We’re thrilled that for a 3rd year running the ‘Go Beyond’ programme for women in STEM (part of The Morson STEM Foundation) will welcome the next cohort of women studying STEM subjects at the School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE) at The University of Salford supported by alumni and industry partners.
The ‘Go Beyond’ mentoring programme for women in STEM initiative offers female students in their final year of study insight into the industry they are interested in entering, as well as guidance for stepping confidently into their future STEM careers. This programme is part of the Morson STEM Foundation and will run for a period of three months and will be delivered by the Morson Maker Space.
As one of the largest recruitment companies for engineering professionals globally, ‘Go Beyond’ is a key part of our programme which aims to inspire, upskill and reskill the talent of tomorrow.
‘Go Beyond’ is accessible to all female students in their final year of study and provides a means of connecting with industry professionals through mentoring, allowing students to gain a greater understanding of their career prospects, develop communication and interpersonal skills and learn good practices for future interviews when stepping into their careers.
The Maker Space Director, Dr Maria Stukoff, commented:
“I am very proud to launch Go Beyond for a third year running, supporting our female students to learn more about the STEM professions they will enter after they graduate. Our students will receive exposure to industry mentors over the next few months, which will inevitably provide them with the experience and knowledge they need to progress, and to go beyond their studies.”
This year our industry mentors include participants from Morson Projects, Waldeck, Lurig Limited, Network Rail, Costain, Atkins, and The Moon Hub who have given their time generously to provide their expertise, in addition to further academic support from Queen Bee Coaching, a Pankhurst Trust coaching service for women throughout Greater Manchester.
We are confident ‘Go Beyond’ will continue to demonstrate what can be achieved by a mentoring programme for women in STEM.
‘Go Beyond’ is just one part of The Morson STEM Foundation which aims to support people from all backgrounds to explore, and pursue, pathways into engineering-related careers. The Foundation is delivered through the long-standing partnership with The University of Salford and the Morson Maker Space who bring together a programme of activity in collaboration with regional skill providers, local employers, and industry stakeholders to raise the profile of STEM nationally.
“The prospect of coming out of the military is utterly terrifying until you realise you have the skills to overcome the challenges. Be brave. Don’t hide your light under a bushel. You have hard-earned experience. Remember this: You possess many transferable skills, talents, successes, and ideas. You have ‘stuff’ that the industry needs and/or wants. You may not know it. You may not realise it. But you do.”
Martin Goodwin is a Project Planner at Waldeck, part of the Morson Group. His career in the armed forces began at just 16 when, with an enthusiasm for aviation, he joined the Royal Air Force. We spoke to Martin about his career with the RAF, rising through the ranks to become Flight Sergeant, and his transition from a military career to a civilian one – and crucially how his forces background has set him up for his current career.
Talk to us about your career in the RAF
I joined as a 16-year-old boy entrant, a dual-trade aircraft apprentice, in 1975. From being a child, I only really had one ambition; to work with aircraft I presented myself to an RAF Careers Information Office (CIO) at the tender age of 13 to ask the drafter if he could give me a job! Throughout my fulfilling and rewarding career, I rose steadily through the ranks slightly ahead of my peers and in the early 2000s was drafted, on promotion, into Defence Training. I left the Royal Air Force in October 2005.
As you worked up the rank structure your knowledge and acumen grew exponentially. Manpower control and leadership (including being a responsible ‘father figure’ to your team), detailed aircraft systems knowledge, general service knowledge, project planning and control, and dealing with dynamic and ever-changing situations, usually under operational pressures. The project planning and control element often took the form of deploying aircraft away from your normal operating base. This would take months of detailed planning to ensure that you could correctly maintain, support and ultimately operate the aircraft to support the operational tasking.
My family moved from location to location every 2-3 years; some 13 stations in total. Each time I was learning new skills and expanding my horizons. I completed two 3-year tours in West Germany as an active member during the Cold War. We worked hard, played harder and were under no illusions that we, and our families, were under threat if the USSR attacked mainland Europe. I mostly worked directly with fighter aircraft on front-line squadrons but also built and tested aircraft jet engines.
I also worked in England, Wales, and Kuwait on secondment as a part of the Kuwait Liaison Team due to my specific Hawk aircraft and engine knowledge. This sunshine tour was abruptly and catastrophically cut short by Saddam Hussain’s invasion of the Kingdom. I travelled around the world on detachments with the RAF and was lucky enough to fly, as a passenger, in many fast jets and other aircraft types over the years, the ultimate being a trip in a T5 Lightning from RAF Binbrook in 1984 where I joined the 1000MPH club low level over the North Sea before zoom climbing from 1,500 feet (at Mach 1.5) to 42,000 feet.
