Exiting the EU a risk to UK engineering

Following the outcome of the EU referendum to leave the EU, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is calling for an urgent discussion to mitigate the impacts on the engineering sector, which is vital to the UK’s economy.

The IET had published a statement of concern that a vote to leave the EU could result in a number of negative impacts on UK engineering, including exacerbating the UK’s engineering and technology skills shortage by making it more difficult for companies to recruit engineers from other EU countries.

Other issues identified included changes to access to global markets and companies, a decline in funding for engineering and science research, and a weakening of the UK’s influence on global engineering standards.

Naomi Climer, IET President, said, “We thought it hugely important that the role of UK engineering was considered as part of the EU debate. It was for that reason that we looked carefully at the issues affecting engineering, including the skills shortage, the global markets that engineering is a part of, research funding and global standards.”

Climder continued, “We concluded that, at a time when we have a huge shortage of engineers, limiting the number of professional engineers that could come and contribute to our economy would affect the industry and the nation’s financial wellbeing. We were very careful to consider the options as they related to UK engineering but the result of the referendum is clear and we are calling for an urgent discussion so that any negative impacts can be mitigated for the benefit of UK engineering and our country’s economy.”

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/24062016/iet-worry-for-uk-engineering-after-uk-brexit-vote-3580/