b'Member News March 2024 11InformHow upskilling and reskilling support a more sustainable worldAs our President, Dr Gopichand Katragadda, outlined inhis inaugural speech, new technologies support net zeroin wide-ranging ways. However upskilling and reskillingare vital in overcoming the shortage of skilled workforces.The IET was delighted to host anfacilitate upskilling, especiallyon supply chains, goods and official event at COP28 wherein the sustainable developmentservices. Fewer than 4% of we unveiled key findings fromof its five critical technologies.engineering companies across our first survey of internationalThe IET is also calling foreight countries think their skills for sustainability, whichunused apprenticeship levyorganisations have all the skills involved 2,000 engineeringfunding to be repurposed,to be resilient to its effects.IET President, Dr Gopichand Katragaddaemployers across 10 countries.to provide vital, flexibleAnd 76% of UK employersacknowledge a shortage of Our survey findings showsupport to businesses forwith a sustainability strategyspecialist environmental and that the UK has critical skillsreskilling in microcredentials. acknowledge they needleadership skills.shortages in new technologies.Agility and whole-systemsadditional skills to implement it. We recommend sustainability UK engineering employersthinking are critical in theWe believe that net zerostarts with young children, are least likely to recognisedrive towards net zero, yet UKneeds an industrial strategy,motivating them with hands-digital twins as a priorityindustrys confidence in theinnovation funding andon learning that encourages technology for reaching neteducation system is remarkablysupport for upskilling the UKcreativity, imagination and zero; indeed only 3% from thelow. 63% of UK organisationsworkforce. These will makeproblem solving. Its the clear construction sector identifiedsaid that the education systemroute to attract students later it as important. Furthermore,doesnt prepare graduates forthe UK more competitive andon into engineering careers 77% of UK respondents dontindustry. This contrasts withcapable of meeting challengingthat build a sustainable world. think they have all the skillsmost international companiessustainability targets. EngineersGreater industry-university to be resilient against climatethat state their nationalbring skills, experience andcollaboration is also vital in change. This highlighted thathigher education system doesingenuity to create theensuring more engineering and engineering employers areprepare candidates well. infrastructure, develop innovativetechnology candidates are missing an opportunity ontechnologies, and implementprepared for industry, especially digitalisation around net zeroEngineering employerssolutions to achieve net zeroin areas of acute skills deficit and need support. To remedyworldwide are concerned aboutoutputs with a just transition. such as nuclear technologies.this, the Government should the impact of climate changeOrganisations recogniseLong-term, cross-party political the need for whole-systemscommitment must underpin thinking and cross-disciplinarythese key messages. This will integration to create sustainable,give industry the confidence to profitable and sociallyinvest, develop supply chains responsible solutions, but theyand upskill and reskill workforces.You can read the full survey findings by visitingtheiet.org./sustainability-skills-survey and you can find out more about our apprenticeship levy campaign in our 2024 IET HKIE and ICE Presidents amongst delegates at COP28 Spring Budget representation at theiet.org/spring-budget-24'