Master Cutler’s attack on ‘bonkers’ policy

Speaking at a media lunch yesterday, Bill Speirs said the manufacturing industries of South Yorkshire want to grow and create wealth but would rather become more efficient than take on lots of extra staff.

And those people who are hired will need to be expert in skills such as computer-aided design programming rather than machine operating as companies are becoming more advanced to stay ahead of global competition.

“It will concentrate the minds of the educational establishment to be able to continue to train people,” added Prof Speirs.

He urged a shake-up at Sheffield City Council to make it more aligned to the needs of business, particularly with inward investment opportunities, and said that the planning process should be streamlined.

“If we don’t, we will shoot ourselves in the foot,” said Prof Speirs. “There’s the will at the top to make it happen and I’m sure it will work its way through.”

Colonel George Kilburn, clerk to the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, added: “There’s an institutional reluctance to the change that’s been forced upon us by the economic situation.”

Prof Speirs admitted surprise at the influence held by the year-long office of Master Cutler and said the role can act as a unifying force to bring together business, local authorities, universities, chambers of commerce and the local enterprise partnership in the Sheffield city region. He said talks are ongoing to raise public funds to market the city and its enterprise zone at a national and international level.

The next Master Cutler, Pam Liversidge, is the first female to be appointed in the four centuries since the Company was founded.

Prof Speirs described the engineer’s appointment as “an amazing and wonderful thing”.