Herald Article August 2021
ScotEng August Herald Article In our latest Herald article, we discuss supply chain disruptions, COVID recovery, and COP26. Read the full article here. Paul Sheerin Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering
Digital allies in the battle against supply chain disruption
In this latest Member’s Briefing article, Member company and Innovation Funding specialists ABGI-UK give a fantastic insight into what can be achieved when manufacturing businesses adopt digital tools available to them. Make UK’s Q2 Manufacturing Outlook painted a very encouraging picture for post-Covid recovery with many companies reporting higher numbers of both UK and […]
Herald Article July 2021
ScotEng July Herald Article In our latest Herald article, we discuss Brexit, product certification, and the urgent need for clarity from the Government. Read the full article here. Paul Sheerin Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering
Digital solutions for VUCA markets
In this latest Member’s Briefing article, Member company ABGI-UK provide detail on how digital solutions can help manufacturers in dealing with the volatile global market conditions being experienced at the moment. It looks like the disruption created by the last 15 months of pandemic isn’t over. In fact, if anything, the opening up of […]
Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2021 – In Partnership with Women in Rail Scotland
Above you can view the recording of our recent INWED21 Celebration session, hosted by Sarah Carvill of Scottish Engineering and Shona Clive, Chair of Women in Rail Scotland. Event description This session, in partnership with Women in Rail Scotland, celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2021, and we’ve teamed up with 3 amazing guest speakers […]
Mediation In The Workplace Webinar
Above you can view the recording of our recent “Mediation in the workplace” session, hosted by Bill Porterfield: People Development Director at Aurellien HR and Charlie Irvine: Director and Course Leader at Strathclyde University Mediation Clinic. Click here for session slides Event description This session was delivered by fully accredited and experienced mediators, Bill […]
Herald Article June 2021
ScotEng June Herald Article In our latest Herald Scotland article, we discuss skills, COVID redundancies, and the urgent need to invest in skills to aid Scotland’s net-zero ambitions. Read the full article here. Paul Sheerin Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering
Herald Article May 2021
Social distancing could deepen UK productivity woe With the majority of Scotland moving to level two restrictions today, we are surely just a spell of decent weather away from confirming the return of that precious commodity, optimism. Aside from those personal easements in what we can do in our spare time and with family and friends, the business […]
Fuel Change Challenge – Now is the time for you to make a difference
Think you’ve got what it takes to help Scotland reach its #NetZero target? Next challenge starts 26 April 2021…It’s time to Fuel Change! Fuel Change is a platform for the next generation to take control of the climate crisis and drive Scotland towards Net-Zero. Through real challenges set by industry, apprentices will develop solutions […]
Herald Article March 2021
Who wouldn’t want to join mission to save the world? If like me, you have been thinking recently about what exactly green skills are, then maybe also like me, you need to get out more – don’t we all? Even if you haven’t thought about this, you may have noticed the phrases ‘climate emergency’, ‘zero […]
Herald Article February 2021
It was pointed out to me recently, by someone possibly who sees sport in raising my hackles, that this Brexit thing hasn’t been so bad after all, as there has been no sight of the much-feared queues of lorries on our motorways, in temporary truck parks in Kent, or even at the ports. Maybe, they continued, […]
Herald Article January 2021
Our new year is still in its infancy, but already there are no shortages of challenges. A new virus variant returns us to the toughest of lockdowns, the ripple in the carpet that is Brexit has reached the wall, and the conclusion of populist politics in the US leaves us with a sense of wariness. Determined to […]
UK-EU Future Relationship Agreement
The Brexit Transition Period ended at 11 pm on 31st December and the UK has now entered its new relationship with the EU under the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement which was finalised on the 24th December. A summary of the agreements and the full document can be found here, and the UK Government continues to […]
Herald Article December 2020
Like most of us I suspect, the second half of December is a time to reflect on the ups and downs of the year nearly past and look ahead to the opportunities and challenges of the one coming. Of the uncertainties that this year has thrown up, the one I expected to be clear on […]
Scottish Government Announces New Apprenticeship Support
Scottish Engineering has been urging the Scottish Government to clarify its announcement some months ago indicating support for employer incentives to ensure apprentice levels in industry. Yesterday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced details on a key apprenticeship initiative that has been developed by Skills Development Scotland and will be available in January 2021. The […]
Opportunity to be involved with NMIS Smart Manufacturing Centres
Looking to start or accelerate your Industry 4.0 journey? NMIS (National Manufacturing Institute Scotland) is inviting manufacturers to get involved with new centres dedicated to industrial robotics and digital systems research. Scottish Engineering would like to highlight an opportunity that could benefit members looking to digitise and automate their production processes. NMIS and the wider […]
Herald Article 16th November 2020
Whatever opinion you may hold on 2020 as a year, it’s not been without its talking points. The last few weeks have added some more to the obvious suspects, with my own current favourite being which will come first: clarity on the US Presidential election, or clarity on the terms by which we will work and trade […]
