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< Ofgem in major reorganisation to better handle its 'green' duties | Hard question still have to be asked about smart meters >
Most young people still pour scorn on the idea of a career in engineering
Big plans: National Grid needs to recruit 1,000 engineers by 2020
National Grid has raised the alarm over attitudes to engineering among children and students, warning that it is "simply not on the radar as a career option".
The gas and electricity transmission system operator said this was worrying in the face of a "major skills shortage" that would require the company to fill 1,000 engineering posts by 2020.
Chief executive Steve Holliday said National Grid research had revealed attitudes to engineering that were "frankly shocking". Engineering was regarded as "menial, dirty and about fixing things", and because of its association with blue collar jobs it was seen as a dying industry.
These attitudes were revealed in research that involved interviews with 1,300 young people, parents and teachers.
The research also uncovered "snobbery" among parents who thought their children "could do better" than engineering, and little knowledge among teachers about how to pursue it as a career.
National Grid found that work experience was the most effective way to get a better message across, along with school visits. But it said it was "imperative to move beyond piecemeal activity" and pointed out the effectiveness of TV programmes such as CSI and Dragons' Den in boosting interest in forensics and business, respectively.
National Grid said it planned to increase the number of visits it made to schools and would hold open days at its sites. It would also set up 100 work experience placements a year working with the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Citing concerns that the "well off and affluent" were most likely to enter engineering, National Grid also announced plans for a series of one-year placements for disadvantaged young people.
A pilot project in Manchester is beginning shortly and it will be expanded to about 40 places a year, the company promised.
Recession hits consultants and trainees
Halcrow has announced plans to cut its workforce in the UK and Ireland by 6 per cent. It said that up to 269 staff would go, but it was not clear yet where the axe would fall. "It is Halcrow's belief that the engineering consultancy sector will continue to see reduced activity, perhaps even further deterioration, through 2010 and beyond," it said.
Meanwhile, United Utilities has cancelled half the places on its graduate trainee programme and delayed the start of the rest.
The company told eight out of sixteen graduates due to start programmes in operations management and professional services on 20 September that their places no longer existed. The other eight, on the engineering programme, have had their start date delayed until January.
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