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UK engineering firms lack skills for climate change resilience, survey finds

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Summary

A survey by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) found that 77% of engineering employers in the UK lack the skills necessary to be resilient to climate change. Most companies have a sustainability strategy in place but require additional skills to implement it. The survey also found that UK companies were the least likely to offer training in new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and simulation. The IET recommends more industry placements and industry-targeted projects to better prepare graduates for industry. They also suggest that businesses should prioritize training and upskilling for employees in order to become more resilient to climate change.

Q&As

What are the findings of the Institution of Engineering and Technology survey regarding the UK's engineering employers' ability to respond to climate change?
The Institution of Engineering and Technology survey found that 77% of engineering employers in the UK do not have the skills needed to be resilient to climate change.

What skills are needed to make organisations net zero according to the survey?
The survey found that employers need specialist sustainability skills, knowledge, whole-systems thinking, and agile mindsets to make organisations net zero.

What suggestions are employers making to better prepare graduates for industry?
Employers suggest more industry placements and industry-targeted projects to better prepare graduates for industry.

What does the IET suggest to help increase resilience to climate change?
The IET suggests that businesses prioritize training and upskilling for employees that focuses on resilience skills, particularly around innovative thinking and problem solving.

What specific technologies are UK employers least likely to offer training in?
UK employers are least likely to offer training in new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and simulation.

AI Comments

👍 The survey results from the Institution of Engineering and Technology are a great reminder to the industry of the importance of upskilling and preparing for climate change in order to remain resilient.

👎 Despite efforts to upskill, the survey results are showing that the UK engineering industry is still unprepared for climate change, which could lead to serious consequences in the future.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the lack of skills amongst UK engineering firms when it comes to climate change resilience. The survey found that almost eight in 10 (77%) engineering employers do not have the skills needed to be resilient to climate change, and three-quarters (76%) of those with a sustainability strategy require additional skills to implement it.

Friend: That's quite concerning. It's clear that there's a need for more education and training in these areas so that engineering firms are better prepared to handle the effects of climate change.

Me: Absolutely. The article suggests that more industry placements and industry-targeted projects should be implemented to better prepare graduates, as well as upskilling existing workers in new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and simulation. It's also important that the government provides support for upskilling the UK workforce so that it can become more internationally competitive.

Action items

Research and understand the current climate change policies and initiatives in the UK.
Develop a sustainability strategy for your organisation that includes making it net zero.
Invest in training and upskilling for employees that focuses on resilience skills, such as innovative thinking and problem solving.

Technical terms

Research: A systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Sustainability: The ability to maintain a certain level of economic, social, and environmental well-being over time.
Upskill: To acquire new skills or knowledge in order to improve one's job performance or career prospects.
Industry Placements: A period of work experience in a particular industry, usually undertaken as part of a course of study.
Net Zero: A goal of achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, meaning that any emissions released into the atmosphere are balanced by an equivalent amount of emissions removed.
Agile Mindsets: A way of thinking that is focused on adapting quickly to changing circumstances and responding to customer needs.
Whole-Systems Thinking: A way of thinking that takes into account the interconnectedness of all parts of a system and how they interact with each other.
Augmented Reality: A technology that combines the physical world with virtual elements, such as 3D models, to create an enhanced experience.
Virtual Reality: A computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way.
Simulation: A computer-generated model of a real-world system or process, used to study the behavior of the system or process and to make predictions about its future behavior.