Major General (Retd) Robert Talbot Rice CBE has been appointed a non-Executive Director of SC Group, the UK headquartered engineering services company. The Group includes a number of international businesses including Supacat, SC Innovation, Proteum and Blackhill Engineering, whose products and services are used in sectors including defence, marine, energy and infrastructure.

Prior to retirement from a full career in the British Army, Major General Talbot Rice was the UK MoD Director Land Equipment, responsible for acquisition and support for much of the MoD’s land equipment. Before that he was UK MoD Head of Armoured Vehicles, in which role he was promoted to Major General in 2014.

Commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1983, his operational service includes four tours in Northern Ireland; command of the British Battlegroup in Bosnia; and tours on the staff in Kosovo (in Headquarters KFOR) and Iraq (in General Petraeus’s headquarters as the chief liaison officer to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence).

He is a Chartered Director, and a Fellow of both the Institute of Directors and of the Institution of Engineering and Technology; and is a graduate of the Said Business School/Cabinet Office Major Projects Leadership Academy.

On his appointment to SC Group, Robert said: “I am very pleased indeed to be joining the SC Group Board, and much look forward to working with the other Board members to steer this successful and well regarded company through the years ahead”.

Nick Ames, Chief Executive of SC Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome Robert to the board. His wisdom and experience from leading from the top of the British Army, combined with his astute management skills in delivering complex procurement programmes, will be invaluable assets to the whole Group”.

Andrew Burrows, an apprentice with Exeter based heavy engineering specialist, Blackhill Engineering, has won Apprentice of the Year at the Made in the South West Awards. The prestigious event hosted by South West Insider Media showcases and celebrates excellence in the diverse manufacturing industries across the region.

David Clensy, Editor of South West Business Insider magazine, said: “The judges were extremely impressed by Andrew Burrows. The apprentice fabricator welder is spoken of very highly by his team, being described as an “all-round outstanding apprentice”. They noted that he flew through his weld coding test first time which means the company can give him any task and they say he’s proven that no task is beyond him. Congratulations to Andrew – it’s great to have the opportunity to celebrate the hard work of one of the region’s young apprentices in this year’s Made in the South West awards.”

As one of the winners of this year’s awards Andrew will automatically go through to the grand final Made in the UK Awards where the best of British manufacturing will be celebrated.

Blackhill Engineering is part of SC Group, and handles large and complex fabrication and machining projects for customers across multiple sectors including marine, automotive, defence, oil & gas, renewables and nuclear. Its delivery of a 650 tonne steel fabrication contract for the jetty at Hinkley Point C (HPC), which Andrew also worked on, earned Blackhill Engineering two EDF Energy Hinkley Point C Excellence Awards for the Supply Chain – Best Local/Regional Business and Best Manufacturing Equipment Supplier.

Lizzie Jones, Director of SC Group, who attended the Awards, said: “We are thrilled for Andrew, it’s a fantastic achievement. The company recognises that the future of the business depends on the next generation progressing so we invest in apprenticeships. We look forward to supporting Andrew throughout his development to achieve his goal of qualifying as an engineer”.

Beta Marine has enhanced its marine generator product range with the addition of Moteurs Baudouin engines to expand its offering to a global customer base.   Gloucester UK based Beta Marine, which has over 30 years’ experience producing and marketing marine diesel propulsion engines and generating sets, has selected Proteum as its engine supplier. Marine Services company Proteum, is the UK & Ireland distributor for Moteurs Baudouin and a range of other marine diesel engines.

Proteum received its first order from Beta Marine in July for eight Baudouin 4W105S OEM auxiliary engines which have been delivered to a key export customer for four new build vessels. Beta Marine is offering Baudouin powered marine generating sets in varying kVA that are heat exchanger cooled as standard with keel and radiator cooling available as an alternative.

“Baudouin’s engines are renowned for their reliability and low operational and through life costs and adding them to our marine generator range has already allowed us to meet a specific need from a customer. We have built a good relationship with Proteum who can support us both in terms of supply and with high quality technical services”, said Radus Lungu, Sales Manager, Beta Marine.

Chris Lambert, Business Development Manager, Proteum, said, “Being selected by Beta Marine is a significant endorsement for both Proteum and Baudouin engines. Beta Marine’s reputation and global network open up new market opportunities for Baudouin’s marine generator sets”.

Moteurs Baudouin has produced engines since 1918 serving the marine and industrial markets. Its products are distinguished by their genuine marine design, offering quality, adaptability and reliability. The production facility in Cassis, France, has Bureau Veritas ISO 9001 certification and their marine products have type approvals from most major marine classifications societies. They have developed advanced emissions technology and can offer IMO III and EPA IV compliance on some of their larger models.