In the RAF training world, I became a ‘Train the Trainer’ Instructor. This entailed giving a new generation of Tri-Service Instructors an in-depth knowledge of delivery techniques. It was both extremely challenging and equally rewarding. I was then re-posted to RAF Waddington and managed the technical maintenance school for the Sentry (AWAC) surveillance aircraft. In 2005 the Sentry maintenance contract was civilianised and that included the training element. I was offered, and accepted, the role of Training Manager with BAE Systems (as a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman in their role as the contract prime). In 2017 BAE Systems left the contract and I was offered a TUPE transfer to Northrop Grumman. This role came to an end in late 2019 and I took a 2-year, fixed-term, role in contract monitoring, supporting all aircraft flying from RAF Waddington in their Force headquarters. In early 2022, the Ministry of Defence financial leads in London refused an extension on cost grounds and after some 46 years, I found myself no longer active in or supporting, the RAF.
For many veterans, this is a point in their life when they struggle to come to terms with what’s next for them. After so many years in the forces bubble, the civilian world can be challenging and confusing. What steps did you take?
I gulped (hard), took breath, took stock and extensively updated my CV. This I forwarded to several recruitment specialists. One of the returns ‘matching my profile’ was for a Trainee Project Planner with Waldeck. I applied for the role, had an interview with Tim Leach and Will Green and was offered the job in fairly short order. I was flattered, pleased and determined to do a good job.
How have you found the transition into your new role?
Interesting, very challenging, dynamic, and exciting. Utterly terrifying in one respect until you realise you have the skills to overcome the challenges: one at a time with guidance and support.
What does your day-to-day role entail?
At this moment in time: learning. Lots of it! I am new to the industry, new to the role, new to the main software I use in my primary role and new to a pure civilian environment. Some 10 months in and I have found my feet and know my way around most of the systems. I am still learning something new every day and I genuinely look forward to coming to work.
I currently maintain the P6 project planning tool to allow Directors, Associate Directors and Project Managers to have a holistic and detailed view of current, future and completed projects. This will include resource loading for Waldeck C&S personnel and direct liaison with Morson planning staff for information sharing. I’m responsible for supporting the accurate input of data into the PQL, a high-level project tracker, and the production of a Microsoft Power BI dashboard for Director use.
What advice would you give to someone looking to leave the forces and continue their career in a civilian role?
Be brave. Don’t hide your light under a bushel. You have hard-earned experience. You possess many transferable skills, talents, successes and ideas.‘Transferable skills’ is an oft-bandied-around term. Remember this: You have ‘stuff’ that the industry needs and/or wants. You may not know it. You may not realise it. But you do. Without being arrogant, firmly look someone in the eyes and politely informs them so. If you are of a more mature disposition look at any role interview as a professional meeting; though do carry out meticulous preparation. Talk to peers and superiors, and use the internet (though this advice comes with the normal internet caveat… there is lots of duff gen online!). Don’t try and be an expert or you run the risk of falling flat on your face at the interview but do relate anything of relevance back to your own experience whilst serving in the forces.
What’s next for you?
To learn my job fully and continue as an active, integral, and proficient team member. I’m currently working with the management team to fully understand the processes and procedures used by the company, with a view to driving efficiencies to further enhance project support and thereby realising maximum profit. And, of course, to continue to have fun.
Morson Forces are Morson Group’s dedicated recruitment arm focused on securing skilled employment for ex-forces personnel, supporting the transition into civilian life and advising businesses on how service leavers can enhance their organisation. As a Ministry of Defence Gold Award holder, we have in excess of 2,500 ex-forces personnel and their partners from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, working across projects in the UK and overseas.
James Baillie works for Waldeck as a Revit and CAD technician within building services. His career journey originally took him down a very different route, with a stint playing as a professional footballer for Crewe Alexandra.
As part of our Pathfinders series, which highlights the career path of individuals across many sectors and industries, we spoke to James about his unusual route into engineering for National Careers Week 2023
Talk to us about your early years.
I did P.E, GCSE, maths and science and business. Throughout my whole life growing up I’ve always played football so I’d probably say that was all I knew from an early age. I’d say I wanted to be a professional footballer from an early age, about seven. I got picked up from Man United and Crewe Alexandra and at the age of nine I had to choose one of them. So, I chose United, stayed there for 14 years, and then went back to Crewe at under-16s level. I was offered a scholarship there and then was offered a three-year pro contract.
How do you think playing football from such an early age shaped your future career?
From an early age, it structured me to be quite professional, and so I’d say that side of it. I’ve always been dedicated to football. I’d say working as a team and getting to know the team and problem-solving. It’s a different type, but we face it every day and I think that side of it I’ve taken into my new role.
At one point in your career, you suffered the setback of a broken leg. Did you think your career as a player might be over and what did you do during the time that you were out injured?
