ACE Progress Network should take a lead on selling profession to the young

As a judge for the ‘Young Consultant of the Year’ category in the 2014 NCE/ACE Consultants of the Year awards, presented last week (see News Round up), I was delighted to see so many entrants describing their work in terms of its impact on society.

Lucy Carraz
26 March 2014

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It is clear that many young people believe they have much to contribute, both to the profession and to the world at large, even at an early stage in their career.

I applaud this optimistic outlook and wish it were more widespread. According to Government statistics, there are still too few young people entering our profession. The impact is felt by our industry through difficulties in recruiting and as a country through slower economic growth.

Today, the UK is enjoying a boom in infrastructure development. There has rarely been a more exciting time to enter the profession, or a better time to illustrate its potential.

The lack of new entrants is puzzling. Surely young people should be drawn to a career where they can travel the world and make a real difference through their work? As professionals, we must convey the exciting challenges we face and explain how the built environment is conceived, designed and constructed, so young people can picture themselves growing up to influence the world of tomorrow.

Engineering and technical consulting have a lower profile than many other professions and this must change if we hope to attract the best and brightest young minds. It is important that profile-raising is not seen as the responsibility of the industry’s most senior figures.

Today, the UK is enjoying a boom in infrastructure development. There has rarely been a more exciting time to enter the profession, or a better time to illustrate its potential.

I hope that in this time of growth, the Progress Network will not only raise the aspirations of those embarking on a career in engineering or consultancy, but also help bring more people into the profession. Our members are surely the best ambassadors for attracting the next generation.

Lucy Carraz is chair of the ACE’s Progress Network and a Technical Director at URS.