MINUTES OF EDF MANUFACTURING SUB-GROUP

22 MAY 2009

 

VENUE:  WRIGHTBUS LTD

 

Attending:                       M Nodder, Wrightbus
                                      C Elliott, Bombardier Aerospace
                                      C O’Neill, Harland & Wolff / NIM
                                      T O’Neill, O’Kane Poultry
                                      J Kelly, UNITE
                                      D Sterling, DETI
                                      K McCann, INI
                                     

Apologies received:           G Hutchinson, DETI
                                      D Power, Powerscreen
                                      M Gould, DEL

M Nodder thanked everyone for attending the meeting and stated that the discussion would be centred around the draft report produced from the first meeting.

Discussion:

1.  Relieve immediate cost pressures

    1. Electricity prices have been raised with the regulator and hopefully the regulator will be writing to NIM next week.  This recommendation should be directed to DETI.

 

    1. This recommendation should be directed to DFP  -  £22m p.a. benefit.
    1. Communication of schemes among Gov’t departments needs to be improved.
       Support needs to be given to the maximum, not the minimum.
       Key is to cut through the bureaucracy and give immediate assistance.

 

    1. Additional recommendation  -  Innovative forms of support to companies for Capital Equipment.  Suggestion of a scheme whereby Gov’t retain ownership of equipment.

 

2.  Training and skills development

    1. Draft UNITE report on manufacturing in NI presented  -  still confidential in nature.  Suggested Job Retention package. 

Training element of support is crucial.

Are there any examples in other regions of Gov’t Training Support Centres?  Training Centres training is as good as on the job training.

Some help should be given to apprenticeships in the short term. 

    1. Within BITP there are different schemes with different levels of funding. 

 

Suggestion should it be “wages support” but called Training or Emergency Retraining Allowance?  There needs to be something on offer for the employer to see the way forward and from a Government perspective at what point can they withdraw from this.  Key in the short term is to keep core competencies.

Suggestion to look at moving skills around N.I. through secondments and across sectors to gain experience and share knowledge.
Deloitte were investigating such a scheme recently on behalf of a government department but have not heard any further progress on this.

Also suggestion for companies to take on a graduate if gov’t funded.

 

    1. Good sales and marketing professionals are in short supply in NI.

 

3.  Competitiveness and productivity

    1. Should share good practice among industry.

Should identify host companies as “Best Practice”  -  could an agency co-ordinate this.  Suggestion for Centre for Competitiveness  to co-ordinate this type of scheme.
KMcC stated that Client Executive should also have information or references for this and suggested they could act as a facilitator.

    1. This recommendation could be wrapped into Section 5. Catalysts for Growth.

 

4.  Supply Chain Development

    1. No comments  -  all in agreement.

 

    1. DS Independent Review of Economic Policy is ongoing at moment and Government support of supply chain may be part of this but may be longer term.

KMcC there is a concern in some small supply chain companies from the view of having enough business just to breakeven.
Supply Chain companies need assistance to help achieve their customers requirements for ISO and other standards etc  -  if there is no support then we will have to go elsewhere.  Products become less competitive.
Agreed now is the time to get into these companies, and this comes into the whole secondment / training suggestion.
Could have people involved in such work rather than sitting on benefits.

    1. No comments  -  all in agreement.

 

5.  Catalysts for growth

    1. DS presented renewables paper earlier in meeting and added that DETI Minister A Foster is taking a very serious view on renewables and has asked for a variety of work to be carried out.

CO’N It’s about using skills in NI  -  could be Land Base Turbine maintenance and commissioning.  Also not just about turbines  -  also involves smart-metering.  MN added Transport  -  Hybrid Electric.
CO’N added that getting such schemes up and running will take a lot of Capital.
MN asked DS/KMcC if there is 1 body / person in NI who is co-ordinating renewables approach from the Gov’t perspective.
DS / KMcC  Invest NI are involved in Renewables but it encompasses so many areas and departments.  DS  DETI Minister did ask yesterday to ensure clear communication in this area and Dept is working to co-ordinate better.
Need highlighted for awareness of various programmes and co-ordination among Gov’t departments of these.

    1. Good work going on in Matrix but something tangible needs to come out of it.

Gov’t are currently reviewing recommendations but it should be mentioned in this report about its implementation.
DS offered to get an update on progress.

    1. DS suggested that this should be cross-referenced with B Ambrose report to reinforce the suggestions.

TO’N suggested Rose Energy (Power station) as a major capital project.

    1. Unsure how you improve manufacturing image but it is key to keeping the economy moving.

Use of media, raise interest of children and young people  -  should be a celebration of manufacturing.
This needs to be a sustained programme of communication.
Should also be an emphasis that manufacturing is now a safer, cleaner working environment and a manufacturing income is still generally a greater income  -  need to advertise opportunities.
IoD or CBI could give some help in better promotion of manufacturing.

 

Meeting concluded and M Nodder thanked everyone for their participation.  M Nodder stated that he would send out a further draft of the report to Sub-Group members within the next week for comment.