MORE than 100 exhibitors showcased their latest innovations at the recent Scottish Manufacturing and Supply Chain Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow.
Some 150 speakers took to the stage to discuss topics including automation, renewable energy, and precision engineering.
Paul Sheerin, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, opened the event and featured in a number of discussions including SME SWOT analysis, attracting and retaining talent, and the future of manufacturing energy.
Fresh from chairing a panel on the financial landscape for engineering and manufacturing, Paul told Project Scotland about the challenges of providing business advice in an ever-changing global landscape.
“I think it’s an important topic to talk about,” he said. “But it’s also important to recognise how resilient companies have been. You look at industry across Scotland and the UK in light of Covid. They really had to massively pivot and change overnight in order to survive, but they did it. We had relatively tiny casualties who didn’t make it through.”
One of the aims of Scottish Engineering is to address skills shortages. Paul said Scotland has a brilliant talent pool, but warned that the country should be looking to replicate the likes of Switzerland – which in 2021 saw 52% of youngsters take up vocational training – to keep up with demand.
“Before you change the mindsets of the young people, first you have to change the mindsets of the teachers who are inspiring them, the career advisers, the parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts – all these people are the influences and they’re very hard to reach,” he added.
A range of impressive technology featured on the Scottish Engineering stand including VR headsets. Individuals from the organisation were on hand to answer questions.
Another exhibitor was Fife College. Project Scotland met with Jim Kinnell, business development manager at the learning institute.
“You come into these events… and you expect to see companies looking at products and showcasing what firms can invest in, in terms of physical resources,” he said. “I wasn’t necessarily getting my hopes too high that we were going to get many people coming here, but we’ve been absolutely inundated with people coming to our stand from all sorts of walks of life.”
Students nearing graduation showed particular interest, with questions about the college’s links to industry being a common talking point from those considering postgraduate courses.
Having offered 130 engineering modern apprenticeships throughout the 2023/24 academic year, there was plenty to say.
“It goes without saying that we can’t take on those number of modern apprenticeships unless it’s reflected by a huge number of companies that are willing to not only commit the money, but emotional involvement,” Jim added. “A modern apprenticeship is the best of both worlds – you’re learning your skills, you’re gaining an education, but at the same time you’re being paid for that.”
The event also featured Supplier Development Programme, which seeks to help SMEs better understand the opportunities in public sector contracts.
Mark Houston, customer development officer at the organisation, said it can be much easier for people to understand information when someone is in front of them talking rather than reading text on a website.
“The buzz about here is great; it’s really busy,” he added. “I’ve asked many small businesses about public sector contracts – a lot just don’t know where to start. They may think it’s for the big boys and they don’t get an opportunity, but we’re trying to dispel that myth and show that there are opportunities out there for every Scottish SME.”
Also in attendance was mental health organisation Headtorch, which aims to create positive mental health at work and has worked with the likes of Budweiser Budvar and Volvo Construction Equipment’s Rokbak haulers.
Angus Robinson, chair of Headtorch, said that it was great to see so many people visit the stand. “People are definitely talking more openly about it (mental health) and they’re starting to understand what the re-al benefits are of doing that.”
Angus, a former engineer, said there is a real appetite from construc-tion firms to improve mental health in the sector. He explained the importance of identifying root causes of stress on sites and how this can contribute to more positive mental wellbeing.
“Some of our clients’ engagement scores have increased, absence has reduced,” he added. “One client’s mental health absences reduced by 300%, so get it right then you will get enormous benefits.”
Following the success of this year’s Scotland Manufacturing and Supply Chain Conference and Exhibition, the event is set to return next year over two days on October 23 and 24, with over 200 exhibitors anticipated.
