{"id":14734,"date":"2014-10-23T08:49:49","date_gmt":"2014-10-23T08:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discovery-graduates.com\/?p=1520"},"modified":"2014-10-23T08:49:49","modified_gmt":"2014-10-23T08:49:49","slug":"how-will-the-newly-formed-stem-alliance-tackle-skills-shortages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discovery-adr.com\/us\/how-will-the-newly-formed-stem-alliance-tackle-skills-shortages\/","title":{"rendered":"How will the newly formed STEM Alliance tackle skills shortages?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Unlocking-skills\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

S<\/em>TEM (science, engineering, maths and technology) sector employers are crying out for new recruits to join their ranks, but are having to face the reality of a gulf between the demand and supply of skilled candidates.<\/p>\n

Launched this week by Semta \u2013 an organization which \u2018is responsible for engineering skills for the future\u2019 \u2013 the STEM Alliance hopes to take a multi-thronged approach to tackling STEM skills shortages, forging partnerships with industry and educational institutions in the process.<\/p>\n

Highlighting the scale of the recruitment challenge encountered by the STEM sector as the STEM Alliance made its debut, Allan Cook, Chairman of Semta, said: \u201cThe skills gap is not impending, it is here now,” added Mr Cook, who is also Chairman of the engineering design group Atkins.<\/p>\n

“The companies I work for are having trouble recruiting and motivating the graduates we need, the technicians we need and the apprentices we need. It is a fact this is stifling growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Approximately 90% of the 138,000 firms represented by Semta argue that not enough is being done to attract and retain the latest generation of STEM talent.<\/p>\n

Boosting STEM skills is a joint responsibility<\/b><\/p>\n

With 160,000 STEM students needed each year to meet demand, Mr Cook went on to highlight that education and industry must work jointly to nurture the STEM talent pipeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not down to education and schools, it isn\u2019t down to government, and it isn\u2019t down to employers. We have a joint responsibility to be able to satisfy this demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The alliance hopes to pave the way for more young people to enter the STEM sector by carrying out the following measures:<\/p>\n