1 minute read - 18th August 2022
UK Electronics Skills Foundation secures training award
The UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) has been awarded a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award 2022.
The Award honours organisations that have created outstanding training and skills development programmes which have resulted in exceptional benefits. This year, the Award has recognised the UKESF for the Scholarship Scheme, which provides professional education, development activities and work placements with leading employers for students from universities throughout the UK. It is an exemplar of effective collaboration between industry and universities to address the skills shortage in UK Electronics.
Electronics, and in particular semiconductor design and manufacture, is a growing and strategically important sector of our economy. However, the demand for capable graduates far outstrips supply.
The UK Electronics Skills Foundation has been awarded a Princess Royal Training Award for its Scholarship Scheme / Picture: Getty/iStock
The Scholarship Scheme provides ‘wrap around’ support for undergraduates, from advice about applying and increasing their employability through to graduation with an alumni network. The key elements are paid employment with their sponsoring company through flexible work placements; professional and employability skills training to complement their academic studies; industry insights and networking opportunities; and confidence building through participation in STEM education and outreach activities.
To date, almost 700 Scholarships have been awarded to exceptional undergraduates. Of those graduated Scholars who have finished their studies, 91% now work in Electronics and Technology.
Kirstie Donnelly MBE, chief executive of City & Guilds, said: “The Princess Royal Training Awards demonstrate how training and development can open up opportunities and attract new talent to industries with significant skills gaps and labour shortages.”
Stewart Edmondson, CEO of UKESF, said: “We are so thrilled to receive a Princess Royal Training Award. This is such a fantastic accolade for our UKESF Scholarship Scheme. It recognises our collective efforts, with our partner universities and industry sponsors, to nurture and develop the Electronics Engineers of tomorrow.
The UKESF will hold the Princess Royal Training Award 2022 for three years.