We are pleased to announce that the winners of our April 2024 Employer of the Month are Reeco Automation Ltd. Following a nomination by our Business Engagement Advisor Karen Harris-Vernon, Reeco Automation Ltd were chosen by the panel as April’s winners for their engagement and commitment to training and upskilling of their staff across a range of subjects.
A FEW WORDS FROM REECO ON THEIR EMPLOYER EXPERIENCE:
“Reeco always welcome the chance to discuss with NPTC Group of Colleges any training opportunities for upskilling our current workforce whilst also considering what our future needs might look like.
We would therefore love to be part of future collaborations and help inform any decisions made on building a bespoke course for automation which would benefit Mid Wales industries as it’s become a hot bed for robotics and automation – we really enjoyed our exhibition day last month, believe it was a success and hopefully it will be a kick start for future engineers in our area.
In terms of our existing workforce, which has recently grown, we have undertaken Electrical, IT, First Aid and IOSH training /courses with some apprentices and senior staff which has meant that we have been able to increase our skill sets . We are also looking at doing more apprenticeships for local students in the future which is an important investment in our team and will help us grow for the future. At present we have 3 apprentices in the company, and they have certainly been a big part of our success over the last 3 years and are attending NPTC Group of Colleges.
Our site expansion this summer will expand our production area. Also, we have a planned Innovation Centre which will come in the next 24 months, and this will provide a facility for showcasing our products to our clients as well as learning for schools and educators on open days.
Working with Karen, Theresa, Russell, and the team at Newtown has been brilliant and the relationship has become very strong and trusting. We value/appreciate their time and support and look forward to building on this into the future.”
A FEW WORDS FROM KAREN HARRIS-VERNON, BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR, ON REECO’S EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH NOMINATION…
“Reeco are passionate about what they do and keen to involve local educators, having great links with schools and the college. They also have links with Swansea University and have been working with them on an innovative new project.
They have attended our Newtown Employer in Residence several times and have brought robots into the college so students can see what the business is about and what the end products look like and can do. At a recent event in Newtown college, they were an integral part of a full day of activities pulling together college students and staff and students from a local primary and high school. The day covered engineering, computer programming and demonstrations, culminating in them presenting a donated robot to the college which will be a great addition to the resources Newtown has to develop our students.
They have a student at Newtown college who was taken on after work experience and is studying engineering. He is currently assisting the design team. They also have another FT staff member coming on board in July after he has finished his college course, and they will be looking to support him with his degree studies.
They have also attended all our in-house Job Fairs where they continue to promote their business and career opportunities and how they and the college can support student growth. Nick Howells, current Operations Manager, and an ex-Newtown college alumnus, has always been a strong supporter of the college and as well as working with the Centerprise team and tutors, has also worked along me and the Business Development Unit to make the most of the training on offer for their team.
They have undertaken training with NPTC in IOSH Managing Safely, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Manual Handling and have plans to do more including NEBOSH and more First Aid/MHFA. The funding that NPTC has been able to offer through PLA and Part Time Funding has been welcome and an enabler in facilitating this training. They are also looking at more apprenticeships.
Nick is always keen to discuss any opportunity for upskilling the existing workforce and happy to discuss trends in current and future training needs which in turn helps the BDU and wider college focus on what is important to employers and the labour market locally and regionally. The company also has a great profile locally and supports charitable activities and is keen to support the community.
The site expansion this summer will see their planned Innovation Centre come to fruition which will provide a base for showcasing products as well as learning for schools and educators and the addition of a fabrication facility has been discussed.
The working relationship between Natalie firstly and latterly Nick and myself as a BEA has always been a cohesive and productive one and I am pleased that they work so closely with all departments within the college. It is good to see that NPTC is somewhere they turn to for providing relevant training and courses to assist their progress.
I look forward to our future collaborations (not robotic!), supporting and building on what has already been achieved with the team and also wish new CEO Rosie Davies well in her role.”
L-R: Reeco’s Operations Manager Nick Howells, NPTC Group’s Business Engagement Advisor, Karen Harris-Vernon
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The Employer of the Month award recognises our employers’ commitment to people and skills development.
Each month, through our meetings and engagements with employers, we seek nominations and select a winner.
If you would be interested in becoming our Employer of the Month, please contact your Business Engagement Advisor or contact us at business@nptcgroup.ac.uk