'Skills training for people in NI engineering jobs needed urgently' - 26-06-2008 - 17:48

There is an urgent need to provide skills training for 14,000 people in engineering jobs in Northern Ireland (NI), it is claimed.

Skills Balance Sheet, published by the Department for Education and Learning, reveals 23 per cent of companies in the country believe they have a skills gap, reports trainingzone.co.uk.

Further, the report estimates these shortages are costing the Northern Irish economy £21 million.

Lynn Tomkins, UK policy director at the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (Semta), told the website engineering employers in the country need to develop training plans and invest in staff in engineering jobs to be competitive and productive.

"Semta welcomes the opportunity to work with the new Skills Academy to deliver the skills and training employers in Northern Ireland are crying out for," she added.

According to 4ni.co.uk, two-thirds of workers across all industries in Northern Ireland have been receiving appropriate skills training despite fears they may not have been.

Higher pay 'needed to attract people to flood engineering jobs' - 26-06-2008 - 11:08

More people are needed in flood engineering jobs and councils will have to pay greater wages to recruit them, it has been claimed.

Sir Michael Pitt told New Civil Engineer local authorities should take responsibility for flood defence in their region, following on from his promise earlier this year to urge every council in England and Wales to appoint a senior flood engineer.

In his final report, the author is expected to recommend higher pay scales to attract flood engineers to the public sector.

A 19 per cent shortfall of people in flood engineering jobs in the sector is expected by 2009 according to a 2004 ICE Engineering Skills for Flood Risk Management report but no shortage was predicted in the private sector.

Sir Michael told the magazine: "This may be due in part to the level of salaries on offer. If local authorities to attract high-calibre candidates they will need to demonstrate their commitment by offering attractive remuneration packages."

It was revealed earlier this month that construction should begin on flood defences in the Westgate area of Wakefield once an engineers report has been considered in October.

GMB calls for limits on foreign nationals in engineering jobs - 26-06-2008 - 10:59

The Home Office should reverse its decision to reduce entry requirements for foreign nationals looking for work in engineering jobs, it has been claimed.

Britain's General Union (GMB) has spoken out against the government's move, suggesting it allows foreign engineers to "easily" obtain work permits for nuclear sector jobs as they are not subjected to full residential labour market tests, Whitehaven News reports.

Peter Kane, convenor of the GMB at the Sellafield plant in Cumbria, told the newspaper Britain needs to be self-sufficient in electricity production.

He said nuclear skills are already present in the UK and warned against an influx of foreign nationals in these engineering jobs.

Mr Kane added: "We need to ensure that we are educating and training enough young people here in the UK to maintain this skills base.

"The Home Office allowing the industry to bring in overseas workers will undermine efforts to train and educate enough of [the UK workforce]."

Britain's General Union, previously known as General Municipal Boilermakers, has almost 600,000 members across a range of industries in the UK - one in every 32 workers in the country.

North-east engineering jobs 'could be at risk' - 24-06-2008 - 17:59

Engineering jobs could be at risk at a plant in County Durham, it is speculated.

Rumours are circulating as vehicle manufacturer Tanfield encounters difficulties, Nick Fletchers writes in a blog for the Guardian.

He says the numbers are "comparatively small", with 30 out of 130 engineering jobs supposed to be under threat, but it adds to uncertainty about the company as a whole.

There have been reports of Tanfield making a bid to appoint a major broker to "boost relations with the City", according to Mr Fletcher.

However, an analyst allegedly said: "If they think a new broker will change sentiment they've got another thing coming."

"People have lost patience and they are worried about the future," they added.

The prospect of engineering job losses follows the news 75 construction jobs have been cut in the area.

North-East Business reported Caterpillar UK had to lay off 75 temporary workers at its plant in Stockton-one-Tees, with economic slowdown blamed for the action.

'Offshore engineering jobs boom for north-east' - 24-06-2008 - 15:16

The north-east is seeing a boom in offshore engineering jobs as the region's oil and gas industry is thriving, it has been reported.

Industry experts have pointed out that 5,000 people are employed in engineering jobs in 50 north-east companies, which is adding £500 million to the local economy, according to nebusiness.co.uk.

George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF, which represents firms in the industry, told the publication: "The north-east offshore sector has been transformed in the last ten years.

"There are huge opportunities for companies across the region in the oil, gas and energy sector."

According to NOF Energy, the north-east gas and oil industry currently has about 1,730 job vacancies.

One example is the Kvaerner yard at Port Clarence, which has grown its workforce from 50 to 200 in the last three years.

In related news, the Daily Record has suggested that engineering firm Glasgow's Weir may be benefiting from growth in the oil and mining industries as a number of analysts have recently upped their predictions of the company's annual profit.

