Communications Briefing: 21 January to 1 February 2019

INSTITUTION IN THE NEWS

The Press Office responded to the Government’s new Maritime 2050 strategy and also announced that the Institution was proud to play a leading role in the latest review of engineering skills: the Perkins review.

Our Chief Executive’s latest blog is available to read here.

• 25/01/19 Government sets out 2050 zero-emission strategy for shipping – Air Quality News

  The Institution responds to the Department of Transport’s first-ever maritime strategy, which details their vision of a zero-emission shipping industry by 2050. Features a quote from Dr Jenifer Baxter, who highlights that shipping currently contributes about 2% of global CO2 emissions.

• 31/01/19 Batteries possibly included: the train engine innovations taking on diesel – Railway Technology

  Article exploring whether diesel trains are set to become a thing from the past given the Government’s plans to phase out the use of diesel trains by 2040. The story quotes the statistics from the Institution that the UK has managed to electrify only 40% of its current network.

• 29/01/19 Can apprenticeships address the UK's STEM skills gap? – FE  News

  Story exploring the shortages of workers in STEM sectors and whether improving apprenticeships could be a solution. The piece quotes statistics from the Institution that the shortfall costs the UK economy £1.5 billion a year.

• 24/01/19 Business warning over no-deal Brexit – Daily Echo

  Piece featuring a warning from Dorset’s top spokesman for business that one in five companies would have to slash investment, cut recruitment or move operations to the EU under a no deal Brexit. Quotes the Institution’s UK Aerospace: The Impact of Brexit report which highlights that the UK aerospace industry, worth £35billion in turnover in 2017, could lose investment and face supply chain problems if there was no Brexit deal.

• 22/01/19 How the engineers of tomorrow are hitting top gear – Electronic Specifier

  Profile of the University of Bath’s Formula Student team which highlights some of the significant advancements in the development of their car.

• 21/01/19 Wylfa suspension could lead to a UK energy crisis – The Chemical Engineer

News that Hitachi has announced the decision to suspend indefinitely its UK nuclear power station construction project, located in Wylfa Newydd, Anglesey, Wales. Dr Jenifer Baxter is quoted as an expert and she highlights that the announcement is sad news for North Wales as the plant would have provided an important economic boost.