The MAS National Congress 2009

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) working in partnership with One North East staged the first National MAS Congress.  The Congress was designed to support MAS and our partners to achieve the aims set out by Government for MAS in the recently announced £8 million new funding for low carbon and advanced maufactuing MAS enhancements.  

The aims of the new funding enhancements are for MAS to support UK manufacturers to -

• Become part of the supply chain in civil nuclear, low carbon vehicles and renewable energy for example marine and wind
• Improve resource efficiency in energy, waste, water, materials etc. with focus on reuse and remanufacture
• Enter emerging markets in low carbon and take advantage of emerging technologies in sustainable manufacturing
• Develop and introduce new low carbon products

In order to realise these aims and make an imnediate and lasting impact the  MAS regional centres, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), Devolved Administrations, critical partners and Government departments were invited  to attend the Congress to examine a range of key opportunities. The aim was to ensure we continue to learn, improve and maximise on MAS and partner experiences and make a real impact with our clients.

 The Congress was opened by Roger Parr, MAS National Network Resource Manger, and Paul Callaghan, Deputy Chair, One North East who welcomed the both the delegates and speakers to the day and introduced Professor Ian Stone of Durham University Business School who made a presentation on ‘Trends, Interrelationships and Targeting of Support to Manufacturing’.

A series of three workshops were run throughout the day and all delegates were invited to participate, in the knowledge that MAS can only deliver our objectives on Manufacturing, Low Carbon, Skills and Supply Chains when we have a coordinated approach, supported by our stakeholders and partners. Appropriate strategies and effective collaboration with our partners is key to our success.

Workshop 1 Supply Chains

MAS and our partners are increasingly becoming involved in supply chain activities, with particular emphasis directed at supporting UK manufacturers to become part of the supply chains in civil nuclear, low carbon vehicles and renewable energy e.g. marine, wind. 

Objective of the Workshop:

• To debate the key challenges that face us all in managing supply chain activities
• To identify the skills required to support supply chain interventions

Workshop Content

Dominic Scullard -  BIS Low Carbon Team

• An outline of the national perspective on priority supply chain development      

Keith Parker - Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industries Association (NIA)

• A fundamental priority supply chain for the UK and MAS - the support of the UK Civil Nuclear Build

Simon Littlewood – MAS London

• Developing supply chain consortia

Following the presentations delegates looked at how we can support each other to look at these new and emerging supply chains.

To view the presentation click here

Workshop 2      Improve Your Resource Efficiency (IYRE)

MAS must learn from and avoid duplicating the development of programmes intended to deliver the Solutions for Business product “Improve Your Resource Efficiency”.  This product is currently being delivered by national programmes such as WRAP, Envirowise, NISP & Carbon Trust, providing advice, guidance and support in various forms, alongside regional projects.
 
Objective of Workshop:

• To understand the developing national programme offerings under the IYRE product and what support these offer clients, partners and MAS in responding to the low carbon agenda
• To identify how these programmes, MAS and other partners can establish working protocols to achieve mutual benefits for our clients

 Workshop Content
The presentations included an outline of existing support from the current national programmes, outlined the future planned delivery under the single Resource Efficiency body post 1st April 2010 and the mutual benefits of cross-product working.   The speakers were

• Rebecca Kent – Envirowise
• Simon Taylor – MAS NE
• Ben Blackburn – WRAP
• Andy Togher – Carbon Trust

To view the presentation click here

Workshop 3      Skills

Skills and business support go hand in hand and MAS need to maximise on the opportunities available to our clients.

Objective of Workshop:

• To identify how to work more effectively with the skills agenda
• To develop an understanding of Green Collar Skills
  

Workshop Content
Dr Colin Heron - Manufacturing and Productivity Manager, One North East

• The delivery of skills alongside MAS North East.

Eddie Leng – SNAM / SEMTA

• The future direction of Skills Academies and the role of NSAM within SEMTA

Mick Brophy – Gateshead College

• The USA’s experience with Green Collar Skills and how the North East is taking this into account in the plans for future delivery of manufacturing support.

Additional Speakers

 David Buffen of the Bank of England made an excellent presentation on the current economic situation  ‘A view of the manufacturing sector and the wider economy’ while Ed Tranter, Executive Director of Findlay Media gave an enjoyable and informative presentation on ‘Manufacturing: A view from the national media’ and Nicky Hussey, Director of Manufacturing Insight gave the congress and update on the independent organisation that will play a key part in helping to challenge and change public perceptions of the sector, including campaigns in schools to build enthusiasm for careers in manufacturing. To view the presentation click here

Mike Carr, Executive Director of Business Support at the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) summed up the Congress on behalf of MAS and thanked the speakers, delegates, One North East and particularly Ms Josey Wardle and her team who had organised the event on behalf of MAS.  To view the presentation click here

Paul Dobson, MAS NE Programme Manager, closed the day and voiced the feeling of the delegates that it had been a worthwhile and informative Congress and that a lot had been learnt from it which would be used to provide a base for future decision making.

We at the MAS National Network Team would also like add our thanks and congratulations to Josey and her team for their hard work, dedication and professionalism, to the speakers for their invaluable contributions and to the delegates for their input and enthusiasm who together made the first MAS National Congress such a huge success.