Engineering Fundamentals with University of Strathclyde
The Faculty of Engineering at Strathclyde is delighted to offer a newly developed module in Engineering Fundamentals which launched on 5 November 2020. The University of Strathclyde Engineering Fundamentals course is open for registrations once again. This online course provides an insight into studying engineering and an opportunity to develop skills relevant across different engineering […]
Scottish Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – Nominations Open
Nominations for the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards 2020 are now open Entries are being sought to showcase innovation of the learning providers who have worked with employers and apprentices to support their efforts in exceptional times. The awards will also highlight the resilience and hard work of Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprentices during 2020. They will shine […]
Scottish Engineering Mentoring Programme
Last year we established the Scottish Engineering Mentoring Programme as part of our commitment to the development of a new generation of professionals and leaders in our industry. Mentoring can be a powerful tool in nurturing personal and professional growth for the individual and in supporting the achievement of business goals. The scheme is open to all member companies […]
Virtual Awards Ceremony Video Release
Our sincere thanks to everyone who was able to join us live today on our virtual Awards Ceremony, and help us give recognition to all of our fantastic Award winners! In a year which has been hugely challenging for every manufacturing and engineering company, it has never been more important to celebrate excellence within our […]
Scottish Engineering Virtual Annual Awards – Award Nominees
Our thanks to those who have already registered for our upcoming Awards Ceremony, we can’t wait to welcome you to this exciting new virtual celebration! This time last year no one could have foreseen what lay ahead in 2020 with COVID-19 affecting our lives so much. Let’s press pause on the worry and uncertainty that this […]
On track for greener railways
Project to deliver opportunities for Scottish SMEs. Work is underway to make Scotland a world leader in creating net zero emissions railways. Scottish Enterprise is behind a series of projects designed to find more environmentally friendly train and track solutions, as well as bringing jobs and inward investment to Scotland’s manufacturing and engineering sectors. The […]
Herald Article 17th August 2020
Dear Member, In this month’s Herald article we discuss the COVID-19 recession, navigating redundancies and business recovery. Click here to view.
“Protecting our Future” – Adopt An Apprentice
As we move towards what is hopefully a tentative restart of the economy post lockdown, there are patently wide ranging issues and concerns that are impacting today on the short to medium term viability of the Engineering and Manufacturing sector in Scotland. It is of course difficult to consider how your business, and more widely […]
Members Briefing – Furlough Scheme & Redundancy payments
Dear Member, Many companies have made use of the UK Government’s Furlough Scheme in an effort to retain staff and avoid redundancies. Unfortunately, for some the economic impact has been so severe that redundancies of furloughed staff has been unavoidable. There was initially some dubiety about whether any statutory redundancy payments would be at […]
Members Briefing – UK Points Based Immigration System
The UK Government’s new Points Based Immigration System will be introduced from 1st January 2021 as the Brexit transition period comes to an end. From that date, there will no longer be free movement for EU citizens. Anyone who wants come to the UK to live and work, whether from the EU or elsewhere, will need […]
Herald Article 20th July 2020
Dear Member, In this month’s herald article, we discuss the economic crisis we are facing as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Brexit and the impact on wider industry. Click here to view.
Headtorch Mental Well-being Breakfast Session – Thu 2nd July
Now is a critical time to prioritise your mental health and well-being to enable you to stay well and focussed whilst working during these extraordinary times. Therefore, we’d like to extend this invitation to join our Mental Well-Being Breakfast Webinar, in partnership with Member company Headtorch on the morning of Thursday 2nd July 2020. With […]
New Online Career Enhancement Programme (CEP) for Women
It is a well-known fact that women have historically been under-represented in the engineering and construction sectors, and although there has been a significant push for gender equality within these fields in recent years, there’s still a lot of work to be done. From facing obstacles in applying for promoted roles and experiencing a lack […]
Members Briefing – Migration Policy Update
Dear Member, The UK Government’s new point based immigration system is due to come in to operation on 1st January 2021 and will have significant consequences for any employer looking to sponsor foreign nationals, including those from EU states, to live and work in the UK. Click here for a summary of the policy. Scottish […]
Chief Exec’s report Jun 2020
The contents of this quarter’s review should come with a health warning, as reading it will not be a pleasant experience, and those of a nervous disposition should perhaps look away now. It is widely anticipated that we are now in the second UK wide recession of this century, and its perhaps helpful to compare […]
The Good Work Plan – Changes in April 2020
Changes to Statement of Terms and Conditions – A Day 1 Right. Previously, employers had 8 weeks to provide new employees with a Statement of Terms and Conditions, which for most employers was via an employment contract. From 6 April 2020, this becomes a first day right – meaning that the employer is required to […]
One to One Support for SMEs *Now Online*
During these uncertain times, many of us are now having to work from home, and as such the thought of missing out on work and training can be quite unnerving. It was originally planned that the free of charge One to One Support Sessions, as part of the Inclusive Engineering Programme at Scottish Engineering, would […]
