Policy priorities for the next UK parliament: Engineering a resilient and prosperous future

Report overview

Experts from 42 professional engineering organisations representing more than 700,000 engineers across the UK have joined forces to assess the UK’s needs, how can engineering can help to solve them, and how these solutions are connected to the wider economy.

The National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) is calling for the next government to be bold, to take a holistic, long-term approach to tackling complex challenges like climate change and economic growth, creating strong policies on which the UK can build sustainable economic growth, helping to improve people's lives:

Policy priorities for the next UK parliament

Commit to a long-term Industrial Strategy

Grow the economy by setting out an ambitious vision that draws on the country’s strengths in engineering, innovation, research, and manufacturing underpinned by sustained policies that align actions across regulation, procurement, funding, infrastructure, technology adoption, and the National Engineering and Technology Workforce Strategy.

Redouble the commitment to net zero and accelerate the development and adoption of green technologies

Drive action and instil confidence through fixed targets to cut carbon emissions, incentivise demand reduction, and technology development and adoption; prioritising a just transition through meaningful engagement with diverse communities; and accelerating green growth.

Deliver a National Engineering and Technology Workforce Strategy

Equip the UK with the skilled workforce needed to meet the challenges of sustainability and technological advancement by delivering a long-term holistic plan encompassing all education stages, reskilling and upskilling, to deliver a diverse engineering and technology profession equipped with the skills needed for the future.

Futureproof UK infrastructure to deliver sustainable, resilient, and healthy spaces

Build on the National Infrastructure Assessment recommendations and join-up existing sub-national strategies to ensure infrastructure continues to deliver economic and societal benefits across the UK.

How engineering can help

Engineers and policymakers working together have the opportunity to employ systems approaches to better understand and intervene to solve challenging policy problems, through collaboration and knowledge sharing across sectors.

The NEPC brings engineering thinking to the heart of policymaking, creating positive impacts for society. We take a practical, systems approach to complex problems. Led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, our collaborative approach puts robust insights in front of policymakers. By bringing together engineers from industry and academia, we provide valuable depth of expertise. This helps the government navigate increasingly interconnected and complex challenges.

National Engineering Policy Centre

The National Engineering Policy Centre brings engineering thinking to the heart of policymaking, creating positive impacts for society.

We are a partnership of 42 professional engineering organisations that cover the breadth and depth of our profession, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Together we provide insights, advice, and practical policy recommendations on complex national and global challenges.