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Counterfeiting in the electrical and electronic systems supply chain is now a fact of life that affects all companies, probably whether they know it not, and the nature of the threat is changing, with a wide range of old and new technologies being counterfeited and supplied from a wide range of sources. The ongoing component manufacturer consolidations may only exacerbate the problem as product ranges are rationalised and made obsolete. Fortunately, action to counter the threat is also evolving with new best practice and solutions developing all the time.

This seminar will build on our previous seminars to provide an update of the work being undertaken by various groups to combat the threat of counterfeiting in the supply chain with presentations from many leading domain experts. You will be able to hear about current trends and new developments in combating counterfeits in the supply chain and, whether you are concerned and keen to learn more or already experienced in counterfeit mitigation practices, we are sure you find this seminar valuable.

This annual seminar, organised by ESCO, the organisation managing the Anti Counterfeiting Forum website, will be held at 1VS Conference Centre in central London. The seminar is scheduled to run from 10.00 am to 3.30 pm with breaks for refreshments and a buffet lunch.

Feedback from delegates at our previous counterfeit awareness seminars has been consistently positive and interest in our next seminar is already very high so only booking is strongly recommended.

We already have a strong line up of speakers so delegates can be assured that the seminar should be a very good investment in time in terms of gaining valuable knowledge of current trends and best practice on this topic. Presentations confirmed so far will provide information on:

• Work being undertaken in the supply chain to combat counterfeits
• Case studies on how to create and maintain a counterfeit management plan
• An update on International standards for the management of counterfeits in the supply chain and independent accreditation
• Other best practice to help reduce the risk of counterfeits infiltrating your business
• How law enforcement and direct action against counterfeiters is helping to reduce the threat of counterfeits in the supply chain
• Recent major trends in counterfeiting and counterfeit avoidance and an overview of how to access further information, much of it free of charge.

There will be plenty of opportunity for delegates to raise questions, participate in a discussion forum and interact with our speakers during the day.

For further details, please click on the following links:

7th ESCO Counterfeit Awareness Seminar flyer v1

ESCO 7th Counterfeit Awareness Seminar - Draft Agenda v1

To book online using a credit card, please click here.

The next counterfeit awareness seminar will held at the BIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1 on Wednesday 16th March.

We are currently working on the agenda and a number of key presenters have already kindly agreed to talk on various aspects of this critical topic. You will be able to hear about current trends and new developments in combating counterfeits in the supply chain and, whether you are concerned and keen to learn more or a domain expert, we are sure you find it a productive day.

Please reserve the date in your diary and tell colleagues about the seminar too if appropriate. Further details and online booking will be announced in early January.

ESCO is pleased to announce that Sean Redmond has been appointed as ESCO Council Vice Chairman.

Sean is CEO of Vertizan and has a proven track record of creating, driving and growing sustainable, profitable technology businesses. Vertizan has developed a revolutionary software test automation tool used in high integrity and automotive safety-critical software, IoT networks and is now entering the growing world of app testing.

Brian Holliday, ESCO Council Chairman and Managing Director - Digital Factory at Siemens plc, said: ‘I am delighted that Sean has agreed to join the Council bringing with him his experience of electronic systems and software design. With his Government engagement experience he will make a significant contribution to our work, building a successful UK electronics industry which enables so many areas of modern technology and commerce.

Sean Redmond noted: ‘I have worked with a number of ESCO Council members previously and I am very much looking forward to working with all of the ESCO team to create the platform for further growth in the UK electronic and electrical systems industry, especially among the SME community.’

Peter Brooks, ESCO CEO commented: ‘I am delighted that Sean has been able to join the ESCO Council and his wealth of experience will help us to ensure that we take account of the specific needs and concerns of the SME business community as we move ahead’.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Business and Innovation, told guests at ESCO’s Industry Dinner on Wednesday that the Government had three priorities when it came to the electronics industry. “We are supporting investment, promoting the fact that the UK has leading edge disruptive and emerging technologies and making the UK the best place in the world to invest and start a business.”

