It is clear that the engineering and technology community holds a great amount of value when it comes to policy making in areas such as communications, transport and energy. It is for this reason, that the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) is preparing to place itself at the centre of such policy making.
Due to previous governments making it known that they believe groups in this industry to be disparate when it comes to discussing ideas, an alliance called Engineering the Future has been created. This union represents almost half a million engineers including the IET and other organisations, making it a dominant voice when influencing decision making. This has ensured that the government need only consult one group for independent know-how and guidance on engineering.
All in all, the group has five key policy concerns for the new government’s focus:
- Firstly, the government must maintain and support the investment given to skills for future benefit. For instance, this may be providing incentives for students to learn more about science and engineering.
- It is important that the government assists the UK in being a leader in low-carbon technology, both as a supplier and a user.
- The group advises that the government should plan to capitalise on the use of the valuable science and research base which exists within the UK. It is essential that those in the field of engineering and technology can share their knowledge to bring new products to the market and help to ensure a sustainable environment for the country.
- Money should be set aside to invest in UK based innovation of products and services.
- Finally, and most importantly of all, the government must allow engineering advice to take a more central role in the formation of new policies. Most areas of public policy have an engineering dimension which ought to be considered from the outset, before any commissioning has been granted. The government can only increase in strength by accepting engineering advice. For instance, the UK energy policy is very important as decarbonisation targets must be achieved by 2050. Advice from impartial experts in the field of engineering will be greatly beneficial to this cause.
Over the coming months, the IET will be present in a series of briefings taking place in Westminster, as engineers inform MPs and researchers of the benefits of consulting experts. With a significant number of new MPs entering parliament it is important that solid relationships are formed, as well as continuing to develop those which already exist. The hard work must now begin to ensure that the government is fully engaged with the engineering community. Engineering for the Future’s proposals should see this goal achieved.
