Novotek UK and Ireland<\/a><\/strong> in Glasgow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDuring the visit, Sweeney met with George Walker, managing director of Novotek UK and Ireland, to discuss how policymakers can better support industrial businesses, as well as to hear Novotek\u2019s view on the challenges facing the industry. Novotek has worked closely with many businesses of all sizes across the UK and Europe, helping them to improve their operational effectiveness and agility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScottish manufacturing faces a number of big challenges in the years ahead, particular with the disruptive advent of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),\u201d says Sweeney. \u201cIt was insightful to meet with George to understand more clearly how these changes will affect the industry, and it\u2019s inspiring to see how Novotek is adapting and helping other businesses to adapt to a shifting industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, it\u2019s clear that more is needed from policymakers to support industrial businesses, particularly smaller ones. There needs to be more put in place to reduce the risk to small businesses, whether it\u2019s by offering financial support to invest in new technologies or by strengthening the supply chain so Scottish businesses aren\u2019t dependent on a handful of major OEMs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe UK\u2019s imminent departure from the European Union may pose a risk to businesses, but it\u2019s crucial that Scottish companies are supported in embracing other opportunities in markets around the world. There is no doubt that companies like Novotek can help Scotland stand at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Novotek UK and Ireland launched in early 2018 following the acquisition of Kerrco Automation, a company George Walker helped to establish. Walker remains deeply rooted in the local community, with Novotek having worked closely with local universities to support engineering education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the UK partner for GE Digital, Novotek has been helping businesses automate their operations to improve performance and minimise process waste. The company notes that the opportunities presented by IIoT technologies offer a viable solution to the problem of market instability and uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn challenging times and uneasy markets, the best approach is often to become agile and efficient,\u201d Walker explains. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked with companies that have achieved more robust, reliable operations by making the right decisions around investment in technology. These investments help protect them from uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, this can be risky for smaller businesses, which is why we\u2019re calling for more support from Government to secure the future of UK industry. There\u2019s little doubt that the industry of tomorrow is digitally-driven and built on automation and data, but the role Scotland plays in that depends on the incentives and framework in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur meeting with Paul Sweeney helped us to express the concerns of the industry, and we\u2019re keen to help policymakers understand the reality of the challenge ahead for UK manufacturers, large and small.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The UK is on the precipice of significant industrial disruption and Scottish businesses must be prepared and supported by Government to stay competitive. This was the message shared by Paul Sweeney, Labour and Co-Operative MP for Glasgow North East and Shadow Scotland Minister, as he visited the main office of industrial automation expert Novotek UK …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11152,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[48,198,2993,5791],"class_list":["post-11150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news-views-and-opinion","tag-automation","tag-brexit","tag-digitisation","tag-novotek-uk"],"yoast_head":"\n
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