Annual event goes from strength to strength

MORE than 150 businesses and in excess of 1,500 people attended Durham Oktoberfest 2014, each playing a part in making it the most successful event to date.

Oktoberfest, which was once again held at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe, is the North-East's most high profile engineering and manufacturing inter-trading and networking event and a showcase of the region's world class strengths and capabilities within these sectors.

Many of the region's largest employers, including Nifco, Parker Hannifin, Faurecia, Cummins, Ebac and Bel Valves were involved in Meet the Buyer, while Meet the Funder - a new element added to this year's event to enable businesses to find out more about the funding packages on offer to them - attracted organisations and representatives from programmes such as Rivers Capital, Investment 4 Growth, NBSL and North Star Ventures.

Darren Race, Chairman of the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum and Durham Oktoberfest Project Leader, said: "Oktoberfest has become one of the most important dates in the region's events calendar and that was backed up by the calibre of businesses and visitors this year's event attracted.

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"We said from the start our aim was to attract some of the region's biggest and most recognised manufacturing and engineering companies and when you looked around the venue on the day, it was clear we achieved that.

"The feedback from attendees was so positive with the consensus being that this was our most successful event to date."

The core themes of Durham Oktoberfest 2014 were economic regeneration, addressing the skills gap and re-shoring - a term given to the return of manufacturing to the UK from low cost overseas supply chains - and each was addressed by the line-up of guest speakers, which included Mike Matthews, European Operations Officer for Nifco and Managing Director of Nifco UK; and Paul Watts, Joint Managing Director of clothing manufacturing company The AMA Group.

Dr Simon Goon, Chief Executive of Business Durham, and Cllr Neil Foster, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and development at Durham County Council, also took to the stage during the event.

Councillor Neil Foster said: "Durham Oktoberfest is so important, not just for County Durham but the North East as a whole. It's the premier event for manufacturing and engineering companies and a real celebration of our strengths within these sectors."

Durham Oktoberfest is delivered by the North, East and South Durham Engineering Forums in partnership with NEPIC, the Advanced Manufacturing Forum, NOF Energy, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and BE-Group.

'Engineering is coming home'

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THE drive to bring manufacturing back to the UK, re-shoring, was one of the key themes at Durham Oktoberfest 2014.

Joint managing director of clothing manufacturing firm The AMA Group, Paul Watts, was guest speaker at the event and spoke about the reasons behind his company making the decision to bring production back to east Durham.

Mr Watts, who runs the Peterlee company with fellow MD Julie Price and three other directors, said: “As with a lot of manufacturing, the industry disappeared offshore rapidly in the late 1980s and 1990s but, having researched consumer and retailer trends and looked into the costs and inflexibility of making garments overseas, we believed the time was right to bring it back.

“The response we’ve had since we announced our plans earlier this year has been phenomenal and now production is under way, we’re receiving inquiries from retailers not only up and down the country but overseas as well. I think generally there’s a real appetite to bring manufacturing back to the UK, which can only be a good thing for the region’s businesses.”

The AMA Group plans to recruit in excess of 200 people between now and the end of 2015 to meet the rise in demand for the garments they manufacture. So far, 45 experienced machinists and apprentices have been employed, with the remaining being recruited on a monthly basis.

Mr Watts added: “This was our first Oktoberfest and it was fantastic.

“It brings everybody together under one roof and means there are plenty of networking opportunities for everyone in attendance. It’s great to see what else is going on in the North-East.”

'More needs to be done on skills gap'

MIKE MATTHEWS, pictured below, the managing director of car parts manufacturer Nifco UK, has urged businesses to do more to address the skills gap in the region.

Speaking at Durham Oktoberfest, Mr Matthews warned of the danger to the manufacturing and engineering sectors if employers did not act now to tackle the ageing workforce, particularly prominent in the North-East.

Mr Matthews, a former apprentice, said: “We are seeing the signs of the region’s strengths in these areas.

“A positive balance of trade, an ever-growing volume of exports, the fastest rate of economic growth in the country, the list goes on. But we also face a huge challenge, one that I genuinely believe is a shackle that, unless we break away from it, will prevent us from realising our vast potential. That challenge is the skills gap.

“Over the next couple of years, more than 9,000 skilled workers will leave roles within this sector to enjoy retirement.

“As a result, scores and scores of skilled roles will be available and needed to sustain the growth we are capable of, but a question mark hangs over the industry. Where do we find these people?

“We cannot rely on the public sector, the education sector, or any other services that are out there alone. We have to start acting now.

“It means going into schools. It means engaging with training providers and colleges to bring through apprentices who – like I did – can gain the hands-on skills we’re missing, and who can bring bright ideas and an eagerness that can transform a business.

“It means viewing universities as a partner. Supporting them to support us, our business and our sector.

“It means succession planning – investing in people, training them, supporting them, mentoring them – getting them ready to fill the gaps that will be left by an ageing workforce.

“We in the North-East know how to work, and how to work hard. We have what it takes to make just about anything.

“We must concentrate now on working to tackle the skills gap and doing everything we can to ensure that the North-East is prepared for growth.”