Liverpool civil and structural engineering consultancy Sutcliffe makes 10-year commitment to train new engineers. Tony McDonough reports
Civil and structural engineering consultancy Sutcliffe says it will train 40 new engineers over the next decade.
Liverpool-based Sutcliffe is marking its 40th anniversary with this new commitment. Also operating from Manchester, North Wales, London and the Midlands with a team of 65 employees, the firm says it is helping to address critical industry projections.
According to the Royal Academy of Engineering the UK faces a shortage of up to 1.5m engineers by 2030, while ECITB data shows 91,000 engineers – representing 19% of the current workforce – are approaching retirement by 2026.
This skills shortage threatens to undermine the Government’s “build baby build” target of delivering 1.5m new homes, with engineering capacity becoming an increasingly critical bottleneck in housing delivery nationwide.
Sutcliffe’s initiative addresses the growing financial barriers facing young engineers, with four-year university engineering degrees now costing up to £89,000, creating significant obstacles for talented individuals seeking to enter the profession.
Chief executive Sean Keyes: “The construction industry I joined over four decades ago is facing an unprecedented challenge.
“We’re looking at a skills crisis where nearly one in five engineers will retire just as demand for engineering expertise is set to surge by 28%.
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“This isn’t simply an industry issue – it’s a fundamental threat to our ability to deliver the homes and infrastructure our communities desperately need.
“At Sutcliffe, we take pride in nurturing talent from the ground up. Some of our most senior engineers today started their journey with us as apprentices or graduates, and they’re now leading complex projects across the UK.
“Our commitment to train 40 new engineers over the next decade isn’t just about securing our own future – it’s about ensuring our industry has the skilled professionals needed to tackle the challenges ahead.”