How the pioneers of robotics Husqvarna are future-proofing their Aycliffe operation
AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Robotic lawnmower manufacturer , Husqvarna , is a company that takes pride in growing its own talent . Peter Barron visits the well-trimmed Aycliffe site to find out more …
PICTURES BY GRAEME ROWATT
B y his own admission , Rufus Ayre had no clear idea what career path he was cut out for when he left college after a working-class upbringing in County Durham . All he knew was that university wasn ’ t right for him .
Instead , he signed up with an apprentice agency and , within days , he was sent for his first interview at the Husqvarna robotic lawn-mower plant on Aycliffe Business Park . He must have impressed because , an hour after leaving , he ’ d been offered a job .
A decade on , Rufus has risen through the ranks to become the company ’ s UK learning and development officer , and his sights are now firmly set on helping other young people grasp opportunities with one of County Durham ’ s most innovative employers .
“ I suppose it was a sign of the times when I was leaving sixth form college that you were viewed as something of a failure if you didn ’ t go to university . You were almost looked down on , but I knew it wasn ’ t the right step for me ,” he says .
“ I ’ ve been incredibly lucky – Husqvarna gave me a chance , and I ’ ll be forever grateful for that . Now I ’ m in a privileged position to help other young people grasp the opportunities that are here and make the most of their potential .”
Rufus , now 29 , grew up in Crook . His dad was a logistics manager at the old Dyson brickworks , while his mum worked in the rather more glamorous fashion industry in London . “ She gave it all up to have me !” laughs Rufus , from behind the mask that has been mandatory for all employees at Husqvarna throughout the pandemic .
But there ’ s no masking the pride he clearly feels at the progress he ’ s made since signing up as an apprentice , uncertain of what direction to take . For a start , there ’ s the fact that the boy who didn ’ t feel ready for university went on to achieve a first-class honours degree in International Business Management at Teesside University , after being sponsored through the course by Husqvarna .
Indeed , Rufus is a shining example of the company ’ s commitment to growing its own talent through training and development .
“ When I came here , I was always motivated by looking around at the management team and seeing that the majority of them had started as apprentices – that said so much to me about the culture of the company ,” he says .
Those former apprentices include operations director Caraline Robinson , and the focus on training is continuing apace under her leadership , with more than 50 apprentices being recruited by Husqvarna last year , and 35 successfully completing their training .
“ Apprenticeships can be misunderstood – you can be an apprentice at any age , and with a variety of skill levels ,” explains Rufus . “ I would 100 per cent recommend it to anyone who doesn ’ t feel the university route is for them .”
Around 400 permanent staff , and between 450 and 500 temporary seasonal workers , are employed at the Preston Road site on the Aycliffe Industrial Park – with no less than 50 apprentices recruited in 2019 .
And it is to their enormous credit that production levels have been maintained throughout the coronavirus pandemic , with the plant only having to shut down for a deep clean for six working days last May .
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