Don’t look to the chancellor to boost UK electronics
18 March 2008
If last week’s budget was a boyfriend, he would have been dumped: All take and no promise of good times to come!
Alistair Darling rather glossed over education and health spending in last week’s budget. Preferring to tax any evil person who wanted to drive a car, drink or smoke. If only he had, there might have been a more positive spin on the dull budget, which taxed everyone more but gave nothing in return.
There was a pledge to spend $10million over five years to improve science teaching and $60million over the next three years on post-school skills. He skipped over that to focus on the real business of the day, i.e. increasing tax on beer, wine, and car owners. It all adds up for those who aren’t MPs with subsidised car allowances, travel allowances, access to the subsidised House of Commons bar-restaurant etc.
Even if Alistair Darling did not want to dwell on the science teaching plans, other commentators have shown an interest. The CBI described the science and innovation strategy, announced six days before the budget, as ‘an inspirational and stretching curriculum’. They urge the government to enable people to be automatically opted-in to study Triple Science GCSE to prepare for A-level and further education.
Tellingly, Richard Lambert, director general, CBI also said “Our tax and regulatory regime should also help firms to innovate and not hinder them.” Pity Mr Darling didn’t listen, it’s no good educating everyone if no company can afford the National Insurance to employ more of them or to fund research and development. It is also frustrating that there is going to be less money slooshing around for people to spend on home-grown electronics, video games is a forte in the UK, for example, if Ali D keeps taking money out of people’s pockets with increased taxes.
Industry has done more than any chancellor or government thinktank to truly help people build on skills that prepare them for work in science and technology. Electronic Product Design’s e-Legacy Awards illustrate this.
For example, last year’s Investment in Education Award winner, Electronics Yorkshire, takes a mobile training unit around schools, further and higher education colleges in Yorkshire and Humber regions where pupils can have practical experience of electronics. National Semiconductor sends its engineers out to primary and secondary schools in Silicon Valley for ‘inquiry-based science’ lessons and presentations.
In the workplace, Investment in Training Award winner, Amplicon has regular management meetings with employees to arrange external training or vocational qualification courses. Finalist International Rectifier operates training programmes in its facilities, including an on-site BTEC National Certificate and diplomas. Remploy Electronics has introduced an NVQ tailored to the skills at a particular site and has developed in-house training based on IPC-610, IPC-620 and J-STD-001.
The e-Legacy Awards 2008 will also share good ideas to build a solid foundation for electronics in the UK. Be a part of creating a legacy for future generations, either through education, training, sustainable practises and environmental design, medical advances and design for safety.
Visit the e-Legacy Awards page on this website to nominate online.
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