PARENTS value careers in medicine, science and engineering as the best ones for their children.

However, 65 per cent of mums and dads do not encourage their children to consider these careers because they know little about the subjects themselves.

These statistics come from a study of West Midlands parents carried out by The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair.

However, the organisation has warned that this situation could have an overwhelming impact on the future state of the economy as 45 per cent of UK employers already struggle to find people with science, technology, engineering and maths skills.

Find out more at thebigbangfair.

co.uk.