June 2021

News 0 8 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk June 2021 The British Pump Manufacturers’ Association (BPMA) and the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) have signed a Mutual Co-operation Agreement it was recently announced. The agreement covers a range of collaborative ideas and opportunities, primarily geared around the development of improved skills and enhanced technology understanding across the industrial and engineering arena. It will allow both parties to explore additional content to strengthen their existing range of training courses. Working on possible compliance and legislative related issues and other factors within the repair and maintenance of Pumps and Motors will also form a key part of the arrangement. Boasting similar longevity and heritage, the two bodies have shared many similar interests over the years, and increasingly so around international standards and energy use reduction measures. However, during recent high- level discussions regarding the new ‘Pump Repair and Maintenance’ training course which the BPMA has developed, it became evident that further opportunities existed for the potential benefit of both memberships, and the market at large. Commenting on the agreement, Dave Hawley, AEMT president said: “There are clear synergies between our two organisations, including some cross-over of membership, and so I am thrilled to have this agreement in place and excited by the potential activities that the collaboration could deliver.” Echoing this viewpoint, Richard Harden, BPMA President added: “Our two associations, have been serving the engineering arena for many years and have developed vast experience in their respective disciplines. But by forging closer links and a more collaborative approach to certain activities, we can perhaps better harvest that expertise for mutual benefit and reward.” The agreement comes into operation with immediate effect and paves the way for more structured dialogue between the various working groups within each organisation. BPMA and AEMT Sign Mutual Co-operation Agreement After a year which has seen an unprecedented economic and social shock the latest Make UK’s Manufacturing Outlook survey provided some welcome good news. All the indicators are now substantially positive with output volumes growing at the fastest rate in the survey’s thirty year history and the forward looking indicators suggesting that this may reach another record in the third quarter to come. This positive picture is also being translated into investment and recruitment intentions, which have surged as firms invest and hire in order to meet demand. The one caveat to raise, however, is that we are coming from a very low base having seen the figures in the survey touch record lows in the second quarter of last year when the pandemic first struck, survey balances that were worse than the lowest levels reached during the financial crisis. To put this into some real figure perspective the extent of the downfall over the last year has seen manufacturing lose ten per cent of output worth some £18 billion. This will take more than a short-term boost over one quarter to recover but the signs are good that the loss in output will be recovered quicker than expected with Make UK’s forecast for growth this year doubling to just under eight per cent, faster than the economy overall. Should this growth materialise then the loss of output will be received some six to nine months ahead of schedule by mid 2022. Delving beneath the headline figures the survey also revealed the increasing impact of material shortages and higher shipping and freight costs which are feeding through into higher prices, both domestically and for export orders. The survey also showed that for some sectors, such as aerospace, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to be some time away although the automotive sector is showing firm signs of life after a sharp drop in sales over the last year. Overall, however, the picture for manufacturing is much brighter and more positive than could have been foreseen at the start of the year. The key now is to see the forecasts hold for the second half of the year when the restrictions on the economy will hopefully be firmly removed. By MAKE UK chief executive, Stephen Phipson MAKE uk - the manufacturers’ organisation monthly news comment Richard Harden, President, BPMA