What's Happening?
EngineeringUK and the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) have announced a new partnership aimed at increasing young people's interest in engineering careers within the food and drink industry. This initiative seeks to address the significant skills gap and labor shortages in this sector. The collaboration will develop an outreach program featuring curriculum-aligned interactive workshops for UK state secondary schools. These workshops are designed to help students explore engineering roles in the food industry. Additionally, the program aims to upskill teachers to better inform students about these career opportunities. With nearly half of recruiting managers in the food industry identifying engineering roles as the most challenging to fill,
this initiative comes at a critical time.
Why It's Important?
The partnership between EngineeringUK and IGD is crucial for addressing the engineering skills gap in the food and drink industry, which is a significant sector of the economy. By inspiring young people to pursue careers in engineering, the initiative aims to build a more robust and diverse workforce. This is particularly important as the industry faces challenges related to sustainability, climate change, and public health. By targeting underrepresented groups, the program also seeks to enhance diversity within the engineering field, which is essential for fostering innovation and meeting future challenges. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other industries facing similar workforce shortages.
What's Next?
The program's design and development are currently underway, with a pilot set to launch in schools this summer. This initiative is part of EngineeringUK's broader efforts to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to consider careers in engineering and technology. As the program rolls out, it will be important to monitor its impact on student interest and diversity in engineering roles. Additionally, the success of this partnership may encourage other organizations to support STEM outreach activities, further strengthening the future workforce.
