CHESTERFIELD: Partnership brings manufacturing training to the town

Chesterfield-based Foxwood Diesel explained that the vehicle engine repair and reconditioning industry has suffered a shortage of trained people in the UK and it has been difficult to find appropriate training for existing staff.

Colleges cannot offer sufficient coverage, according to Foxwood Diesel, on engine-specific issues and this is made problematic because engine manufacturers continuously develop new, complex technologies.

In order to break this deadlock, diesel engine reconditioning specialists Foxwood Diesel has formed a useful partnership and training base with local training suppliers NLT with support from the Federation of Engine Re-Manufacturers and well-known engine parts specialists Elring Parts Ltd and MS Motor Services in Germany.

Mike Knowles, the new training scheme’s manager, said: “Elring is already heavily involved in training. It’s important for us to pass on the latest product knowledge from the manufacturers and disseminate this through the industry, but finding suitable facilities can be difficult.”

Foxwood Diesel MD Ken Worsdale was aware his colleagues at Elring needed a suitable Midlands training base to develop and formalise the skills of the engine re-manufacturing workforce.

Ken added: “Fortunately, NLT Training Services is very close to us here at Foxwood and suggested that they could help us to become assessors for our own training programmes in addition to providing a suitable facility in the Midlands to meet Elring’s needs.”

CEO of NLT Training Services Ltd, Stuart McCord, said: “We are very excited to be involved with this initiative. The project showcases how a proactive training provider and employers who have vision and commitment can work together to create something unique to fill a specific skills gap. The key to the project’s success has been the can-do attitude of all the parties concerned.”

It is hoped FER members may take up the opportunity to extend the skills of the workforce at the training facility at Foxwood Diesel, on Whitting Valley Road, at Old Whittington, Chesterfield, and that in time it may be possible to co-operate with a college to provide a specific Adult Apprenticeship for the industry.