News: Manufacturers meet at DavyMarkham

Sheffield heavy engineering specialist, DavyMarkham, showcased its inspirational business turnaround story at an industry networking event.

The company hosted a Member Connect event in partnership with the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) for manufacturing managers, operations directors, apprentice programme leaders and businesses interested in lean manufacturing and operational excellence.

The programme consisted of presentations by Andy Tuscher, region director – north at EEF, John Watson, director of production at DavyMarkham and Peter Winebloom, director of apprentices and skills at EEF.

The event included a tour of DavyMarkham's shop floor at Darnall for delegates from businesses including MTL, Newburgh Engineering, and Darron SBO.

John Watson, who has worked for the company for 22 years, said: "The Member Connect event was a great opportunity for DavyMarkham to strengthen our reputation as leading industry experts and to share best practice and expertise with our peers.

"I spoke about the challenges the company has faced in the last four years, such as an ageing workforce and the need to invest in apprentices. Four years ago the working practices of the company were entrenched in the 70s but communication and engagement with the whole workforce has been central to successfully turning things around.

"The event was a huge success and I received lots of positive feedback about what we have achieved at DavyMarkham."

John also spoke about how the company introduced the Japanese housekeeping 5s programme, which has been implemented throughout DavyMarkham's production departments and workshop, providing higher levels of efficiency and creating greater capacity to take on key projects.

Andy Tuscher, regional director at the EEF, said: "What DavyMarkham has done to reinvent the company over a short period of time is fantastic. The company has strong leadership, but the changes have involved staff from all areas. I also think it’s commendable that DavyMarkham is investing in apprenticeship schemes.

"John spoke with passion at the presentation and a lot of best practice was identified and shared amongst EEF members."

EEF is the only membership organisation dedicated entirely to the manufacturing industry. They work to ensure that government policies are are in the best interests of manufacturing and offer members a unique insight into emerging trends and the innovative new directions being taken by forward thinking-organisations.

DavyMarkham website
EEF website

Images: davymarkham.com

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News: Rotherham engineering apprentice achieves industry accolade

The achievements of a budding young Rotherham engineer have been honoured at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

Liam Jones, 18, an apprentice at Sheffield's DavyMarkham, achieved the Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice runner-up accolade at EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2011.

The teenager's potential was recognised after he hosted a presentation to four leading engineers from Rolls Royce, EAL Systems and EEF in a Dragon's Den style interview. Liam also had to submit a detailed application showcasing the projects he has worked on and his future ambitions.

Liam, of Sunnyside, Rotherham, said: "I'm really pleased, but shocked to receive a prize especially as there were hundreds of entrants from some of the country's leading manufacturing companies.

"The awards ceremony was really exciting and the atmosphere was brilliant. I'm really enjoying my apprenticeship at DavyMarkham and this is the icing on the cake to my first year with the company.'

Liam's apprenticeship will lead to an NVQ Level 3 in Engineering and he is also studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.

He was one of 400 apprentices competing for the award from companies such as Tata Steel, BAE Systems, ITM Power and Ford Aerospace. The awards celebrated apprentices who have seized training and development opportunities to further their careers.

DavyMarkham's apprentice programme, supported by Brinsworth Training in Rotherham, has gone from strength to strength, with 15 currently in training. The apprenticeships, which cost the company £100,000 annually, last between three and four years depending on competence and commitment and the roles include mechanical and electrical maintenance, fabrication and welding, machine shop and production fitting.

Peter Kerfoot, apprentice training manager at DavyMarkham, said: "Liam is an excellent machining apprentice who has done really well and everyone is really proud of him. He has applied himself with an excellent attitude towards his work, other apprentices and supervision. As an apprentice he has made a valuable contribution to the company in his short time at DavyMarkham.

"We get a huge interest in our apprenticeship scheme and the calibre of applications is rising all the time. We are always delighted when our apprentices are recognised for the superb work they do."

Rush Garfitt, a technical metallurgy apprentice at Tata Steel's Rotherham site was named as the winner of the EEF "First Year Apprentice of the Year" award at this year's Northern final.

Davy Markham website
RCAT website
Brinsworth Training website

Images: Davy Markham

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News: DavyMarkham apprentice wins top RCAT prize

An engineering apprentice at DavyMarkham in Sheffield has been recognised for his achievements by winning the prestigious student of the year award at the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.

