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Celebrating business improvement
Peter Bainbridge, a manufacturing engineer in the Vitrification Plant, has just become the hundredth candidate to complete an NVQ in Business Improvement techniques, at the same time becoming the first person in Cumbria to gain the award at level four – the most prestigious on offer.
Past and present NVQ candidates, representatives from GEN II - including Managing Director Mike Smith, Managing Director of Epoch2000, Ray Sheppard, and Sellafield Ltd’s Director of Capability Jim Gibson were among those who attended a presentation ceremony held at Sellafield’s Training and Development Centre on 12 February to watch Peter pick up his certificate.
Improvements Engineer and organiser of the event, Trevor Palmer, welcomed the group before inviting a number of key attendees to take to the stage to say a few words.
Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd, Barry Snelson, then presented Peter with his certificate. On picking up his certificate Peter said: “I am very proud to have achieved the NVQ level 4 in Business improvements, I feel the level 2 was laying the foundation, level 3 adding the building blocks and the level 4 has cemented it all together.”
“I was lucky to have the support of both the Management and shop floor in the various improvement initiatives. The NVQ process gives Sellafield the chance to embed improvements from the shop floor up and I would advise all areas of the site to look at it as another tool to improve production.”
Congratulating Peter, Barry said: "As a company we have put our efforts behind certificated training and one of its most important manifestations, for the long term future of Sellafield, is our NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques.
“I am proud that the site has responded so enthusiastically and it is with even greater pride that I congratulate Peter on his tremendous success in achieving level 4 in this topic which is so vital to our improvement target. I know and appreciate the work and effort he has expended and this award is a true testament to his abilities."
As well as Peter’s certificate, two other awards were presented; one for best individual achievement over the last 12 months which was presented by Barry to Peter and one for best team achievement over the last 12 months which was presented by Jim Gibson to a trio based in a workshop in the Separation Area comprising Mike Bullock, Jimmy Rooney, Neil Corrie.
Trevor Palmer then closed the event by reminding everyone of the significance and importance of the business improvements NVQ: “We need a firm foundation to deliver improvements and tune into a workforce who can demonstrate change and this can be done with the help of the business improvement technique programme.”
Other attendees at the event included Paul Clarke, Head of Business Improvement for Sellafield Ltd, Christina McMinn, Head of Manufacturing Improvements for Sellafield Ltd, and Head of High Level Waste Plants, Steve Bostock.
The NVQ’s are delivered through the Business Improvement Group and are assessed by the Epoch2000 group with the certificates awarded from EMTA Awards Ltd – the awarding body through GEN II.
