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B2Be Different - Engineering your brand for success
Episode 21: Sustainability with Thrive Consulting
I was really excited about speaking to this week’s guest as she was highly recommended by Keri Craig in our first sustainability episode (that’s episode 3). I spoke to Jane Dennyson, founder of Thrive Consulting about how ESG credentials are now baked into tendering requirements, why measurement and evidence are essential to avoid greenwashing accusations, and how sustainability is fundamentally about making businesses more competitive, resilient and successful rather than just a nice to do.
Some more information about legislation Jane mentioned:
1 - UK CBAM will apply to certain carbon-intensive imported goods from 1 January 2027 and aims to create a comparable carbon price, not a general tax on all products.
2- EU CBAM is already in its transitional phase, with the definitive period from 1 January 2026. UK CBAM starts 1 January 2027.
3- The Clean Industry Bonus is specifically tied to fixed and floating offshore wind applicants under CfD allocation rounds. It supports investment in more sustainable supply chains, not simply “use UK suppliers”. Government guidance says applicants can get extra CfD revenue support if they invest in more sustainable supply chains.
4-UK SRS exists now; FCA rules are expected from 1 January 2027 for listed issuers, subject to final FCA policy. It will not apply to every company immediately.
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20. Episode 20 Engineer a Career
27:26||Ep. 20In this episode Samantha spoke to Josh Robertson, founder of Engineer a Career and host of the Engineer a Career podcast, about why he sees the skills gap as a breakdown in the system between sparking the engineering mindset in schools and getting people into industry, why a third of engineering graduates don't work in engineering, and how organisations can build their talent pipeline by engaging with students earlier and showing authentic stories about their people.B2Be DifferentEngineer a CareerThe Engineer a Career podcast
19. Episode 19: the skills gap - what we've learned so far
18:02||Ep. 19In this episode, Samantha shared her research findings on the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing through third-party reports and from all of the expert guests we have spoken to about the skills gap during this series. She also announced our full-day event in Edinburgh on 2nd June in partnership with CeeD to explore collaborative solutions to this critical challenge.CeeD event on the 2nd June in EdinburghLinks to research referenced in this podcast:Scottish Engineering skills reportMake UK Industrial Strategy Skills Commission, Skills for Success: The Reforms Essential to Our Economic FutureBarclays Corporate Banking / The Manufacturer, Now Hiring: Understanding and Tackling the Skills Shortage in UK ManufacturingFabian Society / Youth Futures Foundation / CIPD, Levying Up: How to Make the Growth and Skills Levy Work (August 2025)
18. Episode 18: Ryan McCuaig on the circular ecomony
27:04||Ep. 18In this episode on sustainability in engineering & manufacturing, Samantha spoke to Ryan McCuaig, lead product development engineer at Renewable Parts, about the circular economy. He spoke about how they're remanufacturing wind turbine gearboxes and other critical components, not just keeping them out of skips, but to perform even better than when they were new, getting turbines back online in under a week, and how SMEs are leading the charge on the circular economy across all sectors. Since we recorded this conversation, the team at Renewable Parts have been recognised with the CeeD Circular Economy award for this outstanding work.B2Be DifferentRenewable PartsOrganisations mentioned by Ryan:Ellen MacArthur FoundationZero Waste ScotlandCeeDUniversity of Strathclyde Advanced Research Materials LaboratoryNational Manufacturing Institute of Scotland (NMIS)
Episode 17: Murray Whittaker on apprenticeships
31:16|In this episode about using apprenticeships to fill the skills gap, Samantha spoke to Murray Whittaker from Whittaker Engineering about how apprenticeships are foundational to their business with 35% of their 140-strong workforce homegrown, why the UK needs to be prouder of its engineering heritage, and how they're developing the next generation through open days, hands-on training, and opportunities that take young people around the world while going from cycling to work to buying houses.Whittaker EngineeringB2Be Different
16. Episode 16: Steve's love for engineering & B2B manufacturing
14:54||Ep. 16After Samantha was interviewed by Steve in episode 13, this week it's Samantha’s turn to put Steve of the spot. Steve spoke about his journey from a mechanical and electrical engineering apprenticeship to running a successful creative agency, why he's always loved creativity and the challenge of helping B2B manufacturing and engineering overcome its conservativeness, and the five most important things manufacturing and engineering companies need to consider, including understanding what makes you extraordinary and being brave to stand out.B2Be DifferentEpisode 13, when Steve interviewed Samantha
15. Episode 15 - sustainability with Stephen Hall
17:28||Ep. 15In this episode on sustainability, Samantha spoke with Stephen Hall, Managing Director of Rautomead, about how sustainability has been in their DNA since 1978 when they started their continuous casting equipment business, why their near-net-shape manufacturing and electric furnaces significantly reduce CO2 emissions, how their commitment to sustainability helps them recruit the next generation of talent and how sometimes it’s easy to forget how well you are doing on sustainability when it is your normal.Rautomead's websiteB2Be Different
14. Episode 14 - Jose Hernandez on the Skills Gap
31:07||Ep. 14In this episode on the skills gap in engineering & manufacturing, I spoke with Jose Hernandez from the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland (NMIS) about how they're addressing both the immediate skills gap and the broken talent pipeline, why succession planning is critical as the workforce ages, and how their state-of-the-art facility helps change outdated perceptions of manufacturing to attract the next generationB2Be DifferentNMISJose's LinkedIn
Episode 13 - Samantha's passion for the sector
18:56|This week, the tables were turned on Samantha as she was interviewed by Steve about her journey into marketing for B2B manufacturing and engineering, why she's passionate about the sector, and the five most important things manufacturing and engineering companies need to consider, from employer branding and standing out to avoiding greenwashing and actually doing marketing communications in the first place.B2Be DifferentEpisode 10 - mentioned this week.