At a recent debate organised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), there was strong support for employers who keep investing in skills and young engineers through the recession.

The debate was over the question “Does our education system produce the right calibre of engineer or is the industry expecting too much????? Those representing employers within the building services engineering sector argued that graduates seeking to enter the industry often require considerable re-training before they are equipped to handle “real???? work. However, those representing the higher and further education system believed that they are already shaping courses and producing engineers that specifically meet the industry’s expectations.

Both sides agreed that due to increased demand for renewable energy and environmental technologies, the long-term business picture is brighter than those in past economic downturns. Yet, because times are tough, many companies are cutting back on training and recruitment.

It costs around £35,000 over four years to train an apprentice, and it takes several years before the employer sees a return on that investment. The industry currently turns away more people than it employs. Approximately 60 percent of this country’s registered engineers no longer work in engineering professions.

“We need to learn from recent history. Employers that don’t invest in skills are two and a half times more likely to fail, whereas those that carry on training will recover more quickly,???? concluded Tony Thomas, professor of work-based learning at the London South Bank University, where the debate was held.