Nissan short of 60 engineers

Global design centre in Bedfordshire needs to fill skills gap

One of the most prominent employers in Bedfordshire is seeking 60 engineers.

Japanese car maker Nissan is seeking the engineers to work at its Nissan European Technical Centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire according to a senior manager.

Nissan’s site in Cranfield employs about 500 people creating vehicle designs for the global  market and the company says it needs engineers to fill a big skills gap.

David Moss, vice president of vehicle research and development at Nissan, said the company is about 60 engineers short and particularly lacks electronics engineers. Cars are becoming more and more electronics based and the lack of local skills is a threat to the company.

Moss spoke in favour of the new University Technical Colleges (UTCs) during an event at the Central Bedfordshire UTC, in Houghton Regis, near Dunstable, on Wednesday, 3 May. UTCs concentrate on science, engineering and technical skills for 14-19 year-olds.

Moss claimed also a lack of female engineers and he is keen to encourage young women to take up careers in the field.

He added that the Nissan European Technical Centre is keen to recruit females into product design. 

“You cannot get the same views from a group of blokes,” he claimed. “Engineering isn’t about getting your hands dirty, it’s about making products in the best way possible,” he said.