Haworth man Mark Elders has started a six-month research project designed to help local engineering companies find their way through the jungle of initiatives and bureaucracy surrounding their future training needs.

Mark, 35, who spent nine years in the RAF before working in local industry, has taken up a post funded by Bradford & District TEC. The project is the brainchild of Michael Parkinson, chairman of Airedale Springs at Haworth and a member of the TEC's board. Mark says: "My aim is to contact as many people in the local engineering industry as possible, to get an understanding of their training needs and establish ways to raise their awareness of the various options open to them.

"I will be looking at all aspects of training, from short courses to NVQs and Investors in People, and ensuring local companies get a proper understanding of the support available to help meet their training needs." At the end of his research, Mark will produce a guide outlining how local companies can access the full range of assistance for training, including funding opportunities. The project is being run with assistance from BTAL UK, KADTAL and the local Engineering Employers Federation.

Improvement

A Keighley Business Forum seminar on Monday will discuss the concept of continuous improvement using the philosophy of Kaizen.

Kaizen means improvement, promoting the thinking that not a day should go by without some form of improvement being made in a company. Programmes and techniques using Kaizen have been successfully introduced by Shipley-based heat exchange manufacturer Denso Marston Ltd to eliminate wastage and effect cost savings. Speaking at the seminar, at Keighley Business Development Centre in Lawkholme Lane (5.45-6.45pm), will be Denso Marston human resources development manager David Wolstenholme, who is also a director of Keighley & District Training Association Ltd, and industrial engineer Graham Morley. The seminar is free to KBF members.

The business forum stages another in its series of informal networking events on May 1 (5.30-7.30pm), at the Marriott Hollins Hall Hotel, Baildon. Details of both events are available from KBF on 671870.

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