Liverpool City Region manufacturers up skill 270 workers to create the teams of tomorrow

SME manufacturers in Liverpool City Region, supported by Made Smarter in their drive to digitalise, are up skilling nearly 270 workers to create the teams of tomorrow. The Made Smarter Adoption programme in the North West has worked with more than 1,200 businesses since 2019, supporting them to introduce digital tools and technologies to help boost productivity and growth, and navigate the impact of Covid19.

Among these, 160 businesses have secured matched funding to develop projects using technologies which enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes. Others are using 3D printing, automation, and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

These manufacturers are up skilling 1,822 roles to meet the demands of these emerging technologies and ensure successful digital transformation. They include 35 Liverpool City Region businesses up skilling 269 jobs.

But SME leaders are also navigating the cultural challenges of digitalisation: good digital leadership; bringing the team along on the journey; effective communication of the benefits of change; capturing the technical skills and know how of older workers before they leave the industry; attracting new digital talent into the organisation; and plugging skills gaps.

Made Smarter is supporting manufacturers in a variety of ways to meet these challenges, including:- organisation and workforce development (OWD) advice to enhance business performance through people, and a leadership programme designed to equip Managers and Directors with the strategic view and the skills needed to pursue smarter manufacturing. Digital technology internships are helping embed digital natives with fresh perspectives into a business, while digital transformation workshops can identify the challenges associated with going digital and develop a bespoke roadmap for technology implementation.

Brainboxes, an electronics manufacturer based in Liverpool, was supported by Made Smarter in the adoption of robotics.

Luke Walsh, Managing Director, said:- "There was scepticism among our production staff about what a robot would do to their livelihoods, but the Made Smarter team were extremely good at helping us understand what the benefit was and communicate that to our workforce. Now my production staff aren't saying to me 'the robot has taken my job' but suggesting where the technology could also be adopted. Taking the right approach has converted digitalisation sceptics into champions in our business."

Ruth Hailwood, Organisational and Workforce Development Specialist Adviser for Made Smarter, said:- "Choosing and implementing the right technologies and solutions is only one part of digitalisation. Technologies are tools, but digitalisation is all about connecting systems and processes and sharing data to inform decisions made by people. Empowering staff on the front line is vital to a successful digital transformation, so manufacturers need to have or work to create a culture that is open to change and looking to grow and innovate. This will ensure the buy in and support of the team, which alongside the right skill sets, good digital leadership, and effective communication, will make sure everyone shares the same vision and people can reap the benefits of using these new tools effectively. Doing a skills audit is key to identifying where people need development with a view to future proofing the organisation. This can also identify and unlock the hidden talent that already exists in the business or focus on capturing technical skills and know how in a veteran employee."

For more information, visit:- MadesMarter.UK.
 

₤820,000 secured to cut crime and makes streets of Liverpool and Wirral safer

NEARLY ₤820,000 of funding has been secured by Merseyside's Police Commissioner to crackdown on burglaries and robberies and make the streets of Liverpool and Wirral safer. Emily Spurrell has been awarded the money from the Government's Safer Streets Fund after working with Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council and Wirral Borough Council on joint bids for key projects aimed at cutting crime and improving safety in two of the Region's most deprived areas.

A total of ₤385,000 has been awarded from the fund to focus on improving safety in the:- 'Flower Streets' of Kirkdale, an area which has suffered high levels of crime and been blighted by drug dealing and gang crime in recent years. Measures such as upgrading and increasing CCTV in the area, repairing and improving alley gates and introducing 70 new street lights will prevent crime, making it safer for residents.

The funding will also be used to carry out regular partnership days to support residents by providing crime prevention advice and tackle issues, such as fly tipping and graffiti. A further ₤432,000 has been received for a 2nd project tackling neighbourhood crime in North Birkenhead, in an area next to the 1st Safer Streets project which has run over the last 6 months. The funding will be used to install 30 new alley gates, improve the existing CCTV system and install 10 new cameras, as well as upgrade the street lighting with the aim of better protecting resident.

A series of 12 'days of action' will also be held in the project area, which covers:- Park Road North, Cleveland Street, Conway Street and Hoylake Road, to work with local people to clean up the streets and increase community pride.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "No one should feel unsafe in their home or the area where they live. When this second round of the Safer Streets Fund was announced, my team worked with our partners to review areas across Merseyside to see where we could use this funding to make the biggest difference to local people. It was clear that the 'Flower Streets' of Kirkdale and the 'North End' of Birkenhead were 2 areas which had been particularly blighted by crime and anti social behaviour in recent years, but where some simple, straightforward solutions could be put in place to prevent crime and significantly improve the safety of the people living there. With this funding, we will be able to put some long term measures in place relatively quickly and easily that will make a genuine difference, helping to rejuvenate these areas and build safer, stronger, healthier communities. My thanks go to everyone who worked on these bids and I look forward to seeing the difference this major investment will make for people living in these areas."

Liverpool Community Policing Superintendent Diane Pownall said:- "It is great news to hear that this money has been allocated to Liverpool. The money will be spent making significant improvements to the 'Flower streets' in Kirkdale. The people who live in that area have long felt the effects of an area in decline and in particular the impact of drug dealing and antisocial behaviour on their day to day lives which we continue to tackle. The funding will be able to pay for partnership days and tackling the root cause of ASB such as graffiti, littering and improving street lighting. There will also be investment in improved CCTV. I hope that it will make a real difference to the local community and encourage people to feel proud of their local area."

Wirral Community Policing Chief Inspector Roger Pegram said:- "I am delighted with the announcement of ₤432,000 in funding for the Birkenhead area. We have worked closely with our colleagues at Wirral Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to identify how best this money would be spent for the people living in Birkenhead. We will continue to do everything we can to Police the local community and this funding will go a long way to helping us to achieve this. It is important for me that we protect all our residents and the installation of alley gates, improved street lighting and repairs and upgrades to existing CCTV will hopefully mean that we can eradicate some of the issues that affect people most and ensure they feel safe on the streets."

Cllr. Helen Cameron, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said:- "This is really welcome news for Wirral. The last round of funding allowed us to deliver tangible benefits for the people of North Birkenhead with new CCTV cameras and alley gates installed, upgraded streetlights and home security packs provided to residents. Crime and anti-social behaviour not only brings an area down, but can make the people who live there feel that no-one cares. Investing in preventative approaches like alley gates and streetlights, while they may seem small, can make a big difference in helping people feel more secure and happy. Alongside the recruitment of an extra 243 Police Officers in Merseyside, I'm pleased we will be able to continue this work to help more communities. The next round of the Safer Streets Fund will focus on helping women and girls who are disproportionately affected by crimes like harassment in public places. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home and their local community."

The Safer Streets Fund 1st opened for bids, back in January 2020, with the aim of helping to tackle burglary, theft and other offences in crime hotspots, following a 14% increase in acquisitive crime nationally. In the 1st round of funding, the previous Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, Merseyside Police and Wirral Borough Council successfully secured nearly ₤550,000 for a project to improve security in the 'North End' of Birkenhead. The six-month long project saw the introduction of a range of community safety measures, including 43 new alley gates, 100 additional and upgraded streetlights and 300 home security packs for residents.

The 2nd round of funding was launched in January 2021. Bids were evaluated against a set criteria and Police Commissioners were asked to outline a plan to reduce crime within a local crime hotspot, demonstrating value for money, evidence of community engagement and long term sustainability. Merseyside 's Police Commissioner received the fourth highest award after Nottinghamshire, West Mercia and South Yorkshire from 35 Police and Crime Commissioners who received funding.