Member Article

Inspiring the UKs future Science and Engineering Workforce

Eur Ing Nick Buckland OBE has been appointed Chair of the leading education charity EDT, which engages business with education in order to stimulate students into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses and careers.

After a 20 year career in the IT industry Nick Buckland broadened his portfolio of interests in 1996 and holds a number of appointments in both the public and private sectors. He was a founding member of the Technology Strategy Board, is Pro Chancellor and former Chair of Governors of Plymouth University and was Deputy Chair of the South West Regional Development Agency. He is on the board of a number of companies and charitable trusts and is Chair of simulation-based design experts CFMS Ltd. Nick Buckland is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the British Computer Society, the Institute of Maths and its Applications, the RSA and the Chartered Management Institution. He was appointed OBE in the 2009 New Years Honours List for services to technology and innovation.

Buckland is clear on his motivations for taking up the role of Chair:

“Throughout my career I have seen change being driven by innovation and technology. I have seen businesses thrive through inspired people with a passion for all things scientific and technological and who have the vision and the knowledge to enable progress. Such people don’t arrive by accident; they are the product of an education system that gives them the thinking tools and core knowledge which will form the basis of their future success. However, more than simply education is needed - these students also need to be inspired into believing that a STEM career will be fulfilling, stimulating and remunerative. All the research says that students need to see the commercial world and meet role models in STEM jobs as early as possible in their secondary school years. Under my predecessor Graham Chisnall EDT has become a major influence in developing such links with schools across the country, enabling businesses to inspire their future workforce and so fill the skills gaps that will otherwise hold back the UK’s potential for growth.“

Outgoing Chair Graham Chisnall says: “In Nick Buckland I believe we have found a person of great energy and commitment to the EDT mission and he brings considerable reach and influence in industry and amongst policy makers. I am confident that he will enable EDT make an outstanding contribution to delivering the future workforce that the UK’s science, technology, engineering and maths industries require.“

Nick Buckland took up his appointment at the EDT Board meeting in June. He lives in Cornwall where, alongside his numerous commitments he finds time to run a working organic farm with his wife Debbie.

/ENDS

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew Third .