How can your business bridge the skills gap?

With over 12 years of experience in the manufacturing sector and a resume that includes leading companies like Yaskawa and Schneider Electric, Tom brings unparalleled expertise and passion to the Forum. Driven by a commitment to advancing the engineering and manufacturing industry, Tom created the Engineer’s Insight mobile app – a game-changer that’s resonating with professionals across generations, including emerging young engineers. His influence extends far and wide, thanks to his engaging podcasts – some of which have collected 20,000+ views – and his strong presence on social media.

Sarah Black-Smith is a passionate and active promoter for enhancing the productivity of UK Manufacturers. Since June 2022, she has been at the helm of the Motion Control business in Siemens Digital Industries and is the Sustainability Lead. Sarah believes that digitalisation and ongoing advancements are pivotal in achieving the UK’s sustainability and productivity objectives. With an impressive tenure of 23 years at Siemens, Sarah has held multiple positions at two factories located in Congleton and Lincoln, which has greatly enhanced her understanding of the industry. Sarah led the Factory Operations at the Siemens Digital Industries factory in Congleton since December 2018, having previously been Head of Manufacturing. During her time at Siemens Energy Lincoln, Sarah held several operational management positions driving efficiency and excellence throughout the factory. Sarah graduated from Loughborough University in 2004 with a BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering and Management. Sarah completed an MSc in Operations Excellence from Cranfield University in 2016 and earlier this year completed her Global MBA at the Alliance Manchester Business School. Sarah's passion lies in collaborating with individuals and fostering strong relationships. She holds a deep admiration for the manufacturing sector in the UK, recognising the incredible talent and innovation that exists within the country, regularly documenting this on LinkedIn. Sarah firmly believes that diversity is a crucial element in unlocking the full potential of the engineering and manufacturing industries. She advocates for greater diversity within businesses and engineering courses, as believes it is essential for driving fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and transformative approaches.

Since moving on from school to an apprenticeship Lewis has had great opportunities to design and commission control systems, write PLC code, and work hands on with Festo customers to solve real faults. He is interested in practical routes into engineering and how apprenticeships encourage further learning with a career focus as well as build skills and give opportunities to young people.

Nikesh is the Sector Head for Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement at GAMBICA the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK. He is responsible for representing the sectors covering product groups for Variable Speed Drives, Controlgear, Soft Starts, PLCs, Terminals, Enclosures, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, Position Sensors and machine Safety Components, and Electrical Testing Equipment. Nikesh has developed a wider understanding of both the technical and commercial areas of the manufacturing industry, through both his work for GAMBICA and his previous work as a Technical Sales engineer and Account Manager within industry. His extensive on-site industry experience has allowed him to thoroughly refine his knowledge of the sectors and his expertise as a Sector Head has allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of Market Trends and Data Analysis while building and sustaining relationships with clients, customers and members. He has an honours degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Birmingham, and has recently been working on encouraging and promoting Digitalisation within industry alongside having a vested interest in Sustainability. He is also a STEM ambassador hoping to encourage the younger generations to get involved in STEM subjects.

Jan Salazar is a Bid Manager in ABB’s Process Automation Division, where he has developed his career over the past eight years. Having pursued both a university degree and a degree apprenticeship, he offers first-hand insight into how these pathways can work together to build critical industry skills. His journey highlights the value of blended approaches in addressing skills shortages, and he is passionate about supporting employers and young professionals in bridging the gap between education and industry.