Industry In Scotland Research Articles

The ‘Skills Gap’ in the Animation/VFX Industry in Scotland

Integral to the animation and visual effects (VFX) industry are graduates with industry focused skills. Yet, the industry is rapid and ever changing, almost defying attempts to define it. How then should animation/VFX, and indeed any subject of a similar nature, be taught to best prepare industry-ready graduates? This article describes Animation/VFX industry perceptions ( N = 18) of current Animation teaching in further and higher education. Findings show that a large ‘gap’ in the ‘skills’ required exists, but with multitudinous perceptions and understandings of what this ‘skills gap’ is. The authors suggest approaches to plug this gap through attributes and aptitudes that could be developed in students, lecturers and industry opportunities for students. Further, they outline how closer industry and education sector collaboration may be achieved. However, they stress that, without government policy initiatives and investment, the prospects for the sector, and by extension for those in a similar situation, appear bleak.

Rocket engines take off in Scotland

A UK space manufacturer is testing a 3D printed rocket engine which, if successful, could boost the industry in Scotland.

BUDGET PARTICIPATION: INTERACTION EFFECTS OF WORK ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

This study investigates the two-way interaction effects of work engagement and empowerment on the degree of employees' budget participation industry in Scotland. Data are collected from 159 employees via an online questionnaire and analyzed using multiplicative regression analysis. The results confirm the presence of a two-way interaction effect between work engagement and empowerment on the degree of budget participation at a statistically significance level (p = 0.0002). Further analysis indicates that the higher the empowerment, the greater its enhancing effect on the positive relationship between work engagement and the degree of employees' budget participation. This study provides one of the first empirical evidence of a contingent relationship between work engagement and budget participation over the range of the level of empowerment. Consequently, the results have contributed insights to the literature in facilitating our understanding of both the moderating role of empowerment and extending the boundary conditions on work engagement and budget participation association. Human resource personnel and management can consider the application of empowerment as a potential intervention strategy to boost the productivity and performance of employees resulting from the latter's increased participation in the budget-setting process.

Commercial Seaweed Cultivation in Scotland and the Social Pillar of Sustainability: A Q-Method Approach to Characterizing Key Stakeholder Perspectives

Finding the right way to move forward with seaweed cultivation requires the relevant stakeholders to reach agreement on what goals/limits to set and subsequently what measures should be taken to achieve them. Using a Q-method approach and an analytical framework based on in-put legitimacy and the four pillars of sustainability, we discuss the answers of a diverse set of stakeholders to the question: how should commercial seaweed cultivation in Scotland develop? Our results reveal three main discourses. The first focused on environmental and social sustainability, the second on accessing global markets, economic and environmental sustainability and the third prioritized jobs and social and institutional sustainability. The areas of consensus across the factors included the perception that large-scale and multi-national owned farms are not the ideal model for development of the industry in Scotland. All participants advised that the current regulatory regime for seaweed cultivation requires improvement. These results are discussed within the analytical framework and a prediction of the factors required to establish a legitimate seaweed cultivation industry in Scotland is presented.

The Brown Seaweeds of Scotland, Their Importance and Applications

More than 50% of the UK coastline is situated in Scotland under legislative jurisdiction; therefore, there is a great opportunity for regionally focused economic development by the rational use of sustainable marine bio-sources. We review the importance of seaweeds in general, and more specifically, wrack brown seaweeds which are washed from the sea and accumulated in the wrack zone and their economic impact. Rules and regulations governing the harvesting of seaweed, potential sites for harvesting, along with the status of industrial application are discussed. We describe extraction and separation methods of natural products from these seaweeds along with their phytochemical profiles. Many potential applications for these derivatives exist in agriculture, energy, nutrition, biomaterials, waste treatment (composting), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other applications. The chemical diversity of the natural compounds present in these seaweeds is an opportunity to further investigate a range of chemical scaffolds, evaluate their biological activities, and develop them for better pharmaceutical or biotechnological applications. The key message is the significant opportunity for the development of high value products from a seaweed processing industry in Scotland, based on a sustainable resource, and locally regulated.

Lead-Mining and the Lead Industry in Scotland, 1680–1780

Lead-mining was one of Scotland's few domestic industries during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, there is very little scholarly material available on this subject. T.C. Smout is one of the few historians who has written about the Scottish lead industry, but his articles were published in the 1960s and 70s. The aim of this article is address this gap in research by trying to establish the scale of mining activities, the industry's gross revenue, and its profit margins between 1680 and 1780. This paper relies heavily on archival records concerning Leadhills in Lanarkshire, which are primarily stored at Hopetoun House near South Queensferry. Leadhills was one of Scotland's two major lead mines and was acquired by the Hope family in the mid-seventeenth century. Mining activities at Leadhills quickly became the Hopes’ (who obtained the earldom of Hopetoun in 1703) primary source of income. The influence of the Hopes as lead barons became such that they built Hopetoun House, one of the country's most significant country houses, at the turn of the eighteenth century and aggrandised it for decades thereafter. This paper will confirm concretely the importance of Leadhills as a boon to the Hopes’ income and Scotland's increasingly globalised economy (particularly after the 1707 Union).

