British Paper Machinery News


IAC recognised for apprentice training


ndustrial Engineering and Control Limited from Newport, South Wales, has been recognised as the country’s leading provider of apprentice training at a ceremony at the Made in the UK awards in Coventry, organised by Insider magazine. This is not the first time IAC has been recognised for people development as the company has received recognition in Wales from many organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce and regional news publications.


I


Pleased to receive such an accolade as the apprentice scheme has been instrumental in the company’s development over the past 30 years, Managing Director, Peter Lewis said, “The award encourages us to keep on improving the


Peter Lewis, Managing Director of IAC with George Harvey,


nominee and winner of the Apprentice of the Year at the ‘Made in the UK’ awards


scheme. It’s a fantastic reward for the effort put in by everyone, not just the apprentices, but also the entire workforce. We all work hard to help and assist those starting off on the first steps of a career.” IAC has been employing


apprentices since 1989, a year after start up. The scheme started with a need for trained technical staff for the business as the owners came through the apprentice route and understood the advantages and problems. The scheme now underpins


IAC’s strategic growth plan, providing additional engineers year-on-year. All bar one of the graduates have been offered permanent positions and the majority are still there. The company currently has 18 ex- apprentices in all areas with a further three graduating this autumn. The majority of the other employees also served some form of apprenticeship before joining IAC. IAC’s apprentice scheme is approved by the IET, IAC being a business partner with them. The system was designed in co-operation with the Institution, certified by them and regularly monitored. IAC partners with Newport and District Group


Training Association (NDGTA) to deliver a scheme matching a modern control system business. The company has worked with NDGTA for over 20 years and the partnership gives many advantages over those delivered through more academic facilities. IAC is able to determine the most appropriate NVQ subjects and assist in providing correct training. Every apprentice has a manual detailing their input over the four year period. The first two years of general training is on the shop floor and for craft apprentices, this continues for the next two years. Engineering apprentices work in all areas of the business - test, drawing office, design, service and sales with assignments to be completed and approved by the


appropriate manager. Additionally they have to complete NVQ assignments and attend a day release academic course. Once all elements are complete they are eligible for a Modern Apprenticeship Certificate, awarded through NDGTA. This produces a rounded multi-skilled individual and allows them to try all


A successful showing


Dotec equipment on Jarshire’s stand at the PPMA show


J


arshire Limited reports a successful presence at this year’s Processing & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA)


apprentice of the year from three different organisations. To ensure the apprentices reach the required level for UK Skills, IAC has a series of training elements, in-house and externally and enlists support from major suppliers such as Siemens. Training does not stop after graduation as all employees are encouraged to maximise their skills. On graduation engineering apprentices migrate to a technician scheme to continue with academic training. Training apprentices is expensive and IAC does not spend heavily to allow them to leave after


completion. Job retention figures are well above the industry and national average which is surely not a coincidence, but a result of the time and effort put into the people themselves. The entire business ethos at IAC is based on maintaining long term employment with the


Peter Lewis, Managing Director of IAC with some of the current apprentices and technicians


business aspects before deciding on their future. For many years, IAC has supported the UK Skills competition and competes every year with apprentices having won one gold, one silver and three bronze in the Control Systems section over the last four competitions. One of the company’s apprentices, Luke Elsmore, won gold, was then selected for the UK team at the World Skills in Brazil, and won


apprentice scheme at the core of this strategy, turning out engineers every year to feed the growth of the company whilst maintaining high competence levels.


Recruitment has finished for this year’s intake, but anyone interested in a career in electrical engineering can still apply by visiting the company’s website at www.iac-ltd.co.uk.


Industrial Automation & Control Ltd Kath Lewis


+44(0)1633 293000 +44(0)1633 293030 klewis@iac-ltd.co.uk www.iac-ltd.co.uk


News and views from the British Paper Machinery Suppliers Association Issue 83


show held at the NEC Birmingham, England from the 1 - 3 October 2019. The latest handling equipment from Dotec - the new Dotec RH50 reel handler with 4.0 digital control system, as well as a bag/box lifter for the packaging industry, were demonstrated. The RH50 4.0 gives the pneumatic handler servo-like speed and precision while maintaining the characteristic elasticity that is inherent in compressed air. External interfaces can be built-in through Ethernet web configuration interface, e.g. wi-fi router (VPN router), HDMI display and remote monitoring can be included. David Jobson commented how, once again, the exhibition opened up new roads into customers that are outside Jarshire‘s traditional core business in the paper and tissue industry. In previous exhibitions, the company has been asked to provide handling solutions to breweries, crisps and chip companies and even a supplier of rockets!


Jarshire also visited the


International Converting Exhibition ICE Europe in Munich earlier in the year to discover new developments in equipment for the converting industry and to catch up with its suppliers who had a large presence at the show. Two Jarshire principals were exhibiting - Svecom PE of Italy were showing new shaft handling equipment and plastic differential cam locks, whilst Schafer had a new style of bowed roller and coverings for the industry.


Jarshire Limited David Jobson


+44(0)1753 825122 +44(0)1753 694653 sales@jarshire.co.uk www.jarshire.co.uk


October 2019


7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16