13 minute read
President & People
Well, here we are, already in September and dare I say it… that Christmas is just around the corner!
Maybe it’s just me but we don’t seem to have had much of a summer weather wise! However, if like me you are a sports fan, well what a summer it has been, with the Euro’s, the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games all having taken place, albeit a year late!
Even if you are not a sports fan it would be hard not to have been lifted by how well England did in the Euro’s and the performance of Team GB at the Olympics and Paralympics.
Team GB did us proud in both Games, and some of the stories regarding training and how individuals had to prepare is truly inspirational, a huge well done and a hearty congratulations to all who took part, for following a dream and for fulfilling an ambition that more than likely would have started from an early age.
Obviously, we can’t all be professional footballers or medal winning athletes, however that doesn’t stop us from dreaming, having ambition or wanting to achieve a certain goal or target.
All that is important is what’s important to you and how you set about setting your target or achieving your goal and who or what inspires you.
Personally, I was inspired last month by some incredible individuals I was fortunate enough to meet at an awards and presentation evening held at the Telegraph Hotel in Coventry. They really were in my opinion unsung heroes who go the extra mile for the benefit of others in their communities.
Their work was recognised by our very own CEO and High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Louise Bennett OBE DL, where each individual received a certificate and medal for their unselfish work within the community. It was great to meet them and to hear their stories, again a huge thank you, congratulations and a hearty well done to each and every one of them.
Sometimes isn’t it just nice to have your efforts and work recognised? Or even for someone to genuinely say thank you for the work you are doing!
So, I will say thank you to one of my colleagues at the Chamber of Commerce, Sean Rose, our Policy Officer, who organises the Chamber of Commerce Policy Hour events. These are well worth joining up to get superb regional updates, watch out for the next one on the 23rd September featuring Dame Andrea Leadsom MP, the former Secretary of State for BEIS.
Finally, as President of the Chamber and finishing as I started this month’s column, on a sports-based theme, I want to thank Rick and Sue Cressman for the invite to attend the British Par 3 Golf Championship held at Nailcote Hall Hotel & Country Club. It really is an outstanding event, covered by Sky Sports, and is a real jewel in the crown for Coventry & Warwickshire that often flies under the radar. The calibre of the golf pros and celebrities taking part is truly phenomenal and it was fascinating to hear and see how the nerves affect even the most seasoned professional!
Best regards Tom Mongan
Sarah celebrates 35 years’ service at Alsters Kelley
The champagne was cracked open at Alsters Kelley in Nuneaton recently, as Sarah Darby, wills & probate executive, celebrated 35 years’ service with the firm.
As a thank you for her long service and to help start the celebrations, Sarah was presented with a bottle of bubbly and other gifts from the firm.
Sarah said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my career with Alsters Kelley and I enjoy the variety of the work I deal with. Most importantly, I love the face-to-face contact with our clients and providing them with a very personal and high level of service. I also have many lovely friends across all five offices and it certainly doesn’t feel as if I have been here for 35 years!”
Sarah originally started her career at the firm of R S Bull in Nuneaton as the office junior, a role which she remembers with very fond memories. Following the merger of RS Bull with Alsters, Sarah moved to the Coventry office for a short period of time as a paralegal in the private client department.
An opportunity soon arose for her to move back to Nuneaton, the town where Sarah was born and still currently lives. She has worked in the private client department for more than 30 years and has been a wills & probate executive for more than 15 years and remains working from the Nuneaton office.
Neil Raiseborough, director & head of private client department, said: “Sarah is a real asset to Alsters Kelley, truly appreciated and her knowledge and experience are invaluable. Working for one company for 35 years is a truly fantastic achievement – many congratulations!”
Director Sarah Van Ristell with Kiley Ball
A local firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers was celebrating recently, as it marked 30 years of loyal service from a member of staff.
Kiley Ball joined Armstrongs Chartered Accountants when she left school in 1991 and has been with the firm ever since.
Kiley celebrates 30 years with accountancy firm
As a thank you for her long service, director Sarah Van Ristell presented Kiley, the firm’s practice manager, with a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of flowers and holiday gift vouchers.
