As news of rising unemployment and job shortages in the UK continues, Glouchestershire is apparently facing the opposite problem: not enough skilled engineers to fill hi-tech vacancies.

According to a BBC report many engineering firms in the county are struggling to find enough qualified engineers to fill their vacancies.

Steve Darnell, the regional manager of Moog (a company that manufactures valves for F1 cars, aircraft and more) told the broadcaster: “We have a shortage of all types of engineers. Production engineers, manufacturing engineers, we’re looking for all types of people and we’re short of all of them.”

In response to the shortage of skilled engineers, an initiative has been launched in the county which will see secondary school children visit engineering firms and get hands on experience, which will hopefully encourage some to pursue a career in engineering.

BT recruits former soldiers

Further north, BT has been recruiting former army, navy and air force personnel as engineers to assist in its ongoing upgrade of broadband networks across the UK. The Northern Echo reported that many of the telecom company’s 31 new engineering recruits are ex-forces. It follows similar initiatives around the country in which BT has offered engineering jobs to ex-military personnel who are facing redundancy.

Big money Prize for engineering advancements

At a national level, a £1 million prize is being put up for grabs to engineers who make outstanding achievements in engineering. The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering will be open to all nationalities, but it is hoped that it will help raise the profile of the sector in the UK, and its popularity as a further education subject. The prize was launched at a ceremony at London’s science museum, with appearances by David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Milliband. Further information on the prize can be found at http://www.raeng.org.uk/prizes/qeprize/default.htm.

Upcoming national recruitment exhibition for engineers

Finally, the National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition is due to take place at Birmingham NEC on the weekend of the 25^th and 26^th November. The event will give experienced professionals and engineering graduates the chance to meet big name companies such as Rolls Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Network Rail.