MEON Valley MP George Hollingbery is supporting a national campaign to encourage young people into engineering in an attempt to fill a major skills gap.

The Year of Engineering launches this month and will see government work with hundreds of businesses to raise the profile of engineering among young people aged seven-16, their parents and their teachers.

This will include offering at least a million direct experiences of engineering to young people from all backgrounds – from behind the scenes tours and family days out, to school visits and the chance to meet role models.

“The Meon Valley has several excellent engineering firms that I have visited over the years which do offer opportunities for young people but I am concerned that not enough children, particularly girls, are entering the engineering professions,” said George

“The fact is engineering qualifications are vital to this country’s continued prosperity but the UK faces an estimated shortfall of 20,000 engineering graduates a year. This shortage is impacting on productivity and growth. I very much hope young people, schools and businesses in the Meon Valley will get involved next year and I fully support this drive.”

The campaign aims to promote engineering and widen the pool of young people entering the profession as presently it is 91 per cent male and 94 per cent white.

More than 350 businesses and organisations have signed up to support the Year of Engineering, including Siemens, the Science Museum Group, Ocado, Usborne, BAE Systems and Crossrail.

More information about the campaign is available at https://www.dft.gov.uk/year-of-engineering-2018/