Aycliffe Today Business Issue 6 | Seite 7

Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 7 /NEWS SWDT engineering training manager John Charlton (right) with David Allison, who’s retiring after 40 years BUSINESS DIARY News & Networking The latest meeting organised by the Aycliffe Business Park steering group. When: 8.30-10am, Friday September 6, 2013 Where: Aston Hotel Cost: Free www.aycliffebusinesspark.co.uk DAVID SAYS GOODBYE AFTER 40 YEARS David Allison has bid a fond farewell to SWD Training after 40 years with the organisation. David started out as an apprentice with SWDT, working his way up to works manager and holding various positions within the firm, as well as raising thousands of pounds for good causes over the years. “The centre has been my life, said David, ” pictured with SWDT’s engineering training manager John Charlton, who was originally trained by David during his Apprenticeship in the early 1980s. “As an apprentice I learned my skills from the centre’s highly-skilled instructors. As an instructor I enjoyed working with apprentices, passing over my skills seeing them come in as school kids and go out as young men and women with a lot of basic skills and understanding plus some manners, respect and the ability to measure, make, understand quality, clean down and sweep up at the end of the day. “I’ve continued to support the centre in various roles over the years and I’ve enjoyed the challenges. ” David says he has learned many valuable lessons over the years. He added: “I learned very quickly that if you respect and look after your staff then they will reward and support you when you’re in need, there has to be a bit of give and take, all that happens when you don’t respect and don’t acknowledge anyone is they get disillusioned bring others down and then you have a problem of staff leaving and having to replace and retrain. “I have lots of good memories and things to be proud of, some of the highlights including working with apprentices, developing the centre and having been the first training centre in the country to be get Centre of Vocational Excellence (COVE). “The centre belongs to nobody and everybody. It’s like a classic car – we can all play with it, but we must keep it going and in good condition for the next generation to get their skills from. ” John Charlton added: “This is a sad moment for us all at SWD Training because Dave has been such a stalwart of the company over the past 40 years, and we’re losing a terrific engineering talent who has always strived for excellence. “He’s always had an impeccable pride of workmanship, a never wavering can-do spirit, and above all, someone who has always put the organisation before himself. “The staff, apprentices and colleagues would like to extend their appreciation for Dave’s outstanding contribution over the past 40 years and wish him every happiness in the retirement he so richly deserves. ” A buyer has been found for the RFMD plant, with Arizona-based Compound Photonics taking on the troubled site. The news came a day after neighbouring Ebac announced plans to create 100 new jobs by manufacturing freezers at its Aycliffe factory, and less than a week after Hitachi’s new £1.2b train deal. Kerina Clark, Xcel Centre manager and chair of the Aycliffe Park Park (ABP) steering group, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic news. We know Business Durham has been working hard to find a buyer for some months and to hear they’ve not only found one, but also that the new jobs are expected to be created, is wonderful to hear. A Ladies Day with a difference! It’s suitable for ladies of all ages and will be a fun, informative, encouraging afternoon, raising money and awareness for two charities: Breast Cancer Care and Oxfam’s Great Bra Hunt. When: Sunday September 15, 2013 Where: Hallgarth Hotel, Coatham Mundeville Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Recruitment day A chance for clients who are at Evans and other local recruitment companies to meet other businesses and some potential candidates on their books. When: 10am-4pm, Wednesday October 9, 2013 Where: Evans Easyspace, Aycliffe Business Park Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Oktoberfest Durham Oktoberfest is an engineering and manufacturing exhibition organised by the Engineering Forums in County Durham and other regional stakeholders - not-for-profit organisations formed to promote engineering and manufacturing in the region and beyond. When: 9am-4.30pm, Thursday October 17, 2013 CONFIDENCE ‘HUGE’ IN AYCLIFFE BUSINESS PARK Confidence in Aycliffe Busness Park is flying high after an announcement to save a threatened factory completed a hat-trick of good news stories. “Bras, Boobs, Bakes and Bunting” “After other recent announcements regarding Aycliffe, this really demonstrates a huge confidence in Aycliffe Business Park right now and shows how much people want to be here. It certainly is the place to be for business. ” Business Durham, the business arm of Durham County Council, has been working hard with interested parties to save the factory. Dr Simon Goon, Business Durham’s new managing director, added: “The factory has a long history of technology-led manufacturing and we are thrilled with the news that it is now likely to become the largest manufacturer of laser diodes in the world, employing a team of specialist scientists, engineers and technicians. ” Compound Photonics’ acquisition of the Aycliffe facility adds to its existing operations based in London and the US. Where: The Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 6AP Cost: Free to attend Phone: [phone] Evans Autumn Event A day of networking and work