Year of the Engineer 2018: celebrate the profession's impact on lives & the economy

23 February 2015

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Highlighting the impact of design and engineering on finding solutions to urban infrastructure problems is a crucial step in turning the next generation onto engineering careers, says Engineering UK chief executive Paul Jackson.

The Valentine's Day edition of Time Out London features a number of people talking about why they love the capital. Some of those talk of their love of London in spite of the city’s flaws, amongst which traffic and congestion are frequently cited.

This is particular concern for cyclists, arguably the city’s most vulnerable road users.

"I hope some schools seize the opportunity to highlight to their students the science, technology, engineering and maths that goes into a project of that kind and how it will improve conditions and everyday lives."

Many may have been excited by Gensler’s ‘London Underline’ proposal, which has just won Best Conceptual Project in the London Planning Awards. The idea is to repurpose the network of disused underground tunnels to create cyclist and pedestrian paths that would ease congestion and harness innovative technologies such as kinetic paving.

We may not see this particular concept become a reality but it highlights the impact of design and engineering in finding solutions to urban infrastructure problems. Cyclists in London will be able to enjoy four new cycle highways, which should be operational by the end of next year. Called the Crossrail for bikes it is certainly a smaller scale project, but one that will support economic growth while working to create a safer environment for anyone using two wheels to get around. 

You may remember Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin first mentioned the idea of a ‘Year of the Engineer’ when speaking at last year’s Conservative Party Conference. The idea is to tie it in with the completion of Crossrail in 2018 and recently I have been thinking about what shape such a year might take.

My feeling is that it should be a celebration of engineers that recognises the wide-ranging, global impact of the engineering innovations but also highlights the significant economic contribution of the industry.  

"For every £1 in Gross Value Added (GVA) generated in engineering, a further £1.45 is generated elsewhere in the economy, putting engineering’s total GVA impact for 2104 at £996bn."

Since the publication of our annual State of Engineering report in January, The Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) has completed a piece of research we commissioned into the contribution of engineering to the UK economy.  What that research tells us is not only that engineering sectors contribute £456bn (27%) of UK GDP, but also that the impact of the sector is felt more widely than you might think.

The direct impact is reflected in the £1.17 trillion turnover, but in addition (and considered as part of this latest piece of research) is the impact that level of activity has on others within the supply chain and then, more widely in the economy as a whole.

For every £1 in Gross Value Added (GVA) generated in engineering, a further £1.45 is generated elsewhere in the economy, putting engineering’s total GVA impact for 2104 at £996 billion. This is equivalent of 66% of UK GVA and represents a GDP contribution of approximately £1,117 billion. 

The knock-on effect is equally apparent in terms of employment as engineering is estimated to have supported an aggregate 14.5M jobs last year and for every new engineering role an additional two jobs are created in the economy.

As we talk about economic growth and potential for the sector what we are really talking about is the growth and potential of engineers, those already in the sector and those who they will inspire to become the engineers of the future. 

The economic contribution of engineering is a significant and important one but it’s also crucial to look beyond the pound signs and employment figures and to remember the difference engineering makes. It’s engineering that would make possible those new underground cycle routes and it is engineering that will make a reality the improvements to school buildings across the country as part of the latest £6bn government programme.

This kind of investment will support the turnover of the sector and by extension support job generation and the economy as a whole. Once those schools building improvements are underway, it’s likely the focus of those who spend their days in those classrooms will be on how to work around the changes being made.

I hope some schools also seize the opportunity to highlight to their students the science, technology, engineering and maths that goes into a project of that kind and how it will improve conditions and everyday lives. 

Paul Jackson is chief executive of EngineeringUK
www.engineeringuk.com @_EngineeringUK