A committee of MPs has attacked the government for failing to take advantage of the UK’s engineering skills base.

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee report found the government “lacks sufficient in-house expertise to exploit fully the UK’s world-class engineering base”.

Marc Van Ling, managing director of technical recruiter Europe Solutions, told Recruiter the government’s approach to the developing skills in the sector was “slow and cumbersome”.

“To some extent the downturn has provided more talent, but there’s still a skills crisis and when it [the economy] gets better we are going to be in the same place we were.”

Paul Hovington, director at Profile Technical Recruitment, adds: “The UK has some of the world’s best talent in both engineering companies and personnel. Over the past decade British companies and engineers have been responsible for and involved in some of the most prestigious and technically challenging projects ever constructed.

“I think that if we want the best engineers to work on UK projects then the government needs to do something about simplifying the consultation period on major projects and getting actual engineering staff involved from the outset.

“If young people see major engineering schemes being built in the UK and they are not shrouded in huge public debate, then there is a greater chance of tempting people into the industry rather than losing them to industries where there is less red tape to fight through daily.”

Findings of the Engineering: turning ideas into reality report include:

·     Many officials lack knowledge of the sector to decide who to seek advice from and when to ask for it.

·     The Committee was “shocked” to find that engineering advice was missing, or barely featured, in the formulation of policy for eco-towns, renewable energy and big IT projects.

·     Engineering advice should be sought early, before policy being agreed.