Viscount Nuffield / Mensforth Lecture

About the lecture

Programme

18:30 Registration
19:00 Lecture commences
20:30 Drinks reception
21:30 Close

A brief outline of the lecture

Britain makes good – how two export-led engineering SMEs do it

Clansman Dynamics designs and makes foundry robots in East Kilbride. Its robust high-technology solutions for material handling in forges, foundries, steelworks and even garbage handling operate in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Its customers include some of the world’s best known manufacturers.

Severn Lamb is a world-leading Alcester-based engineering company designing, manufacturing and supporting iconic bespoke transport systems which it exports to 40 countries. Its current portfolio includes trains, period replica cars and buses, boats & monorails.

Dick and Patrick will introduce their companies and then take audience questions on what it takes niche businesses like theirs to succeed. Challenges such as language problems, insinuations that British products can’t match Germans ones, coping with worsening skilled design and assembly workforce shortages, SME purchasing power iniquities/disadvantages and timid rule-driven bank behaviour.

Like literally and metaphorically going the extra customer mile, the importance of design ownership and knowing their products inside out, customer partnership, acting as a self-reliant team with the MD an entrepreneur, engineer, play-maker and chief salesman.

See also

• A brief history of the lecture
• View previous speakers