Category : News

Join us on the 20th November to get your CEnv questions answered

This free drop-in session is an informal chance to quiz our team about your next steps towards your Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) goal. Think of it as a coffee break with a splash of career development.

Have a think about your CEnv plans. Did you stumble across some questions? Here’s the time to ask. Register for free using the very simple form and join us on the day via Zoom. Your questions come with zero obligation to apply for CEnv, but the planet might thank you.

Join us at any time between 8.30am – 9.30am BST on the 20th November 2025 from anywhere in the world.

These Q&A drop-in sessions are mainly designed for those at the early stages of application or those thinking about it. Having said that, we’ll try to help with all questions and signpost to valuable resources or to another contact.

On 29 October 2025, the UK Government published a new Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan – with details on how the country will deliver emissions reductions up to 2037.

Society for the Environment responded with this statement:

“SocEnv welcomes the publication of the Government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan. Delivering on our climate ambitions and targets is necessary to address the huge risks associated with the effects of climate change, but beyond the risks it also brings with it huge opportunities to improve the lives of people across the UK – through a better environment, improved health and economic growth. In providing evidence of the Government’s commitment to delivering ambitious climate action, the plan should help stimulate investment in green industries and skills. This investment is crucial to ensuring that green job vacancies are filled by those with proven competence. We will continue to work with Government to ensure that our extensive network of professionally registered environmental professionals have the skills and resources they need to deliver the best possible response to the Climate Emergency – underpinned by evidence, leadership and innovation.”

Dr Emma Wilcox CEnv
Chief Executive of Society for the Environment (SocEnv)

The plan can be viewed here.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a global prize that celebrates the successes of modern engineering. With QEPrize winners selected from across the world, such an international prize requires a truly international trophy.

Every year, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering trophy is found through the ‘Create the Trophy’ competition. The competition gives young people aged 14-24 the opportunity to get involved, testing their design skills using the latest in 3D-design technology. The winner receives a high-end laptop, a 3D printed model of their trophy, and the opportunity to see their 3D printed winning design presented to the winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in London, UK. In addition, the winning trophy will also go on display in the Engineers gallery at the Science Museum, which showcases engineering innovations through the lens of the QEPrize.

The 2026 Create the Trophy competition is now open and closes at 23.59 (UTC) on Friday 28 November, and the winner will be announced on 3 February 2026.

Trophy designs are created and submitted using the QEPrize 3D Design Studio app, which is
free to download on both iOS and Android. To find out more, visit the website: www.qeprize.org/trophy

The MacRobert Award is the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious national prize for engineering innovation.

For over 55 years, the MacRobert Award honours the very best of UK engineering which demonstrates outstanding innovation, commerciality and societal benefit.

Originally founded by the MacRobert Trust, the Award is now presented and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers.

Winners receive a £50,000 cash prize and the iconic MacRobert gold medal, together with national recognition, extensive media coverage, and an exclusive celebratory weekend at Douneside House on the MacRobert estate in the heart of Aberdeenshire.

Applications are welcomed for innovations across all areas of engineering, applied science, technology and medicine — from ambitious start-ups to established industry leaders. Deadline for applications is 5pm on 31 January 2026.

Further information can be found here

Join us on the 16th to get your REnvP questions answered

This drop-in session is an informal chance to quiz our team about your next steps towards your Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) goal. Think of it as a coffee break with a splash of career development.

Have a think about your REnvP plans. Did you stumble across some questions? Here’s the time to ask. Register for free using the very simple form and join us on the day via Microsoft Teams. Your questions come with zero obligation to apply for REnvP, but the planet might thank you.

Join us at any time between 8.30am – 9.30am BST on the 16th October 2025 from anywhere in the world.

These Q&A drop-in sessions are mainly designed for those at the early stages of application or those thinking about it. Having said that, we’ll try to help with all questions and signpost to valuable resources or to another contact.

See you then.

REGISTER HERE

Understanding the user is at the heart of safe, effective, and innovative medical device design. This webinar explores how engineering teams can integrate diverse user perspectives, translate the Voice of the User into measurable design inputs, and balance innovation with regulatory compliance.

Through guided discussion and Q&A, we’ll look at practical strategies for managing technical feasibility, risk, and user needs throughout the design process—right through to post-market surveillance and feedback integration.

Join us to gain insights into how user-focused design can lead to better outcomes for patients, clinicians, and the broader healthcare system.

This webinar is being held on 29 October 2025 from 18.00 – 19.30.

Click here to register

The new report identifies skills shortages that hinder circular economy progress in the UK.