Agile Space Living Lab – The Emergence of a New High-Tech Innovation Paradigm

The global space industry has recently seen a structural transformation through the emergence of ‘New Space’, i.e., a significant expansion of the development of smaller, cheaper, and more modular space-related products in services. One example of this expansion is the emergence of a world-leading cluster of New Space industry in Scotland (UK). Critically, this development is being pitched as a new approach to innovation ecosystem, which the players refer to as ‘Agile Space’, based on a consolidation of cross-sector competences within loose value chain integration. However, I argue, in particular, that the emergence of the Scottish New Space Sector is crucially linked to the Living Laboratories (Living Lab) conceptualisation of the innovation practices and processes within the Agile Space approach. Hence, this article maps the key features of the emergence and development of the New Space Industry in Scotland and analyses the key feature of the Agile Space Living Lab paradigm, before proposing a critical further research agenda suggesting several much-needed strands of enquiry.

Nenadic and Tuckett, Colouring the Nation: The Turkey Red Printed Cotton Industry in Scotland c. 1840–1940

Nenadic and Tuckett, <i>Colouring the Nation: The Turkey Red Printed Cotton Industry in Scotland c. 1840–1940</i>

Turkey red prints: identification of lead chromate, Prussian blue and logwood on Turkey red calico

In this research, printed Turkey red calico from the 19th century is analysed using conservation-based techniques to identify the materials used in their manufacture. Turkey red production was a significant industry in Scotland, and the textiles found in archives and collections are a valuable part of Scottish heritage and material history. Turkey red prints were produced via a unique dyeing process followed by discharge printing, and the analysis in this paper using SEM-EDX, FTIR, UHPLC, and microscopy confirms they were made as documented in the literature. Here, we show that lead chromate, Prussian blue, and logwood were used to create the distinctive prints. These results are useful to develop material-specific guidelines for storage and display for improved conservation and collection accessibility.

How universities can better engage with the animation/VFX sector in Scotland

This research explores how universities can better engage with the animation/VFX industry in Scotland, by examining what skills current industry requires of graduates, and how institutes can better collaborate with working studios. Given the unknown impact that Brexit may have on the animation/VFX sector both nationally and further afield, now more than ever should the education sector re-evaluate how to bridge the gap for graduates moving on from education to being a productive member of the industry. Animation studios were invited to share their opinions and thoughts on the current state of the animation/VFX sector in Scotland, and to discuss how industry could make better use of universities. Industry wants to collaborate with education, to inspire and encourage talent development for the animation/VFX sector in Scotland. Both the education and animation/VFX sectors have their own unique methodologies and approaches for working and communicating with one another, which at times can be counterproductive. Education must change its relationship with industry, in favour of a more symbiotic relationship, by inviting industry to play a more active role in course design and structure, as a means for institutes to keep the contents of their courses relevant and be able to respond to the current skills requirement of industry.

Chemical characterisation of glass waste and crucible fragments from the late 17th - early 18th century Scottish glass manufacturing site at Morison's Haven, East Lothian

Glass waste and crucible fragments from the late 17th – early 18th century Scottish glass furnace at Morison's Haven, East Lothian was characterized using a range of analytical techniques (SEM-EDX, p-XRF, LA-ICP-MS and micro-XRF). Morison's Haven is the earliest excavated glass furnace in Scotland. The glass working waste provides a unique opportunity to compare the actual composition of some of the glass produced with the documentary records of raw materials used at the site and the types of glass artefacts produced. The work provides new technological and economical insights into the nature of glass production in the early 18th century in Scotland.Fourteen samples of glass working waste and three crucible fragments were examined. Two types of mixed alkali glass were found to be produced at the site neither being of a HLLA type as suggested by initial visual analysis. The first was a high quality soda-rich glass made with barilla and a pure sand source. The second type of glass was a range of lower quality mixed alkali glass at least partially fluxed with kelp ashes and using a range and mixture of less pure sand sources. This was most likely used to make windows or lower quality vessels. LA-ICP-MS analysis suggests that sand from two different sources were selected to make the two types of glass.This work is the first attempt to chemically characterize glass waste from a Scottish glass manufacturing site and adds to the known documentary and archaeological evidence to provide more knowledge pertaining to the early glass manufacturing industry in Scotland.

