More than 1100 people now work for companies with a combined turnover of £202m specialising in electrical engineering and based around Morecambe Bay.
At the second annual conference of the Electech Innovation Cluster a record turnout of around 170 heard how the area is thriving.
Over the last 12 months the 37 members of the group reported a five per cent increase in staff while 2,150 students are studying technical courses that are relevant to the industry.
“We’re talking to businesses and encouraging them to take on the talent that there is finally now a surplus of,” Chris Mayne, managing director of Teleplan Forsberg said in his keynote speech to delegates.
“We’ve gone from zero to now having 177 students learning electronics thanks to the brilliant work by colleges to bring electronics into their curriculum.”
At last year’s event ‘lab link’, an initiative which encourages businesses to add their specialist facilities to a directory so others could apply to use them, was launched.
The aim is to enable businesses who may need short term or short notice access to equipment during product development to be able to use nearby facilities.
Lancaster-based OTAQ are developing a subsea leak-detection system and were looking for a large optical test facility.
Ulverston-based Oxley Group have a 10metre-long dark room and the pair were able to collaborate.
Lablink also strengthens ties with the area’s two universities allowing business and academia to work together. In the first year the idea has paid off with Siemens Energy, Oxley Group and Lancaster and Morecambe College supporting the idea.
Closer ties with other sectors – defence, robotics, nuclear and aviation – are also being explored.
Lancaster City Council is to be asked to support the development of a specialist electronics workshop in Moor Mills which it is hoped could be used as a test bed for technology.
Early next month The Storey in Lancaster will host a STEM event similar to ones already held in Ulverston and Barrow. The initiative by Lancaster University has been praised as a way of encouraging more people to consider electronics as a career.
Yet communication about the best way SMEs can access the range of skills training available could still be improved according to panel members drawn from across education.
Kerry Harrison, partnership lead with Lancashire Digital Skills, spoke of the need to balance the time needed to recruit and train new talent with the training courses on offer.
“As a cluster you are powerful and by working with further education we can help achieve what you need for your business,” Sarah Hall, director of business at Blackpool and Fylde College which is poised to take over Furness College in Barrow.
“We’re looking ahead to delivering degree apprenticeships,” Prof Phil Leigh, the University of Cumbria’s senior knowledge exchange manager, shared details with delegates ahead of an event next week at the university’s Barrow campus which aims to create closer tie with business in the area.
