Thinking ahead
ITS managing director Malcolm Knott with the firm ’ s new NED George Ritchie MBE .
How a forward-thinking strategy prepared automation systems integrator for the shock of lockdown – and continues to reap dividends …
K eeping one eye fixed firmly on the future has served Malcolm Knott well .
The managing director of Middlesbrough-based Industrial Technology Systems ( ITS ) invested in “ future-proofing ” his business in a way that left it in perfect shape to cope with the shock of the lockdown and continue to serve its customers .
And now the leading independent automation systems integrator is continuing with its forward-thinking approach by appointing George Ritchie MBE as a non-executive director , in a move designed to support the government ’ s initiative to deliver highquality apprenticeships across the north .
George , who chairs and leads the North East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network ( NEAAN ), adds a wealth of skills , experience and knowledge at the highest level to the ITS team and will continue to drive the apprenticeship agenda in the region .
He is passionate about getting more employers and apprentices involved in sharing their experiences of how apprenticeships have changed lives and improved business performance .
George and the network are part of a national group that works as the employer voice with the government on developing and shaping apprenticeship policy .
“ I was very proud to welcome George into ITS as a business with a heritage of providing apprenticeships opportunities ,” says Malcolm .
“ ITS is committed to the apprenticeship agenda , especially here in the North-East , and through our support to George .
“ I believe we are an essential cog in the process industry supply chain , supporting the automation , control and data management across the whole sector .
“ Our commitment to apprenticeships over our 29 years , including supporting NEAAN through George , demonstrates our support of people in the sector and our belief in the apprenticeship route to acquiring the skills the industry needs now and in the future .
“ ITS is supporting George in his role as chair of the NEAAN because , quite simply , if we in the industry don ’ t get involved in driving the value of apprentices for our industry , who will ?”
Malcolm believes his company ’ s proactive and positive response to the coronavirus crisis was a direct result of investing in future-proofing the culture of the organisation .
The company ’ s highly skilled automation engineers continued to make themselves available to clients at a time when many competitors closed down their operations .
“ The Let ’ s March initiative we have embedded has brought greater involvement of the staff in business activities and encourages openness and involvement in all who work at ITS ,” he said .
“ This does not just happen by luck . It has come from the board ’ s strategy and drive to make the company and its employees the best they can be .
“ That helped us continue serving customers during lockdown and the team also added to its skills , knowledge and capability through courses in areas including new technologies and quality management .”
Customers now benefit from the introduction of no-fault delay payments for any hold-ups in projects caused by the company and its work .
All projects are delivered with no carbon footprint arising from its engineering design and implementation work and the company has added Zero Carbon Certification to its ISO 14000 registration .
Initiatives such as Industry 4.0 and the
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