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Pictured with the Blue Arrow associates are MIke Beasley CBE (far left), Mark Manaton, MD Blue Arrow Managed Services (2nd from the left), Nigel Davies, Executive Director, Sutton Coldfield College (far right) and Robert Bolam, Plant Director, BMW Plant Hams Hall (2nd from the right).
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The training course is the first stage of an innovative partnership between Blue Arrow Managed Services, BMW Plant Hams Hall and Sutton Coldfield College, who have teamed up to offer training opportunities to Blue Arrow employees and improve their manufacturing skills.
Guest of honour Mike Beasley, who awarded the Blue Arrow employees their course certificates, said: “The importance of vocational qualifications in addressing skills shortages at local and national level cannot be overstated and I am delighted to recognise the success of Blue Arrow’s employees. They have every right to be proud of their achievements. This initiative to train flexible workers reflects well on the employers and the region’s determination to create the highly skilled workforce it needs to compete successfully on the world stage.”
To date, 18 Blue Arrow associates - flexible employees who are currently working at the BMW engine plant at Hams Hall - have gained national vocational qualifications at NVQ level 2 in Performing Manufacturing Operations, following the Government’s recent initiative to encourage more people to undergo vocational training. This is only the first step in a longer-term partnership designed to see a further 41 Blue Arrow associates complete the course next month, with plans to widen this further by December 2008.
Mark Manaton, Managing Director, Blue Arrow Managed Services, said: “Today, businesses are looking for increased flexibility in order to respond quicker to workload fluctuations. As a recruitment supplier we are spearheading a new initiative to improve the skills of flexible workers in order to provide a highly productive, adaptable and trained workforce for our clients.
“As an employer we are pleased to be equipping our flexible employees with skills for life through nationally recognised qualifications. The achievements of the first wave of our employees demonstrate that career development, excellent wages and continuity of employment are not the sole preserve of permanent workers.”
Robert Bolam, Managing Director at BMW Plant Hams Hall, said: “Blue Arrow’s skilled associates complement our own and play an important role in ensuring we are able to respond flexibly and swiftly to changes in production requirements. This partnership is helping to ensure that everyone who works at Hams Hall is equipped to produce top-quality engines as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, to satisfy the exacting requirements of our customers.”
The NVQ2 training programme, which takes place in the workplace, covers lean manufacturing principles, health & safety and quality in manufacturing. In addition, workshops in literacy and numeracy are held to support each individual’s training needs. The programme will be reviewed in September 2008; new courses may be introduced and there are plans to expand the project in 2009.
Blue Arrow Managed Services also work with Sutton Coldfield College to offer NVQ qualifications at Littlewoods, part of Shop Direct Group, and have plans to extend the training partnership to other businesses.
For further information please contact Jamie Eaton, Marketing Project Manager on 07802 297627 or e-mail Jamie.eaton@bluearrow.co.uk
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