THE POWER ACADEMY

That this House congratulates the IEE, the UK's electricity networking companies and the universities of Strathclyde, Southampton and Manchester Institute of Science and Technology for joining forces to create The Power Academy; notes with concern that a significant number of the industry's most experienced and senior engineers, who keep the country's electricity networks running, will retire within the next five to 10 years, creating a potentially serious skills deficit; wishes to support The Power Academy which, in its first year, will recruit around 40 undergraduates, rising up to 60 students in a year's time, who will be sponsored throughout their course by the Academy, including the payment of tuition fees, a ú2000 bursary, ú250 to spend on course materials, an IEE membership and a summer school in core business and management skills designed to enhance students' career prospects; and thanks all those involved in this initiative for taking positive steps to encourage young people to study engineering.