ANNUAL REVIEW 2012/2013 The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes Royal Academy of Engineering excellence in the science, art and practice of Prince Philip House, 3 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DG engineering. Tel: 020 7766 0600 Registered charity number 293074 www.raeng.org.uk Strategic priorities As the UK’s national academy for engineering, we bring together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering. We provide analysis and policy support to promote the UK’s role as a great place from which to do business. We take a lead on engineering education and we invest in the UK’s world class research base to underpin innovation. We work to improve public awareness and understanding of engineering. We are a national academy with a global outlook and use our international partnerships to ensure that the UK benefi ts from international networks, expertise and investment. The Academy’s work programmes are driven by four strategic challenges, each of which provides a key contribution to a strong and vibrant engineering sector and to the health and wealth of society. Drive faster and more balanced Foster better education and skills economic growth The strategic challenge is to create a system of The strategic challenge is to improve the capacity engineering education and training that satisfi es of UK entrepreneurs and enterprises to create the aspirations of young people while delivering innovative products and services, increase wealth the high-calibre engineers and technicians that and employment and rebalance the economy in businesses need. favour of productive industry. Promote engineering at the Lead the profession heart of society The strategic challenge is to harness the collective The strategic challenge is to improve public expertise, energy and capacity of the engineering understanding of engineering, increase awareness profession to enhance the UK’s economic and of how engineering impacts on lives and increase social development. public recognition for our most talented engineers. The Royal Academy of Engineering Incorporated by Royal Charter HRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE Senior Fellow HRH The Princess Royal LG LT GCVO QSO Royal Fellow HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO Royal Fellow Sir John Parker GBE FREng President Contents ANNUAL REVIEW Strategic priorities inside front cover President’s review 2 Chief Executive’s foreword 4 Drive faster and more balanced economic growth 6 Foster better education and skills 10 Lead the profession 14 Promote engineering at the heart of society 18 Building organisational capacity 22 Academy event highlights 24 Academy publications 25 Highlights of the year by theme 26 Group funding 28 Annex 29 View the online version of the Annual Review along with the full Financial Report and Accounts at: www.raeng.org.uk/about/annrev Contents 1 President’s review growing. The role of the Government to demonstrate the contribution of through the year with the Department Chief Scientifi c Adviser (GCSA) and engineers and engineering to the for Education to make the case for these network of Chief Scientifi c Advisers is economy and society. The campaign changes and, subsequently, to deliver critical to the Academy fulfi lling its roles provides a further opportunity to the products that will substantially as adviser, critical friend and project enhance the Academy’s media profi le improve the students’ experience. partner. We worked closely with Sir John for engineering, which is already over Beddington HonFREng during his term 50% greater than last year. Prince Philip House was named by as GCSA; we are now developing our His Royal Highness The Duke of working relationship with his successor, The Academy’s report Jobs and Growth Edinburgh at an event in October, at Sir Mark Walport. gave a well-evidenced account of how which his triptych portrait, generously engineering skills are essential to commissioned by Dame Stephanie The Academy has been a strong voice helping the UK economy rebalance and Shirley FREng and painted by Paul in articulating the need for government grow. It also showed that the demand Brason RP, was unveiled. The donations to commit to a rebalanced economy for engineering skills outstrips supply. of many Fellows and others that underpinned by a modern industrial While this means that engineers in enabled the refurbishment of Prince strategy. Our position on what an the UK job market can benefi t from Philip House have brought about industrial strategy should deliver was competitive salaries, it also highlights an extraordinary transformation of developed with the help of a roundtable the lack of skilled engineers which is a the Academy’s visibility through a of Fellows in leading positions in critical issue for employers. huge variety of meetings which have industry. After the Academy had made engaged many diff erent audiences its submission to Lord Heseltine’s So, a core aim of the Academy remains at the Forum for engineering. The review of growth, we were invited to to attract talented young people to redesigned spaces have proved to be discuss our position with him ahead of careers in engineering. This will be extremely versatile and eff ective and it publication of his report. To its great essential for the future economy is most gratifying that our original vision credit, government accepted this but also provides opportunities for has so rapidly become reality. Prince challenge and a sector-based industrial young people, whatever their social Philip House is now a splendid national strategy is being developed. backgrounds, to enhance their life home for engineering, and I believe that chances. Much good work has been it will be the forum for ever more high- Engineering for growth The Academy continues its work to build done, including the fi fth successful profi le and high-impact activities in the The Global Grand Challenges Summit, UK engineering capacity. Our research annual Big Bang Fair, led by our partner years to come. 2012 has been a highly successful led by the Academy in partnership programme attracts a high level of EngineeringUK and supported by year for the Academy, with signifi cant with our sister academies in China and support and interest from industry for the Academy. Around 60,000 young Part of my role as President is visiting achievements in each of the strategic the US, was another opportunity to research that is of strategic importance people witnessed the excitement that our great companies and universities priority areas. There is, however, highlight engineering achievement, to business, and independent engineering and science careers can around the country. I have been much more to do – indeed, we have as well as raising awareness of the assessment has confi rmed its real value. off er. For the fi rst time, the Fair was enormously impressed by the quality ambitious plans for the growth of great tasks ahead for engineers in the The programme supports the very best visited by the Prime Minister. of engineering and engineering the Academy’s impact and infl uence. 21st century. Some 450 engineers, people who undertake world-class research that I have seen. I am greatly Two major international events typify scientists, economists and other leading research with a high level of potential However, there remains much more encouraged that Academy Fellows – be that ambition. intellects from China, the US and the economic benefi t. to do to increase the number and they in academia or industry – see the UK met in London to debate the major diversity of young people engaging need to be part of the growth agenda. I The announcement of the winners of issues facing the world, from climate The Academy established a new with engineering. We continue to work am grateful for our Fellows’ leadership the inaugural £1million Queen Elizabeth change to supporting healthy lives for business resource – the Enterprise Hub. to change outdated perceptions across and for the contribution that so many Prize for Engineering was viewed by all. An extraordinary cast of speakers This will harness the extraordinary society in our drive to make engineering make to the aims and objectives of 66 million people worldwide. The prize was assembled, from technology expertise, insight and networks of the career of choice. Improving and the Academy. In challenging times will be awarded to the fi ve engineers luminaries such as Bill Gates and Dean Academy Fellows to mentor new enhancing the learning experiences for the nation, the Academy is behind perhaps the most transforming Kamen to the celebrity supporter of entrepreneurs and support new and quality qualifi cations open to young proving more than fi t to deliver its system in modern life – the internet. The technology education, will.i.am. By engineering and technology start-ups people is also a critical part of that important objectives. QE Prize is an enormously important common consent, the Summit was an through the expertise of the Fellowship task: during the year, the Academy led initiative and our work to raise global outstanding success. in all aspects of innovation. the redesign of the national curricula Sir John Parker GBE FREng awareness of the prize and the vital for computing and D&T as well as the President role of engineering in society, especially The Academy’s relationship with The Academy has initiated a partnership updating of the 14-19 Engineering among young people, will continue well government is multi-faceted and campaign, Engineering for growth, Diploma. We have worked continuously into the future. 2 3 Chief Executive’s foreword Co-Founder and Director of Draft We have simplifi ed and refocused the government on implementing the he last year has been one Wheelchairs Ltd, which builds the partnership this year to enable us recommendations of the report.