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Produmax host SiG Star Day
20 06 17

Produmax was host to five other beneficiaries for Sharing in growth’s latest STAR day.

STAR (Sharing Together Achieves Results) Days allow groups of beneficiaries to visit each other’s sites to share good practice and further their network within the industry. Co-facilitated by the SiG team, a typical day is preceded by an evening meal to allow representatives from the beneficiaries to informally network and build relationships.

The day itself is structured to ensure that it adds value for both the host beneficiary and those attending. During the morning session the host showcases their progress on the programme, good practice and learning from their achievements while a common challenge is chosen for the afternoon.

Jeremy Ridyard, Produmax Managing Director, explained: “STAR days are an important part of the SiG community as they present the opportunity for companies to see and experience good practice, to share and discuss common challenges and to build collaborative relationships which could have the potential for new business.”

Based in Baildon, West Yorkshire, Produmax specialises in innovative high precision engineering for commercial and defence, focussing on flight control components and assemblies. SiG is supporting significant growth at Produmax in both operational and financial performance, with 40% sales turnover growth being achieved in the last two years, alongside a 39% increase in Value Add Per Person (VAPP).

Financial Director Mandy Ridyard said: “We have always believed that to stay ahead of the competition we need to invest, not only in the latest technology but in our approach to business and the development of our people and culture. Sharing in Growth is a key to our investment in the future.”

The morning showcase focused on how Produmax is nurturing and supporting cultural transformation in line with the company’s vision of becoming engineering superheroes. The springboard for change came when Produmax moved into a purpose built facility in 2016, combining two brown field sites, one of them a former tannery in Otley.

“With SiG’s support, we decided to take a bold, multi-faceted and innovative approach to promoting the change. We recognised to truly transform our business we needed to embed our values. To be successful it was important to ensure that we engaged every single person by having a range of activity that would suit everyone,” said Mandy.

The afternoon session facilitated by the SiG team focused on HR systems and processes. Three key themes were discussed: employee appraisal, succession planning, and graduate / apprentice recruitment and utilisation.

The Produmax STAR day was attended by Winbro, CW Fletcher, Rockford, Senior Bird Bellows and MB Aerospace. It is the fourth STAR day that this group of beneficiaries have shared and, given the group’s positive feedback, there will be a fifth in 2017.

Carl Miller, Director of Support Services at Rockford Components, said: “STAR Days are really valuable – not only do they provide the chance to step back from the business and reflect on what success looks like, but they also show practically how to make transformation effective. We were inspired by the Produmax approach to cultural change and appreciated that it was shared in a candid and positive environment.”