A bright future

29 April, 2015

Mike Searle, operations director at Mid-Tech (Compressed Air) Ltd., recruited Stephen Halls, a business management graduate. Searle commented: “Stephen is currently working in office-based sales with responsibility for stock control and also helping out with service administration. We have high expectations of Stephen and the hope is that he will soon progress in to a more customer-facing sales role.”

Air Compressors and Blowers also took on a graduate, Ben Malisweski about eight months ago. Chris Hall, managing director, said: “Ben handles the product administration and spends one day each week out on the road meeting customers to promote our products and services. The scheme provides quality people that we can develop for future sales roles, backed by expertise from the graduate provider.”

Six apprentices, working in service, sales, marketing and accountancy roles across the Group are also in their second year of their training.

Driving up standards

Skills come in all shapes and sizes and it is just as important that the engineering community continues to invest across all areas of its delivery. So for me, the final piece in the skills puzzle requires an industry-wide commitment to continue to drive up standards. The use of genuine manufacturers’ spares and the routine servicing of plant and equipment by properly-certified, factory-trained engineers should be encouraged and driven through by the manufacturers themselves.

Young talent…supported by experienced, professional experts. That, I believe, is the key to plugging the engineering skills shortage and ensuring the long-term future of distribution.

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