EngineeringUK estimates that the UK will require 87,000 new engineers a year over the next ten years. However, with skills shortages threatening to derail the UK's engineering industry, it is clear that immediate action needs to be taken if this quota is to be met. In this article, Vincent English, managing director of Vernier Europe, offers his…

This is a review of literature pertaining to UK secondary school students, their uptake of science at higher levels and their consideration of careers as scientists. As with all countries, the continued uptake of sufficient numbers of science at all levels is in the UK's interest. Unfortunately too many UK secondary students see science as…

Dartford Grammar School is a selective academy and an International Baccalaureate World School with a strong, central international ethos. All 797 students in Key Stages 3 and 4 study two foreign languages up to GCSE level (including Chinese or Japanese) and all 537 students in the sixth form study at least one foreign language. To ensure a…

A survey of 250 British science and technology students showed that 84% had not considered employment in small/medium-sized businesses, partly due to the influence of university career services and the perception that salaries and advancement prospects are lower. Better information on small business opportunities is needed to improve their use of…

The influences of United Kingdom (UK) science teachers and careers advisers on students' decisions about science subjects and science and technology (S&T) careers were examined through a survey completed by 155 (55% of the target sample) career advisers to year 11 pupils in 7 careers service companies and case studies of a sample of 6 diverse…