A UK’s mining education forum today warned that a shortage of suitably skilled graduates threatened the revival of the country’s mining sector and the future economy.
EMPLOYMENT
The UK Mining Education Forum (UKMEF) added that a modern, high-tech mining industry was essential to the future of the UK as British industry looks closer to home for supplies and moves to a low carbon economy.
The forum said that although the country needed more than 60 new mining engineering and minerals processing graduates every year, none had enrolled on undergraduate courses since 2019.
“In addition, mining graduates are essential to many important infrastructure projects (including
HS2 and Hinkley Point C), and a high proportion are employed in the consultancy and banking
sectors.
“Through these various roles, mining graduates support thousands of jobs in the UK, and
make a huge contribution to the national economy.”
EDUCATION
In its report, UKMEF highlighted the UK mining industry’s urgent need for geologists, engineers and mineral processors.
“Industry leaders have described Exeter University’s recent decision to pause the Mining Engineering degree courses at CSM as “deeply regrettable”, and certain to constrain corporate growth and job creation,” added UKMEF.
UKMEF called for “informative programmes” directed at school students and staff to encourage an understanding of the essential contribution which mining makes to society, and the careers it can provide.
UK MINING
The UK has hundreds of mines from the Highlands of Scotland to Devon and Cornwall in the
southwest of England.
Natural resources currently mined include gold, barytes, polyhalite, fluorspar, lead, salt, gypsum, tin, tungsten, lithium, china clay and kaolin.