ROUND-UP JULY/AUGUST 2019
In Depth £90m
Fast facts: BAE’s skills drive
invested in skills
and training per
year by BAE
2,500
apprentices
and graduates
in training
26.3%
of BAE Systems’
apprentices in
2018 were female
BAE Systems
BAE Systems calls for nationwide
Industry 4.0 skills development
Defence sector giant BAE Systems
has urged government, industry
and the education sector to
develop a collaborative and co-ordinated
approach to ensure the UK puts itself
in the best position to benefit from the
digital revolution and Industry 4.0.
It has released a whitepaper, entitled
Future Skills for our UK Business, which
outlines six guiding principles to help the
country achieve its potential:
1 Create a more diverse, inclusive
and flexible workplace for the
employees of tomorrow;
2 Commit to retraining and upskilling
existing workers;
3 Prioritise investment in digital,
soft and behavioural skills;
4 Continue to support suppliers and
SMEs so that they can develop skills
in the digital workplace;
5 Continue to improve the perception
of STEM subjects and careers;
6 Continue to champion vocational
training schemes.
The whitepaper was launched at
BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art Academy
for Skills and Knowledge in Samlesbury,
Lancashire. Speaking at the event, Nigel
Whitehead, BAE Systems chief technology
officer, stated that the defence, aerospace,
engineering and manufacturing sectors
need to work together and prioritise
investment in digital and ‘soft skills’,
upskilling and retraining and supporting
supply chains and SMEs, to respond to the
expected levels of complexity in industrial
and business systems and unprecedented
demand from technologies such as
artificial intelligence.
“I am personally really excited by the
opportunities in today’s highly connected
world and what the future will bring,
but we cannot be complacent,” said
Whitehead. “By taking tangible action
now and capitalising on the ambition
of young people coupled with the UK’s
traditions and advantages – education,
strong legal frameworks, technical
innovations and leadership – we can
exploit the digital revolution and compete
on the world stage.”
Dr Hayaatun Sillem, chief executive
of the Royal Academy of Engineering
added: “Failure to successfully prepare
for the impact of technological disruption
means we will put at risk our ability to
benefit from the opportunities created by
digital transformation and other waves of
technological change.”
New lightweighting
R&D centre opens
An £8.9 million centre to help firms
benefit from lightweight manufacturing
technology has been officially opened
by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The Lightweight Manufacturing Centre
will develop lighter, more efficient,
components for high-value industries,
including the automotive and aerospace
sectors. It also has the potential to
benefit any company looking to replace
traditional manufacturing methods with
the next generation of materials.
The centre, operated by the University
of Strathclyde, is the first stage of
establishing the £65 million National
Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)
that aims to make Scotland a global
leader in advanced manufacturing.
Opening the centre, temporarily
located at the Doosan Babcock facility
in Renfrew, the First Minister said: “It is
really important as technology rapidly
advances, that our economy must follow
suit. This world-class centre will help us
do just that, as the first stage of the new
NMIS. Businesses across Scotland will
benefit from access to state-of-the-art
equipment and opportunities for
collaboration and research and
development. The opportunities that
stem from lightweight manufacturing
will help increase their competitiveness.”
“Lightweighting technology holds
huge promise for a wide range of
sectors, from making aircraft and
vehicles lighter and more energy
efficient, to improving renewable energy
technology performance, and
developing the next generation of
materials for health care,” added
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal of
the University of Strathclyde. “The new
centre provides the skills and services
needed to place Scottish industry at the
forefront of lightweight manufacturing,
helping companies of all sizes compete
globally. This marks an important
milestone in Scotland’s innovation
journey, and we look forward to working
with businesses around the country.”
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