By Maxine Allison, Engineering & Manufacturing Recruitment Consultant, at Escape Recruitment Services
Get in touch: maxine.allison@escaperecruitment.com
On Wednesday 18th June, I went along to an event with the Centre for Engineering, Education and Development (CEED) at Smart Hub Lanarkshire, hosted by the brilliant team at New College Lanarkshire.
As a CEED member, Escape attends many of their events as there’s always something new to learn. This was my first time at one of their hands-on workshops and with plenty to take in and good conversations to be had, it’s safe to say I’ll be signing up for more.
Not only was it a great opportunity to see the technology in action and learn more about the sector but I came away with lots of thoughts on how these latest developments will impact both employers and jobseekers which I’ve shared below:
Exploring Industry 4.0 in Action
The session focused on Industry 4.0, cyber security, and smart technology. We talked about the future of manufacturing and saw collaborative robots (cobots) in action, discovering how they’re already helping Scottish businesses work smarter and more efficiently.
It was great to hear Smart Hub emphasising robots not as replacements for people but something that can take on the repetitive, mundane tasks and give workers more time to focus on the skills and decisions that really matter and create new types of jobs in programming the robots. And as someone who is also working in an industry that is already seeing massive uptake in AI tools that are changing the way we work and the tasks in our role, I can definitely relate.
Support for Scottish Manufacturers
One of the biggest takeaways for me was understanding how manufacturing in Scotland is evolving and the support available to employers right now. Smart Hub Lanarkshire, a partnership between North Lanarkshire Council, New College Lanarkshire, and the University of Strathclyde, aims to help businesses explore and implement automation technologies to improve productivity and efficiency, supporting them to adopt new technologies, test out equipment and train their teams.
The hub also runs open days where businesses can try programming, speak to experts and explore how this technology could fit into their own operations. You can even bring a cobot into your own factory to trial it in a live setting. All of which provides companies with a brilliant range of support and lower those risks when introducing automation.
Understanding Cyber Security Risks
I was surprised to learn that manufacturing is one of the top industries targeted by cyber-attacks, just after finance and healthcare. Around 40% of manufacturers have faced cyber incidents in the last year alone which makes safeguarding smart, connected systems absolutely essential.
Again, Smart Hub is a great place for companies to reach out to for support as they can recommend advice and connect businesses with other relevant resources and support networks related to cyber security from a manufacturing perspective.
Inspiring the Next Generation
There’s also a strong education angle at the hub with their team working with schools and colleges to introduce robotics to young people and help develop future talent.
Working with schools and colleges is something we’ve been involved with ourselves at Escape for a long time, so it’s great to see something like this in place for this area of manufacturing and we hope that partnerships between programmes like this and employers will develop to help build skills and shape the future workforce here in Scotland.
Why It Matters for Recruiters
As a recruiter in engineering and manufacturing, days like this are invaluable. Yes, I got to network but I also got to program a robot (sorry, cobot) and learn more deeply about the world my clients and candidates work in too.
Originally from a public sector background, I’ve been learning since the moment I joined Escape, I’ve seen how impressive Scotland’s manufacturing and engineering industries really are and my visit to the Smart Hub reminds me that our sector’s innovation never stops and Industry 4.0 has plenty more to show us.
How Escape Recruitment Can Help
If you're thinking about your next hire, future skill gaps or training your current team, Smart Hub is a brilliant place to start. Find out more about Smart Hub.
And if you want a recruiter who understands your industry, your challenges and your ambitions, Escape Recruitment can help.
Get in touch:
maxine.allison@escaperecruitment.com 07521 053 969
Looking to hire for your team?
Connect with our Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology team