NEWS 12 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS October 2025 www.hpmag.co.uk what success looks like when it comes to national sustainability benchmarks. This highlights a pressing need for clearer, more accessible communication about both the consequences of climate change and how the G7 nations are responding. “We are stretching the limits of how much ecological damage we can get away with. It is now a quarter into the 21st century and we owe the planet at least 22 years of ecological regeneration, even if we stop any further damage now. If we still want to call this planet home, this level of overshoot calls for a scale of ambition in adaptation and mitigation that should dwarf any previous historical investments we have made, for the sake of our common future,” comments Dr. Lewis Akenji, board member of Global Footprint Network. Other key findings include: More than half (52%) believe individual sustainability actions contribute meaningfully to the UK’s overall sustainability progress. 51% believe electrification of cars and industrial processes is putting additional strain on the UK’s power grid. Only 3 in 10 consumers factor sustainability credentials into their purchasing decisions. Elaine Cobb, Senior Account Director at Cadence Industrial & Technical Communications, the report sponsor, said: “We have been measuring the general public’s perceptions on industry since 2013. The Summer 2025 ATUKI report shows that the UK public clearly wants to support a more sustainable future. And, we now know there’s a clear appetite for industrial leadership to share their sustainability stories. It’s time to broaden the conversation and show how UK industrial efforts contribute to global sustainability rankings. More than half the public believe individual action matters now more than ever, we must aim to gain consumer support with industrial-scale sustainability practices, whether that is supply chain knowledge or showcasing to the public the work that industry is undertaking.” The goal of ATUKI is to provide a snapshot of public perception of industrial impact and to help communicators within industry to consider the consumer in their plans to showcase industry achievements. The full report is available for download now: Reports – Attitudes to UK Industry The Attitudes to UK Industry (ATUKI) research initiative tracks public opinion on sustainability, innovation, and progress across UK industrial sectors. The 2025 Summer Report is based on a national survey of over 2000 respondents. EngineeringUK outlines success criteria for rollout of foundation apprenticeships Following the launch of foundation apprenticeships in England, EngineeringUK has published a new report - ‘Pathways to success: shaping foundation apprenticeships in engineering and technology’. The report makes a series of recommendations designed to ensure foundation apprenticeships have the potential to become a viable pathway into engineering and technology careers for young people. Foundation apprenticeships are intended to open up more training opportunities for young people – giving them a route into critical sectors while they earn and develop valuable skills. Their introduction seeks to reverse a worrying trend of declining recruitment onto level 2 apprenticeships. Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at EngineeringUK, explained: “Addressing the shortages of engineers and technicians will be crucial in enabling the UK to prosper and grow. We therefore welcome the development of foundation apprenticeships and their aim of enabling more young people to access training in key sectors, including construction, and engineering and manufacturing. “However, we urge the government to be open to refining this new offer – to ensure they work for employers and young people alike. We hope our new report will help policymakers ensure the rollout of foundation apprenticeships is successful in addressing skills shortages across England.” ‘Pathways to success: shaping foundation apprenticeships in engineering and technology’ sets out 7 criteria for the government to consider. Drawing on insights from employers and education providers, the recommended success criteria for foundation apprenticeships are: Objectives are clear and complement other policies. Sectors with demand for level 2 foundation apprentices are identified. Employers buy in to the idea they are worthwhile. Small and medium-sized employers offer them. Standards are defined in a way that encourages high quality. Young people from a range of backgrounds are supported to succeed. They are financially viable for providers. Beatrice Barleon continued: “If foundation apprenticeships meet these criteria, it will ensure employers and young people have clarity on their purpose and will encourage uptake across businesses of all sizes. Crucially, it will also ensure providers are equipped to deliver the training and will maintain high quality standards. “We encourage the government to learn from the successes and shortcomings of previous programmes and build in evaluation, and if necessary, iteration, from the outset of the roll-out of foundation apprenticeships. “Government must work closely with industry to ensure that the skills system is responsive to employers’ needs. We look forward to continuing to facilitate these connections.”
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