Abstract
Decarbonising quickly and effectively to hit our net-zero target by 2050 requires urgent, clear and decisive leadership. It will require large-scale political and policy action and it will need a great number of actions to be taken simultaneously.
Combine this with the increasing interconnectedness and complexity of infrastructure, and it is vital that a joined-up, “whole-system” approach is prioritised. The impact of the growth in electric transport, for example, must be considered in conjunction with the future of heat, the decentralisation of energy and upgrades required to electricity infrastructure.
We carry out an annual skills survey of engineering employers in the UK. In 2020 we focused on the skills requirements for delivering the UK Government’s net-zero target by 2050, the subsequent impacts of COVID-19 on engineering employers, difficulties in recruiting engineers, and employer perceptions of the engineering skills gap.
The responsibility to drastically reduce our impact on the climate falls on us all, but engineering has an important role to play. Responses from our survey highlighted that engineering employers take this responsibility seriously. Half of those questioned already have a sustainability strategy in place, however, less than one in ten have all the skills their strategy needs to achieve its goals.
In the following report, we’ve broken down the results of our survey into six categories, exploring the current skills challenges employers are facing, their movement towards increased sustainability and how they can respond to future challenges by building skills for a green recovery. Off the back of our survey results, we’ve also highlighted key action areas that could help employers meet these goals.
Find out more at theiet.org/skills
