The Scotland Policy Panel acts as a two-way link between the profession and government in Scotland.
Any feedback on this document should be noted by 29 March 2016.
Any comments, case studies, corrections or amendments which members in Scotland may have are welcomed.
Our vision
IET calls on all parties in Scotland to recognise the role of engineering in: providing jobs; creating opportunities and; shaping the future of Scotland.
Engineering, whether in manufacturing industry, Information Technology, construction or energy, underpins vital sectors of the Scottish economy and provides the platform for innovation in which the Scottish economy can grow and create jobs to compete with the rest of the world.
Key points
- Engineering is important to Scottish economy and for the future of the country. It needs support.
- Education which includes early encouragement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a key battleground. We need to assist pupils particularly girls and promote training for their teachers.
- Engineering is a wide discipline with opportunities not just for graduates but also at technician level. Flexible training and apprenticeships can maximise opportunities in an area which has many skills shortages.
- The office of Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland is still vacant. This role must be filled soon so that Government can avail of independent evidence-based scientific advice in formulating policy.
- Funding for research and the encouragement of links between the research bodies and commercial businesses is a priority.
- Energy is a vital sector for the Scottish economy but Scotland needs a mix of power generation sources. The extension of the lifespan of the Torness nuclear plant to 2030 is wise but vulnerabilities remain due to the intermittent nature of some sources of renewable energy (e.g. wind).
- Investment is needed to provide resilient infrastructure. The recognition that many types of infrastructure are inter-dependent also needs to be recognised.
- There has to be a major education campaign to alert business, particularly small businesses to the cyber security threats.