MechE welcomes Government’s Industrial Strategy but calls for greater focus on engineering skills
Published: 24 October, 2024
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has welcomed the UK Government’s Green Paper on a new Industrial Strategy, but stressed the importance of investing in engineering skills to ensure the plan’s success. Dr Clive Hickman OBE, President of the IMechE, described the strategy as a positive move towards fostering innovation and growth across the country.
Hickman emphasised that while the strategy offers a solid foundation, its success will depend on aligning skills programmes with industry needs. “To truly realise the strategy’s potential, it is essential to invest in the development of engineers who will drive the scale-up and deployment of these initiatives nationwide,” he said. This focus on skills development is seen as critical to ensuring the UK has the talent required to meet future industrial demands.
The Green Paper highlights the importance of collaboration across all sectors of the economy, a sentiment echoed by Hickman. He stressed the need for a long-term approach, noting that a stable regulatory environment and clear funding mechanisms are crucial to delivering a successful strategy.
“We look forward to contributing to the consultation and representing the requirements of mechanical engineers in shaping this important strategy,” Hickman added, signalling the IMechE’s intention to play an active role in shaping the future direction of UK industry.
The Government’s Green Paper marks the beginning of a consultation process aimed at creating a comprehensive industrial strategy that will support sustainable economic growth. However, according to the IMechE, the development of a skilled workforce will be key to making this vision a reality.
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