Institution news
Tom Garwood MEng (Hons) CEng MIMechE, publicity officer for the Yorkshire Region and Honorary Secretary for the South Yorkshire Area, is a co-organiser of the debate, which takes place in the prestigious Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield on 26 October. Tom, who is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Sheffield, along with colleagues from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), wants to highlight the role of engineers in the implementation of the Northern Powerhouse. He is encouraging members to put forward questions for consideration. /p>
He said:
“There are many pieces in the Northern Powerhouse puzzle and a lot of unanswered questions. In the North we want to improve the discussion and start to take ownership of it ourselves. Many of us want a better understanding of the business benefits or challenges of related infrastructure projects. Although we need some financial injection from Whitehall, we also need to grab the initiative with both hands in the North.
"Our engineering institutions and their members have a part to play in applying leverage towards government and extracting a better understanding of what the Northern Powerhouse is, or can be; to shine a light on the need for action, rather than rhetoric.”
The panel will be chaired by the newly installed Master Cutler 2017, Kenneth Cooke, who has formed six companies over his career, all supplying engineering services throughout the UK and Europe. Tickets are free and available to book now.
The panel members, who bring experience from local and national politics, engineering and transport, local industry and commerce, include:
- John Mothersole, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council
- David Grey MBE, Chairman of Sheffield City Trust & Executive Chairman of OSL Group Holdings
- Richard Caborn, former MP for Sheffield Central and ex-government minister
- Julie Hurley, Client Director for Transport for the North (TfN), Atkins.
Tom explained,
“Many of us in the North feel that there should be an emphasis on starting to structure our own spending as best suits local needs. In Manchester, for example, which has its own mayor, this can be done more effectively than in other cities. We need to find more ways to attract investment ourselves in the North and not rely on London to ‘get started’.”
He alludes to other issues surrounding the Northern Powerhouse that may spark debate:
“The term itself is so vague that any relatively small undertaking might be claimed as a significant element of the success of the Northern Powerhouse. HS2 and uncertainties associated with Brexit bring another dimension. They impact both on Northern Powerhouse rhetoric and investment decisions, and may cloud our terms of understanding. If done well, the Northern Powerhouse could be one of the pillars of a successful post-Brexit Britain – we’re an engineering nation and can engineer ourselves a solution!”
As well as the need for improved commuting between Northern cities, Tom says the development of industry hubs could also inform the vision and the ambition of the Northern Powerhouse. He is keen to hear from those attending the debate, who can send their questions to him at syorkssec@imechenearyou.org. Anyone who is not able to attend but wishes to put forward a question is also welcome to do so.
Tom concludes: “The Northern Powerhouse is a great-sounding concept on paper, but is it a political stunt or can it start to take shape? We’d like to start focusing our engineering talents on turning the concept into reality.”
Book your place and/or email a question.