Doncaster Chamber Chief Exec Dan Fell will be part of a panel discussion about skills this week when the Northern Research Group returns to the city bringing together Government Ministers,MPs and influential business leaders For the second year in a row, the NRG will meet at the city’s famous racecourse. The group’s annual conference, launched last year, is a forum for sharing insights and generating ideas that will ultimately contribute to northern prosperity. For the 2023 event, many of the confirmed delegates are high-profile speakers from the government, such as the Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison MP, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. Mr Fell said: “We constantly hear from businesses about what they deem to be their greatest challenges and, across all different sectors, no single issue rears its head more often than that of skills. “Many local employers are finding it difficult to fill their outstanding vacancies and to attract the talent they need in order to grow, innovate and thrive. Meanwhile, a lot of South Yorkshire’s residents are simply not equipped with the skills they need to make themselves viable candidates for the best jobs available in the region. “While this is certainly a problem that we —   as a voice for business —   want to get on top of, there is a danger that we get too dispirited here and overlook all of the amazing programmes, institutions, and education providers in our region that are already delivering excellent skills activities. Indeed, the situation is not as bleak as we sometimes imagine it to be, and there are a lot of great things happening right on our doorstep in South Yorkshire. “For example, we have the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). A world-class partnership between the University of Sheffield and various heavyweight companies — like Rolls Royce, Boeing and McLaren — this institution is creating plenty of opportunities and opening doors for those who want to get into the manufacturing industry. “Elsewhere, South Yorkshire is home to three brilliant University Technical Colleges (UTCs), the newest of which is over-subscribed twofold, owing to high demand for its excellent provision and well-established employer relationships. Not to mention, the rest of our region’s further education colleges are ranked Ofsted good or better as well. “In addition to boasting these exemplary providers, South Yorkshire has also negotiated an Adult Education Budget that — when coupled with our upcoming Local Skills Improvement Plan — will enable more agile and innovative skills commissioning. “In short, although it cannot be ignored that there are major skills-related challenges, both here and across the UK in general, we have some great practice and innovative solutions in South Yorkshire that should be acknowledged. “I am greatly looking forward to highlighting these at the Northern Research Group conference, to discussing how they can be built upon and replicated elsewhere, and to injecting a little more positivity into the skills debate.”

Associated British Ports has invested £1.5m a a project to digitalise asset management across its network of 21 ports, providing a mobile solution that will enhance the reliability and sustainability of port operations. ABP says an investment of this size reaffirms its role as a pioneer in driving digitalisation in the UK ports sector. In collaboration with Mainsaver and Spidex, this wider rollout follows a successful pilot of the new technology, undertaken at ports including Immingham and Hull. Working with ABP employees in roles which interact with Mainsaver Connect maintenance management application software, the trial ensured that both large and small ports were considered to fully test the practicalities of implementing and allocating work in a digital manner. The deployment of the product, Mainsaver Connect, is a mobile derivative of the Mainsaver Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), a US product which is supported by Spidex, a UK based developer and affiliated support arm. Mike McCartain, ABP’s Group Director of Safety, Engineering & Marine, said: “Going digital with our asset management is an important step in building the sustainable Ports of the Future, where information is shared accurately and instantaneously, so that we can make well-informed decisions, spot trends and optimise the safety and sustainability of our operations.” The mobile device rollout, which begins this week, will include the deployment of hundreds of tablets and focussed training sessions for engineers across ABP’s regions, which will aim to equip them with the skills and knowledge to work optimally and maximise the benefits they get from using the technology. Taking place in parallel across ABP’s business regions of the Humber, Southampton and Wales and Short Sea Ports, the rollout will be delivered via a team approach, headed up by a lead ABP representative in each region. Nicole Geraghty, ABP Port Planner (Maintenance), said: “I really look forward to working with this powerful new tool. It’s helpful that it will provide access to ‘real time’ information, saving our engineering teams time and ultimately keeping being able to make informed decisions based on accurate information.’” “It is an exciting time at ABP as we see investments not only in digitalisation but also in upskilling our people and electrifying plant, cranes, vehicles as part of our ambition to make port operations more sustainable. I am thoroughly enjoying being part of ABP during this new phase.”

Hull-based Spencer Group has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ for its work to completely refurbish and rebuild the Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland – one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges. The bridge crosses the River Tweed from Horncliffe in Northumberland to Fishwick in Berwickshire has a single span of 449ft (137m) and was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1820. Ted Cawthorne, Honorary Treasurer of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, which was formed in 2014 and has more than 700 members, said: “It’s been an incredible job by Spencer Group and we’re absolutely delighted to have the bridge back. It’s a vital link between the communities on either side. “The bridge is an important part of the local scene, so we’re very pleased to have it back fully installed and in use again. “It looks wonderful and even more elegant than it did before. There are some differences that have been made during the restoration, with some necessary modern interventions, but that’s just a sign of this remarkable bridge moving with the times. “It’s a terrific achievement and it means a great deal to us to have it restored and fit for use for another 150-200 years. “The remarkable thing is that many of the original components are still intact, which means they will be  up to 400 years old by the time it might need another restoration.” Union Chain Bridge, which is both a Grade I listed building in England and a Grade A listed building in Scotland, is credited with being a catalyst for bridge innovation. It influenced the design of many other famous structures and remains the world’s oldest suspension bridge still carrying traffic. A funding bid was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) by Northumberland County Council, Scottish Borders Council, Museums Northumberland and community group the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, amid concerns about the condition of the bridge. Spencer Group worked closely with the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, along with other community groups, the two councils and Museums Northumberland to keep them informed and updated throughout the delivery of the project. Mr Cawthorne added: “Spencer Group have been fantastic and have engaged with us every step of the way. We couldn’t have asked for more. “It’s been a privilege to have them in the community and working with us. They’ve been marvellous and they’ve really integrated into the community. The team has been very approachable and all of them have been very friendly as well.”