News April/May 2024 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 07 The winners of the eight categories, recognising achievements up to December 2023, were announced as follows: Product of the Year: CREST PUMPS – Assoma AVF-C Pump Project of the Year: KSB and Cornish Metals – South Crofty Tin Mine Environmental Contribution of the Year: BEDFORD PUMPS – Indonesia Flood Mitigation Project Manufacturer of the Year: SPP Pumps Distributor of the Year: Anglo Pumps Supplier of the Year: EMiR Software Contribution to Skills & Training: JOHN CRANE – DISCOVER Graduate Engineers Programme Rising Star Award: Ben Warren – SPP PUMPS Additionally, a charitable donation was made to WaterAid, reflecting the industry’s commitment to social responsibility. Experts urge for comprehensive skills strategy at National Manufacturing Summit Industry experts convened at The National Manufacturing Summit 2024 held at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, UK, to address the need of a comprehensive skills strategy to keep pace with innovation in the manufacturing sector. The summit, which took place on the 14th of March, brought together leaders from the UK’s advanced manufacturing industry to deliberate on the future workforce needs. Discussions centred on addressing the ongoing labour shortage and devising strategies to upskill the existing workforce. Among the prominent organisations represented were the MTC, Lloyds Bank, Dell Technologies, Drone Major, Data Shack, Epicor, and Schneider Electric. The event attracted over 400 stakeholders and manufacturing experts in attendance, with an additional 6000 participants engaging online throughout the day. Central to the deliberations was the role of automation in complementing the future workforce and the importance of preparing employees now to seamlessly adopt future technologies, thereby ensuring that the next generation of engineers possesses the requisite skills. A noteworthy aspect of the summit was the involvement of schools from Coventry and Warwickshire, with 45 students aged 14-17 given the opportunity to participate in the discussions and tour the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC). Additionally, attendees, including students, had the chance to meet Richard Browning, founder of Gravity Industries, and witness first-hand the company’s technology, alongside the latest advancements in drone technologies. Dr. Graham Hoare, CEO of MTC, remarked on the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan as a positive step towards fostering innovation in the sector. However, he emphasised the urgent need for the workforce to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape. Dr. Hoare stressed the importance of both training a new generation of workers and upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce to meet the evolving demands of the industry. He called for industry leaders to collaborate with academia and relevant training providers to outline a comprehensive strategy in this regard. The National Manufacturing Summit, an annual event launched in 2021, serves as a platform for UK manufacturers to exchange best practices, knowledge, and strategic insights. The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Terry Collier as its Learning and Development Officer. Terry joins BCAS with significant experience in the delivery of training programmes, gained in a variety of roles within industry and the public sector, most recently as Apprenticeship Manager at Celsa Steel UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management (FInstLM), an Associate Member of CIPD (AssocCIPD) and holds an MBA and a diploma in Human Resource Management. Terry’s first area of focus concerns the NVQ requirements for the CSCS card scheme, which is necessary for BCAS members working in the construction sector. In addition, he plans to develop the BCAS Compressed Air and Vacuum Technician apprenticeship scheme further. BCAS appoints Terry Collier dedicated, industry-approved course that delivers the specific engineering skills required in the compressed air and vacuum industry. The BCAS board, with the support and expertise from Terry, will be working with BCAS members to help achieve suitable apprenticeship funding and to attract engineers into the sector. With compressed air used so extensively, in applications across the manufacturing sector, keeping pace with changing industry demands is vital. BCAS has long been recognised as a provider of training and development for engineers, technical professionals and users of compressed air. Through its eLearning portal, it is helping to deliver relevant training direct to users. Terry will therefore work on the development of further training courses to help BCAS members, their employees and customers to keep abreast The Scheme was first launched in 2021 in response to demand from BCAS members for a
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