Friday Brief Intro 21/01/2022

Good afternoon and welcome to this week’s Friday Brief!

We would like to start with a note from The MTA regarding database fraud. We have been notified that a few emails have been going out asking for our data lists for sales. Please be aware we do not share data with anyone and these companies are not related to the MTA in any way. The story below provides a bit more details on the matter.

Industry trade associations have been pressing the government over concerns about legal requirements for UKCA marking for spare parts, including concerns over availability after the deadline for introduction, January 1 2023. Find out how BEIS can help in the story below.

The soaring demand in the Middle East for Manufacturing Technology has been given further impetus by Covid, which has significantly disrupted supply chains. Steelfab took place in Dubai last week hosting a large UK pavilion. Check out more details and a bit of feedback from the show below.

The government has announced the formation of an AI Standards Hub, with a pilot being led by the Alan Turing Institute supported by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPI). As part of the UK’s national artificial intelligence strategy, the hub will aim to increase UK contribution to the development of global AI technical standards. More information on the AI Standards Hub can be found below.

As Britain’s regulator for workplace health and safety, HSE has a very specific role to play in ensuring that employers are aware of their legal duties to recognise and respond to stress in the workplace. Please find their Working Minds Toolkit attached in the story.

An article from BEIS came out updating us on the COVID restrictions that will be lifted next week. Find out what will be put in place and what this means for upcoming events in the story below.

Our main item of economic news this week is the results of the Contract Manufacturing Index produced by Qimtek for 2021. This shows a volatile month-by-month picture although it ended the year +10% higher than in 2020. We also take a look at data on international comparisons of productivity which has been published by the ONS.

Our colleagues at the European Cutting Tool Association (ECTA) have announced the details of their annual conference that will take place from 30th June to 2nd July near Zurich. There are more details, including the links you need to book, in the story below.

Thanks for keeping up to date with us this week! We hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to ‘seeing’ you again next week!

SUCCESS FOR UK GROUP AT STEELFAB (MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT) – SHARJAH, UAE LAST WEEK

The soaring demand in the Middle East for Manufacturing Technology has been given further impetus by Covid, which has significantly disrupted supply chains. Local government authorities are keenly aware that imports should not be relied upon, and this has increased the already high level of investment in manufacturing, which is creating high value export opportunities […]

HSE Working Minds Toolkit

As you know stress and mental health is becoming a real issue in the building and engineering services industry and other industries are reporting the same. As member of SHEP – “Safety and Health Engineering Partnership”, we would like to promote the attached HSE Working Minds Toolkit which gives employers an overview of how their […]

MACH 2022 Database Fraud

We are aware of a number of emails being sent to our members and exhibitors purporting to have MACH and/or MTA lists for sale. They have started using the MACH logo and emails are written as if they are from the MTA. Please be aware we do not share data with anyone and these companies […]

Engineering focus for new AI Standards Hub

UKCA mark – BEIS wants your views

EUROPEAN CUTTING TOOL CONFERENCE

After a gap of two years due to Covid, the European Cutting Tool Association (ECTA) – of which MTA is a member – is planning its annual conference this Summer. It will be held from Thursday 30th June to Saturday 2nd July in Rüschlikon on the beautiful Lake Zurich in Switzerland. The main conference session […]

ECONOMIC NEWS

Qimtek Contract Manufacturing Index – 2021 Overview: Qimtek is an independent network for the UK engineering and manufacturing industry that connects active buyers and suppliers. By monitoring the purchasing budget of companies who are looking to outsource manufacturing, they can track activity in the sector. From this they calculate the Contract Manufacturing index (CMI) which […]

Covid restrictions lifted in England – BEIS

The Prime Minister announced yesterday that plan B restrictions are to be lifted in England. From today, the government is no longer requiring people to work from home if they can. Employers should start speaking to their staff about arrangements for returning to workplaces, whilst continuing to follow the Working Safely guidance. From Thursday 27th January, […]

Friday Brief