EDT (2) SP8

John Steele - Science Policy Review 2005

I have the following comments to make in reference to your request for responses to the Science Policy Review.Aerospace in the UK is second only to the USA for GDP. Wales contributes some 20% of this.To this end, it is important to recognise the important contribution Aerospace in Wales makes toward the economy of Wales and equally toward Innovation, Science, Engineering.Although an Aerospace perspective, I am sure they reflect the broad issues associated with Science, Engineering and Technology Innovation.I have attached a document from the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AeIGT) and acknowledge their research. As a member of Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd and SBAC People Management Board, I have responsibility for coordinating and implementing a Welsh Academic and Skills Aerospace Strategy.Education and SkillsThe Aerospace Industry has long been a high-skills, high-calibre environment, with over 30% of employees educated to degree standard or higher and more than 11% involved in R&D. In spite of this attractive profile, skills recruitment is a problem, with 42% of companies having experienced recruitment difficulties. The nature of the UK Aerospace workforce is changing: since 1999, the proportion of manual workers has dropped 6% to 53% of employees in 2002, 25% of Aerospace companies are experiencing "skill gaps" which are directly affecting overall business performance and it is thought that an upturn in the market will only worsen this skills shortage.These gaps are attributable to several key factors.1. Industry and Academia, and hence the National Curriculum, have become disconnected over recent times; too often recruits have little or no work-related skills including Process Excellence2. Aerospace, and Engineering as a whole, is not seen as an attractive prospect for potential employees. Therefore, whilst we have the highest number of 24 year olds in the world with degrees in Natural Science, Engineering or Mathematics, only 3% of these are engineering degrees (one of the lowest percentages in Europe).The focus is, therefore, to ensure that Science underpins Education for the 21 Century. The National Curriculum is too prescriptive and too soft. Mathematics, Science and Innovative skills must underpin any future education system. The teaching of Physics at GCSE and A Level must be a stand alone subject.Industrial and practising Scientists and Engineers must be encouraged to teach in schools. Furthermore, there has been a notable decline in the intake into traditional engineering courses in recent years. While Aerospace has been largely unaffected by this, there is a corresponding failure of engineering industries, Aerospace included, to recruit the top science and engineering graduates.The skills requirements of the Aerospace Industry are changing. While traditional skills are still needed, primarily at operational levels, new technologies are requiring new skills. There is a need for engineers to think and operate globally and be aware of other engineering "cultures" - particularly in the more multi-disciplinary aspects of the Industry. These new requirements need to be reflected in the formation of our future workforce, whether by vocational training, university education or a combination of both.UK Aerospace Technology - a Capability AuditUK Aerospace technology capability needs to be understood in terms of systems and subsystems rather than platforms. UK Aerospace faces the erosion of some platform level capabilities, but remains strong in subsystems and emerging technologies. In this competitive environment, the UK should only invest in areas where intellectual property is being created and value is being added.Aerospace is one of only two UK Industries that maintain globally competitive levels of expenditure on product development and research and technology. There is a strong link between R&T and R&D investment and Industry competitiveness and productivity. The level of investment in this area is also linked strongly with spill-over benefits for the wider economy. Historically, this has been underpinned by the world-class research and technology demonstration programmes promotedStrategy OverviewThe key success drivers and factors that have contributed to the UK Aerospace Industry's favourable position:-1. Identifying effective R&T,2. Productive processes,3. A dynamic skilled workforce4. An advantageous environment in which to do business drivers.An analysis of the threats facing UK Aerospace identified that, in addition to the four success factors, a fifth factor would determine the extent to which UK Aerospace could mitigate the threats of failure. This factor is a focus on sustainability in the UK Aerospace Industry. Success in the future will result from focusing on these five factors, not piecemeal as in the past, but as elements of a cohesive strategy.A strategy built upon five objectives, focusing on the five success factors:-1. Focused Aerospace applied Research and Demonstration.2. Systematic and continuous delivery of productivity improvement.3. Continuous development of a world-class workforce.4. Creation of the right economic conditions, socio-economic environment and focused policies.5. Spearheading international sustainable development in Aerospace.There is a phase lag between innovation and the skills to support it. Further Education (Wales) have introduced Network of Excellence. These need to be aligned or partnered with relevant Universities.The Welsh Assembly should consider a Science Engineering and Technology Cabinet post.  The partnership of Government, Industry, Academia and Unions is key to fully understanding the development needs of the workforce and to take action to meet these requirements.There needs to be a fundamental review of Education & Training Policy for the 21st century -Pre 16, FE and HE naturally overlap, the progression and output from one to the other must be reviewed. FE Engineering Departments and HE Schools of Science & Technology are spending more and more time i.e. at least one academic term, on revision of basic Arithmetical and Physics concepts that ought to have been previously covered.To ensure the workforce is dynamic and world-class, the following actions are priorities:-1. The monitoring of the changing skills requirements of Industry, to understand what is needed.2. The effective communication of these requirements to relevant institutions.3. The driving of continuous learning practices throughout Industry to create a learning environment.4. The tailoring of education to meet Industry's requirements, through three avenues:- communication with universities to supply undergraduates with an appropriate foundation of skills;- adoption of an Aerospace-oriented technician apprentice programme to supply appropriately trained technicians;- establishment and enhancement of Teaching Centres of Excellence to provide specialised post-graduate training and continual professional development to Industry personnel.5. The fostering of a certified high standard of engineering through requiring Professional Registration of appropriate technical personnel.The UK Aerospace Industry's success in meeting new challenges will depend on a continuing favourable background in terms of stable economic conditions and policies that enable UK Industry to thrive in world markets.This requires Welsh Assembly support on several fronts:-1. Creation of a Market Observatory to help Industry determine opportunities and routes to market.2. Applications for launch investment should continue to be considered, in conjunction with exploration of ways for Industry to attract more private sector finance.3. The Government's Defence Industrial Policy should continue to be implemented, alongside continuing official efforts to open US and European markets to UK companies.4. Defence equipment acquisition processes should be further reformed to establish a better balance between risk and reward.5. The Government should ensure that the proposed move of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to trading fund status does not disadvantage UK Industry in bidding for export work.Developing and Maintaining a Welsh National Aerospace Strategy is a National Priority.