The Institute of Materials, Mineral & Mining (IOM3), has come together with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to publish a report highlighting the skills gaps and challenges that the UK faces in developing the workforce required to deliver a successful circular economy, as well as setting out steps to address those challenges. 

This report draws on insights from across industry, academia, education and training providers and policymakers, and calls for recognition of the fundamental role chemical and materials science and engineering play in realising the opportunities offered by greater circularity, including securing growth and building supply chain resilience. 

Rachel Stonehouse, Head of Policy at IOM3, said, ‘This report is informed by a broad and diverse community across our disciplines. It brings together insight from a range of actors and different sectors and clearly demonstrates that delivering the workforce to drive the circular transition is a cross-economy priority and pressing risk facing the UK.

‘Essential for the UK’s long-term economic and environmental resilience, the shift to a low-carbon, circular economy relies fundamentally on chemical and materials science and engineering. As professional bodies, we will continue to support our communities to lead the transition and to help build the partnerships needed to deliver the skilled, inclusive and adaptable circular economy workforce the UK urgently requires.’

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: ‘This government is committed to building a circular economy where we keep resources in use for longer and reduce waste. This transition will accelerate our path to net-zero, drive vital investment in green infrastructure and jobs, boost our economy and help nature flourish. Getting our workforce equipped with the right skills will be absolutely critical to making this transformation a success.’

The UK consumes 15.3 tonnes of materials per person each year – roughly double what is considered sustainable – with over 90% of those materials lost to the economy at the end-of-life. Transitioning away from this linear approach to materials consumption to a circular economy is a pressing imperative, but this can only be achieved with the right jobs and skills.

The report highlights the need for long-term policy certainty and stability to support industry investment and individual career choices. It also calls for better awareness of job opportunities, stronger support for the skills pipeline by tackling barriers to education and increasing workforce diversity, an effective approach to regulation, planning and permitting and greater alignment between government strategies.

Jobs and skills for a circular economy: a cross-sector perspective from the chemical and materials science and engineering communities is based on insights from two online workshops with 47 expert stakeholders across industry, academia, education and training providers and policymakers, and a survey with 54 participants.

Read the full report here

• The winners of The Big Bang Competition have been announced today, including the new UK Young Engineer and UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens

• Young people’s winning projects include an automatic pill dispenser and an alternative telecommunications system for emergency communications in rural areas

The winners of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition have been announced today, including the top awards of the UK Young Engineer and UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens. Held at The Big Bang Fair, the awards ceremony followed a day-long showcase of impressive young talent.

The Big Bang Competition, run by charity EngineeringUK, is a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists aged 11 to 18, which recognises and rewards talented young innovators. There are a range of awards and prizes up for grabs, with the top 3 winners each receiving £1,000 prize money.

UK Young Engineer of the Year 2025

Aaron Lord, a year 12 student from Greenhead College in Yorkshire, has been crowned UK Young Engineer of the Year for his project ‘Autopill’. Inspired to support those taking regular medication, particularly people with dementia and memory difficulties, Aaron created an automatic pill dispenser. Using mechanics, electronics and computer-aided design (CAD), the ‘Autopill’ allows users to insert their pills for the week and includes a pulsing light and bleeping noise to signal that pills are ready to take. The impressive device also includes a health monitoring component which can track users’ heart rate and oximetry when placing their finger on a sensor.

Aaron commented “I’m thrilled to accept this award – it’s incredible! The Competition has been a brilliant experience from start to finish. It allowed me to take something that I thought was a good idea and turn it into something tangible.”  

Engineering Award winners

Gayatri Thiru, year 8 at Invicta Grammar School, Kent, is the Junior Engineering winner for their design for a solar powered, remote-controlled machine that harnesses nanotechnology to clean oil spills in the ocean. It uses magnetite nanoparticles, which are tiny particles that attract oil and repel water. Once these particles soak up the oil, magnetic fields will be used to pull them back out of the water for recovery.  

Om Kuravinakop, from St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School in London, is the Intermediate Engineering winner. Om, year 11, created a hand-held air quality monitor for asthma patients that tracks fine particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and humidity. It also syncs to a smartphone to help people with asthma monitor risk levels with a view to preventing attacks.  

Grace Palmer, in year 12 at WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull, is the Senior Engineering winner for her project ‘Thrive transfer aid’. Inspired by the challenges faced by her young cousin, Grace wanted to find ways to improve the lives of disabled children and their families. She has created a new product to help transfer children comfortably whether that’s from bed to a desk chair or from a wheelchair to a rollercoaster. Providing a more affordable and inclusive solution, the aid also allows young children to be comfortably carried and enables them to sit at a restaurant table.

