In an open letter, McMurtry suggests that British engineering will only progress by "sustained collaborative efforts, consistency and a cultural shift".
"As the Perkins Review highlighted last year, parents, teachers, employers and the government should collaborate to encourage young people from any background to regard engineering as a fulfilling and exciting career," he continues.
But for him, collaboration is nothing without consistency. "A child who regards science class as a chore is unlikely to become an accomplished engineer. Children should be encouraged and motivated to see how science can help them understand and change the world... And the message should be reinforced constantly during school years," he advises.
However, McMurtry also warns that British industry needs is a cultural shift "to help shatter outmoded stereotypes".
"Engineering does not equal manual labour: it is a world of thrilling and rewarding career opportunities. Engineering is not only for men: it welcomes people from both genders, all ethnic backgrounds and any walk of life," he insists.
McMurtry points to his own company as proof of the value of his approach.
"As a leading UK engineering company, in theory Renishaw should have been among the first whose recruitment suffered as a result of the skills gap," he points out.
"However, the number of our apprentice and graduate applications has trebled in the last few years, as a result of our collaboration with schools, universities, STEM-based organisations, career advisors and government agencies."