S I Sealy celebrating National Engineering Day
National Engineering Day, which this year takes place on Wednesday 4th November 2026, celebrates how engineering improves everyday lives and shapes the world around us, while making the UK’s engineers and engineering sector more visible to the public.
It is a day to celebrate the creativity, innovation and impact of engineering, and to inspire the next generation to explore engineering careers.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Engineering and they are keen to celebrate not by looking back, but by looking fifty years ahead. So, to embrace this, this year’s theme is Now Hiring: The Engineers of 2076. The Academy is asking what will life look like on Earth, and in space, in 2076? What engineering and engineers will be needed to make that life possible, ensuring that life on another planet, as well as on Earth, doesn’t just survive, it thrives.
As part of our celebration of National Engineering Day, we have thought about the role of an MEP engineer in 2076. As now, mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) engineering will transform how we live. Buildings will become intelligent ecosystems, continuously adapting heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting to occupants’ needs while minimising energy use. We already integrate renewable power, energy storage and water reuse. This will be even more of a focus, as will designing systems that withstand extreme weather and conserve resources. Digital twins and artificial intelligence will help engineers predict faults, optimise performance and test designs before construction.
Future MEP engineers will need strong technical foundations alongside skills in data analysis, programming, sustainable design and systems thinking. Equally important will be creativity, communication, collaboration and ethical judgement: knowing when to trust technology, challenge its outputs and explain decisions clearly. Adaptability and lifelong learning will help engineers navigate tools and challenges we cannot yet imagine.
Preparation must begin now. Schools can connect maths and science with practical challenges, from designing efficient classrooms to monitoring water use. Colleges and universities can ensure the engineers have the technical knowledge, supported by practical experience.
We recognise the part we must play to encourage and support the MEP engineers of the future, providing work experience, apprenticeships and mentoring. In addition, our Managing Director, Daniel Madden, is the Education & Careers Champion for our professional body, CIBSE Northwest, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the future MEP engineers are ready for 2076 and beyond.