GLASGOW BUSINESS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive
chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Engineering a modern Glasgow
Engineering is what our city has built so much of its wealth on over the last 150 years – and we are still producing winners. You’ll see in this issue of Glasgow Business that
we have highlighted some of our current success stories in the sector – the first step of the Chamber’s engineering season, which will celebrate, highlight and applaud these successes. Our focus builds on some
of the work of the Glasgow Economic Commission and subsequently the Glasgow Economic Leadership Group – with the Commission saying that engineering design and manufacture is one of those sectors that is already successful, having genuine international potential. We should always remember that the Chamber’s
full official title is Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, and in this respect we are emphasising the “manufactures” part of that title. We’re standing proudly on the premise that
Glasgow can greatly expand its engineering talent, and help to create a whole new generation of companies, products and, of course, export trade opportunities. What is it about the engineering sector in
Glasgow that makes it special and genuinely strong internationally? Right now we can emphasise the role we are playing in offshore renewable energy. We have a
new concentration of research and development skills focused on reducing the cost of generation of energy from offshore sources. There is a specific, very clear offer in there, which is already attracting investment from home and abroad. We also know that Glasgow has far and away the best facilities in the UK for building sophisticated naval vessels, at BAE Systems. And there are other companies operating in the defence market that are equally world class, with Castle Precision standing out as one
example securing the title of UK Manufacturer of the Year in 2010. To what extent can we say
similar things about other engineering disciplines in Glasgow and its wider city region?
It’s not difficult to draw up an impressive list of engineering companies succeeding all around the world – Weir Group, Howden, Clyde Blowers, Aggreko, Doosan Babcock, Vascutek, Thales, BAE Systems and Linn Products being just some examples. We also have a rich heritage to draw upon in our educational institutions that is successfully
Stuart Patrick
“It is time for Glasgow to shake off the perception that engineering is an industry from the city’s past. It is a vital part of our future and we are good at it”
EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT Selina Hales ~ 0141 204 8338
selina.hales@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
EVENTS AND ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR Simon Gwynn ~ 0141 204 8319
simon.gwynn@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
MEMBER CO-ORDINATOR Kirsten Rice ~ 0141 204 8331
kirsten.rice@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION ASSISTANT Yasmin Vasconcelos ~ 0141 204 8365
yasmin.vasconcelos@glasgowchamberof
commerce.com
CERTIFICATION ASSISTANT Lorraine Galbraith ~ 0141 204 8365
lorraine.galbraith@glasgowchamberof
commerce.com
PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR Sarah Bird ~ 0141 204 8339
sarah.bird@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
FINANCE ASSISTANT Liz Mason ~ 0141 204 8329
liz.mason@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
RECEPTIONIST Dawn Chalmers ~ 0141 204 2121
dawn.chalmers@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
30 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EQ Tel: 0141 204 2121
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Glasgow Business is published bi-monthly for Glasgow Chamber of Commerce by Connect Communications, Studio 2001, Mile End, Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS.
ADVERTISING SALES Gina Ireland ~ 0141 204 2042
info@contactpublicity.co.uk
PRODUCTION Gary Atkinson ~ 0141 560 3024
gary@connectcommunications.co.uk www.connectcommunications.co.uk
The views contained within Glasgow Business do not necessarily reflect those of Glasgow Chamber. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this publication, the publishers and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce can accept no responsibility for the claims made by contributors in either advertising or editorial content.
Glasgow Business . 5
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New Chamber service helps members with recruitment 7
attracting investment. The headquarters of the new Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult announced last year by the UK Government will sit in the International Renewable Energy Zone, supported by Scottish Enterprise, on the City Science site next door to Strathclyde University. So too will the £89 million of investment in Strathclyde University’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), a hub for world- leading research, transforming the way academics, business, industry and the public sector collaborates. To quote the University on the TIC: “We are
working together to find solutions to challenges that matter in areas of economic importance – including power and energy, health and manufacturing – and helping companies compete globally.” We are strongly inclined to believe this will work
out, not just because the University of Strathclyde is the Times Higher Education Supplement’s UK University of the Year, but because so many of our successful companies are supporters of the TIC’s work. What we’re also hearing is the critical need
for us to build the pipeline of talent, encouraging young people to come into science, technology and engineering. We are therefore delighted to see a School of Engineering proposal coming from the City Council, the City of Glasgow College and the University of Strathclyde. I have written before that it is time for Glasgow to
shake off the perception that engineering – and that should include manufacturing – is an industry from the city’s past. It is a vital part of our future and we are good at it. I hope you enjoy our special engineering issue, and also learn more about this important sector during our engineering season. We plan to do the same with other sectors of great significance to the economy as the year unfolds.
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