Engineering institutions join forces over Brexit

The collaborative group comprises the UK’s 35 engineering institutions plus EngineeringUK, the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE).

The RAE will act as the mouthpiece for the group. This is due to its “natural position as a convener of UK engineering and close links with government”.

Never in my lifetime has there been an issue that so emphatically requires strategic collaboration across the engineering profession

Chief executive of the RAE Philip Greenish

To underpin a strong negotiating position and a positive result for the UK as it prepares to leave the European Union (EU), a ‘project’ has been established to consult widely across engineering and beyond, gather evidence, analyse the risks and opportunities and produce advice.

RAE has also sent a letter outlining its offer of support to Oliver Letwin MP, whose team at the EU is leading the transition planning.

Chief executive of the RAE Philip Greenish said: “Never in my lifetime has there been an issue that so emphatically requires strategic collaboration across the engineering profession. We are rising to this challenge and pooling our resources to provide government with the best advice and access to our networks to inform its planning and leadership role.

“We are building a new, proactive framework for making engineering advice available to government on these critical matters for now and for the duration of the change process.”

According to the RAE, there are four strategic challenges that require special attention throughout the engineering community. These are: make the UK the leading nation for engineering innovation; address the engineering skills crisis; position engineering at the heart of society; and lead the profession.