In Episode 14 of The Industry Wave, we’re joined by Stewart McKinlay, Skills Director for the Manufacturing Skills Academy at the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS), and a well known and hugely respected voice in Scotland’s engineering skills landscape.  Stewart has gained that recognition for many reasons, but his passionate advocacy for widening access to engineering, education, and opportunity is a major part of that.

As the first person in his family to attend university, Stewart reflects on the varied experiences that shaped his ambitions—from growing up in Cumbernauld to studying Manufacturing Sciences and Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. He shares how those early experiences influenced a career dedicated to helping others access the opportunities that transformed his own life.

This episode explores Stewart’s work championing inclusive pathways into engineering and manufacturing, and discusses the importance of creating a sector that welcomes talent from every background, the value of apprenticeships, and why understanding Scotland’s engineering skills needs is critical to the country’s future success.

To have opportunity, we must have demand, and Stewart makes a very straightforward call to action on why it’s so important for engineering and manufacturing companies across Scotland complete the updated Engineering Skills Survey – a survey that he along with others helped design and champion.

All of our podcast guests have shared some surprises from their past, and Stewart is no different.  Have a listen to find out the film he appeared in that IMDB described as “a sun-drenched, deadpan, masterpiece of Scottish cinema….”.