According to a recent survey of 2,000 members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 72% were in favour of the UK staying in the EU.

If the UK was to leave the EU, 59% of respondents said this would make it more difficult to recruit engineering employees from the EU. In addition, 68% said that the UK would be less attractive to global manufacturers and 71% said it would hamper trade within EU markets.

However, there was some criticism for the current system with 67% of those surveyed saying that the EU needs to work harder to support UK manufacturers and 77% saying that Brussels is excessively bureaucratic.

Head of manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Philippa Oldham, said: 'While our members overwhelmingly support the UK staying in the European Union, these survey results do suggest that engineers want to see change from the EU.

'Our members seem clear that to leave the EU would hamper our manufacturing sector by impeding trade markets. Our engineers want to see the EU provide more support for UK manufacturers and an end to the complicated bureaucracy of Brussels.'

Ms Oldham continued: 'There is a clear need for the European Union to work in a more integrated way, with better communication and collaboration between Commissioners, Directorates General and Member States. This will help ensure there isn’t excessive or duplicate policy development to hamper business.

'It is vital that new policies and regulations are analysed for the benefit to companies and that provisions are put in place to ensure these regulations do not deter or impede SMEs and start-ups.'

The survey of 2,000 UK members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers was carried out in April 2015.