New alliance forged to ‘avert Scottish economic disaster’

A new alliance of engineering and manufacturing firms has been launched in Scotland, to avert a looming ‘economic disaster’, and grasp an ‘industrial revolution-sized opportunity’ worth hundreds of billions of pounds to the Scottish economy.

Business leaders, educators and Government representatives have been told that more than £230 billion could be at stake over the next decade. The Enginuity Alliance, launched at a high-level meeting at the University of Strathclyde, brought together interested parties from across the sector, to share best practice, generate discussion, and to collectively influence policy makers on both sides of the border.

Enginuity chair Sir Jim McDonald (pictured) told the gathering that it was imperative that Scottish businesses join the alliance. He emphasised that collaboration is key, with businesses large and small working together, which would have real-world impact. The consequences of getting it right will result in an improvement in growth, productivity and prosperity for all. The penny is dropping that the lack of available skills in the workforce will be one of the biggest drags on the UK economy.”

Paul Sheerin, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, told the gathering that billions of pounds were at risk if the sector couldn’t supply the skilled people to service the needs of infrastructure projects. He continued: “Hats off to Enginuity for showing the leadership to bring the sector together. We need to work together to tackle this issue and not lose out on an industrial-revolution sized opportunity. If we don’t get this right, not only could we lose out on the manufacturing opportunity, but we risk serious reputational damage in terms of Scotland as a place to invest and do business.”

Skills gap report
Last month, Scottish Engineering issued a skills gap report, which warned that the Scottish economy was facing severe economic impact due to the skills crisis and urged instant remedial action. Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, the skills charity, which is spearheading the Alliance and other ways to head off disaster and promote economic growth, believes it can be done if industry, education and governments move as one.

She said: “All the major problems in the world can and will be solved by engineers, including climate change and decarbonisation. Engineers have the problem-solving capability, critical thinking and systems engineering. Coming together, shoulder-to-shoulder, organisations and individuals with a real passion to crack problems once and for all, is the only way forward, that is why I’m so passionate about the Enginuity Alliance.”

James Prentice, director of corporate affairs at Skills Development Scotland, told the meeting that investment already secured must be matched with the appropriate skills and added that more than 1.1 million workers were needed in Scotland over the next decade. He cited, among other factors, that the shrinking working age population is being exacerbated by the rise in the economically inactive since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Companies wishing to sign up to the Enginuity Alliance should go to the website here.