We’ve got an industry-wide problem.
Not with demand — that’s booming. Not with opportunity — that’s everywhere. But with supply — especially when it comes to electrical engineers. Right now, UK universities are still delivering building services degrees that are heavily weighted towards mechanical design. We’re talking 70% mechanical content... and electrical still treated as a bolt-on.
But the world’s changing. Fast. The projects shaping the future aren’t mechanical-first — they’re electrically led.
- Smart buildings.
- EV charging infrastructure.
- Data centres.
- Renewables.
- All-electric developments.
- Digital systems.
- Modular power.
- Net zero goals.
- It’s all powered by electrical engineers.
The numbers tell their own story:
- There’s a shortfall of 59,000 engineering grads annually in the UK (EngineeringUK)
- Electrical design roles in MEP are among the most difficult to recruit for
- Graduate salaries for electrical engineers are surging, with some offers reaching £45K+
- And yet, most building services degrees only offer one term of electrical design over a 3-year course
So… why the mechanical bias?
Historically, mechanical systems were seen as more complex, requiring deeper theoretical design. That mindset stuck. But the industry moved on — and the curriculum didn’t. Today, electrical engineering is not only vital — it’s leading the charge. Ask any leading consultancy what they’re short of right now — Ridge, Buro Happold, Hoare Lea, WSP… It’s electrical. Every time.
What needs to change?
Universities need to realign with reality. Courses must reflect where the industry demand actually is. Electrical modules should be front and centre, not buried in the second-year Graduates need to come out job-ready — not playing catch-up We’re not saying mechanical isn’t essential. We’re saying electrical needs a seat at the top table. If the UK wants to lead the global charge toward a low-carbon, high-performance built environment… We’re going to need a lot more electrical engineers to get us there.
Final thoughts
There’s a real opportunity for academic institutions to modernise and create future-ready engineers. Until then, the gap between what the industry needs and what graduates bring will only get wider.