National Grid Engineering our Future Tony Moloney, Manager UK Technical Learning & Development Presentation to ETB - April 2009.

National Grid Engineering our Future

Tony Moloney, Manager UK Technical Learning &

Development

Presentation to ETB - April 2009

2

Investment

Skills Development Centres Eakring, Hitchin & HollinwoodInvestment of £16m culminating in ministerial opening of the newest facility in June 2008

Annual Spend on L&D (excl remuneration)2008/9 - £7.5m2009/10 - £10m

Continuous Growth – Technical Training Days2000/01 – 32,0002004/05 – 36,500 2007/08 – 50,000 2008/09 – 64,0002009/10 – 75,000 Technical Schemes360 ‘in scheme’ trainees

Technology3D Virtual Reality Learning Suite£350k

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Market

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Retention rate after scheme

3

Learning Environment

4

Recent Achievements

OFSTED /ALI Grade 1 – Apprentice Schemes

IET Accreditation for all Apprentice Schemes

IGEM & IMechE Accreditation for Graduate Programmes

Beacon Status by National Employer Service

Hosted launch of Government Higher Education Skills Agenda – recognition of best practice for Foundation Degree development with Aston University

Skills Pledge implemented

New Foundation Engineers scheme introduced leading to Power Systems FD with Aston University – 30 per annum

Young Offenders programme delivered over 1000 to date

Volunteering – Imagineering, Schools clubs, environment centres

5

EducationWhat we’re currently doing

Interest &‘enthuse’

4 to 11Years

ChooseSTEM!

11 to 13Years

Nurturetalent

14 to 19Years

Careerpropositions

Graduates

Environmental education centres – developed in partnership with local authorities and environmental charities. Outdoor education for school children in support of National Curriculum targets

Imagineering – After school clubs for children in local primary school, engaging children in hands on activities

‘The Gap’

What are the interventions?

Headstart – Presentations at a series of courses run at universities where 16/17 year olds who are considering studying science or engineering at university are exposed to careers in these fields

Student schemes

Year in Industry – part of the RAE’s BEST programme we provide talented young people with paid degree relevant work placements in their year out prior to university

Industrial Placements – we offer placements to students who are in their third year of their degree and are taking a year our to work in industry as part of a sandwich course

Power Academy – working with six universities and five other power sector universities to develop an engineering scholarship fund providing support and finance to students throughout their university course and paid summer placements

Sponsored student programme

New Volunteer led ‘School Power’ educational materials to support curriculum via power lessons / assemblies etc

Engineering Education Scheme – part of the RAE’s BEST programme, we match a team of Year 12 students with our employees to work on real life engineering problems for a six month project

Education system

6

External Engagement - Our objectives

Simplification of the Education, Skills and Training system has to be a priority so

that everyone can make sense of it;

We need to make science, engineering and technology skills an educational

priority. The general consensus is that funding needs to be underpinned by

foresight of the needs of the UK as a whole with a 20 – 30 year outlook;

We also need the UK education system to play a big part (with industry) in

delivering more STEM students;

Engineering needs to be a profession of choice for young people. New research

by National Grid has identified some key areas that need attention if we are to

change attitudes and opinions towards the profession