British Gear Association
To keep its members up-to-date with the latest developments the BGA runs regular seminars that are delivered by Newcastle University's School of Engineering.
The British Gear Association (BGA) is a trade association. It supports and promotes the power transmissions industry in the UK. Its members include gear manufacturers and suppliers, distributors and academics.
As well as being at the forefront of the latest research, the BGA plays a pivotal role in setting industry standards. It represents the UK on International Standard committees.
Its mission is to drive change and continually push forward new ideas. This means keeping members up-to-date with the latest developments is crucial. The BGA runs regular one-day training seminars to support continuing professional development (CPD).
Knowledge transfer
"Working with the BGA gives us a network with industry and helps cement our reputation as the leading UK gear-related research organisation,” explains Director of The Design Unit Professor Brian Shaw. “It also opens doors to new projects. We might deliver seminars to 15 or 20 people. Then a week later someone who attended will get in touch and ask to do some research with us.”
Delivering CPD training also gives The Design Unit valuable insight into the needs of industry. This evolves undergraduate courses, aligning them to the challenges facing the gear industry.
“Our interaction with industry means that we are keeping things current in our teaching,” adds Brian. “The Design Unit delivers study modules on mechanical power transmissions to around 100 students. Those modules are very much built on what we deliver in CPD.”
Closing the skills gap by aligning industry with academia is at the core of the BGA’s relationship with the Design Unit, and was one of the reasons why the Association decided to move its headquarters to the University campus in 2016.
Ongoing collaboration
"There is currently a shortage of engineers with the relevant gearing skills, so enhancing the knowledge of those working in the field is vital,” says Graham Penning, Chairman of the BGA’s Executive Council. Graham completed CPD training as a young graduate and now delivers seminars to BGA members.
Closing the skills gap by aligning industry with academia is at the core of the BGA’s relationship with The Design Unit. It was one of the reasons why the Association moved its headquarters to the University campus in 2016. While both The Design Unit and BGA remain independent of each other, the proximity has proved mutually beneficial.
“We’re now located in one of the centres of world gearing research, while The Design Unit has greater links to industry through our members,” says Graham. “It’s also such a vibrant location for us – to be based alongside the next generation of engineers.”
CPD training
It currently offers 15 CPD seminars, almost half of which are delivered by Newcastle University’s Gear Technology Design Unit.
The BGA has been partnering with Newcastle University for more than 15 years.