Business South March 2021

50 | ENGINEERING SOREC - Southland and Otago Regional Engineering Collective Driving engineering in the South Richard Loader “We understand that attracting young people to the sector is vital for our future as is developing the capacity of tradespeople already in the sector. So we’re working closely with schools and universities to help ensure industry needs are being met.” Ceri Macleod F ormally established early last year, SOREC (Southland and Otago Regional Engineer- ing Collective) was born from a vision for a more collaborative and robust manufactur- ing engineering sector. Identifying a concept of a Southland/Otago collective of businesses within the manufac- turing engineering sector Gareth Evans — CEO of Farra Engineering — started conversations about how the sector might drive this forward. Consultation with the sector identified a need for a body like SOREC to help lead dis- cussions, promote collaboration and work on the sectors behalf. An application for $495,000 in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) was approved towards the end of 2019 and SOREC was established February 2020 with the appointment of Ceri Macleod as General Manager and Gareth as Board Chairman. With responsibility of driving development and delivery of the network, Ceri has a strong background in economic development and is a passionate advocate of business growth, regeneration and sustainable development. “I bring a strategic focus to the role, rather than technical engineering skills. I help firms connect the dots to better tap into opportuni- ties,” says Ceri. Membership is free as funding is through the PGF enabling Ceri to drive the network, providing support and advice by leveraging expertise from other organisations. Representing the manufacturing engineer- ing sector across Southland and Otago, SOREC currently has 250 organisations on its data- base, the majority of which are businesses. “Our members consist of businesses that broadly fall within the sector along with stake- holders who can work with us to support the growth and development of the manufactur- ing engineering sector, such as Government departments and business support, training and education bodies.” Ceri says that as a region Southland/Otago has a unique group of businesses that have traditionally worked together in an organic capacity and have long supported each other very informally. She says there is an underlying atmosphere of collaboration with neighbouring business- es working together to get a product out the door on time and to the highest quality it can be. “The sector excels in that collaboration and SOREC can build upon that even more, enhancing connections to make it more pro- active. SOREC seeks to help the sector grow within a geographical boundary and there are not too many bodies that represent a sector in the way SOREC does. “What we really want to achieve is to enable greater innovation, bring more work into the region, and ultimately create more jobs.” To achieve its aims Ceri says SOREC has identified four priority areas. “We’re mapping the network’s capability and have recently surveyed the sector to create a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities and potential. “Results will provide us with the opportu- nity to look at what we do already, where our strengths are and where any gaps are. “The ultimate goal is that we will be able to present a very coordinated picture of the sector nationally and globally to better tell and sell our story and work collectively to tender for major projects.” To illustrate the point Ceri says SOREC has been looking at how businesses can connect with tenders across a broader supply chain, to share knowledge and innovation and spread risk. “There are huge opportunities for us to compete in a global market for tenders, and we’re positioned to do that much better if the engineering manufacturing sector is working collectively. “A group of businesses might put in a collec- tive tender for a bid to the defence sector for example. “The strength of that would be significantly greater than if businesses were trying to do that individually.” The next piece is about attracting work and ensuring the sector has the skills, technology and ability to effectively future proof it as much as that is possible within the fast pace of an ever changing world. A strong focus on attracting apprentices and developing tradespeople within the sector is also key to its success. “We understand that attracting young people to the sector is vital for our future as is developing the capacity of tradespeople already in the sector. “So we’re working closely with schools and universities to help ensure industry needs are being met.” Finally, SOREC’s advocacy role is significant and CV19 illustrated the need for an advocate to extol the virtues of the sector, recognise its potential in supporting economic recovery and identify its labour market requirements. While its focus is on Southland and Otago, SOREC’s work will have ripple effects for the sector and the wider economy. “SOREC has a unique role in helping busi- nesses target their potential and work collabo- ratively to get the most impact. “There is real potential for Southland and Otago to recognised as a destination for quality and innovation in manufacturing engineering. THE TEAM AT BETECH ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT SOREC 26 Harrow St Dunedin PH 03 474 0612 MOTION & CONTROL QUALITY + EXPERIENCE = VALUE CONTACT US P: 03 981 8199 • E: service@toolingsolutions.co.nz • W: www.toolingsolutions.co.nz Proudly supporting the South Island & New Zealand Engineering