The engineering industry is facing its biggest skills challenge in decades, according to Sean Keyes, CEO of Sutcliffe, who has over 40 years of experience in the sector.
“We’re looking at a perfect storm – 19% of engineers retiring just as demand is set to increase by 28% over the next decade,” says Keyes. “This isn’t just an industry problem – it’s a national crisis that threatens everything from housing delivery to economic growth.”
The impact extends beyond statistics. When engineering capacity falls short, families waiting for affordable homes and NHS trusts needing new facilities are the ones who pay the price.
Rather than waiting for government intervention, Sutcliffe is taking proactive steps to address the shortage. The firm is expanding its apprenticeship programmes, partnering with local colleges to bridge the education-to-industry gap, and investing in upskilling existing talent for emerging challenges like retrofit and sustainable construction.
“It’s our responsibility as an established firm to pave the way forward,” Keyes adds. “Some of our most experienced engineers today started as apprentices or graduates with us years ago – that’s the long-term thinking this industry needs.”
Keyes is calling on other industry leaders to take concrete action before the skills gap becomes unbridgeable, ensuring the engineering talent communities depend on remains available for future projects.
