One of the world’s largest pump manufacturers is benefiting from a major skills boost thanks to Washington-based engineering training provider Seta.
Staff at Grundfos Manufacturing in Sunderland have undertaken a range of courses with Seta – and the training they have received is helping to enhance efficiency and productivity at the Castletown facility.
More than 140 members of the Grundfos Manufacturing team, including production operators, team leaders, supervisors, engineers and supply chain and logistics personnel, completed a bespoke Kaizen workshop with Seta. The workshop was designed collaboratively with Grundfos Manufacturing around the company’s specific needs.
Production operators at Grundfos Manufacturing also undertook a range of electrical courses at Seta, to gain additional expertise in electrical engineering. In addition, electrical operators at the site recently completed the C&G 2391 Initial and Periodic Electrical Inspection and Testing qualification at Seta.
The courses were provided by Seta through The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Project (SSIP), which is delivered by University of Sunderland. The project is funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme which is managed in Sunderland, by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.
As a partner of the SSIP, Seta provides fully funded training in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, machining, welding/fabrication, safety, lean manufacturing and first aid.
Funding for the courses, which will be delivered at Seta’s Washington training centre, is available to employers in the Sunderland City Council area. Learners train in Seta’s workshops on industry-standard equipment, and its courses are delivered by tutors who have extensive engineering backgrounds.
Grundfos first opened a facility in Washington in 1973, before moving to Castletown in 1980. Nearly 170 people are employed at the site.
Grundfos Manufacturing is part of the Grundfos Group, established in Denmark in 1945, which is represented by more than 100 companies in more than 60 countries, and is one of the world’s largest pump manufacturers.
Seta has been providing training to Grundfos Manufacturing for more than 30 years and supports the company in the delivery of its apprenticeship programmes.
Elliot Watt, Manufacturing Engineering Manager at Grundfos Manufacturing, said: “Seta’s lean manufacturing training has equipped our employees with the knowledge needed to support our continuous improvement journey. We have observed increased engagement in Kaizen activities and a better understanding of the core principles of continuous improvement.”
Commenting on the long-term relationship with Seta, Elliot added: “Seta was our first-choice provider for this scope of training provision. It has been instrumental in equipping our workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve success in our manufacturing plant. Many of our apprentices who started their careers at Seta are now engineers, senior engineers and senior managers.
“Seta’s wealth of knowledge and expertise ensures our employees are well-equipped to succeed in their careers and contribute to the success of the manufacturing environment. With Seta’s support, we can also meet our legal obligations regarding training and third-party accreditation.”
Robin Lockwood, Chief Executive of Seta, said: “We are proud to be a long-standing training partner of Grundfos Manufacturing, which has made a highly significant contribution to the economy of Sunderland – and the wider North East – over more than 50 years.
“It’s fantastic to see teams from Grundfos training at our facilities and benefiting from the engineering expertise available on the company’s doorstep in Wearside.”
The £2.56 million SSIP initiative features more than 100 SSIP courses – from day-long starter courses to advanced accredited diplomas – available through 12 partner training providers. The courses are based on the different needs of businesses and their employees.
26 fully funded courses are available via Seta through the programme. These include Requirements for Electrical Installations – 18th Edition Wiring Regulations; Introduction to Mechanical Maintenance; Introduction to Welding TIG; EVAC Fire Marshall Training; and Safety Excellence – Working at Heights.
Seta offers apprenticeships and an extensive range of engineering courses, and it has been providing industry-recognised training for more than 50 years to both locally headquartered businesses and multinationals.
If you are interested in booking a Seta course through the Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme, and for a full list of available courses, visit https://seta.co.uk/SunderlandUKSPF/
Requests for information can be made by emailing enquiries@seta.co.uk or calling (0191) 416 2860.
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