27FARADAY CENTRE |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
but within a few months an electrical
accident caused injury to an electrician,
which resulted in the steel industry
reinstating more advanced training
programmes. It had finally become
clear to senior management that good
training avoids accidents and saves lives.
One of the challenges we have faced is
recruitment and, importantly, the ability
to retain skilled and motivated individuals
capable of fulfilling specific posts.
Recruitment – including initial training
– is an expensive exercise, especially
since there is a national shortage of
electrical power engineers. It is not
practical for us to recruit apprentices
as lecturers, due to their lack of
knowledge and experience; however,
we have employed apprentices in
administration, accounts and marketing
roles. While recruitment will always
remain a challenge for a number of
businesses, we have been able to employ
a number of excellent members of staff,
who we value highly. This has included
people from Poland, the USA and the
Middle East, and we will continue to
be international in our outlook.
An additional problem is the continual
change in legislation and regulations,
as some are new laws while others
are amendments to existing laws.
Businesses exist to produce a particular
service or product and time spent on
familiarisation with rapidly changing
legislation is time not spent on winning
sales. Health and safety is quite rightly
a major issue, but many companies
have been confused by some of the
requirements. Confusion has grown to
the extent that the HSE introduced the
“Myth Busters” campaign, which has
been beneficial to employers.
The various forms of tax increases,
including pensions, have produced a
financial challenge to many companies.
As a result of the economic situation,
many companies have gone out of
business or cut back training budgets.
This is exacerbated by foreign training
companies and government-funded
colleges within the UK.
Future strategy
We have recently moved into new
premises, moving from a 1,400-square
metre unit to a 4,000-square metre
unit. This has been self-funded by
the company without any form of
government aid and has come at a
major cost, but we think it will be
worth it in the long run.
Our vision for the future is to continue
to expand our sales from £80,000 in
1992 to £2,500,000 in 2018/2019.
This can be achieved with the present
staffing level, but we require a
vigorous marketing and sales campaign
in the UK, the Middle East, Pakistan,
Australia and China. Our limited EU
business also needs to grow. The
additional sales can be achieved by
our sales team, however, by setting
up associated centres and partnerships
in Hull, Australia, Abu Dhabi and
Pakistan, we think we have expanded
our potential training capacity.
As our business grows, local hotels,
restaurants, taxis and shops will
significantly benefit as overseas
candidates come to our UK training
centre. The fact that we are able
to support local communities and
charities is something that we are quite
proud of. Think Safe! Think Training!
Think Faraday!
Good training
avoids
accidents and
saves lives
“
“
Overview no. 2 of
installed switchgear
Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles
