In his budget statement to Parliament the Chancellor made a number of announcements that are relevant to the Education work of the Institution; these are listed below along with the Institution's view of the announcement.

Project “Enthuse Science”

Announcement:     The Chancellor allocated £10m over five years – alongside contributions from the Wellcome Trust and the private sector – to create a £30m professional development fund for science teachers in secondary schools.  The money will be used to fund bursaries for science teachers to attend courses at the National Science Learning Centre.

IMechE View:    Science teachers play a major role in developing young people’s interest in science. Although this project focuses on science rather than engineering, future professional engineers need a strong foundation in secondary school sciences and mathematics.

The Institution welcomes this announcement and believes that this funding should:

• be directed towards schools with a specific need to improve their science offering, including those in disadvantaged areas
• support retraining for science teachers in subjects where shortages are most acute (physics, mathematics and chemistry).

Skills/Leitch Review

Announcement:    The Chancellor committed an extra £60m over the next three years to provide new opportunities for people to gain skills needed by the market. The money will be focused on those with Level 3 qualifications (2+ A-Levels or vocational equivalents – including EngTech), helping to provide opportunities for people to train, develop their skills and progress. This includes additional apprenticeships with leading employers. 

IMechE View:    Level 3 skills are essential to our economy. This funding is welcomed; it should be targeted towards sectors with the greatest need and potential to benefit the economy, working closely with employers to focus delivery.  Supporting and recognising people’s initial qualifications and ongoing professional development should be built into this process.

Science and Innovation

Announcement:    The Government will spend £6bn a year by 2010 to support UK science and innovation. The Science and Innovation White Paper, to be published by the Department for Innovation, University and Skills tomorrow, will plot the Government’s plans to implement the Sainsbury Review’s recommendations. Commitments include: the piloting of a Further Education Specialisation and Innovation Fund; a doubling of the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships supported by the Technology Strategy Board; proposals on how to ensure Government procurement promotes innovation; and an independent innovation index.

IMechE View:     Science and innovation are essential to the UK’s success, engineering being the creative and practical application of science to produce innovation, and the Institution welcomes the Government’s intent.  The announced package of measures should help drive innovation in our economy.  We particularly welcome:

• the intent to develop links between businesses and the FE sector as this will have particular value for small to medium sized companies
• the plan to double the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, a successful model for embedding innovation in businesses