Jonathan Cheeseman, from Rawmarsh in Rotherham, took home the prize following high recommendations from his lecturers for his contribution to his BTEC national diploma in manufacturing.

Currently in his second year, Jonathan is already flying high, set to complete his apprenticeship which usually lasts for three years when he finishes his NVQ level three in machining techniques.

Jonathan said: "I thoroughly enjoy working at DavyMarkham and have really developed my skills during my time here. It's great to receive recognition, but at the moment I'm just focused on finishing my apprenticeship, and making the next step in my career."

Jonathan is currently planning a trip to Canada after also winning £500 in the prestigious Cutlers Company Joint Educational Awards back in April.

He will spend one week completing work experience with a number of mining companies supplied by DavyMarkham across Canada, the world's largest exporter of minerals and metals.

Peter Kerfoot, apprentice training manager at DavyMarkham, said: "Jonathan is an exceptional apprentice who has done amazingly well and everyone here is very proud of him. He takes great pride in his work and has developed a passion for the industry.

"We get huge interest in our apprenticeships and the calibre of applications is rising all the time. We are always delighted and proud when our apprentices are recognised for the superb work they do."

Revived in 2007, DavyMarkham's current apprentice training programme has gone from strength to strength, with 15 apprentices currently in training. The programme not only provides multi-disipline skills for the apprentices but also ensures the company's future giving employees an opportunity to pass on their unique skills.

DavyMarkham website
RCAT website

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News: DavyMarkham joins Nuclear AMRC

Sheffield engineering group, DavyMarkham has signed up to become the first Tier Two member of the new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

The Nuclear AMRC provides advanced research and development in manufacturing and engineering, based on the same collaborative model as the established University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, to help manufacturing companies prepare to help build the new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK. The Nuclear AMRC will also help provide member companies with training and other business support.

The Nuclear AMRC has a two-tier membership structure, based on companies' position in the supply chain. DavyMarkham now gains access to a wealth of resources to help build its presence in this civil nuclear supply chain.

Kevin Parkin, Managing Director of DavyMarkham, said: "This is a unique opportunity for all suppliers to the UK's new nuclear build program to align their businesses and operations to the high standards which are demanded by the industry. By developing new manufacturing, process and control techniques, the research facility will be able to provide companies with a competitive position with which to become world-class players in the new nuclear build.

"We are delighted to be working with Keith and his team, and are sure that the successes he has made at the AMRC will be replicated very quickly in the Nuclear AMRC. We are pleased to be a part of this exciting opportunity."

Professor Keith Ridgway, Research Director of the Nuclear AMRC, said: "We look forward to working closely with DavyMarkham to help them build their capabilities to supply the nuclear industry. In the UK alone, around £40 billion is going to be spent on new-build nuclear reactors in the near future. UK-based firms need to understand the opportunities and requirements of supplying goods and services to the nuclear market, and we can help give them the support that they need."

Nuclear AMRC website
DavyMarkham website
Rotherham

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News: Apprentices gain insight into world class engineering

The nine apprentices on the "New Era" Apprenticeship programme with Brinsworth Training in Rotherham were given an insight into specialist engineering techniques when they visited DavyMarkham in Sheffield recently.

The company, which designs, fabricates, machines and installs heavy and complex engineering components and assemblies for the civil engineering, metals, mining and quarrying and power generation industries, gave the Apprentices an in-depth tour around its site. The tour included services, fabrication, assembly and the machine shop, which gave the apprentices an insight into the importance of tight tolerances, even on huge components.

The "New Era" programme, which has been pioneered by Rotherham-based Newburgh Engineering and Sheffield-based Air Accessories, is designed to create a highly skilled breed of young engineers.

Peter Kerfoot, training supervisor for DavyMarkham said: "This was a great opportunity for the Apprentices to gain an insight into the heavy engineering sector - many of them had never seen workpieces of this size and found it fascinating! We were keen to show how, even on this scale, it is really important to be precise and accurate."

Vincent Middleton, managing director of Newburgh Engineering, said: "Company visits are an important part of the "New Era" programme.

"Throughout the 40 week course, we have a number of visits planned to some of the region's most innovative engineering companies in order to give the apprentices a taste of what it is like to work in this hugely exciting industry."

