Manufacturing


Sector Focus Taking sustainability to the next level


Businesses need to take their thinking on sustainability to the next level, a director of a leading engineering firm has urged. James Sopwith, strategic


account director of Kings Norton engineering firm Adi Group, said the conversation around the issue must be much more wide-ranging. He said: “We absolutely must


take care of our climate and environmental responsibilities and ensure the financial stability of our businesses but, there, the sustainability conversation tends to stop.


“However, we think there’s significant value, for everyone, in taking that conversation much further, to introduce a range of interlinking, related ideas. “We should look at the long-


term viability of the many bonds that hold us all together. As people, as communities, as a society and as an economy.” He said businesses needed to


recognise their dependency, not just with clients and suppliers but with everyone they interact with. “Our communities rely on us for


job and wealth creation, for skills development and, to some extent, for identity,” he said.


James Sopwith: Sustainability is the key to future success


“But, as businesses, we depend


heavily on the communities, people and organisations around us for their skills and their energy and for countless things more. We all have big responsibilities but that brings us big opportunities, if we engage with culture and people with real intent. “We’re talking about


inspiration as an aspiration. Inspiring our communities, our teams and the next generation of engineers we so badly need in this country. And, ultimately, inspiring ourselves to achieve more and to achieve it together.” Mr Sopwith was addressing a 30-


strong group of senior business leaders from across the region at a ‘Made in the Midlands’ event hosted at Adi’s base in Kings Norton. Adi chief executive Alan Lusty


has previously said that UK engineering’s traditional niche delivery model is unsustainable. Lack of continuity, co-ordination


and subsequent loss of project knowledge were some of the frustrations raised by clients, and on the back of that Mr Lusty has sought to create a much more sustainable ‘one-stop shop’ for manufacturers.


November 2019 CHAMBERLINK 75


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