Skills shortage as just 9% of engineers are female

Employers are having trouble recruiting engineers with the right skills, according to a recent report.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has found that new engineers are not meeting employers’ expectations and it could be down to what they learn in the classroom.

According to the Express & Star, experts believe children should take things apart and see how they are made to boost an interest in the field and deliver positive messages. They also found that teachers and academics should spend time within the industry as well.

Kevin Payne is the Head of ICT Upgrades at London Underground. He said: "Primary and secondary education, and our broader culture, do not place a strong emphasis on practical engineering questions, and my perception is that 90%-plus of teachers have only the flimsiest grasp of what engineering really is.”