I think it is true to say that a lot of children want to be anything footballers to hairdressers. But it's particularly difficult to engage them with maths and science. Not only is it reported that they arent picking them as GCSE subjects but they don’t see all of the different options that a future career in science and maths can provide. I think they get stuck with the stereotype of a white coat rather than understanding all of the varied jobs science and maths can cover.
In my region, the East Midlands Development Agency have funded something called Lab in a Lorry. Getting a free mobile lab around schools for kids to try out different experiments and to meet real scientists seems like a great idea and one way of tackling a potential skills shortage.
I also found some more information here: http://www.promo.heart.co.uk/contests/2008/emda_0508_2/inde x.html