|
ACE has called upon the government to reduce the barriers to entering the profession to allow consultancy and engineering to emerge from the recession with renewed strength and optimism.
Speaking prior to the launch of its annual State of Business report on 7 September 2009, chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said that more had to be done to ensure sufficient higher education capacity to meet the future demand for engineering. “We already know that the depleted number of professional staff has set UK plc on course for a quandary once the recession has ended. It is so important to make immediate plans to counteract the difficulties the sector is bound to face when, and not if, the current economic storm has blown over. This issue is even more pertinent with the recent announcement regarding pressure on engineering and science places at universities. We need long-term thinking if the UK is to have the skills base to develop the world-class infrastructure that it needs and deliver on the climate change agenda.”
The 32-page 2009 State of Business report compiles answers from an extensive sample of members surveyed over five main sections and indicates that while the current economic climate is challenging, there are still opportunities for growth in the consultancy and engineering sector. It shows that demand remains robust for specialist skills in energy, transport infrastructure and utilities, while companies may also look to make the best use of their transferable skills.
Results in the report illustrate this, with around a third of businesses expecting recruitment to increase in 2010 and expand further in 2011. 70% of member firms expect staff growth in that year and Ogunshakin says this indicates that skills are likely to soon be back on the business agenda.
“Our members are clearly concerned that the sector will end up with a less skilled workforce because some of the expertise will no longer be around. It’s a distinct possibility that consultancy and engineering will lose a whole generation of graduate engineers if action is not taken now. The knock on effect to the skills shortage problem is inescapable and lessons must be learned from the last recession if the industry is to avoid serious long-term damage.”
This year's report is expected to show the effects on ACE member firms of a challenging 12 months for the consultancy and engineering sector, with workloads and fee levels also coming under heavy pressure while competition for each tender has also increased.
-ENDS-
Further information from ACE senior communications executive Piers Nutbrown on 020 7202 0255, or email pnutbrown@acenet.co.uk
|