National Grid is hoping to switch young people in Berkshire on to a career in engineering after identifying a major skills shortage which needs to be filled by 2020.
The company, the UK’s largest utility, has identified a gap of nearly 1,000 engineers needed by the end of the next decade. Despite running successful graduate and apprentice schemes, it’s still predicting a shortfall in numbers.
Research published today by the company has shown that young people are deterred from following engineering careers by negative perceptions of the job. The report “Engineering Our Future” shows that people view engineering jobs as menial and blue collar, seeing engineers as people in overalls who fix things, rather than professionals with the ability to design complex processes and run highly technical operations.
Steve Holliday, chief executive of National Grid said: “This report makes extremely worrying reading for me. Engineers are at the heart of our business. Our current level of “growing our own” through graduate and apprentices schemes will just not fill this gap. We need a bigger pool of talented young engineers – not a shrinking one.”
“In common with many engineering-based industries nearly one third of our existing workforce can retire between now and 2020.
“We have to turn round these negative perceptions about engineering and get young people to see it as an important, rewarding and secure career. The challenge of rebuilding the gas and electricity networks to handle renewable energy is facing us now and we need people who can design, plan and operate these systems. “
Many young school and college leavers and university graduates from London and the South East are currently pursuing rewarding careers with National Grid and a number of these have now spoken out to try to encourage their peers to follow in their footsteps (see case studies below).
Graduate Engineer Donald Fu, 26, recently moved to Berkshire. Originally from Malaysia, Donald has worked in a number of roles since joining National Grid. His most recent assignment has seen him monitoring on-site health and safety for electricity construction projects.
Donald said: “I would definitely encourage others to consider engineering as a career. It not only helps to engineer a better future and environment for future generations it also provides you with the opportunity to put your engineering knowledge into professional practice.
"Though working as a National Grid engineer can be challenging, the rewards are great with scope for career progression and an excellent pay and benefits package."
This perception of the industry is not shared by most people. National Grid’s research shows that only 6 of out 10 young people could name a recent engineering achievement and parents and teachers were unsure about where engineers work and how to get into engineering. There was also low appreciation of the contribution that engineering makes to society making it almost “an invisible industry”. And for every 10 boys who would consider a career in engineering, there was only one girl.
Steve Holliday said: “This report has prompted a major review of our education and skills policy. We have to begin to inspire children at a younger age about the possibilities of what science and engineering can do and then keep engaged until they are at the point of thinking about their future careers.”
For more information on career opportunities for school, college and university leavers, go to www.nationalgrid.com and click on careers.
For details of the report go to: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Media+Centre/PressReleases/Documents/EngineeringOurFutureReport.htm
Ends
For further media information only, contact Antony Quarrell National Grid Media Relations on 07810 853075
Cast Studies:
Name: Donald Fu.
Age: 26
Job title: Graduate Engineer, Central Electricity Alliance, UK Construction, although I have just moved to a role in Network Operations in Berkshire.
What does your job involve?
I am currently assigned to the Central Electricity Alliance where my main role is to monitor on-site Health & Safety. I’m also responsible for the control of site drawings, ensuring that all the technical specifications are correct.
I have been involved in the early stages of project development, assessing the various proposals and costs put forward and making sure they are compatible with our safety, reliability and efficiency targets.
I have to communicate with a wide team of colleagues with differing expertise and diverse backgrounds.
What inspired you to study engineering?
I’ve been fixing things since I was a child and I enjoyed figuring out how things worked. I had an aptitude for solving problems so a career in engineering seemed to be the career for me.
I very much wanted to understand the theory behind all things and how they were engineered.
Engineering gave me a challenging life where there is no project that is the same and the satisfaction of solving a problem is indescribable by words.
My career so far
I am originally from Malaysia, however I studied at Swansea University.
After graduating I began work as a building service engineer. Although it was an interesting occupation it was not challenging enough for me - I wanted to work to work on the big engineering projects.
I joined National Grid and my first placement was in Asset Management, Network Performance based at Warwick.
I then moved onto working with a project to replace Super Grid Transformers. I have been able to see how multi million pound projects are planned and managed. Even though I am new to the company I have been given a role with responsibility which gives me the opportunity to develop my skills.
Would you encourage others to consider an engineering career?
I will definitely encourage others to consider engineering as a career. It not only helps to engineer a better future and better environment for future generations but it also provides you with the opportunity to put your engineering knowledge into professional practice.
How would you sum up your job in 3 words?
