Gary Wyles, Managing Director of Festo UK (pictured right in this photograph), said, “We wanted to host a celebration for our own people but also to take the opportunity to share our experiences with our customers and the industry as a whole – this is the most valuable part of the award process. We all have a common agenda to increase the level of skills in the manufacturing industry and, importantly, to get young people involved and see a rewarding career in manufacturing and engineering.”
The day was a great success with over 50 people attending. The sales team delighted with a tongue in cheek skit on the initial bumpy start to the Fit for Change programme and then how they were convinced about the benefits of training and development and the impact that it has made on helping them to really understand customers’ needs. This impact can be seen in financial terms with Festo growing its market share by 30%, in a sector that has declined by approximately 35% during the last decade.
Nigel Girling from the Centre for Strategic Leadership based in Northampton was on the assessment panel of the awards. He said to Festo, “Congratulations on your achievement now and for your achievements in the future. Congratulations also for your inspiration and what others will do to follow you on your journey.”