You can read more by clicking here

ESCO is delighted that Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister for Intellectual Property, will be our guest speaker at our next industry dinner sponsored by Imagination Technologies, which is to be held in the Lecture Hall at RICS at Parliament Square on Wednesday 2^nd December.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe is the Minister with lead responsibility for the electrical and electronics sectors, which continue to shape the modern economy and underpin developments addressing the major societal challenges of our time including energy, health, manufacturing and transport.

Feedback received from those who have attended our previous industry dinners has been universally positive and so we are especially pleased to be able to announce a further industry dinner to be attended by such a distinguished guest speaker.

As the capacity of the Lecture Hall is limited to 70, this event is very likely to sell out so early booking is strongly advised. For further information, please go to ESCO industry dinner december 2015 flyer FINAL

For further information and to reserve your place at the dinner, please click here

Business regulation can sometimes seem to be a necessary evil in today’s fiercely competitive business environment and the amount of regulation and the rate of change can often seem bewildering.

The Electrotechnical Regulatory Group (ERG), a cross Government department / industry forum, which has been established since 2007 to monitor, share information on and address regulatory issues affecting the UK electronic and electrical supply chains, is pleased to organise this seminar to share information regarding regulations affecting those communities to a wider audience.

All company owners and managers concerned with implementing and managing regulations as part of their business activity within the electronic and electrical supply chains will find this seminar valuable.

The seminar, to be held at the 1VS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1, is scheduled to run from 10.15am to 3.30pm with breaks for refreshments and a buffet lunch and will include presentations providing information:

• On the work of the ERG, the British Electrotechnical Committee and the Business Regulation Delivery Office in managing and addressing regulatory issues affecting the electronic and electrical supply chains and how business leaders can tap into that work for their benefit of their businesses
• From business leaders from various key parts of the supply chain to hear about the major issues that impact them and how they address them.

There will be plenty of opportunity for delegates to raise questions, participate in a discussion forum and interact with our speakers during the day.

To reserve your place at this important seminar, please click here

For further information and/or a copy of the draft agenda, please contact us or click here

It’s 10 years since the Electronics Innovation and Growth Team published its report on the future of the UK’s electronics sector, concluding the industry was fragmented, lacking in confidence and essentially invisible.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and the world is a much different place. We have seen the establishment of the Electronics Leadership Council and its demise, the establishment of the UK Electronics Alliance and, more recently, its replacement by the Electronics Systems Community, or ESCO.

ESCO was launched with a flourish two years ago, with a report – ‘A Blueprint for Economic Growth’ – based on extensive research into a number of areas. The report pointed out the value of electronics to the UK’s economy; not just in numbers, but also in terms of its pervasiveness.

To read more, click here here

To see Ian Phillip’s video presentation of the latest ESCO analysis, click here

To see the full analysis, go to ESCO Economic Calculations 14 vs 12 6 july 2015

ESCO is making good progress with its seven year plan to boost the contribution of the electronics industry to the UK’s GDP.

According to figures produced by the organisation, the number of people employed within the electronic systems sector has exceeded 1million – 3.28% of the working population – while the contribution to GDP has risen to almost £100billion. In its clarion call report, published in 2013, ESCO targeted 1m people being employed in the sector and a GDP contribution of £120bn by 2020.

To read more, click here

To see Ian Phillip’s video presentation of the latest ESCO analysis, click here

To see the full analysis, go to ESCO Economic Calculations 14 vs 12 6 july 2015

Stewart Edmondson has joined the UK Electronic Skills Foundation (UKESF) as its first CEO yesterday, Monday 22nd June.

Stewart replaces Wendy Daniell who is now retiring and who has been an important driving force in developing UKESF from inception to the successful, well-regarded programme it has become.

As the new CEO, Stewart’s role will be in expanding the scope and scale of UKESF to play a transformational role in the UK electronic systems industry’s skills landscape.

Stewart joins the UKESF with a well-grounded appreciation of engineering skills gained from an excellent technical background and senior management experience. He served 24 years as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Air Force, specialising in operational communications-electronics systems prior to assuming senior positions responsible for ICT policy and training, maintenance regulations and information management. Subsequently, he has worked at QinetiQ before undertaking executive roles in HR Services at Xchanging and then BAE Systems with a focus on early careers programmes.

For more informstion about the UKESF, please click here