Industry case studies
Company Case Studies
JCB – Bespoke training for graduate recruits
Burton College provides training for JCB graduate recruits with no work experience to them with the practical skills required for their jobs. The College and JCB designed the training modules around essential skills for the role, company policy and procedure and personal development. This 5-week full-time programme enabled graduates to bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
JCB – Bespoke Training to facilitate fast-tracking into middle management
Burton College was asked to design an access to HND course consisting mainly of maths and science modules. This enabled 8 employees to access HND training and progress into middle management. From this training model with Staffordshire University a Foundation Degree was developed in 2003.
JCB – European Project
Burton College was awarded a 3 year European Project worth €550,000 (£389,000) to develop innovative teaching and learning practices in 2005. The aim of the project is to develop new teaching and learning methods that are effective in developing industry related skills. Conducted in partnership with JCB and four European partners in Spain, Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden, each partner will be testing a range of teaching methods including computer based learning, work based learning, independent study and student mentoring.
Part of the project will be conducted in partnership with JCB and focus on delivering a foundation degree that has been designed to develop the skills needed by their employees to ensure the future success of the company. A manual of best practice will be produced at the end of the project. This will be used to determine European training policy and inform training providers and employers.
Toyota Technical Training
As a result of Centre of Vocational Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing Production, Burton College developed a partnership with Toyota Manufacturing UK Ltd to provide technical training support.
Earlier in the year Toyota had announced that 24 hour production would be introduced at the Burnaston plant to meet demand for the Avensis and Corolla models. This is the first time in Toyota’s history that a manufacturing plant will operate around the clock production. In response, the College training is being delivered to approximately sixty new maintenance employees who have been taken on by the Derbyshire based car manufacturer to meet their on-going recruitment drive to support this increase in production.
Six trainers from the College are currently working at the plant, providing a significant level of off the job training, which will raise electrical and electronic skills of the new maintenance team members. One of the College’s main aims is to form partnerships with industry and commerce in order to develop programmes that meet the future needs of employers. This partnership enables the College to share best practice, whilst helping Toyota to enhance their business performance through high quality training.
Balfour Beatty
In partnership with the College, Graduate Mechanical Engineer trainees at Derby’s Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, completed a project to create a prototype ladder, which they hope will change how railway sleepers are laid.
The engineers are the first graduates to have been taken on by Balfour Beatty in a four year training programme to achieve Chartered Mechanical Engineer status. As part of their programme, the three have been undertaking a NVQ Level 2 Fast Track Engineering Course at Burton College. As part of the seven week, full time course they have undertaken a project called New Track Construction.
Made a fibre glass ladder to take railway workers from ground level to a suitable working height of 1.2 metres to fit with stringent health and safety regulations. The prototype will eventually be rolled out nationwide.
Timcon
TIMCON is the national industry trade association representing the interests of over 120 UK companies in the timber packaging industry including pallet manufacturers, case makers, export packers, pallet repairers and suppliers of timber and manufacturing equipment.In an effort to provide greater benefits for its members, the national industry trade association Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), joined forces with Burton College to develop a professional training programme.
The programme allows members of TIMCON the opportunity to have certified in-house trainers, able to deliver a tailor-made TIMCON qualification on the shop-floor, to the pallet and case making workforce.
TIMCON approached the College to deliver a bespoke, professional training programme which included the creation of professional training manuals for each worker. In particular, the training programme is geared towards reducing accidents and improving efficiency whilst also demonstrating an organisation’s commitment to health and safety and fulfilling their duty of care.
Argos
A brand new employee training centre was opened at the Argos Distribution Centre in 2005. The centre offers 400 team members the chance to improve their prospects within the Argos network and to promote a higher level of education within the workforce, it houses a learndirect link centre, which is attached to Burton College’s learndirect centre, offering a number of on-line courses designed to help improve IT, literacy and numeracy skills.
In addition, the centre allows users access to training on various internal Argos systems, the Argos intranet and a central library of reference material for the whole of Argos Distribution nationally. Employees will also be able to log onto a number of work related internet sites such as the Environmental and Health and Safety Executive sites.
Employer/Employee Feedback
Training Team Member Jon Boden said, “Argos has a commitment to providing the best possible service to its employees. Following recent Government guidelines, we are committed to providing our employees with basic numeracy, literacy and IT skills. A considerable investment has been made in This Way Up, which will be open on a 24 hour basis to all 400 employees on the site. Furthermore, a dedicated learndirect facilitator will be available during the week to offer employees advice and guidance. It is a fantastic facility that we have developed with Burton Colleg which I sincerely hope people will take advantage of to gain new skills.”
Trevor Hathaway, Site Electrical Manager Coors Brewers on the impact of MA schemes and training packages, “ We are delighted at the level of commitment to providing us with a quality service; our students are monitored closely both in College and the workplace. The twice termly review highlights any problems which can be actioned before any lasting damage can occur; we are pleased with the progress of the students and will be recruiting another four in Sept 2003. We feel that this is beneficial to the town and the surrounding areas that Burton College is a COVE”.
Cecil Gee, a student with learning difficulties received Best Student of the Year from the Institute of Motor Industry for an 18 week road maintenance and road safety course at the College. “Clive has been particularly helpful to people on the course and would now be able to get a job in a garage”, College lecturer Mick Dunn. This course is unique nationally as part of basic skills and foundation programmes.
Targeted Training Services has been working closely with the College offering Fork Lift Truck Training to the unemployed and employed to help improve employment prospects. “We have been working very hard with Burton College to provide a variety of training courses for local people wishing to reskill or in a different area we are very happy that we had 3 successes since the course started in March” John Haywood, Facilities and Asset Manager TTS “Their technical knowledge is second to none, and over time they have built an understanding of our working methods and requirements in terms of training. We have developed a great relationship with all our assessors”, Lorraine Knowles, Training Co-ordinator, Unilever Bestfoods UK.
Florette Salad and Vegetable Company ran through the College bus drivers First Aid at Work course. “The first aid course for our mini bus drivers was essential – large numbers of our employees rely on our door to door service by working with the college the course was held on Saturdays to be convenient as our employees can not travel to College”, Melanie Buxton, Training Manager.
Six employees of Coors completed The Chartered Management Institute (CIM) Cert. in Management award. Designed specifically for people in junior or middle management positions interested in developing management skills. “Coors Brewers are committed to the development of all it’s employees and this programme is clear evidence of this”, Julie Kershaw, Training Manager at Coors.
Vince Sharkey, COVE Facilitator and Resource Manager, has been working with GKN, a motor industry supplier.
“It is rewarding to realise from industry that you are part of a much bigger picture and that the your approach to training is in line with major industry thinking”.
Joe McGrath, Development Manager, Human Resources and Business Administration Division at Toyota Manufacturing UK, added “We decided to join in partnership with Burton College on the basis of the quality of their facilities, knowledge of technology and their positive “can do” attitude. All of these factors, together with the fact that the College has CoVE status for manufacturing, ensure an excellent working relationship. The training is going extremely well and we hope that by the end of February, we will have our new maintenance members up to the high level of competence in electrical skills that we require.
