- Many employers say young engineers don’t have the skills they need, while young graduates are eager to work but can’t get hired. How do we break this cycle? - This situation feels like a classic Catch-22: employers want “work-ready” graduates, but graduates can’t become work-ready without opportunities. Apprenticeships and graduate programmes help, but they are limited and often only available in larger organisations. So the question is: Do we need more industry–education partnerships (live projects, mentoring, placements)? Could accredited online learning or micro-credentials be an acceptable alternative? Or is the real issue that young engineers already have the skills but don’t know how to present them to employers? Should employers expect a “finished product” or invest more in shaping raw talent? If engineers are problem solvers, surely we can solve this too. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on how we can build a stronger bridge between education and employment.

Bridging the Skills Gap in Engineering

- Many employers say young engineers don’t have the skills they need, while young graduates are eager to work but can’t get hired. How do we break this cycle?

- This situation feels like a classic Catch-22: employers want “work-ready” graduates, but graduates can’t become work-ready without opportunities. Apprenticeships and graduate programmes help, but they are limited and often only available in larger organisations.

So the question is:

Do we need more industry–education partnerships (live projects, mentoring, placements)?
Could accredited online learning or micro-credentials be an acceptable alternative?
Or is the real issue that young engineers already have the skills but don’t know how to present them to employers?
Should employers expect a “finished product” or invest more in shaping raw talent?

If engineers are problem solvers, surely we can solve this too. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on how we can build a stronger bridge between education and employment.

Parents

0 Roger Greenwood 1 day ago

This morning an email landed in my inbox (ok, junk folder) that seems to have the solution:- targeted courses. Just read the blurb:-

What You Can Expect From This Program

This certified program will equip you with the expertise to confidently navigate the UK’s wiring regulations and electrical safety obligations. You will master installation, design, inspection, testing, and maintenance in line with the latest BS 7671 amendments., EAWR 1989, and Part P. Additionally, you will refine advanced competencies in system design, load analysis, shock protection, and compliance testing, while leveraging AI-driven tools for predictive fault detection, smarter inspections, and enhanced regulatory oversight across modern industrial and mission-critical installations.

Wow. Surely that sorts it out, all that expertise in one course.

Your Faculty Leader

[redacted] is a seasoned Chartered Electrical Engineer (CEng FIET, CEng MIEI) with nearly four decades of experience specialising in UK wiring regulations, electrical safety compliance, and building services engineering.

The best bit is that it only takes 2 days...... on zoom. If only I was 49 years younger....

Reply