PLEASE let me introduce you to three Scottish engineers who will write this column for the next few months. With more than a century of industrial experience, we have Dick Winchester (oil); John Proctor (gas), and Simon Forrest (renewables).
We will be discussing topics relating to energy, manufacturing and industrial strategy, including the economic issues that impact the businesses and the people of Scotland.
We will take a robust look at why the cradle of the Industrial Revolution has failed so badly in recent decades. In my lifetime, we will have squandered two generational enhancing opportunities – coal, and oil and gas. We are also on track to miss out on the biggest opportunity of all – renewables.
We will examine the challenges we face, offer insight into the bounty of opportunities that lie before us, and explore different solutions to help restore the pre-eminent position we once had in industry. A pre-eminence that many of our small nation neighbours now hold.
READ MORE: Here's how to subscribe to The National for £10 pounds
I am aware of only two engineers at Holyrood and a small handful at the Westminster elected parliament. Certainly, there has been no significant engineering or industrial presence in either of the Cabinets – and it shows. As it stands, both the UK and Scottish governments lack any coherent industrial strategy.
We are not aware of any other column in the UK mainstream media written by engineers. Not one mainstream publication gives regular space or credence to a profession that can change the wealth, health and fortunes of our country through innovation, industrial strategy and a mindset that gets things done.
The Catalyst to Speak Up
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” – Martin Luther King Jr
The reasons for speaking up have been long in the making, the motivation simmering, but the catalyst for this column is the closure of Grangemouth.
The UK has six refineries, one of them in Scotland. Ninety-seven per cent of UK oil production is in Scotland. Scotland is the second biggest oil producer in Europe, after Norway. From next year, when Grangemouth closes, Scotland will be dependant on other countries for all its oil needs. We will have to import all our oil products at higher cost – with Scotland’s loss of jobs and GDP being our neighbour’s gain.
As Scotland’s refining capacity is wiped out, massive government and corporate investment is being made in refining capacity in England and overseas, to refine Scottish oil! Wealth bypasses Scots. This is an abomination and is repeated time and time again across Scotland’s extractive industrial landscape.
In such a resource-rich country, the wealth is not dealt with by Scottish companies, it bypasses our communities, and it certainly never goes near our housing schemes which are still plagued with unemployment, poor housing and diminishing life expectancy.
Our extractive economy makes us poorer, unhealthier, and strips our children of hope and future prosperity. Other populations would be burning down palaces and government buildings, but not here in Scotland. We barely hear a whimper from our politicians.
This is an issue that should enrage. It should cut across the political spectrum left and right; nationalist and Unionist; young and old. Every politician and party has failed to stand up for Scottish industry and they look hapless when discussing industrial strategy.
They should be ashamed of the hole they have driven us into. They have failed our children. Fifty years of one of the world’s greatest ever resource finds, North Sea oil, and Scotland has nothing to show for it except poor health, poor infrastructure and a nation lacking in confidence.
Time and time again, for decades, we have missed out, lost out or been conned out of prosperity for our children. By raising these issues and suggesting different solutions, we hope to start a conversation, raise awareness and engage, such that our politicians, civil service and business community finally stir and grasp the industrial opportunities for our children. If we don’t fix this, yet another generation will be lost.
State of Play
“The road to success is always under construction” – Lily Tomlin
For the past five decades, we have watched transformational wealth bypass Scotland. Short-termism, de-industrialisation and centralising governments both in London and Edinburgh are causing our communities and society to atrophy. Scotland has borders with six countries – Norway, Denmark (Faroes), Ireland, Northern Ireland (TBC), Isle of Man and England. All are thriving except England. We are being outperformed by all our independent neighbours. Why?
Challenges
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity” – attributed to Albert Einstein.
The challenges we face are not just political, economic and industrial, they are cultural. We have a lack of cultural confidence to step up and fight for industries – both domestically and internationally.
Buisness leaders fail to speak up for Scotland time and time again, fearing they get “labelled”, contracts withdrawn, or promotion blocked.
READ MORE: UK Government 'can't guarantee new job for every Grangemouth worker'
Important issues are not debated. Tactics to stifle legitimate debate are used by Unionists and nationalists alike – think how biased the mainstream media and the BBC are in their reporting. Consider how the Scottish Government responded to any criticism of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. We need to get past this.
In the country of invention and the Enlightenment, rigorous examination has been suppressed, a dark cloud of apprehension hangs over institutions and debate has been diminished. Screw that. We are so much better than this. Our children deserve better.
Opportunities and Solutions
“There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen” – Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Personally, I am optimistic about our future. Do not despair. Look at the fundamentals.
We still hold the ace cards – a well-educated population, abundant natural resources, borders with six countries and the world’s largest single market on our doorstep.
The opportunities and solutions for success are plentiful. Here are just a few:
Renewables: Create entire green industries built on our abundant, cheap, green energy (ie green fuel and fertiliser, green agriculture, green whisky, green data, etc).
Hydrogen: Become a global hydrogen hub, sell to Europe and further afield.
Industrial Strategy: Capture the complete value chain opportunity – build supply chains here and gain the stacked benefits of jobs and wealth of a properly thought-through industrial strategy.
In-Country Value: Insist on a minimum 40-60% domestic supply chain spend for all government and infrastructure projects.
National Champions: Believe in our own companies as well as pursuing inward investment.
Jobs And Skills: Re-align apprenticeships, universities and colleges for the opportunities ahead.
Access To Capital: Re-open our Stock Exchange (Euronext is shovel-ready and plugs us straight into European money).
The Long Game: Ditch Thatcherite short-termism and quick-buck economics. Make the cultural shift to build for the long term.
These are all within our grasp and entirely within our capabilities with a little skill and some conviction. The bottom line is this: The prosperity we want for our children does not happen unless we sort out our economy with reform, a cultural shift and a proper industrial strategy.
Imagine speaking with a young Scot 30 years from now and they ask: “Why, having one of the world’s best renewable energy resources, have we nothing to show for it?”
What must we do now to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself? We will discuss this and much more in the coming months and hope to stimulate debate, plant ideas, and nourish a quiet confidence.
“The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds” – Theo Jansen
To fix things, first it is essential to admit that we have a problem.
Only then can we start creating solutions, strategies and plans that will succeed. With the absurd closure of Grangemouth, let’s take a poetic look at Scottish industry, and say no more “Scotland, No More”.
A Lament for Scottish Industry
Grief after a pathetic surrender,
Redundancy, poverty - jobs lost without a trace,
A cornerstone of community and prosperity – gone!
No fight, no hope, no grace.
Grangemouth gone - like silicon, coal and steel,
Engineering, it’s for the past,
More retail parks, more tax-free zones,
Our kids’ futures pawned, hope crushed, a people outcast.
Under invested, asset stripped,
The cruel instruments we know so well,
How limp politicians have grifted, cashed in, been complicit:
No conviction, no strategy, no plan for this post-industrial hell.
Oil and energy capital,
Misnomer in the extreme,
Other nations laugh with pity,
“Romantic losers without self-esteem”.
Extreme riches extracted,
Spango Valley, Ravenscraig and Clair,
Conned by Lords, Dames and Knights of the realm,
Renewables, our tool to escape this cruel political snare.
Energy is perpetual,
Wealth and opportunity evermore,
Enduring legacies for generations, if we grasp it,
Defiant judgement - no more “Scotland, no more”.
Banish the spivs, Sir Ians and short-termism,
Yoke not to lap Jocks and regal offenders,
Unite, believe in ourselves, rebuild better,
Know our riches; be quietly confident; and never, ever surrender.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here