SECTOR FOCUS: MANUFACTURING ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE


The Academy, the first of its kind


BUSINESS INSIGHT BY JAMES O’BRIEN


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Stanair have worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company to repair its eight-metre-high insulated roller shutter door


Stanair takes centre stage


Stanair are recognised as a company that invests time and effort into supporting local community initiatives such as the 2012 Image Vintage Ball. Stanair Director MARTIN WALL explains why do they do that?


During the current challenging economic environment, like any modern, hard working and thriving business, Stanair, one of the UK’s leading door installation and repair companies has to ensure what we invest in really does make a difference. That is why we back events such as the Image


Vintage Ball being held this autumn at Whittlebury Hall. It is why we back the 2012 Pride in Milton Keynes Awards that champion people who have had a positive impact on their community. It is why we back The Stanair Cup, a half time penalty competition for young football teams at Northampton Town Football Club home games which is now a regular fixture on the season’s calendar. It is why we get behind as yet unknown young local sportsmen like cricketer Joe Ball and Motor Cross’s Joe Butter to help them train and succeed. That is why we are working with the Image Vintage Ball team and others


to come together to raise funds for two very deserving charities. Cynthia Spencer and Willen Hospice undertake humbling work and are there for people at some of the most difficult and challenging times. As a business we are delighted to be part of individuals, families and businesses showing support that will make a real difference to the work of these great charities.


Martin Wall Director Stanair Industrial Door Services www.stanair.co.uk Tel 01536 482187 Twitter @stanairservices


48 CHAMBERLINK OCTOBER 2012 Elevated travel service


Coach company National Express is on track to have wheelchair lifts in every one of its vehicles by next year, thanks to an Oldbury manufacturer. The firm -Passenger Lift Services (PLS) – joined forces with National Express


to design and produce the wheelchair lifts for the company’s coaches. The first wheelchair accessible coach was put on the road in 2002 – and now


95 per cent of the National Express fleet is similarly equipped. Warley MP and former transport minister John Spellar has paid a visit to the


PLS factory in Oldbury to view progress on the coach lifts, and is pictured with PLS representatives Tony Bull and Paul Conner, and National Express accessibility manager Mark Hollis.


efore the downturn, surveys of the industrial base frequently reported


confidence levels among companies. Now it appears to be accepted among compilers responsible for such polls that there is no point. The simple reason there is very little happening anywhere to engender much confidence. I don’t want to be too pessimistic about the situation because statistics indicate that manufacturing is not totally in the doldrums but it is by no means where it used to be. But recently in Birmingham an


event took place which gave an encouraging sign for the future and that was the opening of the Aston University Engineering Academy which has places for about 600 students aiming for varying qualification levels. This £16.5m Academy should


encourage young people and those seeking retraining to come forward for the benefit of Birmingham manufacturing companies seeking to take well-trained staff.


sponsored by a university, was launched with 100 people on its books but that will increase as it develops its presence and companies see its worth as they pursue the need for better qualifications and skills. These are needed not only now but also when the trading climate improves. By the time the first batch of


newly qualified people come through it has to be hoped jobs are waiting for them. In the meantime efforts, as


exemplified by the Aston University Engineering Academy, are being made to meet the demands that companies need, however, there is an issue. That is one of a lack of confidence. Time and again I hear executives of companies talk of orders coming in and the need for banks to show some sense and make loans available. This reluctance to help


manufacturing and other sectors financially has created low confidence levels. The Academy will provide an important source for businesses to attract more qualified staff but without the other parts of the jigsaw – finance – recovery will be sluggish. We now have to see if the


coalition government’s recently announced plans to help manufacturing can deliver its part of the task.


James O’Brien runs Writing and PR for Business: www.jamesobrienuk.com and james@jamesobrienuk.com


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