LAST CHANCE!
Piping Catalogues & Specification: AVEVA 5 Day Course
Monday 28th April - Friday 2nd May 2008, Marine Design Centre
ONLY 1 PLACE LEFT!

As part of its strategy to assist members to up-skill their workforce, the Marine Design Centre has set up a special five-day training course with AVEVA.

Rather than having the additional time and costs incurred in attending AVEVA’s Cambridge offices, the Marine Design Centre is to facilitate the course here in Newcastle. And the icing on the cake is that funding available to North East companies has reduced the cost of the course for some delegates from £1800 to £900 (ex. VAT).

John Lockey, of the Marine Design Centre, said: “We are aware that training is so important to members and we are putting a great deal of effort into this area. The fact that we have encouraged AVEVA to deliver a specialist five-day course in Newcastle is great news for the sector. Such a course simply would not have happened here in the past and it is activity such as this that helps us to add real value for members.”

AVEVA software supports the world's marine, oil & gas, power and process industries with comprehensive solutions for the design, construction and lifetime support of all types of facilities.

This five day training course will show how to recreate all engineering / shipbuilding piping specifications in an AVEVA Plant Design format, including any additional piping components. The course is aimed at Piping Designers / Engineers with Plant or Marine Piping Design skills.

To see full details of the course, please click here. To reserve a place please call us on 0191 255 1710 or email info@marinedesigncentre.com

 

MDC Welcomes China State Shipbuilding Corporation

Two of our members, RCID and CD Group, responded to the unique opportunity to make a presentation to a delegation from the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in Newcastle this month.

The delegation visited the Marine Design Centre as part of a long term strategy to build relationships with UK partners. The UK visit was organised by the Society of Maritime Industries.

State-owned CSSC is the world’s 3rd largest shipbuilding conglomerate, completing 103 ships in 2006 with a total carrying capacity in excess of 6 million tonnes (dwt). Construction of two new shipbuilding bases is expected to increase this capability to 14 million dwt by 2015, making the company the world’s largest shipbuilder.

The company’s shipbuilding activities cover the naval and commercial sectors, including warships and auxiliaries, conventional tankers and bulk carriers, LNG & LPG carriers, VLCCs, chemical carriers, ro/ro passenger & freight ships, high speed ships, FPSOs and offshore engineering facilities.

Simon Ellis at the Marine Design Centre, said: “The Chinese market is now the number one target for many sectors of UK industry and there is little doubt that marine design companies could benefit greatly. So, for us to host a visit from what will soon be the biggest ship building conglomerate in the world was a tremendous opportunity to showcase the talents of our members.

“The delegation very much liked what they saw and heard, so much so that the Marine Design Centre has been asked by CSSC to outline how our members might fulfill capacity in marine design that will be needed in the years ahead. We will work to build a fruitful relationship with CSSC and will also consult with members to assess the potential for a visit to Shanghai later this year to move discussions forward.”

 

Final Reminder - Executive Lunch Wednesday 7th May

Babcock Marine: Structure, Programmes & Procurement

Archie Bethel OBE, Chief Executive of Babcock Marine, will outline Babcock's structure, some of the company’s key programmes and its procurement strategies. Other senior members of the Babcock team will also be present.

The Babcock Group provides a complete range of design, build and support solutions across the defence and commercial sectors. Commercial activity includes design and build of super yachts, design of ship conversions in the oil & gas marine sector, modular design and construction of complex mechanical plant for industrial applications and a wide range of products and services to the civil nuclear market.

The company has a long and distinguished record in the naval defence sector. At Devonport and Faslane, Babcock Marine supports the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear powered submarines and in recent times at Devonport and Rosyth, major surface ship upkeep projects have included those on the aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal, HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious, along with numerous destroyers, frigates and minor warships. The National Audit Office's review of best practice in Defence Acquisition identified the HMS Illustrious refit as an example of ‘Gold Standard' practice. Babcock intends to build on this pedigree with its key role in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance that will build and assemble the two CVF aircraft carriers.

Demand for places has been high; please contact us on 0191 255 1710 or email info@marinedesigncentre.com to reserve a place. Places cost £15 (+ VAT) for Marine Design Centre members and £50 (+ VAT) for non-members, and are limited to 2 per company. Space is limited so act quickly to reserve your place! 

 

Alan Johnston Believes NE Marine Design Sector Has A Great Future

We were delighted to host a visit in March by Alan Johnston, CEO designate of BVT Surface Fleet - the proposed joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Shipbuilding.

Outlining plans for BVT, he was also very complementary as to the high level of design skills that exist within the North East, and commented on the very strong resurgence in maritime-related sectors such as oil and gas – although there was a slight note of caution!

 

Mr Johnston, pictured left with David Hewitt during his visit, said: “There are great opportunities for manufacturers and marine design companies to win substantial orders in the coming years from the UK Defence sector – the new carriers being just one example. However, the issue of resource and skills must be addressed continually if these opportunities are to be realised.

“We need to build a sustainable industry and a strong supply chain that has an abundance of skilled people capable of utilising new technologies to innovate and add value.

“I am very impressed by the Marine Design Centre and its ambition to support the marine sector in the region so that it is fully capable of meeting the challenges and, most importantly, the opportunities that face it now and in the future. If it can help provide solutions to issues such as training and skills, recruitment into the sector and the best use of new technologies then it will provide great service to the North East and the sector it promotes."

 

Seminar: Winning the War For Talent, Thursday 5 June.

‘To attract top talent HR managers need to think like sales and marketing directors.’

Why is it that companies who are desperate to attract talent dedicate as little as 5% of their website to explain why they are an employer of choice? How do you stand out from your competitors and how do you create a strong employer brand?

