EXECUTIVE REPORT
Dan Pickles, second from right, with Leeds
depot colleagues, from left, Anthony Durkin, Nathan Deyes and Andy Thompson.
Apprentice achievements
Alan Guthrie talks to two young CW Plant employees who have won awards for their hire industry skills.
Charles Wilson Engineers’ (CW Plant) commitment to staff development and training has led to two of its employees achieving top honours in national awards programmes in recognition of their skills and achievements.
Bonnie Stanton is Hire Negotiator at the company’s Birmingham depot, and was named as Apprentice of the Year in the HAE 2018 Awards of Excellence. This category is open to individuals employed on apprenticeship programmes at the time of application, and the winner demonstrates how their skills, experience or training has had a positive impact on the company they work for.
“I have been with CW Plant for three years and I love working in hire because it gives you such a buzz,” said Bonnie, who has now completed the Level 2 NVQ Hire Desk Operations - Specialist Apprenticeship Programme. This covers disciplines such as tool and equipment knowledge, Health & Safety, employee rights and responsibilities, and customer service.
“Before joining CW Plant, I worked for a plant hire business in the West Midlands for five years, eventually becoming Office Manager. CW Plant was one of our regular suppliers and they always came across as a positive company. I heard there was a Hire Negotiator vacancy at Birmingham, applied and got the job. I have also undertaken IPAF training and one day I would like to become a Depot Manager. The aim is to succeed in everything you do and to always do your best.”
Bonnie Stanton receives her HAE Award from Kevin Smith, left, of sponsor CITB, and compere Chris Hollins.
The second of CW Plant’s training successes is Dan Pickles, a mobile service engineer based at
the hirer’s Leeds depot. Earlier this year he was announced as the Regional and overall National Level 2 Winner in the Stars of the
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Future apprentice awards organised by the CPA in association with A-Plant. Plant mechanic trainees from across the country are assessed throughout the academic year on their studies and in their work environment.
Dan gained a Distinction in the Level 2 Plant Maintenance (Construction) Apprenticeship at Askham Bryan College in York and is currently completing the Level 3 programme, attending the College for one week each month. “My job is fantastic and I can’t get enough of it. Give me a faulty machine and I love the challenge of finding what’s wrong and fixing it,” he told EHN.
Dan has been with CW Plant for two-and-a-half years, but he hasn’t always worked with machinery. “Previously I was a chef for seven years at a country hotel outside Leeds. I became a 'chef de partie', meaning I could take charge of a particular area of production in the restaurant. I would also create new dishes. However, I had always had another deep interest in machinery of all kinds. A friend who has a plant maintenance business once needed help lifting a hydraulic pump out of a very large machine. I spent a day off helping him and subsequently worked with him in my free time. I realised I really wanted to work with plant. I kept my eye on internet job sites, saw the CW Plant apprentice position, and since then I haven’t looked back.
“The Leeds depot Foreman, Nathan Deyes, is really great to work for and he is as competent and knowledgeable as any trainer. He has taught me a huge amount on the job and he is always approachable, never talking down to you as some people might to apprentices. I’m really grateful to CW Plant for this opportunity, and when you enjoy what you do so much, it’s not really work,” said Dan.
Graham Pollard, a CW Plant Director whose responsibilities include the company’s own training activity based at Hayes in Middlesex, added, “Staff training is extremely important to us and we are very proud of these two awards. We congratulate both Bonnie and Dan for showing so much dedication and hard work in gaining such a high standard of achievement.”
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