| Some of the UK's leading energy suppliers have | | | | commented: "The government plans for 400,000 |
| highlighted their concern that there are not enough | | | | jobs to be created in UK green industries by 2015. |
| young people pursuing careers in science and | | | | Yet, unless we convince young people of the exciting |
| engineering. | | | | and rewarding careers available in energy today, the |
| | | | UK will lack the skills to take advantage of the green |
| Students choose media over science | | | | agenda." |
| A study by energy supplier Centrica, the parent | | | | "Climate change will affect all our lives. Ensuring we |
| company of British Gas, surveyed 2,000 A-level and | | | | have the expertise and skills needed to meet the |
| undergraduate students and found that more than | | | | challenges it brings is the responsibility of the industry, |
| half (55 per cent) would not consider a career in | | | | the education sector and parents," he added. |
| science, technology or energy. | | | | |
| The firm said that the results were concerning, as | | | | Lack of parental support |
| around 70 per cent of the UK's nuclear workforce will | | | | The study revealed that one in four parents would |
| be retired by 2025. | | | | not actively recommend a career in science to their |
| Instead, students were more interested in a career in | | | | children, citing the unsuitability of the job for women |
| media and entertainment, the survey found. | | | | and a lack of information about the work involved. |
| | | | This has led a number of energy companies including |
| Vying for university places | | | | EDF, E.ON and the National Grid to join the call for |
| Details of the survey come ahead of A-level results | | | | more people - women and men - to choose a green |
| day on Thursday (August 19th), when thousands of | | | | technology career path. |
| young people will find out if they have a place at | | | | Jon Butterworth, operations director of the National |
| university. | | | | Grid told the Daily Telegraph: "National Grid would like |
| Applications organisation UCAS reported an 11.6 per | | | | to see industry and government working consistently |
| cent increase on the number of applications this year, | | | | on a campaign to inspire people to acquire the skills |
| and according to Professor David Green, | | | | needed to be part of a low-carbon future. |
| vice-chancellor at the University of Worcester, as | | | | "We need to counter stereotypical images that |
| many as 200,000 people will be left without a place, | | | | engineering is boring or geeky. We need young |
| he told the Independent. | | | | people to want to get involved."lots of boys who like |
| The government has pledged to increase the number | | | | the investigative element of coursework as well." |
| of university places by 10,000, but these will only be | | | | Pupils will also get the chance to opt for the more |
| available in key areas for the future of the economy | | | | difficult international GCSEs in maths and science that |
| in science, maths, technology and engineering. | | | | are designed to challenge brighter students in |
| Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of Centrica, | | | | preparation for A levels. |