Brexit threatens engineering sector, says head of the IET

Naomi Climer

The UK’s main organisation representing 100,000 engineers believes that the interests of UK engineering would be best served by remaining in the EU.

“Given the considerable challenges already facing UK engineering and technology, it is difficult to justify the unknown and unquantifiable transition risks if we were to leave the EU,” said Climer.

Engineering companies, including electronics firms, rely on collaborations with firms in the EU in order to address global markets. 

Climer believes that if the terms of these relationships with European partners are thrown in to uncertainty should the UK vote to leave the EU in June, this is a threat to the sector.

“Foremost of the risks associated with an EU exit is an exacerbation of the UK’s engineering and technology skills shortage,” said the IET president.

Recruitment of much needed engineers from other EU countries could be affected by Brexit, and Climer estimates that the UK will need 1.82 million new engineers over the next decade.

“While the UK could tackle this problem by introducing a fast track visa process for engineers and technologists, it is unclear how this would sit alongside the tighter border controls anticipated following an exit from the EU,” said Climer.

According to Climer, there is a real possibility that should the UK leave the EU there would be a loss of automatic access to the EU market and the need to negotiate new independent Trade Agreements.

“It is not clear that forming new agreements with the UK would be a priority for other trade groupings and countries, nor that the UK would have notable negotiating leverage. Although the UK might over time become incorporated in other treaties, there would inevitably be a delay while those treaties were agreed and during which trade would be damaged,” said Climer.

EU exit could also affect engineering and science research. According to Climer, the UK receives more funding for scientific and engineering research than it contributes to the EU.

“It is not clear to what extent the UK might be able to access that funding directly if the UK leaves the EU,” said Climer. “More importantly, losing a formal EU collaborative environment and access to influencing the direction of EU research would both be a significant loss to the UK.”