Dyson warns engineering skills shortage could leave UK behind Europe and China

Sir James Dyson has warned that a shortage of people with engineering and technical skills could leave the UK behind Europe and China. He supports a proposal to establish technical institutions in northern towns, aiming to improve young people’s prospects and help employers fill skilled jobs.

A Policy Exchange report says engineering, manufacturing and construction made up 9 per cent of UK graduate degrees in 2023, against 13 per cent across developed countries, 25 per cent in Germany and 33 per cent in China. It also cites more than one million 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training, alongside 250,000 vacancies employers say they cannot fill because of skills gaps. The report proposes a £50 million fund for ten institutions, drawing on a two-year engineering degree model in Hereford.