Major JCB training plan launched

Thousands of JCB employees have embarked on a major training initiative to help them cope with an uncertain future.

The Staffordshire-based firm says the programme shows it is facing the global economic challenge "head on" but the programme, involving more than 2,000 employees, comes amid widespread redundancies and cuts in production output.

JCB says the initiative is aimed at equipping the workforce with the skills needed to weather the economic downturn – and take advantage of the opportunities a recovery will bring.

Plants in Rocester, Cheadle, Uttoxeter, Wrexham, Rugeley and Derbyshire are all taking part.

Among those participating are 750 employees from the backhoe loader, loadall and hydraulic business units – all based at the World HQ in Rocester. They took part in a four-day programme at Uttoxeter Racecourse which included sessions on performance manufacturing operations, problem solving and health and safety.

Corporate College, the business arm of Derby College, delivered the programmes for staff attending the sessions at the racecourse, with colleges in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burton, Walsall, Lichfield and Tamworth delivering similar training to staff from other factories.

The scheme has won praise from Skills Secretary John Denham, who mentioned JCB's actions as an example of good practice during a debate in the House of Commons. And employees taking part in the training programme have also heralded it as a step in the right direction for the recession.

Machinist Peter Wilkes, aged 41, of Penkridge, said: "This is a very good idea. Some of the training has been great for team building and working outside the box.

"I think it will stand me in good stead for my time at JCB and the qualifications I will gain will also definitely help."

Tim Jones, 43, a backhoe loader assembly line operator from Barlaston, said: "I have done something similar to this in the past in a previous job and definitely benefited from it. We get to use our brains in different ways and it helps you approach tasks in the workplace in a totally different way which is refreshing and can lead to innovation."

Ken Stepney, JCB's head of learning and development said: "We are working to combat the problems caused by the economic downturn and readying ourselves for the opportunities a recovery will bring."

April Hayhurst, commercial director at Corporate College, Derby, said JCB's actions demonstrated "a real sense of corporate responsibility".

She said. "In difficult times many companies can have a 'head in the sand' mentality but not at JCB, they are really doing something that will benefit the company as a whole as well as all the individual employees who take part."

Some parts of the training will lead to NVQ, BTEC and City and Guilds qualifications.