**High-tech Firms and Tech Giants Compete with Aerospace for Top Graduates**
The aerospace industry in the UK is facing a significant challenge in attracting new talent, as high-tech firms and tech giants increasingly compete for the same pool of graduates. This competition is particularly pronounced at events like the Farnborough Airshow, where companies showcase their innovations and recruitment efforts to entice young engineers.
Seventeen-year-old Hassan Butt, a British student volunteering at the airshow, embodies the enthusiasm many young people have for aerospace. "Everyone when they’re kids, they look up, they see the planes flying and they think, damn," he remarked, expressing his dream of pursuing a career in aerospace engineering with a focus on missiles. However, industry experts highlight that there are not enough candidates like Butt entering the field.
The UK aerospace and defence sector is grappling with a shortage of approximately 10,000 specialized engineers each year. A report from the Royal Aeronautical Society revealed that more than 50% of licensed aerospace engineers in Britain are over the age of 50, while fewer than 10% are under 30. Despite the sector experiencing a 31% growth over the past decade, the talent pipeline has not kept pace with this expansion, according to trade group ADS.
Kevin Craven, chief executive of ADS, noted, "We in the aerospace industry have been experiencing a shortage of skilled workers for some time … despite the industry growing year on year for the past 10 years." He emphasized the need for innovations in areas like flying taxis and sustainability to attract younger engineers to the field.
The competition for talent is fierce, as aerospace giants such as Boeing and Airbus face a record order backlog while their experienced engineers approach retirement. In recent years, many companies have cut feeder apprenticeship programs that traditionally supported long-term careers, opting instead for entry-level positions and graduate schemes. These changes have been evident at the airshow, where various stalls and recruitment campaigns aimed to draw in potential recruits.
In addition to recruitment efforts, the airshow featured engaging activities like engine-building exercises and aerial displays reminiscent of the film "Top Gun," all designed to captivate young audiences. However, experts point out that other sectors requiring similar engineering skills often present lower barriers to entry and offer higher salaries, making them attractive alternatives for graduates. Jerrold Lundquist, a consultant and managing director of The Lundquist Group, noted that graduates from prestigious aerospace engineering programs may choose to work for companies like Anthropic or OpenAI instead of traditional aerospace firms.
The UK government is hopeful that renewed investment in defense, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, will enhance the appeal of careers in aerospace. This investment is expected to support the development of advanced technologies, including unmanned drones like BAE Systems’ Brontanax. According to ADS, the aerospace, defence, and security sectors contributed £46.8 billion ($62.4 billion) to the UK economy last year.
At the airshow, another aspiring engineer, 17-year-old Molly Haydon, echoed Butt's enthusiasm for the aerospace sector. However, she emphasized the need for greater outreach and education to attract a diverse range of students, particularly young women. "I think they need to educate more young people on it and to get them more knowledge that there are still jobs available in the sector for everyone," she said.
As the aerospace industry continues to evolve and face challenges in recruitment, the competition with high-tech firms and other engineering sectors remains a pressing issue. With the right initiatives and investment, there is potential for the aerospace sector to revitalize its talent pipeline and secure the next generation of engineers.