The Marine Design Centre is hosting a seminar by three experts from PR, HR and website marketing to explain why many companies need to re-evaluate the way they communicate with potential and existing employees to ensure they stay ahead of the game.

The experts are Daniel O’Mahoney from Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations, independent HR specialist Gillian Williamson and Brett Jacobson from Mediaworks which specialises in search engine optimisation.

Full details of this seminar will be distributed soon. In the meantime, to register your interest in attending, please contact us on 0191 2551710 or info@marinedesigncentre.com

 

Accessing All That Business Link Has To Offer

The demands of the modern business world often mean that companies are unaware as to what is available to them by way of support and assistance. So, on behalf of its members, the Marine Design Centre has formed a partnership with Business Link North East so that we are in a position to inform and advise members on assistance and funding for everything from employee training, graduate recruitment to implementing marketing campaigns.

John Lockey, said: “A representative from Business Link will be dedicated to the Marine Design Centre and will develop an understanding of the sector and the types of businesses that are within it. Working in partnership with Business Link we will then be in a position to inform members exactly what support is available to them.

David Carr, of Business Link North East, signs a Partnership

Agreement with David Hewitt of the Marine Design Centre

 

“A classic example of how we can assist members can to seen in the lead item in this newsletter, in which we have been able to help some members to receive financial support to cover 50% of the cost of the AVEVA training course we are soon to hold within the Centre.” 

 

Discovering Opportunities in Norway

The prospect of increased work from the prosperous Norwegian oil and gas sector has opened up following a conference held in Newcastle. As part of their time in the city the 30-strong delegation visited the Marine Design Centre to view the facilities and the following day companies had the opportunity to develop contacts on a one-to-one basis at the ReDiscover North East England Conference.

Simon Ellis at the Marine Design Centre, said: “There is little doubt the delegation was very interested in the work taking place at the Marine Design Centre and what we are working to achieve with members. Some very good contacts were established and we look forward to developing new opportunities in the near future.”

 

A Warm Welcome To.....Broady Flow Control

 

 

Among some of our newest members, we are delighted to welcome on board Broady Flow Control. Hull based Broady has been a specialist valve manufacturer for over 100 years and a key supplier to the defence industry since 1938.

Specialising in the supply of innovative and effective solutions, Broady are able to satisfy customers’ standard & bespoke requirements, in carbon steel, stainless steel, nickel, aluminium and bronze castings (including Class 1, 2 & 3) and other materials, for valves, periscope bearings, forgings and special fittings.
With experience in a wide range of industries, including chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, power, water & waste, fire protection, paper, pulp, food, pharmaceutical and mining, the company offers a complete range of Relief, Safety Relief, Pressure Reducing, Pilot, Fire and Gas Blanketing Valves.

Broady offers specialist services to the defence industry through the supply of submarine first level equipment, castings to current defence standards, support of legacy platforms, single source supply and defence/MOD repair facility. Broady Naval is well placed to extend its supply to new areas and applications in the defence industry, having supplied already to the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers, Astute Class Submarine, AO, LPD & LPH, in addition to supporting current worldwide naval in-service requirements.

Gary Hastings, Naval Sales Manager for Broady, said, “As well as our first class manufacturing, we have a unique specialist in-house design, pattern making and testing facility. We are very ambitious for continued growth in the naval, commercial marine and oil & gas sectors and look forward to achieving this in partnership with the Marine Design Centre”.

* Membership is growing all the time and we are also delighted to welcome on board -

CSD SEALING SYSTEMS, OXLEY DEVELOPMENTS and LPA CHANNEL. Look out for features on these companies in future newsletters. We look forward to meeting representatives from the companies at future meetings and events and to introducing them to existing members.

 

Recruitment Focus - Forthcoming Events

With skills and recruitment issues continually to the fore, two forthcoming events promise to assist companies in the region. NOF Energy's Jobs4Energy event in June will aid recruitment into the energy sector, while a Marine Design Centre recruitment event in July will focus on bringing new talent into the marine sector. Both of these events will provide opportunities to meet students, graduates and professionals who are interested in employment opportunities in these key engineering sectors of the North East.

The Jobs4Energy Recruitment Fair organized by NOF Energy, is your chance to tap into the talent on your doorstep. Join some of the region’s largest energy companies to showcase your current vacancies, training programmes and recruitment opportunities. Contact Dawn Tindle on 0191 417 4255 or dtindle@nofenergy.co.uk to discuss becoming an exhibitor, or go to www.jobs4energy.co.uk for more information about the event.

The marine recruitment event will be held on 2nd July, preceded by an industry dinner on the 1st, with some of the key players in the region's marine sector publicising opportunities. There'll also be a focus on finding new ways to raise the skill level in our sector. Put the date in your diaries, and we will be sending further information out soon. In the meantime, to find out more, or to register your interest in exhibiting, contact John Lockey on 0191 255 1710 or john.lockey@marinedesigncentre.com

 

Babcock Praise MDC Training Facilities

Babcock Design & Technology, one of the UK’s leading specialist teams based at Rosyth, Newcastle and Weymouth, has endorsed the training facilities at the Marine Design Centre as the perfect environment for off-site training.

David Dobson, General Manager of Babcock’s Newcastle office, said: “We ran a number of days in the Marine Design Centre’s training facility and were delighted with the whole experience. The facilities and support are first class, making it very easy to arrive and start training. The centre’s location also made it easy for delegates from our Rosyth office to attend’.

The training facilities in the Marine Design Centre are available for hire on a short or long-term basis enabling companies to meet specific training needs quickly and easily. As with the main facilities at the Centre, high specification work stations are provided, supported by a full suite of peripheral devices.

If you would like to enquire about booking the training, work or meeting facilities in the Marine Design Centre, please contact us on 0191 2551710 or info@marinedesigncentre.com