Initially, I was obviously gutted. I had to have a second operation on my ankle. I was a bit wary that I’d been out 12 months and I was a bit worried that it’d take a lot longer to get back playing, but not that my career was completely officially over, rather just a retired, semi-pro footballer. In the time off, I just focused on getting a job.
When did you start thinking about a career outside of football?
It was when I was just coming out of non-league football, full-time football to non-league, I was focused on getting into a career and earning a bit of money on the side as well. So I said, okay, I’m out of full-time football, so I’ll go in and see what else I enjoy. From an early age I’ve been quite creative, from school, I covered a few lessons on AutoCAD. So, I went into the local offices nearby and it just went in and said, “can I kind of learn AutoCAD and just get a feel for it?” And in the end, they offered me a job. Now, I’ve moved to Waldeck Consulting as a CAD technician.
What does the future look like for you with the company?
I’m studying mechanical engineering. It’s the mechanical and electrical side, it’s building services. Anything above a ceiling, below the floor and pipework, ventilation. It’s more the design side and I use it as a big jigsaw. It’s kind of puzzling pieces together to make your system work. So I think that side of it I quite enjoy. I’m studying mechanical engineering as well, a day release at college.
So I’d probably say working up to being a chartered engineer and working my way up the business, doing it that way is what my future holds.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been fined £86.5 million for IR35 non-compliance with HMRC.
DEFRA are the latest government department to be fined, despite having used HMRC’s own Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool. The news is another blow to the credibility of the tool, but what’s the alternative to CEST?
The DEFRA tax bill is higher than expected and raises further concerns about the accuracy of CEST
The Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has paid a total of £86.5m in backdated taxes to HMRC, after a lengthy investigation into historic cases of IR35 non-compliance.
Defra was found to have been non-compliant between April 2017 – the year that IR35 reform was implemented in the public sector – and March 2022.
The total tax bill for non-compliance equates to around £16m annually for five years, excluding the £4m interest due. The sum is higher than the £63.2m that the department expected to receive, which it set out in its annual accounts for 2021/22.
In the Defra case, non-compliance was primarily due to the use of the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool, which the body relied on when determining the IR35 status of contractors.
Other government departments – including the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – have also been subject to investigations for IR35 non-compliance. The IR35 bills issued to government departments collectively amount to more than £250m.
Highlighting issues with the tool, the review found that:
“Some questions within CEST were difficult to interpret correctly, and the guidance was long, too general in scope and not integrated into CEST itself”.
The review also questioned the extent of non-compliance across central government, “considering government departments should be in a good place to understand the rules and communicate with HMRC”.
What’s the alternative to CEST?
We understand that you may have used CEST to make your own assessments under The Off-Payroll Working rules and might be worried about their accuracy. The DEFRA case demonstrates that IR35 rules are extremely difficult to comply with. You may be considering an alternative assessment tool to offer a more robust approach or ways to insure against the risk of an HMRC challenge.
At Morson, our team of experts, with a combined 40 years of experience, have supported private and public sector organisations to comply with IR35 legislation since it was introduced in 2000.
It is crucial that end clients understand their full end-to-end contingent labour supply chain including how their LTD and PAYE direct and PAYE umbrella workers are engaged and paid on an ongoing basis. Our IR35 MOT service supports organisations that are uncertain as to whether their IR35 determinations are correct to avoid financial and reputational risks associated with not meeting IR35 regulations.
A review of tools used during determinations of incumbent contractors
A review of existing SDS determinations
A review of users’ BAU processes
Agency Worker Regulations considerations
Analysis of policies and procedures to identify any outstanding risks and potential for improvements to operations
Use of Morson’s market intelligence tools and approved PSL of suppliers who are all FCSA accredited or professional passport approved
Our IR35 MOT service ensures contractors have been assessed individually and is fully insurable against the outcome using tools which are reviewed by employment law experts, not just algorithms like alternative tools available such as CEST.
Whether your contractor workforce is vast or tiny, we want to help clients avoid the potential mistakes that might be incurred by business’ individual practices, and offer them total confidence that despite IR35, there won’t be any hurdles in being able to access and utilise contingent labour.
If you are concerned about your IR35 systems or processes we’re on hand to help. Get in touch with James Millward, head of integrated services for more information james.millward@morson.com
Morson has celebrated another milestone in delivering our vision for developing future generations of STEM talent (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths), with the official opening of a new IntoUniversity Salfordlearning centre.
The facility, located in The Beacon Centre, is a collaboration between the University of Salford, The University of Manchester, and national education charity IntoUniversity. It aims to provide long-term educational support to young people facing disadvantages, who are typically underrepresented in higher education.