Developing Scotland’s Leaders Programme
We’re very excited to announce that our latest training programme is now open for bookings. Don’t miss out on our early bird discounted rate – valid until the 30th March 2020. Your leaders can be your companies biggest asset. Invest in them today with this specially designed programme to give them the skills they need […]
Support for Pay Awards 2020
Last year saw some difficult pay settlement discussions within our member companies – a combination of a period of restricted awards (generally) gave way to some settlements which were in excess of the commonly used indices. Unions, used to a stagnant economy with limited wage growth were much more bullish in 2019, which coupled with […]
Chief Exec’s report Mar 2020
In our final 2019 review of Scotland’s Engineering Manufacturing sector we delicately described results as “chastening”, with confidence matching orders in steep decline, and we feared that the resilience shown in our sector had reached the bottom of its reserve. This week I opened the results of our newest survey with extra interest, as I […]
The Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow Award 2020
Applications are flooding in for the Hammermen of Glasgow Award 2020. You still have plenty of time to apply. Closing date for entries is Friday 3rd April 2020. Do you employ a young engineer who is currently working on a project or has taken a major role in a project which has or will significantly […]
UK Government Confirms Plans to Restrict Immigration
On 19 February 2020 the Government confirmed its plan to introduce an ‘Australian-style’ points system in a complete overhaul of the immigration system which will end the EU freedom of movement from 31 December 2020. A ten-page briefing document has been issued which outlines the new policy and states: UK borders will be closed […]
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) Update by HSE
LEV – An Employer’s Guide to Competence. You have a legal responsibility to ensure that employee exposure to dust/fumes etc. is minimised and well controlled. LEV is an excellent way of doing this. People who supply, examine and maintain LEV need to be competent otherwise your LEV may not work properly, putting people’s health at […]
Protected Belief – Ethical Veganism
The written reasons in the case of Casamitjana Costa v The League Against Cruel Sports are now available. An Employment Tribunal found that ethical veganism was a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010. It is very clear from the Tribunal’s written reasons that Mr Costa is not simply following a vegan diet but adopts […]
Musculoskeletal disorders update
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have released their latest information on Musculoskeletal Disorders for February 2020. Click here for full information on Manual Handling at work, Managing Upper Limb Disorders in the workplace, Public Health England’s (PHE) Musculoskeletal Health Knowledge Hub and PHE Musculoskeletal Health – Current Awareness Update
Unconscious Bias Mitigation and Fairer Recruitment (UBFR) Training Sessions
To create diverse and inclusive workplaces, we have a responsibility to challenge our own unconscious bias on a regular basis, in order to grow in a progressive manner. The business case for diversity is clear – in a study conducted by McKinsey & Co, it was seen that companies in the top quartile for gender […]
Jacks Law – The right to paid time off after the bereavement of a child
The Government issued a press release late last week announcing that the proposed Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay legislation, first trailed in June 2018 has been laid before Parliament to pass into law. These regulations are to be known as ‘Jack’s Law’ in memory of Jack Herd, whose mother Lucy has been campaigning on this […]
CHANGES TO IR35 AND RECENT CASE REPORT
CHANGES TO IR35 It was announced by the government in 2018 that the off payroll working rules would be extended to the private sector to address IR35 noncompliance in the sector. The rules require that clients determine whether deemed employment status applies to their arrangements with personal service companies and other intermediary supplying services to […]
NEW EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance in relation to sexual harassment and harassment in the workplace. The EHRC explains that “the evidence of the need for tougher action on harassment in the workplace is overwhelming”. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination and harassment because of or related […]
Equality and Inclusivity Training – One to One Support for SMEs
It is a known fact that there is a significant underrepresentation of women in the engineering sector, which acts as a disadvantage from a moral, economic and a business point of view. In a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, it was seen that companies in the top 25th percentile for gender diversity on their […]
Chief Exec’s report Dec 19
It seems difficult to believe that not only are we approaching the end of year, but also the end of another decade, and soon will be talking about the 2020’s. As a child of the 70’s and 80’s the last “20’s” were ancient history even to me, although at some time the phrase “The Roaring […]
Guest Writer: 100 years of Women’s Engineering
Lorna Bennet Mechanical Engineer WES Prize Winner 2018 2019 has been a special year, marking the 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Engineering Society, inspiring numerous events across the country that have brought focus to our efforts to improve our diversity in Industry. So, as we close the year it seems fair to pose the […]
Guest Writer: Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company
Andy Russell Operations Manager, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company The idea of creating Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC) was born after the release of a 2016 report, The Veterans Community Employability, Skills & Learning, by Eric Fraser – the previous Scottish Veterans Commissioner. It outlined the wealth of skills our veterans’ community has to offer […]
