Through the Eye: Engineers Insight

Ep23: Keeping Design & Technology in schools

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - Enginuity! Enginuity is dedicated to closing the skills gap in UK engineering and manufacturing, creating a thriving and more productive sector that is at the forefront of delivering solutions to society’s greatest challenges. You can join the Enginuity Alliance, if you're serious about closing the skills gap and inspiring the next generation of manufacturing, here: https://enginuity.org/the-alliance
 
In this episode, I sit down with Tony Ryan, CEO of the Design and Technology Association, to talk about inspiring the next generation through creative, hands-on learning.
Tony shares his incredible journey — from training as a car mechanic, to accidentally stepping into teaching, and then building a 33-year career in education, including 19 years as a deputy head and headteacher.
Today, he leads an association supporting over 33,000 teachers, creating lesson materials that ignite creativity and give real-world context to subjects like Maths, Physics, and Engineering.
Discover why Design & Technology education is critical for shaping future innovators — and why creativity matters more than ever in today's world.
 
Upcoming Exhibitions:
Automation UK, CBS Arena 7th-8th May - https://forms.reg.buzz/automation-uk-2025/engineers-insight?utm_source=engineersinsight.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=auk2025
National Manufacturing & Supply Chain, RDS Simmonscourt Dublin 28th & 29th May - https://manufacturingevent.com/
 
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Tony Ryan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/design-technology-association/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
 
Follow our other channels here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight
https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a
https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight
https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg
 

Episode 22: There will be a silver lining.

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - Beckhoff Automation Beckhoff implements open automation systems using proven PC-based control technology, find out more at this link: https://www.beckhoff.co.uk/?mtm_campaign=Engineers%20Insight&mtm_kwd=podcast%20link
 
Jordan Tassell is Head of Marine & Ports at Iconsys, a prominent systems integrator based in Telford, UK. We talk everything from starting on the tills in a supermarket, loneliness in lockdown, how to deal with adversity and what his future holds.
Upcoming Exhibitions:
Automation UK CBS Arena, Coventry 7th-8th May - https://forms.reg.buzz/automation-uk-2025/engineers-insight?utm_source=engineersinsight.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=auk2025
I'll be hosting 2 panels at the event: 1. How to attract and retain talent. 2. Learnings from SME's that have automated.
National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Exhibition and Conference 2025 RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin 28th & 29th May - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/national-manufacturing-supply-chain-exhibition-and-conference-2025-tickets-921562968647?aff=MailchimpMailerA
Connect with us both on LinkedIn:
Jordan Tassell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-tassell/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
Follow our other channels here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg

Episode 21: Real Life Willy Wonka

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - Enginuity! Enginuity is dedicated to closing the skills gap in UK engineering and manufacturing, creating a thriving and more productive sector that is at the forefront of delivering solutions to society’s greatest challenges.
You can join the Enginuity Alliance, if you're serious about closing the skills gap and inspiring the next generation of manufacturing, here: https://enginuity.org/the-alliance
 
Jamie Ashpole started JJA Pack installing and fixing chocolate machines. He now uses his experience, and his own chocolate line to inspire kids into manufacturing! His 14 year old twins are also involved in the business, delivering workshops and becoming the face of the JJA Snack brand, now called JJA Kids.
 
Upcoming Exhibitions: Automation UK, CBS Arena 7th-8th May - https://forms.reg.buzz/automation-uk-2025/engineers-insight?utm_source=engineersinsight.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=auk2025
National Manufacturing Supply Chain, RDS Simmonscourt Dublin 28th & 29th May - https://manufacturingevent.com/
 
Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jamie Ashpole - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-ashpole-3a553373/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
Follow our other channels here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight
https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a
https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight
https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg

Episode 20: "I don't believe in a work/life balance".

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - STRAKT! Every organisation has a strategy, but most struggle to turn it into action.  Strakt helps companies understand how do to that through coaching and training, helping companies achieve amazing levels of performance.
https://www.strakt.co?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=click&utm_id=EngineersInsight
Sam Baynham is the founder of ConeX Portal, an online portal for SME's, built out of frustration with the lack of support for small and medium size businesses in the UK. Sam opens up on the difficulties of being a sole founder, 'work/life balance' and dealing with a health scare whilst trying to scale.
Upcoming Exhibitions: National Manufacturing Summit, MTC 27th February - https://nmsummit.co.uk/
Automation UK, CBS Arena 7th-8th May - https://forms.reg.buzz/automation-uk-2025/engineers-insight?utm_source=engineersinsight.co.uk&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=auk2025
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Sam Baynham - https://www.linkedin.com/in/collaborate-and-connect-sam-baynham-manufacturer-supplier-leads/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
Follow our other channels here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg

Episode 19: We need more robots, to compete on the world stage.

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - Beckhoff Automation Beckhoff implements open automation systems using proven PC-based control technology, find out more at this link: https://www.beckhoff.co.uk/?mtm_campaign=Engineers%20Insight&mtm_kwd=podcast%20link
Mike Wilson is Chief Automation Officer at The MTC and Chairman of the UK Automation Forum. Mike has spent his whole career advocating for the adoption of robotics in UK manufacturing, working for the global brands and taking board positions at trade associations like Automate UK and MTA.
Mike was also the chairman of the International Federation of Robotics in 2000 so the perfect question was "has anything changed since then".
Upcoming Exhibitions: Packaging Innovations & Empack, NEC 12th & 13th February - https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/2c1uzfj70hoi6?actioncode=NTWO000488IPS&partner-contact=0dsfc0u8f2c34
National Manufacturing Summit, MTC 27th February - https://nmsummit.co.uk/
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Mike Wilson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-wilson-robotautomation/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
 
Automate UK - https://www.automate-uk.com/
UK Automation Forum - https://www.ukautomationforum.com/
 
Follow our other channels here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg

Episode 18 - Matthew Foster: Why do we hate recruiters so much?