'Engineering firm to announce profits boost' - 24-06-2008 - 15:14

Scottish engineering firm Glasgow's Weir is expected to announce a 'substantial' boost to its profits this year, it has been reported.

A number of analysts have predicted annual profits will be much higher than last year for the engineering products provider, according to the Daily Record.

The news provider has revealed that Numis Securities, a brokerage, expects Glasgow's Weir's profits to soar from £120.2 million last year to £165million - a new forecast which is 5.5 per cent higher than the previous one.

Nick Webster, an analyst, said that more revised estimates are likely to be on their way: "We believe it will continue to outperform."

Glasgow's Weir makes specialist valves and pumps for the oil and mining sectors and the company may be benefiting from rising demand in these industries, according to the newspaper.

Meanwhile, nebusiness.co.uk has reported that the oil and gas industry in the north-east is "thriving".

Construction conferences to take place in Dundee - 23-06-2008 - 13:59

Six conferences on themes relating to sustainability will see around 500 delegates from construction jobs converge on Dundee this summer, it has been revealed.

The city is hosting the seventh international Concrete: Construction's Sustainable Option conference from the July 8th to July 10th, which is expected to generate more than £540,000 for the local economy, the Press and Journal reports.

According to the newspaper, the conference will bring together concrete construction professionals to discuss the importance of engineering in implementing sustainable practices.

Professor Ravindra Dhir, director of the Concrete Technology Unit at Dundee University, said addressing the future of concrete will be the key focus of the event.

"Creating the occasion for significant discussions and networking opportunities sector, the congress will be extremely valuable for those involved in the use and beneficial exploitation of concrete."

A conference took place in Leeds recently which included discussions on recent developments in sustainability.

David Stewart, construction inspector at the Health and Safety Executive, and Mark Pendry, sustainability consultant at building consultants Gleeds, were among the keynote speakers.

Construction and engineering firms 'agree deal with Scots parliament' - 23-06-2008 - 10:44

The Scottish parliament has reached an agreement with two firms which will see the costs of construction and engineering jobs on the Holyrood building recouped, it has been claimed.

Out-of-court settlements have been made with construction company Laing O’Rourke and engineering firm Arup relating to works on a broken beam which saw the building evacuated in May 2006, the Sunday Herald reports.

In total, a figure just under £650,000 has been met between the two firms after "months of negotiation", a figure the newspaper suggests is 80 per cent of the sum originally aimed for by the parliament.

Margo MacDonald, an independent MSP for the Lothians, nevertheless told the publication it represented "a good deal".

She added: "They may not have done as badly as they might have done. However there are still plenty of questions to ask about this matter."

Meanwhile, the Dumbiedykes housing estate in Edinburgh, situated next to the parliament, has undergone a £3.4 million revamp.

The Edinburgh Evening News reported the buildings, once named among the ugliest in the city, have been transformed from their former grey exterior with new green and white finishes.

Bath firm to assist with Abu Dhabi engineering jobs - 19-06-2008 - 15:53

Experts in engineering jobs at a Bath-based firm are set to get the opportunity to work on the £160 million Louvre Museum project in Abu Dhabi.

Buro Happold has been appointed to provide civil, geotechnical and marine engineering expertise for the scheme.

The firm will work with Paris-based architecture company Ateliers Jean Nouvel on the museum, which is due to open in 2012.

Project director at Buro Happold, Tim Page, said the firm is proud to be involved in the project and looks forward to taking on "a series of interesting challenges".

"We will work to the spirit of the American LEED green building rating system - while designing a building with high "wow" content in the tidal inshore zone of an island in the Arabian Gulf, which needs to withstand high ambient temperatures, airborne sand, humidity and salinity," he added.

Buro Happold's engineering jobs typically cover a range of disciplines, including building services, civil, facade and infrastructure.

Deal agreed for Commonwealth Games civil engineering job - 18-06-2008 - 10:59

An £11.75 million contract for enabling, infrastructure and remedial works to the site of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games indoor sports arena and velodrome project has been agreed.

Perth and Warrington-based firm I&H Brown has been awarded the civil engineering job to clear and stabilise the site for development of the area, the Scotsman reports.

The contract, which is the biggest I&H Brown has received, begins this month.

Scott Brown, managing director of the firm, told the newspaper it is delighted to receive the contract to "revitalise Glasgow's east end" and bring "economic and social gain" to the area.

"Carrying out these important enabling works on time and on budget are the first steps towards preparing the area for the Commonwealth Games and the future redevelopment and construction of buildings such as the velodrome which is set to follow," he added.

