♦  A survey by the Engineering and Technology Board has revealed that “a dramatic change of attitude” is needed to get the best students into engineering. The survey of 863 people, including employers, education professionals, and others interested in engineering, found that just 7% of careers advisors and lecturers would currently recommend an engineering career to their brightest students.

♦  Almost every manufacturing worker in the UK (99%) would accept changes in their working conditions to help colleagues keep their jobs, a new survey for the Keep Britain Working campaign has revealed. The poll of more than 2,500 people also shows that 41% of manufacturing workers would accept a cut in pay and 63% would accept a reduction in hours – more than in any other sector of UK industry.

♦  The Carbon Trust has produced a guide called Making the business case for a carbon reduction project, which covers the process of securing investment, based on research among senior executives. Accompanying the guide is a new online resource that helps businesses to plan projects.
   
♦  EEF, the manufacturers’ association, has set up a scheme with British Gas Business to monitor energy management at EEF member firms. It will find where energy is being wasted and offer advice on cutting energy bills. EEF has also launched an energy benchmarking service to help companies negotiate the best energy tariffs, based on what manufacturers across the UK are paying for their gas and electricity.