Challenging, satisfying and interesting.
Name: Vikas Sangwan
Age: 26
Job: Margin Analyst, Balancing Services, Network Operations.
What does your job involve?
As a Margin Analyst I help to set the electricity reserve level for the National Grid network. Essentially this means that I am responsible for making sure that we have enough electricity generation to cope with variations in demand.
It is also my role to ensure the optimum level of reserve is carried to reduce costs to consumers. Unusual weather or occasional sporting events can have a significant impact on demand, and I have to ensure there is sufficient electricity generation available to manage this. The job involves a lot of responsibility but I love the challenge.
I am also currently training as a ‘back-up trader’. In a way this is a bit like being a city trader. However instead of dealing in stocks and shares you are buying and selling electricity from power stations across the country to help in balancing supply and demand.
How long have you worked for National Grid?Three and a half years
What inspired you to study engineering?
My father is a Civil Engineer and builds dams and bridges. Seeing the work he did really inspired me and I decided that engineering was what I wanted to do as a career. I went on to study Computer Engineering at MD University, New Delhi, and then got my Masters Degree in Business Management from the University of Coventry.
My career so far
I previously worked as a planning analyst in National Grid Metering, which is responsible for 20 million gas meters, and was based in Solihull. Here I was involved in planning meter replacement. Before this I worked as a business support analyst for six months.
Would you encourage others to consider an engineering career?
Yes I would. It’s a very interesting area to work in and you are always learning something new. Every day you find yourself dealing with something different. You are also working with new technology which is a fascinating experience.
How would you sum up your job in three word?
Interesting, innovative and challenging!
Name: Beth Warnock
Age: 26
Job Role: Power System Engineer, Transmission Requirements.
What does your job involve?
The ‘Transmission Requirements’ department is responsible for planning outages, when parts of the National Grid electricity network are switched off for maintenance.
Outages need to be carried out without disrupting customers or damaging any of our other equipment. It is my responsibility to look at the outage plan and to find a solution to any possible ‘trip’ or ‘overload’ that could occur on the network. Some outages may also mean we need to restrict electricity generation or require extra generation in a certain area.
Planned outages also cost the company money so it is my responsibility to see how we can minimise this cost. All of this means that there is a lot of problem-solving and room for creative thinking in my job.
How long have you been working at National Grid?
Three years
What inspired you to study engineering?
I decided to study physics at university because I wanted to understand how the universe ticked. When I was younger I always wanted to know how things worked and even now that hasn’t changed. I always thought I would have an engineering job and I always found electricity quite exciting, if truth be told I still do!
My career path so far
I started on the National Grid graduate scheme three years ago.
My first six-month placement was in our Transmission Finance department. My second placement was in the demand forecasting team where I was given a project looking at the effect of geo-magnetically induced currents on our electricity system. It was a lot of fun because I got to do research into what they were, and how they affected our and network and those in other countries.
My final placement was in the transmission requirements department which is where I took my first post 18 months ago.
Would you encourage others to consider a career in engineering?
Of course! It’s such a rewarding industry to work in. You are literally the people who keep the lights on. Our country would not cope without the engineers who work here. Every technology has had an engineer's input and you get the chance to shape what the technology will look like in the future.
How would you sum up your job in three words?
Rewarding, challenging, interesting.
Name: Gareth Burden
Job Title: Project Engineer, UK Construction
Age: 29
What does your job involve?
I work on the delivery of National Grid projects including electricity cable works and tunnels, gas plant and compressor projects and high-pressure gas pipelines.
This involves working to specific timescales, cost and qualitative and functional requirements. I manage large-scale projects with a team responsible for land acquisition, planning applications, consent requirements, engineering design and procurement.
I also get to meet local people and council representatives in communities affected by construction works.
How long have you been working at National Grid?
Six years
What inspired you to study engineering?
I have a natural curiosity about how products and systems operate and function - basically pulling things apart!
Engineering is about how things actually work and function in the real world, and every day of everybody’s life is impacted by it in one form or another.
My career so far
I did various roles on National Grid’s Graduate Scheme. I worked on Gas Operations in central London and then Harrow and Barnet. I then moved onto UK Construction working on and project managing pipeline projects, gas compressor projects and high voltage cable projects.
Would you encourage others to consider an engineering career?
Absolutely. Designing, managing and constructing anything is extremely satisfying. Once you have completed your project it is there in front of everyone for all to see.
How would you sum up your job in 3 words?
Construct Assets Safely