It was revealed recently by City Building Glasgow that as many as 5,000 youngsters in the city will be given the opportunity to apply for apprenticeships in assisting with construction jobs for the games.

A total of 2,000 places are expected to be offered.

Aircraft factory 'could create engineering jobs in North Wales' - 16-06-2008 - 18:01

A new Airbus factor in Broughton, Flintshire could secure the future of 7,000 engineering jobs in the area, if planning permission is granted by the local council.

Flintshire county council is set to make a decision on a site that would develop new wing technology thanks to a £103 million investment at the site, reports the Daily Post.

In a report submitted to the council for consideration, planners argue the new facility would, according to the newspaper, both "secure existing jobs at the site and place the company in a pivotal position".

"The future development of the site is important not only for Flintshire but for the North Wales and north-west region as a whole," it adds.

The plan, which proposes a site that is 900 feet long and 840 feet wide, will be discussed by the county council on Wednesday.

Speaking earlier this month on the plans, Brian Fleet, the head Airbus's centre for wing excellence, described the £103 million plan to the Chester Chronicle as "the biggest single investment the UK has ever made in this type of research and technology".

Engineering firm looks to the Far East - 13-06-2008 - 17:44

A British engineering firm which supplies toolholding technology to the sector is looking to expand in China.

Craftsman Tools, which is based in Otley near Leeds, hopes to take advantage of the burgeoning market in the country, reports the Yorkshire Post.

The company announced a £6 million turnover for 2007, an increase of 30 per cent on the previous year, but has recruited a marketing executive as it seeks to break into Asia and increase sales.

Robert Johnson, managing director of Craftsman Tools, told the newspaper China has already been visited for a fact-finding mission and remains on the company's mind.

He added: "While our sales in China are a small part of the business, we are looking to do more there, as well as in Malaysia and Singapore."

Meanwhile, UK construction firms are also increasing their presence in China after being invited to the country for discussions on reconstruction following last month's earthquake.

IStructE calls on register for engineering jobs - 12-06-2008 - 11:10

England and Wales should follow the example of Scotland and implement a register to protect people in engineering jobs, it is claimed.

The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) has called on action to be taken before a disaster like those in China occurs.

Supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers, IStructE is pressing for an accreditation process similar to that enshrined by the Structural Engineers Registration in Scotland.

It allows engineers in the country to "certify the structural design of buildings" and include a certificate when applying for the Local Authorities for Building Warrant.

Keith Eaton, chief executive of IStructE, says the move would bring England and Wales in line with other countries around the world which have registers of structural engineers, "unfortunately instigated only after a major structural collapse".

He adds: "Rather than waiting for such a structural disaster to occur, we should be following Scotland's lead with a register of chartered structural and civil engineers in England and Wales, who have the experience to design safe structures."

The Chinese government has invited British companies to help reconstruction of areas in the south of the country after the collapse of buildings in last month's earthquake.

Wind farm could lead to more north-east engineering jobs - 09-06-2008 - 10:51

A wind farm could create up to 39,000 jobs in the north-east, with many of them being in jobs in engineering, it has been revealed.

Offshore sites are being considered in the area for such a project because of wind levels, water depth and potential connection to the grid, the Sunderland Echo reports.

It is believed offshore oil and gas firms could benefit from the potential wind farm as their skills could be put to good use.

Sunderland-based Pallion Engineering may also benefit from the scheme, the Echo revealed.

Alan Dickinson, chairman at the firm, told the newspaper: "We would be very keen to participate. We could do the blades and quite a lot of the work here."

Recently, around 130 engineering jobs were created in the oil and gas industry in the north-east after RDS opened a new office in Stockton.

A Building Schools for the Future contract in South Tyneside has also seen 400 construction jobs become available in the area.

More engineering jobs lost in Leicester - 06-06-2008 - 17:13

Rising steel prices and the loss of a major contract have been blamed by a second Leicester engineering firm after falling into administration.

Leicester Circuits (UK) has axed 47 engineering jobs as a result of the collapse, reports the Leicester Mercury.

A fire at a factory in Leamington Spa meant the firm had hoped to supply a customer from their Leicester site, which would have made it profitable, but the client moved out.

Richard Bailey, one of two Norfolk businessmen that bought the company in January, said it was in trouble at that stage and would have gone out of business had it not been for their intervention.

He continued: "Their biggest customer stopped ordering from them from May to October due to the state of the American market.

"This reduced their turnover and they started to lose money."

Earlier this week, Leicester Engineering Services lost 60 staff from engineering jobs after it went into financial difficulties.

A further ten staff are said to be at risk after a major contract moved to a new supplier in the Far East, reducing turnover at the firm by a fifth.

