4 minute read
The Big Interview
ALL AT SEA IN GREENWICH - in a good way!
Tajinder Bhambra has a long-standing connection with the Greenwich borough – he was born and bred in the area.
The company he works for Alcatel
Submarine Networks (ASN) has an even longer connection with Greenwich which goes back centuries!
ASN in one form or another has been based in Greenwich for over 170 years. It has been a key manufacturer of subsea telecoms equipment during this time. It manufactured the first successful transatlantic cable laid in 1858. Fast forward to the 2020’s and ASN’s skills in providing subsea cabling is in demand more than ever. “The requirement for live data connectivity is massive. If you are connected to the Internet – could be via TV or a smart phone – no matter where you are in the world, the chances are you are using equipment made in Greenwich.” Taj who is now managing director at ASN (he has worked at the company for over 23 years) explains that with the exception of a six-week factory closure during the pandemic, it has been full-steam ahead at ASN’s Greenwich facility. “One thing that Covid accelerated was the need for connectivity for those working from home. If the pandemic had happened 15 years ago then there is no way the same level of support could have been provided. “You must remember that 4K, 8K televisions and red buttons are all driving the need for data transmission”. This consumer demand has contributed to the growth of ASN’s business. Over the last 4-5 years the company has expanded, its refurbished Greenwich factory has doubled both it permanent and contract staff numbers. The workforce is currently just shy of 1,000. ASN received the Queen’s Award for International Trade 2022 and has been recognised for its excellence in international trade over the last three years. Across various categories the company has chalked up at total of eight Queens Awards – so far. Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards are the most prestigious business awards in the country.
Building local relationships
As a long-standing and respected employer in the area, ASN is keen to play an active role in the local business community. Taj elaborates: “We were heavily involved with the local Chamber 20 years ago but when the tech bubble burst we didn’t really connect for a while. Now we want to inspire local business and work with the Chamber so that local companies are aware of us and that we can help them”. So, what sort of ‘help’ can ASN offer local businesses?
“We have presented at things like Greener Greenwich. Outlining how we can make our site greener and improve waste management. But also explaining how ASN as a whole is reducing CO2 emissions. There is a ‘company strategy’ a ‘local strategy’ and an ‘individual strategy’ and all can have a positive impact on the Greenwich borough.” As Taj is keen to stress presentations allow ideas to be shared from both sides. “We also want to understand what other local businesses are doing in this area and learn from them”. This improved engagement between ASN and the local business community has been well planned. The company set up five separate internal committees to look at ways to work closer and share ideas and resources with local firms and organisations. ASN is a fundraiser for a Greenwich hospice and it has set up links with a Greenwich food bank. In addition to regular donations, it has positioned collection points around the factory. In order to recruit local talent and boost the talent pool overall, ASN has actively built a stronger relationship with the University of Greenwich’s engineering department. “We are going to be using some of their learning modules for our staff. The link also enables introductions to students studying in this area,” Taj explains. He would like to have more local talent working at ASN but concedes recruitment is a constant challenge. “We have a training school on site and there are great opportunities to work in what is a growth industry. But you have to remember that we manufacture here 24/7. Hybrid working mode (WFH) doesn’t apply in manufacturing so recruitment can be difficult.” Staffing challenges aside, ASN is likely to be a major presence in Greenwich for some time to come. Optical fibre represents the main channel of communications to connect continents around the world. Traffic is expected to continue growing as global users of the internet demand higher bandwidth. Since submarine cable systems currently carry more than 99% of the worldwide broadband traffic– data, voice and video – the numbers are favourable. And as the market leader in this space, ASN looks in good shape for the years ahead. Taj is keen to mention the support to ASN offered by Nokia (ASN is part of the Nokia Group) and how this has helped the business finance its development and maintain its market-leading position. “Nokia provide the investment we need, particularly supporting our base line infrastructure which is hugely important.” With accolades like the Queen’s Award already won, Taj is hopeful further recognition will come ASN’s way in future years and he proudly points to the company’s efforts to implement Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 refers to the ‘smart’ systems designed to sense, predict, and interact with the physical world in order to make decisions that support production in real-time. In manufacturing, it can increase productivity, energy efficiency, and sustainability. It also should reduce downtime and maintenance costs. As Taj explains, this is a forward-thinking company that is always looking to develop its capabilities and build on its success.
