Beechgrove Garden stars heading to Southport

CAROLE Baxter and George Anderson of BBC's Beechgrove Garden are heading to Southport for this year's 100th Anniversary Show. Alan Adams, General Manager said:- "We can't wait to welcome Carole and George to this year's show. They will be here for 2 days, on:- Thursday, 15 August, until:- Friday, 16 August 2024, and will join David Domoney and many more special guests in this year's spectacular line up."

This year's Flower Show will run from:- Thursday, 15 August to Sunday, 18 August 2024, and it is celebrating 100 years of this fabulous, historical event. When it happens, It will become the 2nd Flower Show within the Southport area to achieve this milestone, after the Ainsdale Horticultural Society's 100th Flower Show was held back in 2022. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting announcements on our Southport Flower Show website and social media channels.

If you are unaware, Carole Baxter was born and brought up in Loose a small village near Maidstone in Kent. Carole gained her degree from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sussex and studied Amenity Horticulture at Elmwood College, Cupar in Fife. She has been a professional horticulturist since 1979. From:- 1983 to 1995, she was the:- 'Behind The Scenes' gardener for the Beechgrove Garden, BBC Scotland, and since 1986, she has been 1 of the presenters for this gardening program. Carole is now a self employed Horticulturist, Broadcaster, and Writer. She is a member of the Professional Gardeners' Guild and in 2013 she was awarded the SHM (Scottish Horticultural Medal). For the last 8 years, she has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Horticultural Charity Perennial. Her interests include:- developing her own 8 acre garden and she enjoys walking.

Did you know that George Anderson was born and brought up in East Lothian the eldest son of a small holder and market gardener? He left School at 16 and started work as a gardener's boy in a local estate walled garden. He attended Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agriculture College and studied horticulture. He also worked in commercial nursery and tomato houses in the Clyde Valley for 2 years. In 1966, George joined the student course at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and studied Amenity and Ornamental Horticulture. He then joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1969 followed by Wolverhampton Teachers Training College, and gained the Certificate in Education. Additionally, he was appointed Higher Scientific Officer in the School of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Eventually, he became the Head of the School of Horticulture and retired in 2004. He's been a trustee and Council member of the RHS for 10 years, chaired various committees, and was President of The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (The Caley). He was also awarded the Scottish Horticultural Medal in 2007, an MBE for services to Horticulture Training in 2005, and in 2023 he received The Founders Award for services to Horticultural Training from the Professional Gardeners Guild. George joined the presenter team of Beechgrove in 2005. George is interested in:- trout and salmon fishing, walking, gardening, allotmenteering, wildlife, and travel.

Liverpool manufacturers invest £4.3m in tech with Made Smarter

SME manufacturers across Liverpool City Region have invested £4.3m in technology, supported by Made Smarter's trailblazing adoption programme in the North West.

Over 50 businesses in the county have now secured £1.3m matched funding from the Government-funded, industry-backed initiative, adopting technologies as diverse as sensors, robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI).

Backed by £3m of private investment, these manufacturers are forecasting the creation of 384 jobs and 376 upskilled roles, boosting the city Region's economy by £52m.

5 Liverpool City Region manufacturers are among the latest wave to join Made Smarter, taking to 300 the number of businesses the programme has supported with tech investment.

They include:-

• Bibby Precision Engineering, a component manufacturer, based in Bromborough, Wirral.
  

• Liverpool Laser and Tube, a metal product manufacturer, based in Knowsley, Liverpool.
  

• NJC Thermal covers (UK), manufacturers of insulation covers, Kirkby, Liverpool.
  

• Mac Ventilation Services, a manufacturer of bespoke ventilation systems, based in Liverpool.
  

• Bibby Precision Engineering invested in software which helped increase production efficiency.

Adrian Moore, Operations Director said:- "The whole team now has the ability to view the quotes, live jobs, sales by customer, margin, and hours relating to work. Another key advantage is the ability to digitalise our designs, and move away from paper based versions. This investment has given our workforce new digital skills that will help the business become more efficient and help the management team develop and grow."

Mac Ventilation Services is now investing in 3D printing to support manufacturing and its expansion into green energy solutions.

Marc Randles, CEO, said:- "Having grown rapidly in the last 5 years providing complex ventilation systems in health, education and industrial sectors, we are now expanding into green energy products such as turbines and grow boxes. With the help of Made Smarter we will be able to enhance our capabilities in 3D design and prototyping which will not just support our existing manufacturing processes, but take the brakes off our research and development ambitions to develop new products."

Since 2019, SME manufacturers across the North West have invested £22m in new technologies, forecasting the creation of almost 1,600 new jobs, over 2,850 upskilled roles, and adding £242m to the economy over the next 3 years.

With the Government committing to continue the North West adoption programme as part of a UK roll out, manufacturers are being urged to connect with Made Smarter to access the funded support on offer. This includes digital transformation workshops to create a digital roadmap, impartial and expert technology advice, leadership and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects.

Donna Edwards, Director of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, said:- "I'm incredibly proud of what the Made Smarter team has achieved over the last 5 years. These milestones are simultaneously a moment to celebrate, as well as a reminder that our work is by no means done. Our mission is to engage with the thousands of manufacturers out there who we are certain could benefit from our support. As such we are redoubling our efforts to reach more businesses, and to inspire and inform them about the benefits of technology adoption. For many this may be helping them take the 1st step to digitise manual and paper-based systems or using sensors to capture vital production data. But for others with a digital infrastructure in place, they may be ready for more sophisticated, boundary pushing technologies such as analytics, machine learning and AI, which are evolving at unprecedented speed. Digital isn't coming; it's arrived. Adopting technologies at the right time and in the right way is the key to unlocking real benefits for industry, society and the planet."

For more information, visit:- MadeSmarter.UK.