The Business Awards 2007 finalists - Learning, Training & Skills

Apr 22 2008 By The Journal

Regional sponsor Train to Gain (LSC)

DURHAM AND WEARSIDE

Winner: Powder & Liquid Products Ltd

Powder & Liquid Products Ltd makes household cleaning products from its base in Consett.

The business was set up in 1987 to design and manufacture a range of budget washing-up liquids and powders, such as its Easy brand which is sold through supermarkets including Iceland and Netto.

It also has deals with Tesco to make Daisy washing power and bleach and is working with Aldi to manufacture its own brand bleach.

The business’s bottom line has been hit by the increasing cost of energy and raw materials, such as plastic and paper, which now cost it £150,000 annually. It has invested £800,000 in equipment and has moved to automated bottle filling, which it hopes will help increase annual sales from £15m to £17.5m.

PLP, which employs around 85 staff, runs a number of in-house training programmes. Managing director Glen Welford said he believed this, coupled with the good team spirit at the firm, was the reason for its success.

Runners-up: Northumbrian Water Ltd. Tanfield Group plc, Washington.

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TEES VALLEY

Winner: Castlebeck

Independent health care provider Darlington-based Castlebeck was established in 1986 and has a 750-strong workforce.

It has rapidly expanded its Castlebeck Training Department to meet the growing learning and skills needs of our ever-expanding workforce. The number of staff hours spent on training courses has almost doubled in the last year.

All staff have access to at least NVQ Level 2 training.

Training starts from day one. From their first week of employment, staff are enrolled on to a bespoke e-learning induction course, which includes health and safety food safety and company orientation.

The company also holds the Investors in People Award.

Runners-up: Garlands Call Centres. Darlington College.

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TYNESIDE AND NORTHUMBERLAND

Winner: Express Engineering

For Express Engineering, the award for learning, training and skills for 2007, capped a hugely successful year for the firm.

Last year the Gateshead company secured a £500,000 contract to work on the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme. The Team Valley-based company will manufacture complex fuselage components which have no flat surfaces and require the latest “five axis” machining techniques.

The company, with 120 staff, is using special titanium alloys and aluminium to produce components which are both strong and light and Express has invested in new IT software to run the computer controlled machines.

Express has over 30 years’ experience in sub-contract precision engineering.

Runners-up: St Oswald’s Hospice. Zodiac Automative UK.