Wesco Aircraft
Wesco Aircraft is a logistical operation, supplying fixtures and fittings to major companies within the aviation industry. The site has been going through a major development / investment over the last 4-5 years, both in terms of the site and the training and development of its workforce.
NLTG first started working with Wesco approximately 4 years ago, with the initial contact being David Atkinson, who at the time was responsible for the training and development of the warehouse personnel. Over the 14 months which followed, Wesco and NLTG built up an excellent working relationship, with Jai Mistry, Wesco's Warehouse Operations Manager being heavily involved in the co-ordination of the NVQ activities. Due to the success of this coinciding with the roll out of the TTG programme, which opened up NVQ training to the over 25's we started working closely with Wesco via Alison Garnham, who had joined the company as the Learning and Development Officer (known to many as LADO). Together we identfied relevant courses, potential learners and the benefits to both the company and the individuals. This was achieved via several meetings held with the Managers, Learning and Development Officer and presentations to the workforce. With each interested learner, we sat down on a one-one basis to discuss their job role and agree the right qualification and units; thus allowing Wesco to take full advantage of the funding now available through the TTG programme.
Following on from this, we started the first intake of 10 learners via the TTG funding, between Nov 06 and Jan 07, with seven on the Logistics L2 and three on the Team leader L2 qualifications; this also included Skills for Life support for the learners with the option of taking an Essential Skill qualification in literacy or numeracy. From NLTG's perspective, the tie up with Wesco has been a rewarding and positive experience, with Wesco being fully supportive of the activities and providing first class facilities, enabling the learners to take full advantage of the qualifications. This has been supplemented with excellent communication between Wesco and NLTG via regular emails, with development plans showing the progress of each individual learner.
The learners have also taken a full and active role, developing their knowledge and skills through portfolio work and work based assessments, with each learner developing portfolios to an excellent standard, to the extent that one of the learner's portfolios Sarah Powala has been successful and has won a Medal of Excellence, an excellent achivevment. Overall, each of the learners seemed to grow in confidence, not just within their work role but also in how they approached the work required for the qualification, such as the unit workbooks, with several of the learners commenting on how it was the first time since leaving school that they had undertaken this type of work.
The outcome of all this was a presentation and buffet held at Wesco on Wednesday 21st Nov. 07, where the original intake of TTG learners were presented with their certificates.
This was an excellent way of giving all the learners the recognition they deserved for all the hard work they had put in to gain their qualifications.
Here at Wesco, we are committed to the learning and development of all our employees and, in this ever-evolving business world, we are constantly creating new challenges that need addressing in an effective way.
Building talent internally is one of our key aims, whilst ensuring we allow our employees the flexibility of how they manage their personal development.
The key benefits to us using a provider like NLTG for NVQs are:
- The flexibility to work around our priorities within the warehouse logistics
- How particularly valuable they are to our learners in-terms of their communication, commitment and drive towards success.
- Good customer rapport, as they understand our business and learners together ensuring the organisation is at no risk when releasing individuals for assessment.
- Allows learning to take place between visits from NLTG
- Key learning is relevant to the workplace and the individual
- The learners have full support as well as clear guidance from the Training Officers.
Alison Garnham
Learning & Development Officer
Wesco Aircraft Europe
Completing the level 2 NVQ has been a great challenge and a personal achievement for me.
With the support that I received from NLTG and Wesco, I have been able to maintain and complete a successful portfolio as well as gain further knowledge and experience within my own working environment. This has been most beneficial.
I found the NLTG Training Officers to be very approachable and always willing to help with any queries regarding the NVQ coursework.
Sarah Powala
Warehouse Operative
Wesco Aircraft Europe
