The success story of Renishaw

From solving an engineering problem on the fuel pipes of Concorde to running a company now employing 2700 people, Sir David McMurtry’s story is a fascinating one. The chairman/chief executive and co-founder of precision engineering company, Renishaw, is interviewed in this month’s edition of Cotswold Life describing his initial career at Rolls Royce and onto how the company was formed.
In terms of employment, Renishaw is still a company taking on apprentices – 25 last year. It is also a company that invests with £40 million spent on R&D and engineering in the year ended June 2011. At the UK Business Awards last year, the judges said that ‘Renishaw is not only exporting British designed and British manufactured products to over 30 countries, but attracting more graduates into manufacturing.’ For more background on this local success and the man who, at 71, is still its chief designer, read the full article http://cotswold.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/renishaw-irreplaceable-37970/

Kick start for new project managers

Project management students, experienced professionals and those thinking of a career change to project management are all invited to a ‘Kick Start your career in Project Management’ event. The evening, at the University of the West of England in Bristol, will be the inaugural event of the new South West and West of England branch of the Association of Project Management.
Presenters will include the APM Young Project Manager of the Year (Will Sargeant) and Simon Reid from Babcock International Group. The evening will also feature interactive sessions and chance to network with new and established project managers. Attendees do not have to be a member of the organisation and the event is free – an excellent opportunity to get professional advice for starting out in professional project management. Whether this will be your first career or maybe your next career with your existing engineering or management experience, get more details here. http://www.apm.org.uk/event/kick-start-your-career-project-management

Civil engineering awards in Gloucestershire

Civil engineering companies and individuals in Gloucestershire and the South West have several opportunities to demonstrate their expertise this year. Companies can enter the ‘ICE South West Civil Engineering Project of the Year Award’ with categories for small and large projects – those above and below £1M. The Institute of Civil Engineering award is to ‘recognise construction projects within the South West area… which promotes the excellence of the engineering profession.’

Alternatively graduates with less than 7 years’ experience in the civil engineering industry can enter the ICE Communications Competition 2012 as a team. This competition looks at communicating engineering projects to the general public, including a panel presentation. Deadlines for these competitions are the 30th April and 1st Feb respectively although the deadline for a third competition, ICE South West Graduate and Student Papers Competition, is just days away on the 20th January. Good luck to all Gloucestershire projects and engineers. Full
details at http://www.ice.org.uk/nearyou/UK-Regions/South-West/ICE-South-West-Awards-and-Competitions

Contractors confident in 2012

According to recent research by contracts service provider, Giant, engineering contractors are confident about both job prospects and pay levels. The survey which looked at responses from 165 contractors, is discussed on the IET’s (Institute of Engineering and Technology) website.

The research found that ‘61 per cent of engineering contractors expected their pay to rise in 2012, compared to just 51 per cent who forecasted an increase at the end of 2010.’ Rising confidence was also indicated by a ‘growing preference for higher hourly pay over a longer term contract.’ Matthew Brown, group managing director of Giant, said that demand was in part being fuelled by lack of engineering skills particularly in specialist areas. “ The growth of the nuclear industry, … the development of renewable energy sources and clean fossil fuels, is stimulating demand for
process and chemical engineers for example,” Brown said. For more details see the full article here http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2012/jan/giant-engineering.cfm

New Manufacturing Advisory Service launched

Business Minister, Mark Prisk, launched a new advisory service for all manufacturing business this week – to be known as MAS (Manufacturing Advisory Service) with details available at www.mymas.org. The service should offer a range of services from an enquiry line to national events and a consultancy service with associated funding available. “Manufacturing contributes half of Britain’s exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth,” said the Business Minister.

The new service and manufacturing initiative will be delivered by a consortium, comprised of Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium Ltd and SWMAS Ltd. Karl Eddy, from the consortium, said that ‘we encourage business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector to contact a local advisor to find out more about how MAS can deliver real benefits for their business." For further details visit the website of the government’s Business, Innovation and Skills department. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=422689&NewsAreaID=2