Local Manufacturers Focus on ‘Industry 4.0’

Sussex manufacturers will need to focus on upskilling and digitisation to reap the benefits of ‘Industry 4.0’ – the so-called fourth industrial revolution.

The latest meeting of METALL (the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Alliance), a forum for south coast and Gatwick diamond businesses in the sector, heard that while robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence offered potential for productivity gains, there were structural barriers to overcome.

Speaking at the event, Philippa Oldham, Head of Manufacturing and Transport for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), said nine in 10 manufacturers were aware of developments in robotics, but that industry’s skills gap remained a significant challenge.

“We need to get more people excited about engineering, from apprentices through to Phd graduates, so that we are equipped as a sector to optimise the value of the fourth industrial revolution,” she said. She estimated that manufacturing needed to find 182,000 new technicians and engineers every year until 2022 to meet demand.

This skills gap was underlined in the latest MHA Carpenter Box manufacturing and engineering report, which showed that 84% of manufacturing businesses in the south east were struggling to recruit people. Despite these challenges, the survey found that the majority of local businesses remained optimistic about the future which perhaps reflects the fact that engineers, by definition, solve problems.

Innovate UK's Emerging and Enabling Round 3 to close November 8th at 12:00

Innovate UK will invest up to £25 million in innovation projects that inspire new products and services.

The aim of this competition is to help UK businesses broaden their innovation activities, disrupt existing markets and find new revenue sources.

Projects must show significant innovation in one of the following priority areas:

• emerging technologies
• digital
• enabling capabilities
• space applications

Projects will range in size from total project costs of £35,000 to £2 million. Projects must last between 3 months and 3 years.

West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Skills and Business Support Survey

To better understand the needs of businesses in the West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster, the University of Brighton and Marketing Means were commissioned to conduct a survey of the cluster and make a series of recommendations.

Click here to read the Executive Summary of the survey

The latest Worthing Podcast is now online.

This time Patrick is talking to Worthing personality, DJ and funfair operator, Dave Hunt.  He talks about how it all started for him, and reminds us of some of Worthing's long-gone music venues! Also how he started in radio with Worthing's commercial radio station, then Splash FM.

Click this link to listen to it www.worthingpodcast.com

Thinking of starting your own business?

Then why not join us for morning coffee and networking at the Worthing Library

 Business Start-up Workshop where you will hear presentations from:

- Worthing and Adur Chamber

- NatWest Bank

- Coast to Capital

- Ask for the Moon

- West Sussex Library Service

All our speakers will aim to help you start your business in 2017!

Library staff will also be on hand to demonstrate COBRA - the Complete Business Reference Advisor – which gives you access to over 1000 factsheets, startup guides and specialist reports, plus a directory including over 3000 business support and funding schemes.

So, if you’re a budding entrepreneur, with a great business idea, then get along to our free workshop and we’ll help you get your business idea off to a flying start!

Wednesday 8 November 2017, 10am - 12noon

Worthing Library Book free tickets online.

Click here to book now

Governor Opportunity at Whytemead Primary School 

Whytemead Primary School is a small friendly community where each child, regardless of their ability or background, really does matter to us.Their philosophy of placing our values; creativity, achievement, citizenship and healthy living at the heart of the curriculum ensures the children's education is not just about academic achievement but also concerned with nurturing creativity, personal development, responsibility and inquiring minds. 

The Governing Body performs a vital strategic function in the running of the school.  In this challenging and rewarding role we strive to uphold the schools principles of by agreeing the school's direction with the headteacher and senior leadership team.  This has been a particularly interesting time as Whytemead continues on the journey to become an established Primary School. 

Individually we have a wide range of skills that go together to make an effective team and collectively we all share a strong commitment to the school and children of Whytemead,  We strongly believe that the Governing Body would be further enhanced by the inclusion of a member removed from the day to day running of our school life and would like to share an opportunity for the position of Co-Opted Governor. 

To visit their website click here

Rustington Chamber Newsletter

Christmas is getting close and we're getting excited about our Rustington Christmas Event!

Please bring your friends and family to the village between 10am and 4pm! As you can see, there will be lots to do and you'll be able to pick up some Christmas presents from our retailers - some of whom may even be wearing Christmas costumes!

The shop window competition theme this year is 'Christmas Carols'

More business networking and a Christmas Pudding Race!

Guild Care's next business networking will be on Thursday 7th December, so please call them if you would like to be put on their mailing list to get more details and regular updates about their business events.

With their Xmas Pudding Race not far away, why not also get a team together to support Guild Care?

If you would like to join in the fun on Broadwater Green on the 26th November, please call 01903 639613.

To read more of the newsletter click here

Local Property Professionals Focus on 600 Homes and IKEAS’s Big Plans

One of the biggest proposed residential and commercial property schemes on the Sussex coast in decades was scrutinised at the latest meeting of the Sussex Property Alliance (SPA).

If given the go-ahead, the New Monks Farm development in Lancing would create 600 homes, a school, a 28 hectare country park and a 35,000 sq m flagship IKEA store. Over 40 SPA members also heard details of separate plans to build 25,000 sqm of employment space at the adjacent Brighton City Airport.

