Marine electronics company benefits from Marine Technology Skills project
Ringwood based marine electronics manufacturer, Echopilot recently took part in Marine South East's Technology Skills Programme (TSP) and benefited from a host of contacts and assistance to address their technical training needs.
Echopilot were keen for the initiative to look at “Hardware Design” training along with how the project might support their innovation and investment programme into 3D sonar technology. It was clear from Susan Phillips, Director at Echopilot that the Technology Skills Programme ‘industry specific’ focus was appealing and better understood the company’s needs than some other initiatives, which are more about what’s on offer and too supply led.
Commenting on the project, Susan Phillips from Echopilot said "The Technology Skills Programme listened and understood our business needs and what we wanted to achieve and directed us to the right people. As a result we have the right contacts to develop our plans for innovation and have funded support to assist with our training as well. We have mixed reviews and experiences of other initiatives but this one certainly seems to have worked for us. As a result we now stand a reasonable chance of achieving profits and more investment opportunities to develop our company even further."
Apart form providing the CWeb job placement vacancy database system the Technology Skills Programme is about connecting employers, especially SMEs, with the right people to get things done. It is also about linking up with other public sector funded programmes to support industry.
The training, skills and public sector investment framework for employers, is often incomprehensible. The Technology Skills Programme aims to make sense of this jointly with employers and introduce them to opportunities that are out there!
The Technology Skills Programme is being driven by Marine South East and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium. It is part of a growing initiative to retain talent in the aerospace, space, marine and defence industry across the South East and seeks to improve engagement and public sector investment opportunities to industry.
For more information please contact Richard Smith, Director of the Technology Skills Programme - Through Marine South East on 02392 111597
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