Kiley said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Armstrongs and can’t believe how quickly the years have passed by.
“No two days are the same, which keeps the role interesting and varied. Over the years, I’ve built long-lasting relationships with our clients and I’ve worked with some fantastic people, which is why I continue to enjoy being a part of the Armstrongs team.”
Sarah said: “Kiley is a real asset to Armstrongs. Her knowledge ensures the smooth running of the practice and that client queries are dealt with in a professional timely manner. Working for one firm for 30 years is a real achievement. Well done!”
When she’s not in the office, Kiley enjoys reading, socialising with friends and loves spending time walking her dog.
Armstrongs Chartered Accountants provides a wide range of services including accounting, tax, corporate finance, wealth planning, audit and assurance, business support and business development.
For more information visit www.armstrongs-accountancy.co.uk
Engineering recruiter celebrates ten-year partnership success
A premier manufacturing and engineering recruitment consultancy is celebrating a ten-year association with one of the UK’s major manufacturing success stories.
Stratford-upon-Avonbased Consilium Recruit was appointed by the Manufacturing Technology Centre in 2011. Since then, Consilium has partnered the MTC in its drive for growth, recruiting more than 700 highly-skilled and talented engineers and technicians for its world-class facility in Coventry plus satellite operations in Oxfordshire and Liverpool.
Now Consilium is continuing its high-level recruitment campaign for the MTC, boasting a division dedicated to scouring the UK and overseas for the best talent including highly skilled engineers, managers and advanced manufacturing technicians.
Many of the company's efforts are focused on the most up-to-date engineering skills including robotics, artificial intelligence, data science, design for assembly and advanced manufacturing project management.
Consilium director Adrian Elwell said: “The MTC has had a highly demanding growth schedule which has required us to fill some of the most challenging positions. We have recruited a wide spread of engineering talent with the advanced skillsets required for the engineering and manufacturing technologies of tomorrow. "We are also recruiting engineers for other manufacturing organisations in the UK to fill the jobs of the future. Many of these are associated with advanced technology, materials and engineering processes across a range of industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine, construction and low-carbon technology.”
The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions. Founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI, the MTC has more than 100 industrial members including some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.
The MTC's HR director, Vicki Sanderson, said: “At the MTC we pride ourselves on employing the very best international engineering and manufacturing talent to work on our many projects. Consilium has, over the last ten years, helped us in this endeavour.”
Further information visit www.consiliumrecruit.com
MTC HR director Vicki Sanderson with Consilium director Adrian Elwell at the MTC
David Needham
The FPM Group, a multi-disciplinary organisation based in Coventry, has welcomed David Needham as director of operations for its facilities management (FM) and mechanical and electrical (M and E) divisions.
The group was established initially as an FM company in 2008 but quickly expanded its services to include project fit-outs and refurbishments to meet the
The FPM Group appoints new director of operations
demands of its growing client base, and more recently an M and E division.
The company has been built on an ethos of honesty, integrity and transparency. It works with clients across the UK from a variety of sectors including commercial, industrial and education. Despite the challenges of the past 18 months, the business has thrived and has further ambitions for long-term growth.
Robert Villette, MD at the FPM Group, said: “David is an accomplished and very experienced senior manager with a background in FM and construction. He has a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of building strong customer relations; he will be an asset to our business.”
David Needham said: “I was looking for a role that fully utilised my experience and success in building strong trust-based relationships with clients as well as sourcing new opportunities to help drive business growth.
“The FPM Group provides the perfect platform to put my core skills to good use. Robert and the team have a reputation for delivering projects to the highest standard. When they say ‘your building in our safe hands’, they mean it! I’m excited to be part of such a successful and dynamic company. I’m looking forward to helping the FPM Group further realise its vision for continued growth.”
Following an in-depth and rigorous assessment, Volumatic has been awarded an Investors in People (IIP) silver accreditation.
