TALKING POINT
AFTER THE STORM
Readers speculated on the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
18
May 2020 / www.theengineer.co.uk
Mailbox
For far too long engineering &
manufacturing has been
overlooked as a vital part of the
UK’s genetic make-up service &
financial industries have been
prioritised over the backbone of
the UK’s real DNA and it’s way
overdue that engineering &
manufacturing, and all those
skilled personnel within the
sector are recognised for what
they have to offer and how much
they contribute. Perhaps the
backroom support provided by
the manufacturing sector in order
to assist the hard working, brave
and dedicated NHS staff will now
go some way to shine a light on
what we have to offer. WWII was
won by the factories of the UK,
and so will Covid-19 be defeated in
a similar way……let’s hope one of
the changes evident on the other
side of Covid is a new found
respect for all those hard working,
skilled engineering and
manufacturing staff, and the
companies they serve
Darren Marson
This disaster will push the
world economy into a major
recession. We were due one soon
anyway, just different to have the
trigger something natural rather
than artificial. During a recession,
firms tend to stifle innovation
since it costs money. The public
outpouring of appreciation of
health workers shows how much
more doctors and nurses are
valued compared to engineers.
Ian Wilson
on UK engineering and manufacturing
Let’s hope things do change,
but as a cynic I cannot help but
think things will return to their
old ways when the dust settles.
We have an economic
environment that is driven by the
unsustainable belief that profits
can keep on increasing, this has
just resulted in lack of investment
and poorer work conditions on
the shop floor.
During this crisis people have
made great sacrifices to help
others and a lot of the brilliant
efforts can be fairly termed as
‘charity’, ie. doing something for
nothing albeit for the common
good. Will this continue after
we’re through the worst ? Will
people realise that a lot of the
mess we have been in is because
of past choices to maximise
profits over investment? Will
UK Industry change and now
invest more, in staff and their
businesses ? Will the government
and industry change to ensure
new projects are costed properly
phonlamaiphoto.sytock.adobe.com
The recent collaborative
efforts of the engineering
industry in developing and
producing much needed
equipment and material for the
present outbreak must be
driven home to those who think
that an engineer is the bloke
who fixes their washing
machine (however skilled he
may be in his limited field).
Geoff Wilson
/www.theengineer.co.uk
/phonlamaiphoto.sytock.adobe.com