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COvER sTORy
EDITOR’s COMMENT
The government has committed to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, which
is substantially higher then previous years. This means annual defence spending will rise to approximately £80 billion
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by the end of the decade. While this could be seen as great news, G&P Quality Management has posed the question: ‘Britain is investing billions in defence – but where will the engineers come from?’ As we’re all aware, the engineering skills shortage
from deep gold mines to
European pumps: vesconite builds on decades of pump experience
Please turn to page 12
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did not begin with this recently increased defence spending. In fact EngineeringUK estimates that Britain requires around 124,000 engineers and technicians every year simply to replace those leaving the workforce. Turn to page 20 to read more. Allica Bank, meanwhile, has asked another question:
‘Increase in defence spending is creating significant opportunities for manufacturers across the supply chain, but if the orders arrive will they be prepared to meet them?’ In his article in page 24, John Harrison, head of relationship management at Allica Bank, shares his advice and explains why access to finance will be essential. Continuing with the military, aerospace & defence
theme, we also look into why fibre-optics are becoming increasingly more important in space applications; and why, as aerospace systems become more dependent on advanced electronics, the skills required to design, assemble, inspect and rework them are changing. In other news, I’m just back from the PPMA show
in Birmingham and it was great to see so many great companies there - including Apex Dynamics, Beckhoff Automation, Elesa, Lamonde Automation, Fortress Technology Europe, Lafert, Schneider Electric, and more! With exhibition season back in full swing after the summer break, I’ve included previews to the next two events in this issue - Advanced Engineering, and the Engineering Design Show - and next month will be including a preview to SPS Smart Production Solutions which takes place at the end of November. Keep an eye on our website for more show news!
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Rachael Morling - Editor fOllOw ‘DEsIgN
sOluTIONs MagazINE’
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