National Engineering Day celebrates the vital contributions engineers make to society, highlighting their role in driving innovation and solving complex challenges across various industries.
This year’s National Engineering Day highlights role models across the industry, from businesses and employees to innovative workforces — providing a chance to reflect on those driving the field forward while acknowledging critical challenges and future solutions. According to a recent report, the industry is at a pivotal time, with an urgent need for upskilling employees and diversity to close the UK skills gap and build growth in the industry.
Advanced technology offers transformative potential and will be crucial in addressing skills gaps, fostering diversity and enhancing solutions. Tools like AI, automation and digital learning can not only provide immersive learning experiences, making it easier to upskill employees and adapt them to new demand but also reduce repetitive tasks, fostering a more efficient, innovative and inclusive environment.
Technology and AI paving the way
Technology and AI can play an important role in making sure the engineering industry is innovative and overcomes its challenges. Adrian Negoita, CTO & Co-Founder, Dexory, comments: “The future of the industry depends on how we use cutting edge technologies like AI and robotics. Introducing automation and streamlining the industry could help turn the tide – it would help to close the ever widening skills gap and build a resilient supply chain once and for all. Collaboration between employees and robotics would have a huge impact on advancing employees skills – by automating manual labour, it will allow employees to focus on more strategic, creative tasks that drive long term growth. These critical challenges the industry faces can only be addressed once industry leaders commit to pushing boundaries and utilising technology that inspires future generations of engineers to come.”
The implementation of technology also allows for manual and time-consuming tasks to be automated, allowing for the workforce to focus on more strategic work and business growth. Mark Gray, UK & Ireland Country Manager, Universal Robots highlights: “Addressing skills gaps will require accessible pathways into related professions, including free apprenticeships to build a foundation of practical skills. Initiatives like engineering bootcamps can help inspire young minds, and foster curiosity and interest early on too. Recent figures show a nearly 40% drop in applications for permanent engineering roles, highlighting the urgency of effort needed here. I strongly believe the UK needs to do more in 2025 to foster talent, nurture skills, and promote engineering role models in new and interesting ways, if we are to secure our future as a global leader in engineering.”
Upskilling the workforce to unlock peak performance
Some experts believe that this year’s focus on role models is particularly timely, in order to inspire the next generation of talent into the industry. Glenn Nethercutt, Chief Technology Officer, Genesys, explains: “At Genesys, we believe in the power of mentorship and inspiration to drive progress in AI engineering. Engineers today face a unique set of opportunities and responsibilities as their work increasingly intersects with ethical, social, and environmental considerations. Role models in engineering demonstrate that the field is not just about technical skills but also about harnessing knowledge to make a positive impact.”
“By championing the achievements and values of these role models, we can encourage young people to see engineering as a creative, purpose-driven path that empowers them to influence the future. What’s particularly exciting about engineering today is how it intersects with emerging technologies, creating entirely new possibilities. Young people looking at engineering careers now have the opportunity to work on things that seemed like science fiction just a decade ago. Role models show aspiring engineers that with the right skills and mindset, they too can be part of shaping tomorrow’s world.”
The importance of a diverse workforce
As well as upskilling employees, more diversity is needed in the STEM industry to create a more dynamic workforce. Catherine Ramsdale, SVP Technology, Pragmatic Semiconductor explains: “It’s well established that diverse thinking leads to better innovation, so bringing different perspectives into our teams is not just a nice thing to do – it’s a solid business decision – and it’s something we wholeheartedly embrace at Pragmatic Semiconductor.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough to benefit from a variety of role models throughout my career, and it’s an advantage I’m keen to pass on to the next generation of innovators. Outreach activities for primary and secondary students encourage young people to consider careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). It’s only through targeting students early – before they make firm decisions about their study pathways – that we can build the pipeline of the next generation of engineering talent.”
Also reflecting on the importance of diversity, Faye Ellis, Principle Training Architect, Pluralsight says: “Enhancing representation for female engineers is also imperative to build a pipeline of young women and girl engineers. Currently, only 16.5% of engineers are women, highlighting an urgent need to bring more talent and fresh perspectives to the industry and to create a more diverse generation of engineers. We each have a role to play in opening doors for the next generation, and female role models can help create a tech community where women feel at home and see themselves reflected in leadership roles.”
Rohit Gupta, UK & Ireland Country Head, Cognizant adds: “Effective problem-finding will not only require a technically skilled workforce that understands how to apply and leverage GenAI, but moreover one that can ask great questions, see around corners, think outside the mainstream, and bring fresh perspectives. Strong soft skills like critical thinking, creativity and communication will become more vital than ever alongside traditional STEM knowledge. Diversity both in terms of varied social background as well as in terms of cognitive diversity will be key for this.”
“Businesses will only be truly competitive if they are able to facilitate and leverage a diverse and versatilely skilled employee base, or they run the risk of never achieving the full potential of this new technology. It’s important technology-focused education provides students with a diverse skill set and is accessible to people from all walks of life to ensure a high-achieving and multifaceted workforce of the future.”
The road to success
This year’s National Engineering Day is a good opportunity to reflect on the future of the industry The need for skilled, diverse talent is clear, and advanced technologies present both a solution and an opportunity. By embracing AI, automation and digital learning, the industry can address the growing skills shortage, promote inclusivity, and elevate its future potential. As we celebrate the role models leading the way, we must continue to invest in the tools and strategies that will shape a more dynamic, diverse and sustainable engineering workforce for generations to come.