Using qualitative methodology to better understand why females experience barriers to regular participation in adventure sport in Scotland

Since the emergence of the ‘experience economy’, the adventure sport industry in Scotland has enjoyed significant economic growth. Participant increase has been predominately male, and although female participant numbers have increased also, there is little to indicate narrowing of inequality. The established debate about strength, risk perception, and family choices for females is ongoing. However, studies specifically focusing on deeper, lived experiences of female participants are in the emergent phases, with little documented on how these unexplored factors might inform the debate. Taking a qualitative approach, this study explores motivations and barriers for female participants, identifies issues, and offers suggestions that could address these. An auto-ethnographic methodology was implemented using the researchers own experiences of participating with male and female participants, and interviews were conducted with female participants. Five key themes were identified: i) participation cost; ii) lack of reliable information; iii) support of others; iv) general perception that adventure sport is largely unachievable; and, v) the importance of being part of the adventure sport community. Overlap between themes was observed and noted.

The use of marine wildlife-watching codes and their role in managing activities within marine protected areas in Scotland

Marine wildlife-watching is a developing industry in Scotland contributing to overall growth and aspirations of the marine tourism sector. Despite European-level legal protection of cetaceans, and Scottish legislation for the protection of seals at designated haul-out sites, there are currently no formal or mandatory regulations to specifically manage tourism activities in relation to marine wildlife. However, most Scottish wildlife-watching operators adopt one, or more, of the five key voluntary codes of conduct which have been developed in the UK since 2003. In this paper, we review the consistency of policy messages and recommendations across voluntary codes of conduct for the UK and Scotland, taking into consideration global use and effectiveness in the use of similar codes. In this context, we specifically examine the potential impacts of wildlife watching and management of future activities, both within and outwith marine protected areas (MPAs) in Scotland. For this, the research also incorporates data from field surveys, in-situ observations and operator questionnaires conducted in Scotland relating to the implementation of the codes in practice. Key findings highlighting inconsistences in some of the key recommendations across the five UK codes in particular, the distance and speed when approaching an animal. However, all of the codes also have some similarities, including advising against deliberate human interaction, e.g. swimming with marine megafauna, including a separate code on basking sharks, published by the Shark Trust in the UK. In light of the growing network of wildlife-focused MPAs in Scotland (in particular the Sea of Hebrides proposed MPA for mobile species), and national aspirations for the growth of the marine tourism sector, we consider the potential implications of unregulated wildlife watching and the conservation objectives of protected areas for marine mammals and basking sharks. We also provide recommendations on how more formal wildlife-watching regulations could enhance MPA effectiveness and contribute to the emerging processes for Regional Marine Plans across Scotland and provide some insights for global marine wildlife tourism.

A Risky Business? The Role of Incentives and Runaway Production in Securing a Screen Industries Production Base in Scotland

A Risky Business? The Role of Incentives and Runaway Production in Securing a Screen Industries Production Base in Scotland

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Employment changes in the sustainable energy sector in Scotland

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the development of “Green” jobs in one region of the European Union, Scotland, where the government has sought to develop renewable and sustainable energy industries and associated employment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses selected secondary data and policy documents and conceptualises issues concerning employment in the renewable energy sector. Findings – It analyses published data and projections on employment in renewable energy sectors, considering the reasons for the lower actual job creation. Many of the jobs in the renewable energy sector are likely to be high skilled, so there is need to support the development of low-skilled workers and job seekers so that they can enter and progress in the industry. Similarly there is a strong gender bias in the industry which may similarly reduce the entry and retention of the best staff and inhibit social equity. Research limitations/implications – The paper suggests that “Career first” recruitment and development policies are needed which emphasise improving both productivity and the “quality” and attractiveness of sustainable, long-term careers in the sector. Practical implications – In addition to relying on general labour attraction policies and separate industry-specific skills initiatives for those already in work, more attention needs to be given to developing sustainable employment with career progression for people moving into, or already in, the industry. Originality/value – The links between support for those moving into jobs and developing the skills of existing workers in sustainable industries have been under researched and this paper adds new conceptual developments, in terms of “Career” first approaches and empirical analysis of employment in renewable industries in Scotland.

