Published: Tue 21 Jul 2026
IET responds to the new ministerial appointments
Stephanie Baxter, Head of Policy at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), said:
“The appointment of a dedicated AI Minister, alongside the closer alignment of science, technology and business, presents an opportunity to ensure engineering and technology remain at the core of the UK's future.
“Bringing these priorities together could help create the right conditions for innovation to flourish, enabling engineering and technology businesses to develop new ideas, accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in science, engineering and technology.
“However, realising this opportunity will depend on ensuring the UK has the skilled workforce needed to deliver it. Our 2025 Skills Survey found that more than three quarters (76%) of engineering and technology employers struggle to recruit for key roles, while only 61% believe the current workforce has the skills needed for the future. As technologies such as AI continue to evolve, addressing these skills gaps will be essential to helping organisations adopt new technologies confidently, responsibly and at scale.
“To unlock the full potential of engineering and technology innovation, government must match its ambitions with investment in people. That means strengthening the engineering and technical skills pipeline, while giving employers the support they need to upskill and reskill their workforce as technologies continue to evolve.
“The IET looks forward to working with ministers to help ensure the UK continues to lead in engineering, science and technology by creating the right environment for innovation, developing the skills that industry needs, and enabling new technologies to deliver benefits for businesses and society.”
ENDS
About the Institution of Engineering and Technology
- We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world.
- We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world. This breadth and depth mean we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.
- We want to build the profile of engineering and technology to change outdated perceptions and tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
- Interview opportunities are available with our spokespeople from a range of engineering and technology disciplines including cyber-security, energy, engineering skills, innovation, manufacturing, technology, transport and diversity in engineering.
- For more information, visit www.theiet.org
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Media enquiries to:
Sarah Jenkins
External Communications & PR Lead
E: SarahJenkins@theiet.org