Last week, leading energy company Vattenfall hosted a pivotal networking seminar to accelerate progress towards net zero.

There are 27 million employees in the UK, and from Tuesday 30 April millions of them on monthly salaries woke up with a little more cash in their pockets, as the government’s Spring Budget cut to National Insurance appeared in April’s pay-packets.

IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sebastian Grams as Chief Digital Officer (CDO).

Benevity Inc., the leading global provider of social impact software, have announced the winners of its 2024 Corporate Goodness Awards, also known as ‘The Goodies,’ acknowledging leading-edge brands for their innovative and inspirational approaches to social impact, employee engagement and corporate philanthropy.

ScottishPower Renewables’ first fixed-bottom foundation offshore windfarm in Scottish waters could bring jobs and an economic boost and create positive and lasting benefits for rural and coastal communities, according to a new independent report.

The BiGGAR Economics study investigated the potential benefits and opportunities for communities and supply chain businesses located around any chosen construction facility and dedicated operations and maintenance base for the MachairWind offshore windfarm. No decision has been taken as yet on where these facilities will be hosted.

MachairWind will be developed in the waters north-west of Islay and west of Colonsay. With a proposed generating capacity of up to 2GW, it could produce enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of up to two million homes across the UK.

The BiGGAR Economics study looked at eight locations – based on geographical proximity to MachairWind – that could be considered for the project, subject to further studies including technical feasibility.

• Islay, Oban – operations and maintenance base
• Campbeltown and Machrihanish, Clyde Coast (including Hunterston) – operations and maintenance base, and construction port
• Arnish, Belfast, Kishorn, Nigg – construction port

As well as assessing opportunities created by the project, it also considered any potential impacts of using the different ports for the construction period to build the windfarm and/or the lifespan of its operations.

BiGGAR Economics’ report concludes that MachairWind could create transformational opportunities to address skills gaps, support sustainability efforts, enhance community wellbeing and stimulate growth in economically-disadvantaged areas – all while acknowledging existing constraints in infrastructure, housing, labour availability, public services and island habitability.

This includes potential for diversifying the economic base and reducing reliance on individual sectors/employers; providing training and skills development; assessing local infrastructure; attracting and retaining working people and families in rural communities; fostering a strong local supply chain; and enhancing energy infrastructure to support the journey towards net zero.

Graeme Blackett, Managing Director of BiGGAR Economics said: “MachairWind is an important offshore wind development and while there are lots of moving parts to be considered and varying estimated impacts in each possible location, what is crystal clear is the great potential for ScottishPower Renewables to create wide-ranging benefits for communities, both economic and social. Our thanks to everyone who provided valuable input to our study.”  

Responding to the report, ScottishPower Renewables’ Kiera Wilson, MachairWind Development Lead, said: “While no preferred port locations have been selected for MachairWind’s construction and operations at this very early stage – and there’s a lot more work to be done around this – the BiGGAR Economics study provides valuable insight and analysis that will inform our next steps and help ensure we ultimately make the right decision not just for the project, but for local people and places too.

“The study shows how important it is to consider all possible scenarios and impacts, and how vital communication and collaboration with communities will continue to be as we work to bring MachairWind to life.

“ScottishPower Renewables has a proven and positive track record of working with local people, communities and businesses across Argyll and Bute to maximise the benefits and opportunities from our windfarms. I’m confident MachairWind will live up to that and create a legacy for a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future.”

The BiGGAR Economics report, ‘MachairWind Development Economic and Social Scenarios: Opportunities and Impacts’ is available at: https://bit.ly/3QnbtKb.

A supplier of millions of components every day to cars, lorries and engines has been named as the Confederation of British Metalforming’s Company of the Year at a prestigious event last night.

Sertec Group, which employs over 2200 people across ten global locations, beat off strong competition from the sector to win the main award, with judges impressed by ‘its journey to excellence’ that has seen it enjoy a major increase in productivity, improvements in on-time delivery in full and the implementation of a comprehensive employee engagement approach. With 200 people in attendance at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, the Coleshill Headquartered company was joined on stage by KMF Precision Sheet Metal’s Kayleigh Simm (Apprentice of the Year) and G-TEM, who was a double winner on the evening (HSE Initiative and Energy Efficiency).

The latter, a global manufacturer of vehicle body structures, has demonstrated a clear passion for implementing ISO 45001 with the aim of creating a safer working environment, whilst its commitment towards Net Zero by 2035 has seen it introduce quarterly energy audits and commission a 200% increase in its solar power capability. Emissions have decreased by more than a quarter (28%) because of these initiatives, with sales also growing by a staggering 56% due to major new business awards.

Steve Morley, President of the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), commented: “It has been another difficult year for the metalforming sector, who are facing up to global conflicts, continued supply chain disruption and high inflation.

“In spite of all this, our members have continued to show great resilience and innovation to post increased sales, export growth and investment in safety, people and new technology.” He continued: “This is illustrated by the winners at our Annual Dinner.

“All of them are striving to be the best they can be in their respective fields and, importantly, are committed to raising the profile of our sector and what UK manufacturing can do.” 19-year-old Kayleigh Simm is putting ‘girl power’ on the industrial map after she was recognised as the CBM’s Apprentice of the Year.

She joined Newcastle-under-Lyme’s KMF Precision Sheet Metal in 2022 and her drive for engineering has shone through as she progresses within the company and, importantly, in the way she champions vocational learning to other young people. This has seen her lead a KMF team at 15 school and college career fairs, as well as acting as an outstanding apprentice advocate on its Apprenticeship Open Day that attracted over 140 visitors.

Kayleigh is now setting her sights on undertaking a degree in Manufacturing Engineering. Geraldine Bolton, CEO of the CBM, went on to add: “It is fantastic to have a female engineer win the Apprentice of the Year title, and this will no doubt help us attract more girls into our sector.

“Our Annual Dinner continues to be an excellent vehicle for promoting and celebrating the very best of the UK’s metalforming sector. In addition to the awards, more than 200 guests also enjoyed an inspirational talk by Dave Heeley OBE, who has earned the nickname of ‘Blind Dave’ after raising hundreds of thousands of pounds completing marathons and other endurance challenges.”

The Confederation of British Metalforming represents the interests of more than 200 UK manufacturers of fasteners, forgings, pressings, cold rolled and sheet-metal products.

Its Awards were kindly sponsored by Crowe UK, Greenfields Energy Group, Steel & Alloy Gonvarri Industries, and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).