Private sector partnership to re-ignite UK engineering 31 January 2013

A private sector initiative aimed at boosting British engineering has been launched by LEGO Education, the Helsington Foundation and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Dubbed the Elite Engineering Programme, its stated aim is to increase the number of talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who consider pursuing careers in engineering.

Graham Sharp, founder of both the Racing Steps and the Helsington Foundations, explains that the new programme will reach out to young people in state schools from the age of 10, establishing engineering as a credible career.

"We founded both The Racing Steps and Helsington Foundations to help young, less advantaged people fulfil their potential," states Sharp.

"We're delighted to now extend our support to young, aspiring engineers through the Elite Engineering Programme. We hope other businesses will join us," he adds.

The programme has been created in response to research published last year (Jobs and Growth: the importance of engineering skills to the UK economy) by the Royal Academy of Engineering, which found that the UK needs to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and maths graduates by around 50% per year.

Brian Tinham

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