Company Managers Riding the Learning Curve

Managers at a Mid Wales company that specialises in high precision injection moulding for the automotive industry are riding the learning curve by upgrading their management skills.

Assembly line manager and environmental adviser Derek Marks, production planner and warehouse manager Roy Williams, assistant quality manager Stephen Bates and personnel manager Dawn Evans are all seeking a Modern Skills Diploma, which includes a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level four in management.

The quartet works for Traltec UK Ltd, which employs 159 people on Welshpool''s Buttington Enterprise Park.

Their learning programme is being delivered for post-16 education and training body ELWa by Powys Training in association with Watson Training.

The Modern Skills Diploma is aimed at people aged 25 and over who wish to improve their skills and knowledge at NVQ level 3 and above. The qualification is designed to meet the needs of businesses by ensuring a high quality programme in which individuals can continue in learning and gain more skills.

"It''s a good learning curve for all of us," said Dawn Evans. "It''s important to the company that we all feel confident in our roles and are carrying out our work correctly. A good point about the NVQ is that it recognises the skills that we already have.

"I am already feeling the benefit of the training because I feel a lot more confident."

Derek Marks, who has just completed his NVQ, said the training programme had made him appreciate the skills that he already possessed as well as raising awareness of a wide variety of issues relating to effective people management.

"It will make people aware that there is an awful lot more to being a supervisor/manager than simply getting products out of the door," he added.

The company, which is working towards the important TS 16949 quality standard, also has three more staff undertaking NVQ programmes delivered by Powys Training for ELWa.

Tracy Williams and Lee Pinchen are seeking a Modern Apprenticeship with a NVQ level three in first line management, while Diane Gough is doing a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship with an NVQ level two in team leading.

Training officer Janis Gwynn, from Powys Training, praised Traltec''s commitment to staff training and development. "They are a very good example of a company dedicated to learning," she said. "Their managers are very supportive and keen to develop their staff."

Modern Apprenticeships are available to individuals of all ages who want to train. Last year alone, 7,000 young people and adults completed Modern Apprenticeships.