Research for a project

[Andrew Davison]

Hi all

I popped in last night and loved it, I'll definitely be joining up. A big thanks to Alistair who showed me around and Rob who I had a good chat with.

I was wondering if some of you may be willing to help me on a work project Im completeing by giving your opinions and thoughts.

I work for DWP and I'm participating in a career development program and as part of it, we've been set a problem and they would like our possible suggestions on how we would solve this. There is very very little chance they would implement our solution but I still want to give the best I can.

Our question was around the shift in the UK labour market especially with technology and what can we do to ensure people have the right qualifications going forwards.

One of the possible solutions Ive so far put forward to my group to reserach is, quite honestly, stolen from MakerSpace. I thought that if these types of facillities were as common as a library and advertised well, that it would help to make technology more accessible and to create more interest in it. I was hoping that if more people are interested in software and hardware that they would then want to study it, gain qualifications and careers in these fields.

We'd love to know how you feel about that idea and if youve had any experiences which prove or disprove it. Ive got thick skin so if you think its an absurd idea and wouldnt work, please tell me.

All the best

Andrew

[David Pye]

Hi, and welcome!

My view on your suggestions are:

The sort of facility you're talking about did exist, as technical colleges.

Lots of them used to teach machining/metalworking/ woodworking etc and would often let people use their facilities in the evening as part of low cost vocational training.

I suspect some places eg Newcastle College(?) might still have the facilities but funding and politics around people having to have full teaching qualifications meant that I don't think many offer these any more.

It's a great shame....

David 

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[Tuga 2112]

Exactly as David said. 

now to add a political spin (and get me kicked) 

this country used to have the means, but then the H&S brigade got hold of the world and it became completely unfeasible to maintain such spaces. 

nobody pays attention to the root cause of the problem. (the lawsuit frenzy after blair took over) which made it a lot safer (financially) to use the spaces to sell cupcakes than operating deadly machinery 

as a result. 
schools stopped doing any engineering classes (both electrical, mechanical, civil etc) because "its too much risk" 
small shops closed because they couldnt upgrade their processes to cope with safety regulations.
theres now a full generation and half of individiuals who not only are ignorant of "how" tech works, but also perfectly happy to stay ignorant with zero desire to learn. 

theres a machining shop down the road from me operated by a 50-60 fella, he's son will inherit the business and instantly sell it. when taught to use a press, he refused to learn to use the machine because "it was missing the guards".... the machine dates back to 1930's  theres no way it will be feasible as a business to replace it ever. 

to bring back the "small enginnering shop" mindset to the country the government would need to both encorage the skills in schools, and ideally at very early ages (6-8 onwards) and make drastic changes to the judicial system so that "i tripped on a patch of oil on the floor and broke my arm" does not escalate to a out of court settlement with 4-5 figures sum 

you can see from a different opinion theres a lot deeper issue to resolve. and even if the DWP wanted to do something, its outside their authority to address these conserns. 

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De: north-ea...@googlegroups.com <north-ea...@googlegroups.com> em nome de David Pye <davi...@gmail.com>
Enviado: 11 de dezembro de 2025 10:15
Para: north-ea...@googlegroups.com <north-ea...@googlegroups.com>
Assunto: Re: [Makers] Research for a project

 

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[Andrew Davison]

Thanks David. 

It seems like red tape could be the downfall to this and similar was mentioned to me last night that government oversight would ruin the creative atmosphere. Instead what was suggested to me was maybe giving more help to support the clubs that want to start up and removing barriers that prevent them from doing so.

[David Pye]

On that note, the biggest thing local govt could do is to assist with this is probably accommodation.

Specifically a recognition that these clubs benefit hugely from city centre type accommodation, and aren't able to afford market rates for it.

Hence we are Makerspace V4, due to the need to move repeatedly...

David 

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[Alistair MacDonald]

Indeed David. Accommodation is our biggest cost and organisational risk. We have been a homeless organisation a couple of times now and we always have to be ready for the next enforced move.

We are not alone in this and there is a constant stream of news stories of clubs and organisations loosing there property for various reasons, and an organisation like us finds it really tricky to find somewhere appropriate. Looking back every time we found a new home it was through random connections, a lot of effort, and a lot of luck.

  Alistair

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[Jason S]

I discovered computing as a teenager in the 1980s years before schools had them. Those who also did this, gave us a career when other industries were closing. I thought the rise of Raspberry Pi and others in 2000s were going to repeat this but I'm not sure if this the case.

Be great to see the upskilling restarted for many.

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[Andrew Davison]

Thank you all for your comments, I really appreciate them.

[David P.]

Just adding my farthingsworth to this bit:

"I thought that if these types of facillities were as common as a library and advertised well, that it would help to make technology more accessible and to create more interest in it. I was hoping that if more people are interested in software and hardware that they would then want to study it, gain qualifications and careers in these fields. "

There's a place, a library in fact, called Gateshead Central LIbrary. Where there were, and maybe still are, a substantial laster cutting machine, several 3D printers, cutters, presses and the like. (Epilog Helix 40W laser cutter, Prusa 3D Printers, Sawgrass Virtuoso A3 sublimation printer, Stahl Clam Heat Press, Cricut Maker Digital Cutters, Cricut Hat Press, Roland BN-20 Printer/Cutter, Mug Press, Janome Atalier 9 Sewing Machine, Janome DC360 Sewing Machines.) This collection of machines was/is operated under a scheme called - wait for it - Maker Place, at no cost to the user (well, you may have to buy the birch ply or the stencil, etc).

 I've been there, tried it, and joined Makerspace instead. Why? Some people will call it bureaucratic hurdles. I call it lack of supporting resources & budgets, such as trained staff, accessible opening hours, and the operational latitude necessary to accommodate people of all sorts. As I recall, there is ONE licensed copy of desktop software suited to producing the numerical files needed to use the printers, laster etc. That copy resides on the project custodian's laptop, and must be booked in advance (two weeks, IIRC) and vetted. Not at all amenable to drop-in sessions, nor even to any sort of routine sessions.

So if someone were to provide GCL with a pile of money to help them overcome these barriers, I am pretty sure they'd leap at the chance. 

To wit: private clubs like Makerspace can and do get by on a shoestring. A frayed shoestring even. A project of the same sort supported by an institution with statutory obligations becomes a matter of statutory funding. My inclination is to think that a statutory organisation like the DWP can, and maybe should, be involved in setting up longer-term, properly-resourced schemes, the way LANTRA does for ag schools. With that in mind, I vaguely recall that the Jobcentre have supported quasi-apprenticeship training schemes through 3rd-party charitable organisations. School-leavers, ex-offenders, OAPs, can get qualifications by attending loosely structured 'courses' via organisations like Men's Sheds. Maybe Makerspace could a) receive funding for such a thing, and b) get support for the administrative headache that comes with it. 

There's quite a bit more to say on this sort ofundertaking, but I think I've said enough to convey the gist. 

It's nice to see the initiative. I'd be glad to hear what comes of it. 

David OtherP