A valued standard for leading, supporting and developing workforces in the UK, a silver accreditation is a rare and impressive achievement for a company of Volumatic’s size – a team of just 40 – and is testament to its values and colleagues who are the backbone of the business.
James Harris, managing director of Volumatic, said: “We put our people at the very heart of our corporate values. Global events over the last 12-18 months have created some incredibly challenging trading conditions for our industry, yet Volumatic has just posted its best ever trading performance with a 23% growth on the previous year. We are well on track to continue that growth trajectory into the current financial year and beyond.
“Our outstanding performance is without doubt a direct result of our people having a common purpose and working together to find a way to meet these challenges head on. I am very proud to be part of such a remarkable team and I look forward to us working together, building on our successes, and creating a bright future for Volumatic.”
The Volumatic values of innovation, customers and people play an important part in the day-to-day running of the business. As a result of these values, the IIP assessment found that Volumatic staff enjoy working for the company and believe that the culture is positive and constantly improving.
Volumatic were cited by IIP as being “increasingly innovative in its ambitions and outward-looking as a business”. These attributes have seen the company develop new and existing global markets despite COVID and now, following a number of internal promotions, Volumatic is seeking to recruit new team members to build upon its success.
Law firm launches new Talent Bank
Law firm Lodders has launched the latest campaign in its people-first strategy to support its plans to grow its workforce by 25 per cent – and continue to support the next generation of lawyers.
The new ‘Talent Bank’ is part of Lodders’ ongoing objective to attract yet more senior and established talent to the firm, support its talent development and retention strategies, and provide the next generation of lawyers with opportunities and professional development support.
Lodders has launched its biggest-ever recruitment drive to fill around forty new roles.
The firm’s managing partner, Paul Mourton, said: “The Talent Bank is open to all – from senior lawyers and graduates to newly qualified legal practitioners.
“It is another of our pioneering initiatives and will create a virtual network and resource which the firm will use to gather contacts, make connections, open discussions with people looking for opportunities and future roles, and give prospective new team members the chance to learn more about us.
“As such, the Talent Bank delivers on two major objectives – it enables the firm to nurture and support ambitious talent and new entrants to the legal profession, and to attract the very best-inbreed legal talent to the firm.
“In the wake of an incredible 12 months, the firm is in a really strong place. Adding more ambitious and talented people to our 160-strong team will sustain Lodders’ growth and expansion strategy. We already have many of the region’s top lawyers, and are known for our exceptional client service and legal advice.
“In the last 12 months, the firm has been awarded top rankings by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Guide, and won multiple industry and professional awards. Now is the chance for ambitious people to be part of an exciting, thriving business that is one of the best and fastest-growing law firms in the region.”
For more information visit www.lodders.co.uk
Allan Owens
New quality manager has big ambitions for steering parts manufacturer
Steering systems specialist Pailton Engineering has hired Allan Owens as its new quality manager.
Allan is returning to the company for a second time, having previously occupied the position of senior customer quality engineer from 2014 to 2019. He comes to his new role with more than 25 years’ experience and is part of a culture shift around quality control.
Pailton Engineering is modernising its approach to quality control. Whereas traditionally, quality control was predominantly about inspecting and discovering problems or faults after they occurred, Allan is a representative of a more forward-thinking philosophy. Under his watch, quality control will be built into processes from the outset, with the idea of eliminating errors from the process.
In driving this culture change, Allan will be drawing on many years of experience as a quality engineer. He spent over nine years as quality engineer at Mayflower Vehicle Systems, then a further nine years as senior quality engineer at Covpress. His previous stint at Pailton Engineering will allow him to slot into his new role seamlessly.
Allan is also schooled in Six Sigma process improvement methodologies and is a keen practitioner of Hoshin Kanri strategic planning. In addition to his experience and training, his enthusiasm for driving change will be a key asset.
Allan has ambitious goals for Pailton Engineering. World-class parts suppliers would typically expect to produce fewer than 25 defects per million parts. Allan’s target is to get that figure down to zero.
He said: “My previous role as senior customer quality engineer has given me useful experience. Improving things for the customer will be at the centre of my approach.”