Huge thank you to this episode sponsor - AMFG!
To find out what they do and book your free demo, click here > https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/3116xnZqxHK4FW5cyjtDEVdvElnqzl0waCBl70uFrYHkZpcTPb4gVT4ttJArAkmCD
 
Matt Foster is Sales Director at Wynne Consulting - a recruitment firm operating in the UK manufacturing space for over 20 years. We discussed Matt's life, his upbringing, challenges in industry and the important question - why do we all hate recruiters so much?
Upcoming Exhibitions: Packaging Innovations & Empack, NEC - https://www.packagingbirmingham.com/ Southern Manufacturing, Farnborough - https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/00mf6xsmh61zw?actioncode=1102 National Manufacturing Summit, MTC - https://nmsummit.co.uk/
Matthew Foster - https://www.linkedin.com/in/automationsalesjobs/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
Follow our other channels here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/engineers-insight
https://open.spotify.com/show/1TwRe6ftyAn0v4egXaViRL?si=1e76a110c3814e6a https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight https://www.instagram.com/engineersinsight/@UC3XKV2QJWll_VCLuNYacPPg

Episode 17 - Guy Collins: My Father Saw An Opportunity

I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Guy Collins, "Head Honcho" at BPX Electro Mechanical Co. Ltd, discussing life at BPX, how he manages his time, how to build and maintain a culture as a business grows, and how he feels about legacy. Unfortunately my camera fails to autofocus for the last 20 minutes - apologies.
Upcoming Exhibitions for 2025: MTC, Coventry - Manufacturing Technology 2Day - https://manufacturingtechnology2day.com/ Packaging Innovations & Empack, NEC - https://www.packagingbirmingham.com/
Guy Collins -   / guy-collins-76001910  
Thomas Flude -   / thomas-flude-engineersinsight  

Episode 16 - Martin Kidman: I wanted to be an International Superstar!

Martin Kidman is Safety Manager for Southern & Western Europe, at SICK.
But, he's much more than mr. safety, he has a great sense of humour and an infectious outlook on life. From humble beginnings in Liverpool, wanting to become a musical superstar, Martin became a compliance engineer in 1999 and then a research associate at the University of Liverpool, writing a Ph.D. thesis entitled “Chromatic Monitoring of Sulphurhexaflouride using Mass Spectrometry”.
Alongside his role at SICK, Martin is a member of the standards committee at the BSI, council member at BARA and a certified safety trainer at SGS-TÜV Saar.
Come and meet Engineers Insight: MENE 2024, Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne. 28th November - https://forms.reg.buzz/mene-2024/?affiliate=04bd0a6ef7ccbc924ecd93ecc71ff1283f4b3eaf9486ce654a71bfea8557820a
Martin Kidman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-kidman/
Tom Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
Engineers Insight TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@engineersinsight
Through The Eye TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@through.the.eye

Episode 15 - Alan Norbury: 47 years at Siemens.

Huge thank you to this episode's sponsor - InterAct: https://interact-hub.org/
InterAct is a Made Smarter Innovation and ESRC funded network that provides free, people-centric insights to support manufacturing businesses interested in innovating with digital technology.
Alan Norbury is the Chief Technologist at Siemens Digital Industries. He's worked at Siemens since he was an apprentice, some 47 years ago. He's held 11 positions over the years, and in them gained invaluable experience. I was extremely lucky to spend an hour with him at the 2024 EMCON show, in Sunderland, UK. As you can hear, we filmed this one in front of an audience at an exhibition, hence the background noise!
What's Engineers Insight?
Engineers Insight is a free mobile app, built for engineers in the UK & Ireland, that collates the latest products, manuals, brochures, videos, send enquiries, apply for jobs and build out product inventories for your machine. We’re already working with Siemens, KUKA, SMC, Cognex, Omron, Beckhoff, and 40 more global brands to get their products to market. In the new year we’ll be launching a central training calendar, where an engineer could buy seats on multi-vendors courses, in one place.
To download, search "Engineer Insight" in the app stores and download for free.
Connect with us:
Alan Norbury - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannorbury/
Thomas Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/

Episode 14 - Ariel Wynne: "Someone knew me and stayed."

Huge thank you to our sponsor Beckhoff Automation! To find out what they do you can click here - https://www.beckhoff.co.uk/?mtm_campaign=Engineers%20Insight&mtm_kwd=podcast%20link
This is the most open, personal and emotional episode we've filmed to date. Ariel let's us in to her life, how she's dealt with trauma, recreated a version of herself and has used her love of writing to become a published author.
To purchase Ariel's book, you can find it here on WHSmith: https://www.whsmith.co.uk/Product/Ariel-Marie/Now-Never-or-at-the-very-last-second/13143430
 
Ariel Wynne - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-wynn-42890a19b/
Tom Flude - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/