News roundup: Industrial strategy, women engineers, RoSPA awards

CEO of Make UK Stephen Phipson has given an emphatic welcome to the Government’s new industrial strategy Green Paper.

Describing the document as a first step in addressing the “achilles heel” of the economy which has left the UK an outlier among advanced countries, he continued:

“It sets out a clarity of vision for how the resources of Government and, in particular, each department can be convened towards a single objective of longterm growth across all regions.

“With the welcome announcement of the Industrial Strategy Council Chair and, the Council being put on a statutory footing, industry will no longer fear the constant chop and change in policy we have seen over the last decade or so and can focus on the long term – it is important that the Government is delivering on its promises.”

Phipson added that leaving the economy and industrial strategy to the free market was an ideology “long past its sell-by date”.

To view the Invest 2035 Green Paper, click here.

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Five young women engineers have been announced as finalists for the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2024.

Pictured above, Salma Al Arefi (33), Marisa Kurimbokus (34), Erin Lowe (19), Natalie Parker (30) and Alexia Williams (25), have all been shortlisted for awards.

The awards highlight women working in engineering to challenge the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men. Currently, fewer than 16 percent of UK engineers are female.

Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, Dr Laura Norton said: “Engineering and technology have been improving our world and shaping our future for centuries. Engineers make an ongoing difference to the world around us, and we want to celebrate those engineering a better world for us all.

“Our awards tell the stories of incredible women engineers who are changing our world for the better and shines a spotlight on them as roles models to get more girls excited and inspired about a career in engineering.”

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Manufacturer Crane Garden Buildings, has installed a state-of-the-art robotic spray paint line at its headquarters in Narford, Norfolk.

The multi-million pound conveyor line was publicly revealed for the first time at an on-site event to celebrate the family-run company’s 50th anniversary. It is the firm’s largest ever investment and is allied to its plans to grow by 10% year-on-year over the decade.

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The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has  announced the launch of its 2025 health and safety awards, with key safety leader NEBOSH as headline sponsor.

Individuals, businesses and organisations that want to receive recognition for health and safety achievements are invited to send nominations.

To enter the 2025 RoSPA Awards and for more information on the process or to see the extra benefits for RoSPA member, click here.

The RoSPA Awards is the UK’s longest-running occupational health and safety awards programme, which started over 60 years ago in 1956.

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