How to provide the land-based engineers and technicians of the future - that was the aim of a recent successful meeting hosted on the Barony Campus of Scotland's Rural College near Dumfries.


Representatives from all walks of the land-based industry came together at SRUC Barony recently to discuss providing engineers and technicians of the future

In what is regarded as an industry first, representatives from manufacturers, dealers, schools, careers service and awarding bodies, together with specialist SRUC Barony staff, met together to chart the way ahead.

According to Drew Easton, Dean of SRUC's Barony Campus and the driving force behind the initiative, "It was an excellent example of education and industry working in perfect harmony. Instead of each group meeting separately we had all the UK main players in one room, discussing an issue that the industry needs to address. We must find the most effective way of attracting, educating and retaining good people while ensuring they have the skills and motivation the sector requires."

The event opened with speakers detailing what their particular challenges are now and what they perceive are the challenges of the future. It set the scene, giving an overview of what is happening in the different areas, and how collectively there may be an opportunity to influence and shape the future.

Once the scene had been set the workshop session began involving sub groups who discussed, sometimes robustly, a range of detailed issues including strategies to encourage girls into land based engineering, how schools can prepare young people for work experience, course levels and structures for the future, smart delivery systems, qualification benchmarking and development, and strategies to retain qualified staff. The agreed outcomes from these group sessions were the focus of a full group discussion in the afternoon.

"The day proved to be productive," said Drew Easton. "The work done will provide the industry with a good foundation to build from, along with a group of people that have the will and ability to bring about change for the benefit of everyone involved."

The event was supported by the following companies and organisations: CLAAS, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Valmet, Krone, Kubota, Lely, Ritchie, SDS (Skills development Scotland), BAGMA (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association), AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association), SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) and IMI (Institute of Motor Industry).