UK Young Technologist of the Year 2025

The UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens, has been named as Muhammad Shah, a year 13 student from Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet in London, for their project ‘Icarus’. Inspired by his love of the outdoors and trekking, Muhammad created an alternative telecommunications system for low-cost and effective emergency communications in remote areas.

Mark Wood, Social Sustainability Lead at Siemens GB&I, commented, “Congratulations to The Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens! This year the competition was intense, but Muhammad stood out with his decentralised communication system which avoids reliance on cellular or satellite networks, and has great opportunities for search and rescue, leisure and other business uses. Muhammad demonstrated independent learning and great communication and presentation skills and is a worthy winner of the prize!

“The Big Bang Competition is a great opportunity to demonstrate ingenuity and creativity within technology and how technology is essential across business and our lives, including to support digitalisation and sustainability.”

Muhammad, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to A level exams, is due to be presented the award later this month at his school’s design showcase.

Dr Hilary Leevers, EngineeringUK Chief Executive, said “Huge congratulations to all our winners, who have shown impressive creativity, knowledge and drive as they have worked on their projects. I hope they, and all the runners-up, are proud of their achievement. There are so many opportunities for them to continue with STEM in education and training and then in the workplace. I’m sure they have a bright future ahead.”

UK Young Scientist of the Year 2025 and other winners

Alice Morrish, a year 10 student from Invicta Grammar School in Kent, was crowned UK Young Scientist of the Year for their project ‘Quantum Karate’. Other winning projects across the competition included an AI-based programme for cancer diagnosis, a menopause cooling stick and a facemask that converts pollutants.

To find out more and discover all the winners of The Big Bang Competition 2025 visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/competition-winners

To find out more about The Big Bang Fair, which is running at Birmingham’s NEC from 17 June to 19 June 2025, visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/the-big-bang-fair/

New workforce data released today by EngineeringUK reveals there are 6.4m people employed in engineering and technology roles in the UK.

Key workforce data:

• There are approximately 6.4m people working in engineering and technology occupations in the UK – around a fifth of the workforce (19.3%)
• Women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering and technology. Only 16.9% of the workforce are women, compared to 56% of other occupations
• UK minority ethnic groups are also underrepresented, making up 14% of the workforce, compared to 18% of other occupations
• Disabled people make up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, lower than the 19% across all other occupations

EngineeringUK Head of Research, Becca Gooch said, “The latest data shows that there is still more to be done before we have the diverse workforce we need for UK engineering and technology to thrive. Women remain the most underrepresented group. Back in 2010, women made up around 10% of the workforce, so 16.9% is certainly an increase, but over 15 years, this is slow progress for a sector growing faster than any other between now and 2030.

“Our research shows introducing young people to what a career in engineering and technology could mean for them ignites a passion for STEM among young people from all backgrounds. STEM outreach programmes like The Big Bang, Energy Quest and Climate School Programme help bring to life real-world engineering and tech careers for young people. But we’d like the sector, which has a skills and labour shortage, to do much, much more to recruit and retain talented women.”

EngineeringUK has partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Women’s Engineering Society (WES), BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) to address the underrepresentation of women. Together we will drive a collective mission to increase the number of girls in education pathways to engineering and technology at 18, focusing on key areas influencing girls and young women’s engineering and technology career choices. Read more about this work online at www.engineeringuk.com/genderpathways.

The latest briefing with the updated engineering and technology workforce data and analysis is available on the EngineeringUK website at www.engineeringuk.com/workforce.

This Volunteers’ Week (2-8 June 2025), the Engineering Council celebrates the dedicated individuals whose time, expertise and passion help uphold the standards that maintain the trust and respect of the engineering profession.

A national campaign that takes place every June, Volunteers’ Week celebrates and thanks volunteers for the important work they do. It is an opportunity for organisations and communities to show their appreciation for both current and past volunteers.

The contributions of our volunteers help uphold the Standards that define the engineering profession. From our Board of Trustees, who guide the strategic direction of our organisation, to those who contribute their expertise through panels, committees, and working groups, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at the Engineering Council. They help develop and maintain the Standards and Guidance that underpin professional registration, support the quality assurance of our licensed professional institutions, and provide essential insight from across industry, academia, and beyond.

Engineering Council CEO, Paul Bailey says “With a regulatory regime based on peer review, the expertise and commitment of our volunteers are vital to the work of the Engineering Council. We remain sincerely grateful for all of our volunteers’ time and dedication, without which we would not be able to support and develop the high standards that give the engineering profession its credibility and public trust”.

As we thank all our volunteers for their ongoing support, we also encourage others to get involved. Volunteering is a chance to give back, grow professionally, and help shape the future of engineering.

For more information on volunteering with us, email governance@engc.org.uk.