Engineering services has enjoyed the largest increase of the many high-tech specialisms represented by the STC’s business membership so far in 2023.

It now accounts for 27% of the STC’s tech members’ areas of expertise and takes it above manufacturing which had previously topped the charts.

Thirty-six of the STC’s 107 tech members currently fall under the ‘engineering services’ umbrella.

The number of members operating in AI/cloud computing and electronics have also risen since December 2022.

Total STC membership is at 156 – the highest it has been since the organisation was founded in 2017.

STC CEO Pim van Baarsen commented: “We said in December that our membership was at its strongest yet – it just got that bit stronger again.

“It’s a membership that represents a network of driven, forward-thinking and highly productive individuals, organisations and businesses which are contributing significantly to the UK’s high-tech sectors.”

Below is an overview of how tech specialisms are represented by the STC membership (figures in brackets show a comparison with Q4 2022):

 Specialism                                %
Academic & Research                   7% (-1%)
Additive Manufacturing                 4% (no change)
AI & Cloud Computing                  4% (+1%)
Automation, IIoT, I4.0                  4% (no change)
CAD, Simulation & Modelling         10% (no change)
Composites                                  1% (-1%)
Electronics                                   7% (+1%)
Engineering Services                    27% (+5%)
IT, Cyber & Data Management       3% (no change)
Manufacturing                              21% (-3%)
Other                                          4% (-3%)
Software Development                 7% (no change)
Systems Engineering                    1% (-1%)