Morson’s sponsorship of the new learning centre, as one of a number of donors, builds on our commitment to STEM skills and social mobility. In 2022 we established the Morson STEM Foundation in partnership with the University of Salford, which offers undergraduate scholarships, and power the Morson Maker Space. Located in the University’s new £65 million Science, Engineering & Environment Building, the Morson Maker Space is a STEM centre designed to provide students with opportunities to innovate and gain hands-on experience of the types of equipment used in the workplace.
CEO of Morson Group, Ged Mason OBE explained:
“Our involvement with the new learning centre, through IntoUniversity and the University of Salford, closes the loop when it comes to inspiring and supporting future talent in STEM.
“As a global talent business working with some of the world’s most progressive companies, we know that the workplace of the future will rely on the next generation of STEM talent. All too often, the potential is lost early in the education journey, perhaps because children weren’t switched on to the excitement and variety of STEM subjects, or due to socio-economic factors.”
Working closely with local schools, businesses and universities, IntoUniversity Salford will offer long-term support to young people aged 7-18, helping them to discover their focus, build their capabilities and ultimately have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Support offered at the centre includes after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities. Once established, the centre will support over 1,000 students per year.
Ged continued:
“The new learning centre aims to ensure the potential of Salford’s children is nurtured and prioritised, inspiring them to learn, engage, aspire and achieve. Those principles lie at the heart of both levelling up and addressing the need for a talent pipeline for some of the UK’s most innovative sectors.
“We hope to see the children who access support from the learning centre move through school and on to university. Who knows, the young people that are supported through the learning centre today, may be using the Morson Maker Space and receiving a Gerry Mason or Morson Group Scholarship in the future.”
The launch event of IntoUniversity Salford brought together around 25 students aged 7-18, who will benefit from the centre, their parents and guardians, donors, organisers and local supporters.
Guests were also surprised by a special video message from award-winning comedian and Salford alumnus Peter Kay, who himself had a life-changing experience by going to university to study Media and Performance.
Peter offered some sound advice for students at the centre, telling them:
“There’s a lot on offer at IntoUniversity to help young people achieve their potential and realise ambitions they may have never even considered. For all the children benefitting from the centre, my advice would be to take every opportunity you’re offered. You’re never going to know what will come up in life and you might fall in love with something you’ve never thought of. You’ve got time to explore many new subjects – keep your options open because you never stop learning.”
Salford was found to be the 18th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, according to the Government’s 2019 Index of Multiple Level of Deprivation. Figures suggest around 22% of children in Salford are living in poverty (Greater Manchester Poverty Action, 2022). Pupils facing disadvantage in Salford are now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the time they finish their GCSEs (EPI, 2020), making it a high-priority area for this additional educational support.
The 39 IntoUniversity centres around the country have a strong track record of improving outcomes for young people in England. 66% of school leavers who attended IntoUniversity centres in 2021 went on to progress to university, compared with 26.6% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.
Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Salford, said:
“As a university, we have a strong track record in the area of widening participation and are motivated to helping students realise their full potential. We are proud to make a major contribution to providing access to higher education across Salford, the North West and nationally.
Dr Maria Stukoff, Maker Space Director from the University of Salford added:
“We are proud to take an active role in addressing STEM skill shortages by working in partnership with Morson to inspire young people to consider a future career in STEM by learning real-world digital fabrication skills in their studies. Our motto, Make in Salford, is a creative call to action for inspiring engineers of the future to realise they can succeed in STEM fields. With the opening of the new learning centre, we can now support IntoUniversity to engage with our local young people in a safe environment for exploring digital tools and engineering skills to fuel their passion for engineering, and prepare them to develop big ideas for the future.”
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said:
“University education is a transformative experience for individuals, and for the prosperity of our local communities, so we are really enthusiastic about this new partnership with IntoUniversity Salford. It adds to the existing IntoUniversity centre we support in North Manchester, which has already supported more than 2,500 students with their academic work since autumn 2018. I’m very grateful to the staff, students and donors who have helped make the Salford centre happen and who will ensure its ongoing success.”
Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said:
“We are delighted to have officially launched this centre in Salford Central, building on our existing work in the Greater Manchester area. The young people of Salford have so much to offer, but circumstances can mean they don’t get the same opportunities as other young people to reach their potential. We’re delighted that through this unique collaboration between local universities, we can provide many young people in the area with the support they need to succeed. We’re looking forward to continuing to build partnerships with schools and families in the local community and supporting students to achieve their ambitions.”
IntoUniversity is an Education Charity Registered Charity Number 1118525 (England and Wales) and SC049776 (Scotland) which runs local learning centres that are inclusive of all academic abilities and help young people to achieve a university place or another positive destination.
IntoUniversity currently runs 39 centres in many of the poorest neighbourhoods across England and Scotland. IntoUniversity centres have a strong track record of improving outcomes for young people in England. In 2021, 66% of IntoUniversity students secured a university place compared with 26.6% of school leavers from similar backgrounds. www.intouniversity.org
