There seems to be widespread agreement on the benefits of additional or centrally provided mathematics and statistics support (MSS). Moreover there are many examples of good practice as evidenced in the recent conference the sigma - Centre for Excellence in Mathematics & Statistics Support and government funded resources. However here we aim to look more at barriers to obtaining these benefits and some ideas for over coming them. Much of this is based on the author’s personal experience in two parallel themes:
1. Attempts to introduce his university to Helping Engineers Learn Mathematics (HELM) (the associated workbooks and computer aided assessment (CAA)) and wider resources such as those available through mathcentre and mathtutor.
2. Attempts to introduce the concept of centralised MSS and to move from a supported concept to implementation.