Assessment of the rabbit as a wildlife reservoir of bovine viral diarrhea virus: serological analysis and generation of trans-placentally infected offspring

Eradication of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is ongoing in many European countries and is based on removal of persistently infected (PI) cattle. In this context, low-level risks, including alternative reservoirs of infection, may become more important as the number of BVDV-free herds increases. Alternative reservoirs include livestock, such as sheep and goats, as well as wildlife, including deer and rabbits. Due to the extensive nature of the beef industry in Scotland, where an eradication program started in 2010, contact between cattle and alternative reservoir hosts is common. Seroprevalence to BVDV in rabbit populations can be high. In addition, rabbits can be infected with BVDV by natural routes, indicating that they could be a wildlife reservoir of infection. We analyzed the potential risk to livestock from rabbit populations in the UK by two approaches. First, ∼260 serum samples from free-ranging wild rabbits in Scotland and northern England were tested for BVDV-specific antibodies by ELISA. Only three samples exhibited low level BVDV-specific reactivity, suggesting that BVDV infection of rabbits was not frequent. Second, rabbits were challenged with BVDV at day 7 or 12 of pregnancy. This did not lead to any clinical signs in the infected animals or obvious increases in abortion or stillbirth in the infected dams. Samples from the dams, placental material and ∼130 offspring were tested by BVDV-specific RT-PCR and antibody ELISA. Positive PCR results in the placentas and in the tissues and body fluids of rabbits up to 10 days old showed that trans-placental infection of rabbits with BVDV had occurred. Many of the offspring had BVDV-specific antibodies. These data support the view that a wildlife reservoir of BVDV in rabbit poses a small but non-zero risk of re-infection for BVDV-free cattle herds. Rabbits are susceptible to infection with BVDV but only a small proportion of free-living rabbits in the UK appear to have been infected.

Scenario planning: The future of the cattle and sheep industries in Scotland and their resiliency to disease

In this paper, we present a description of foresighting activities undertaken by EPIC, Scotland’s Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks, to investigate the future uncertainty of animal health security in the Scottish sheep and cattle sectors. Using scenario planning methodologies, we explored four plausible but provocative long-term futures which identify dynamics underpinning the resilience of these agricultural sectors to animal disease. These scenarios highlight a number of important drivers that influence disease resilience: industry demographics, the role of government support and regulation and the capacity for technological innovation to support the industry to meet local and global market demand. Participants in the scenario planning exercises proposed creative, robust strategies that policy makers could consider implementing now to enhance disease control and industry resilience in multiple, uncertain futures. Using these participant-led strategies as a starting point, we offer ten key questions for policy makers and stakeholders to provoke further discussion about improving resiliency and disease preparedness. We conclude with a brief discussion of the value of scenario planning, not only for the development of futures which will inform disease contingency plans and improve industry resilience, but as a mechanism for dialogue and information sharing between stakeholders and government.

Buying Access to Social Capital? From Collaboration to Service Provision in an Agricultural Co‐operative

AbstractRecent years have seen a proliferation of state supports to increase agriculture and rural economic development through co‐operative ventures. Implicit or explicit in these activities is the mobilisation of social capital to achieve economic aims. To date, few studies have addressed the long term evolution of social capital‐based relationships. In this article, we assess the evolving role of social capital in an agricultural co‐operative, using the development of machinery rings in Scotland as a case‐study. Drawing on Bourdieu's conceptualisation of capital exchange, we explore the establishment, formalisation, and commoditisation of different capitals embedded in the rings. Findings demonstrate that a range of capital types was important at each stage of machinery ring development, enabling them to evolve in relation to the changes affecting the agriculture industry in Scotland. Early adoption of advanced information technologies enabled the mobilisation of network resources and successful service provision across increasing geographical scales. Through formalisation, the rings became sources of human, social, and economic capitals – access to which could be purchased by new ring members. This formalisation process ultimately led to the establishment of the rings as economically viable businesses, but also a shift in identity from farmer collaboration to commercial service provision.

Scotland and Slovenia

This article draws on a dataset of structured research interviews with publishers, authors, and others involved in the book industries in Scotland and Slovenia. It analyses a variety of differences in how publishing businesses are conducted in each country, explores the impact of language, export, and translation, and examines the inter-relationship between state and commercial companies. In its final part, it looks at the connections between book-related identity-forming processes, on the one hand, and the market forces that shape both countries’ book markets on the other. Comparing the efficiency of the Scottish and Slovene book industries, the article finds that market size and the ability to streamline business by outsourcing seem to have more weight than the ability to handle a variety of sales channels and achieve a high level of labour effectiveness per title. This advantages Scottish publishing, giving it a more extrovert identity than Slovenia’s industry. Nonetheless, undercapitalization and the gravitational pull of London for bestselling Scottish authors means that both markets are mainly populated with small publishers. Financial and marketing power represent a barrier almost as sizeable as language, regardless of the ability to outsource and streamline business operations. The research contributing to this article was supported by two Caledonian Research Foundation/Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) European Visiting Research Fellowships in 2013.