The Apprentices will visit Rotherham company AESSEAL and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham before the end of the year, to give them an understanding into all sectors of engineering from heavy industries to nuclear, aerospace and the defence sector.

Brinsworth Training
Newburgh website
Rotherham

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News: DavyMarkham young apprentices achieve NVQ qualifications

The £250,000 investment in a new apprentice training programme, by Sheffield heavy engineering company DavyMarkham, is already bearing fruit, with the first of its young school leavers completing the initial phase of the scheme.

Daniel Firth (18) and Chris Andrews (19), both of Rotherham, have completed NVQ Level 2 qualifications in Engineering Production , which incorporated practical Welding and Fabrication modules, as part of an Apprenticeship in Metals Processing, being run in association with strategic skills body MetSkill.

DavyMarkham Toolroom Supervisor, Andy Bailey, who has been mentoring the apprentices reports favourably on the lads' progress: "They joined the first intake of apprentices later on and have progressed really well, to the point where they are already shadowing our skilled men and carrying out some non-production welding tasks unaided.

"With an NVQ Level 2, they've completed what we termed the "craft course", under the old apprenticeship scheme, and are now progressing to the technical element with NVQ Level 3, which involves also taking modules in Maths, IT and English."

Daniel, Chris and their fellow apprentices are part way through a 3-4 year programme, studying part time at Rotherham College of Arts & Technology, in addition to on-the-job training at the DavyMarkham works. Within the next eighteen months, they should have completed their apprenticeships and become coded welders, able to work on steel bridges and the other structural welds that are critical to the company's mainstream engineering business.

DavyMarkham website
RCAT website
Rotherham

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News: Davy Markham apprentices visit Dormer Tools

Young apprentices from Sheffield heavy engineering firm, DavyMarkham, were among the first visitors to Dormer Tools' brand new training centre the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.


Whilst DavyMarkham's corporate history dates back to the very earliest days of South Yorkshire's engineering and manufacturing heritage, nowadays it is equally focused on state-of-the-art production technology, notably high precision machining, boring and drilling. So the company promptly accepted an invitation from Dormer for a group of its apprentices to visit the brand new training centre and view how ultra-modern products can be used to improve productivity and quality.

The purpose of the training session was to give the DavyMarkham apprentices an in-depth introduction to selecting and using Dormer cutting tools, with a view to optimising cutting conditions and enhancing productivity.

During the day, the lads enjoyed demonstrations in milling, threading and drilling, using the latest generation of high tech tooling, and had practical sessions in calculating cutting data.

Kevin Parkin, managing director at DavyMarkham said: "This is a world-class facility that Dormer has created and it was an unmissable opportunity for our trainees to increase their knowledge of cutting tools, in a superb learning environment.

"It's through such collaboration that Sheffield will maintain its position at the cutting edge of manufacturing technology."

Robert Smith, Technical Sales Manager at Dormer Tools, added: "We were pleased to host the apprentices from DavyMarkham and provide them with an opportunity to see the training and research & development services available at our new site. The training room has proven to be very popular, with a number of organisations using the facility since we opened."

Dormer Tools website
DavyMarkham website
Rotherham

Images: strategic-sites.com / davymarkham.com

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News: Second year for local engineering apprenticeship scheme

The Engineer reports that Sheffield engineering firm, DavyMarkham is expanding their apprenticeship programme with the help of MetSkill of Sheffield, Rotherham College of Arts & Technology and the Strategic Training Partnership (STP) of Rotherham. The heavy engineering company predicts that by 2010, 20 per cent of its shop floor workers will be apprentices. Last autumn, the first set of seven apprentices started a three to four year programme, which will lead to NVQ Level Three and BTEC diploma qualifications. The company is now looking to recruit further trainees in September. Kevin Parkin, managing director of DavyMarkham, told The Engineer: "It was an important step for the company, because it meant we could recruit and train young people to take on the roles of our skilled tradesmen, who will one day retire." DavyMarkham’s works manager, Chris Bowler, who began his apprenticeship at the same site 27 years ago added: "Our first batch of apprentices has returned from intensive off-site training and are now being mentored by our skilled craftsmen, who are passing on their skills and continuing a tradition in Sheffield that dates back to the 15th century."

Davy Markham
The Engineer article
Process & Control Today article
Rotherham

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