Engineers appeal to Boris Johnson to plug £1.5bn skills gap

Letter calls for engineering in primary school curriculum to help with 173,000 Stem-workers shortfall

An influential group of engineers has appealed to the UK government to collaborate with academia and industry to help plug the nation’s skills gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In an open letter to prime minister Boris Johnson signed by more than 150 engineers, scientists and technology companies, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) warns that the shortage of Stem workers is having a “serious negative impact” on the UK economy.