On the front line
Bridging the skills gap
The UK is undergoing a series of rapid technological shifts in order to meet its connectivity and decarbonisation goals, from the transition to electric and automated vehicles, to Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things. The future workforce requires a variety of new skills if the UK economy is to continue expanding in the longer term, particularly in EV repair and maintenance, systems diagnosis, AI, and robotics, and not just this- we must understand how AI, robotics, and software, all interlink and the opportunities that this can create. This involves not only reskilling existing workers, but also training new ones.
It is because of these external factors that the Bosch UK STEM Ambassadors programme was relaunched this year, enabling us to support the government drive to increase the number of students taking up STEM careers in the future. Led by the corporate communications team and supported by many across our UK businesses, we spoke to Barrie Flemming who works with the Corporate Communications team to develop this concept as part of Bosch UK’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.
Can you tell us about your time at Bosch before moving onto Bosch Management System (BMS)?
I’ve worked for Bosch for 18 years, 6 years in Automotive Aftercare and 12 years in Bosch Mobility Solutions. I joined Bosch in 2003, as Marketing Product Manager for Workshop Test Equipment. I remained in this role until the end of 2008, when I moved to the then Sales Original Equipment (SOE) team as a Senior Sales Engineer.
What sparked your interest in engineering?
I left school at 16 years old in 1978 and went straight into an apprenticeship in Mechanical and Production Engineering for the British vehicle component manufacturer, Lucas CAV Ltd.
Whilst at school, I recognised that I had a strong leaning to practical hands-on topics. My favourite lessons were the traditional craft lessons like metalwork, woodwork, and technical drawing.
I developed an early interest in all things cars. I remember the thrill in 1979, as a 17 year old, of getting my very first car (a 1967 Triumph Herald). I think I must have undone every nut and bolt on that car over the time I owned it- not because it needed it, but because it was just my inquisitive nature to see how it all worked. The nuts and bolts didn’t always go back together as they should have, I learnt that the hard way!
That passion has stayed with me as my entire working life has been in the Automotive industry, mostly within the Aftermarket. Even today, my primary hobby is still undoing nuts and bolts on old cars, and thankfully over the years I’ve got a bit better at putting them back together correctly!
It sounds like the best way to get an understanding of automotive technology is to get under the bonnet! Can you tell us more?
I have owned my 1976 Rover P6 3500S for nearly 40 years, having bought it in 1984. Having restored it in the early 2000’s, it is my pride and joy. After building a garage to enable me to indulge in my interests further, I took on the challenge in 2010 to build a ‘kit car’. It is a replica of a 1950’s MG TF, based on the chassis, engine, and mechanics of a 1967 Triumph Vitesse and it won awards at a couple of car shows in 2019, but I got more enjoyment out of building the car than I did in actually driving it, so I sold it during the COVID lockdown!
My long-term goal was to own and restore a car from the 1930’s. There is something quite evocative to me about this era of the automotive history- an era of optimism and of pioneering ingenuity and design- so I purchased a 1934 Rover in need of a complete restoration. This will keep me busy for the next few years, since it requires a wide range of skills from standard mechanical restorations, woodworking, (the body is a wooden frame made from Ash, with an aluminium skin), aluminium and steel fabrication and classic old school coach trimming, together with many hours of trudging round autojumbles and internet searching, seeking for that rare elusive part.
Following early retirement, you are working on the Bosch Management Support (BMS) scheme with the Corporate Communications team leading the STEM Ambassador Programme. Why did you take the project on, and can you tell us a bit more about it?
I’m too young to stop working and go into full retirement. I want to continue to contribute in some way and I do truly believe that it’s vital for young people to be made aware of the sheer diversity of job opportunities within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Let’s face it- most teenagers don’t really know what they want to do career wise, and therefore need a wide range of work experience to make the best choice for their future.
I volunteered to be a STEM ambassador in 2018, helping out on a STEM project close to Denham. Now, I am working to reignite the STEM Ambassadors community at Bosch UK.
We’ve made lots of progress in recent months and with continued engagement from Bosch STEM ambassadors and support from the business, we can keep growing our offering to local communities across and beyond Bosch UK sites.