Education 'must work with business' on school career advice.

EngineeringUK chief executive Paul Jackson has told a committee of MPs that the education system needs to work with business to provide face-to-face careers information for 11- to 14-year-olds.

Jackson told the House of Commons education select committee that careers guidance needed to be well-informed and that it had to start "early enough to reap the rewards, and that means Year 7 onwards".

He said: "Between 2010 and 2020 engineering companies will see 2.74 million job openings across a diverse range of disciplines, so it is essential that information and guidance is available to promote the diversity of engineering careers available and the variety of routes to these careers."

The education committee is conducting an inquiry into careers guidance for young people.

Jackson told the committee teachers needed information and support to paint a true picture of engineering to school pupils. He said: "Research shows teachers base guidance on their own experience and a fifth of science and maths teachers believe a career in engineering is undesirable."