibre of graduates required to meet the future demands of the company."

And even more jobs, graduate positions and apprenticeships could be created if the government signs a contract for two new aircraft carriers.

Barrow Mayor, councillor Ken Williams told the newspaper: "What is needed now is for the government to start signing orders."