It is one of a number of issues to be discussed at a conference on 11 March that has been organised by Prospect, the largest engineers’ union, and other key engineering stakeholders.

The aims of the conference are to:

• build a partnership between unions representing engineers and unions representing lecturers, employers and other stakeholders
  
• establish working relationships to provide sufficient resources so that providers can deliver successful and up-to-date programmes of engineering education and training
  
• identify barriers to the successful development of engineering skills and careers and devise strategies to overcome them
  
• work together to make effective use of new qualifications and educational structures
  
• identify possible joint work and initiatives including the use of Union Learning Fund applications.

Chaired by Prospect’s general secretary Paul Noon, the conference will hear from a range of speakers including Lord Sainsbury, science minister, who will outline the government response to the Roberts’ review into the supply of scientists and engineers in the UK.

Paul Mackney, NATFHE general secretary, City and Guild director Chris Humphries and Derek Simpson, general secretary of Amicus-AEEU, are among the other speakers that will address delegates.

Afternoon workshops will focus on the problems of raising awareness of engineering as education, structures and funding including school and further/higher education links, curriculum development and qualifications, and workplace issues such as learning at work.

The conference, which starts at 10am, will be held at the NATFHE centre, 27 Britannia Street, King’s Cross London. The nearest underground stations are King’s Cross and St Pancras.