Birmingham university to hold KBE conference - 06-06-2008 - 10:59

A conference is set to be held in Birmingham next week to give West Midland engineers an insight into the concept of knowledge-based engineering (KBE), it has been revealed.

It will be held at City University on Monday and describe the practice in detail, explaining its applications and engineering design benefits, the Birmingham Post reports.

KBE will surpass computer aided engineering as the dominant means of industrial product design and development in the next two years, it is predicted.

This has led the university to form a partnership with US specialist Technosoft so UK companies can gain access to the "world-leading engineering design software", according to the newspaper.

Craig Chapman, KBE specialist at the university's design and process innovation team, said it will help empower British engineering firms to innovate and be entrepreneurial.

He added: "KBE enables swift development of designs, from bottles to battleships; from medical procedures to military operations by ensuring all the company's existing knowledge can be referred to, and incorporated into, the new design process."

Meanwhile, UK-based MP Engineering has extended its Swedish portfolio by agreeing to add the engineering concept solution from TactonWorks to their software expertise packages.

Takeover saves over 100 West Yorkshire engineering jobs - 04-06-2008 - 11:00

Over 100 engineering jobs have been saved in West Yorkshire after a businessman led a buy-in management buyout of Ardeth Engineering.

Former managing director of Tyco Waterworks, Nick Catt, has completed the deal for the pressure vessel manufacturer after receiving funding from the Cooperative Bank's Leeds Corporate Banking Centre, reports the Yorkshire Post.

Subsidiary companies Ardeth Pipeworks, which installs processed pipework, and Northern Plastics, which produces glass-reinforced plastic pressure vessels, have also been taken over.

Mr Catt said Ardeth, which has an international client base including private companies, hospitals and universities, is "at the cutting edge of its field" and thanked the Cooperative Bank for its assistance in acquiring the company.

He added: "As well as the excellent client base, Ardeth has a highly-skilled workforce which we are pleased to be keeping in the local area."

The retention of engineering jobs at Ardeth follows the announcement that six students are to gain fixed-term civil engineering jobs in nearby north Lincolnshire as part of a "unique" course at North Lindsey College.

HSE to carry out construction site checks - 02-06-2008 - 17:37

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is set to carry out an inspection initiative in Merseyside next week as it aims to protect people in refurbishment construction jobs.

Unannounced spot checks of construction sites will take place across the region in an attempt to improve accident statistics in the industry.

The regulatory body revealed refurbishment accounts for 60 per cent of all construction accidents but represents only 40 per cent of the industry.

HSE inspector Susan Ritchie said poor health and safety standards on construction sites will not be tolerated.

She added: "The significant number of lives lost and those that continue to be put at risk on construction sites, particularly within the refurbishment sector is unacceptable.

"Companies have a legal responsibility to protect the lives of workers and site safety should be paramount."

The inspection initiative follows the prosecution of a West Midlands construction firm last week after an employee was injured falling into an unsafe excavation.

'Healthy growth' for manufacturing - 02-06-2008 - 10:58

Manufacturing is continuing to perform well in the UK despite the current economic climate, it has been revealed.

The industry has experienced "healthy growth" for the second quarter of the year, a survey by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) and Grant Thornton has discovered.

It is the tenth consecutive month growth has been recorded in the sector and has resulted in the EEF revising upwards its projections for the year, with manufacturing now expected to grow by 0.9 per cent and engineering by 1.3 per cent.

Steve Radley, chief economist at the federation, said manufacturers can be optimistic about the near future.

He added: "However, at a time of heightened uncertainty, the government needs to send a clear message that it will ensure that the UK remains an attractive place to do business."

The government has recently launched a £200 million project aimed to convince people of the merits of construction and engineering jobs.

Specialist facilities will be built to train people in industries suffering from a shortage of staff.

Firm denies engineering jobs will be lost - 30-05-2008 - 13:13

Rumours that Roger Bullivant could be set to axe 750 engineering jobs have been denied by the Burton-upon-Trent firm.

Difficulties in the construction industry and the effects of global economic downturn are believed to have led to the speculation, the Burton Mail reports.

Letters were sent to employees to inform them they will not lose their jobs and workers have also been canvassed on other cost-saving measures the company could take.

Rob Brown, managing director at the firm, admitted the construction industry is going through a "hard time" but told the newspaper moves have been made to ensure engineering jobs will not be lost.

He added: "If, ever in the future, we made redundancies, the board of directors would approach people at the time and go through proper procedures.

"We want to reassure workers there are no such plans at this time."

As well as its headquarters in Burton-upon-Trent, Roger Bullivant has manufacturing sites in the north-east and Somerset where engineering jobs will also be protected.