Speaking at the event, held at the Airport, James Appleton, Head of Planning and Development at Adur and Worthing Councils, said the New Monks Farm application was likely to be determined in the first few months of next year. He said that aside from the numerous environmental, heritage and highways objections to be taken into account, overall scheme viability was a key issue and the applicants claim that the delivery of the development was heavily reliant upon the proposed IKEA store had to be tested.

Considerable concerns had been raised by the local community about additional congestion on the A27 as a result of the IKEA store but Mr Appleton stressed that the application was not expected to deal with the wider A27 problems but had to demonstrate that it would mitigate the impact of the additional development traffic on the trunk road.

“In looking at how we meet future employment and housing needs the shortage of land in Adur meant that development had to be considered on greenfield land at New Monks Farm and the Airport. The Local Plan Inspector's report had recently been received and the Inspector found the Council’s overall strategy to be ‘sound’ providing an appropriate balance between meeting housing and employment needs with protecting the local environment.

Mr Appleton said that,

“The two planning applications were promoting more development than envisaged by the Local Plan and had provoked considerable opposition. The local planning authority will have to weigh up the benefits of the schemes in terms of new homes, jobs and economic development with the impact on the local environment, heritage and local infrastructure. The applications are hugely complex”

In terms of the recent A27 consultation, the Councils of Adur and Worthing had objected on the basis that the Government had not provided sufficient funding to Highways England to come up with a genuine consultation exercise. Mr Appleton advised that the local Councils, MPs, and businesses had all asked the government to look for a more radical solution to ease congestion, improve journey times and improve air quality. It was hoped that the Government would listen and recent positive statements from the Transport Minister indicates that this is the case.

The Sussex Property Alliance provides a forum where property professionals get together, exchange ideas, and build relationships. It is supported by Sussex-based MHA Carpenter Box chartered accountants, Bennett Griffin solicitors and Michael Jones commercial real estate agents.

Looking towards New Monks Farm, our photo shows (l-r) Stephen Hollamby (Bennett Griffin), Robert Dowling (MHA Carpenter Box), James Appleton (Adur and Worthing Councils), and Steve Berrett (Michael Jones).

www.sussexpropertyalliance.co.uk

Resilience & Optimism for Manufacturers despite Brexit uncertainties 

SME manufacturers in the UK are more confident around revenue growth, despite Brexit uncertainties, skills shortages and production cost rises. So says this year’s MHA Manufacturing & Engineering annual survey report which is supported by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

The findings of this year’s survey gathered by Sussex and Gatwick-based chartered accountants, tax and business advisers, MHA Carpenter Box, draw on the national and regional insights from over 450 clients and contacts. It identifies opportunities and concerns facing UK manufacturing and engineering businesses and, despite uncertainties over Brexit, 69% reported that they achieved revenue growth over the last 12 months and 78% remain positive about the future.

Without doubt Brexit uncertainty is a significant barrier to growth and 94% of respondents expect further increase in production costs, which are likely to be passed on to customers. Nationally, 20% of respondents stated that they have lost staff or are at risk of losing staff from the EU because of Brexit, however, in the South East the figure is closer to 30%.

Recruiting appropriately skilled staff is a significant issue for 75% of the survey respondents and this was identified as one of the main barriers to achieving business growth over the next 12 months, a problem compounded by staff losses over Brexit. In spite of this, 57% of respondents expect to increase their staff numbers over the next 12 months and 59% are planning to take on apprentices.

The survey highlighted that manufacturers are starting to understand Industry 4.0 opportunities and are looking to government for more tax breaks to help them to accelerate the necessary investment. Many currently do not fully understand the impact of Industry 4.0, which is the name for the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies which can help create ‘smart factories’ and bring more automation to manufacturing and engineering processes.

MHA Carpenter Box Partner Chris Coopey, who heads the Manufacturing Group at MHA nationally, commented: “The resilience and optimism of our manufacturers and engineers highlighted by our survey is a massive positive for the UK in this most uncertain of worlds. Despite the challenges they face the sector remains buoyant.

“We know the skills shortage is already being exacerbated by the loss of both skilled and unskilled staff from the EU. Though apprenticeships are becoming more popular, they will not match demand, so we need to make more using less labour by utilising technology. The fact that the principles around Industry 4.0 are beginning to figure in the sector’s thinking is therefore very good news. Investment seems to be the key to the conundrum of skills shortages and rising costs.”

Mark Burton, Managing Director Lloyds Bank Mid Markets, London and South East, commented:

“Manufacturers across the South coast are exceeding even their own growth forecasts. Uncertainty is affecting the current workforce but the region’s businesses are still achieving high turnovers and businesses are in fact keen to take on more staff.

“A central concern for companies is managing their working capital at the moment, with almost a fifth of firms struggling to manage their cash flow. Lloyds Bank is committed to helping firms manage risk and working capital as part of our Helping Britain Prosper commitment.”

Philippa Oldham who heads Manufacturing and Transport for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, will discuss the main findings of this year’s report at the Manufacturing Engineering and Technology Alliance (METALL #6) meeting on October 19^th at the South Lodge Hotel near Horsham.  

For more details and to sign up, visit www.metall.org.uk .