Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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UTILITY WEEK | 9TH - 15TH JUNE 2017 | 23 construction of a pumping station near the Grassyards interchange at Ralstonhill, is expected to be completed in about 20 months. Customers currently receive their water from the Bradan Water Treat- ment Works in South Ayrshire. The construction of the new strategic water main, which is expected to be completed in 2020, will connect the Bradan water supply network to the network served by the Milngavie and Balmore water treatment works, north of Glasgow. This will enable Scottish Water to transfer water from Glasgow to Ayrshire, and vice versa, to give customers greater security of supply. If you have an asset or project you would like to see featured in this slot, email: paulnewton@fav-house.com Pipe up Paul Jackson T he 2017 Engineering UK report highlights the need to increase the number of people entering the industry and improve the skills of those within it. Engineering apprenticeship starts in England are at their highest for ten years (108,000), although with females making up only 7 per cent of those apprentices, we cannot get complacent. There is much more to be done to encourage more young people, of all backgrounds, to consider this route. The introduction of the apprentice- ship levy should see more employers recruiting 16-year- olds and from a more diverse talent pool, but it doesn't seem to be encouraging apprentices at level 3 and above. It could be a one-time opportunity to recruit a cohort of engineering apprentices not in the same image as the previous one. The academic year 2015/16 saw a 5 per cent growth in applicants to higher education engineering courses but, here too, there is more to do. The perception of engineer- ing is improving, with 51 per cent of 11- to 16-year-olds now saying they would consider a career in engineering and 96 per cent of teachers saying they would recom- mend the industry to their pupils. To capitalise on this, more must be done to inspire young people from all back- grounds and to keep girls in the talent pipeline. Girls make up almost half of students taking GCSE physics, but this drops to just 22 per cent at A-level and 15 per cent of engi- neering and technology under- graduates. Little wonder then that women make up no more than 13 per cent of the engineering workforce. With 186,000 people with engineering skills needed annually through to 2024, this has to change. Engineering continues to make a significant contribu- tion to the economy, providing 19 per cent of total UK employment and contributing £486 billion to UK GDP. The concern is around how that can be sustained given the skills gap, particularly in light of the decision to leave the EU. Engineering relies strongly on talent from outside the UK and nearly half the jobs listed for skilled immigrants to address UK shortages are in engineering. While it's great to see a focus on the foundations in the Industrial Strategy, there is a question as to whether post-Brexit we will be strong enough to address the skills gap. The next government needs to deliver an industrial strategy that breaks down barriers and sees real align- ment of policy, industry and education. We are heading for a fourth industrial revolution and a revolution in the way we organise and live our lives. To be innovation leaders, we need to work together. Paul Jackson, chief executive, EngineeringUK "The perception of engineering is improving, but more must be done to inspire young people from all backgrounds." Operations & Assets "Women make up no more than 13 per cent of the engineering workforce"