In his latest update, Thomas Marks shares details of recent work carried out by the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades.
There are mounting threats we read in the news every
day, from pandemics to Putin’s assault on Ukraine and
the looming crisis of climate change. It’s hard to see
the way forward with so much gloom surrounding us.
I believe we are going through a significant shake-up, there will
be winners and losers, but ultimately if we manage these threats
properly, then we will be able to advance ourselves further and
quicker than we would have done otherwise. By collaborating,
reminding ourselves of our strengths and the opportunities,
and being mindful of our weaknesses, humanity’s ingenuity can
overcome almost anything!
Trade associations are particularly helpful at guiding
businesses in times of uncertainty. We are connected to
organisations and institutions which are at the centre of policy
change. We distil what our members tell us to influence policy
direction, and members can unite to share burdens with likeminded individuals.
In this first quarter, we have reached out to an organisation
called the Manufacturer’s Alliance, which we believe excels at developing good leadership – endorsed by none other than
our honorary President Shaun Sutton at Central Group. Its
facilitation of peer groups has helped like-minded people share
challenges and aspirations so that others can learn from it.
It has helped hold leaders accountable, and to break through
boundaries. We will be initiating our first pilot group with the
group in this second quarter – if this interests you, please get in
touch with me.
We have also launched our brand new BSI AEMT Standards
Portal, enabling members to access the most current and
relevant standards, specifically curated for AEMT members.
Members can access over 50 standards via our website for
a modest annual fee, including the 60034 series for rotating
electrical equipment, ISO quality systems, and 60079 hazardous
area standards.
We have also produced a brand new repair label for all
members who are committed to quality repairs, which reads
‘Sustainably repaired to IEC 60034-23’. For all machines repaired
to this standard, members can affix this label to raise awareness
of quality repairs, highlighting your affiliation with the AEMT, and
promoting good practice.
For both the BSI Standards portal and the new repair labels,
please email us to place an order or refer to the website for
more details.
In terms of training, we are excited to be starting our project with York University in May to develop our truly online learning
and assessment environment for practical courses. The project
will take two years to complete, with phase one being launched
one year into the project, which includes online theory learning
and assessments. In the meantime, we are filming a course
into the repair/rewind of electric motors sponsored by Fletcher
Moorland. We hope to have this available for all members by the
end of this year.
Finally, our important work with Primary Engineer is bearing
fruit, with several members up and down the UK pledging
donations towards the charity aimed at raising awareness
of engineering careers among young children. At the time
of writing, members ADC Electrical in Tyneside, Preformed
Windings and Rotary Engineering in Sheffield have already made
pledges, with many more in talks with Primary Engineer. If you
are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact me for
more details.
Internally, we are sad to say goodbye to Nicola Adie, who
has been helping us co-ordinate our training courses for over
a year. Her replacement, Rebecca, will be starting with us on
April 7. She brings a wealth of event coordination and marketing
experience, and we believe she is an excellent fit for the role. I
hope you will all join me in making her feel most welcome at the
AEMT.
If you’ve any comments or suggestions, or would like to speak to
me about any of the above points, please don’t hesitate to get in
touch with us, one of the council members or the President. You
can email me at thomas@aemt.co.uk or call +44 (0)1904 674 899.