Remploy turns to Electronics Yorkshire for specialist courses

Electronics Yorkshire is one of only three organisations in Britain accredited to offer training to international IPC standards – a certification scheme that ensures sub-contract suppliers are meeting the requirements of international manufacturers.

Over the past two years, since it opened in Leeds, Electronics Yorkshire has trained nearly 700 people in a range of electronics skills and is increasingly attracting client companies from across Europe and the UK who recognise its expertise as a centre for high level skills training. In recent months staff from international companies in Portugal, Turkey and Italy, have also taken advantage of their facilities which are available, in particular, for companies across the Yorkshire and Humber region to access at preferential rates.

Remploy is the leading provider of jobs for disabled people and is committed to providing quality work as well as personal development and training to help employees reach their full potential. The organisation, which is partially government-funded, expects its electronics business to double nationally in the next year and Carl Lawton, manufacturing manager at its Bolton factory said: ‘to maintain a competitive edge we need to ensure that we have the highest levels of staff training. We were impressed by the standards achieved by Electronics Yorkshire and the fact that they could easily meet the needs of disabled people.’ Attending the demanding five-day course are Carol Rae and Hitesh Khanji.

Peter Burnley, training and technology centre manager at Electronics Yorkshire, said they were delighted to be forming an association with Remploy. ‘Their approach to us reflects the high training standards we maintain and the fact that we are able to meet the needs of disabled people. For example, one of the people attending the course is hard of hearing so we have arranged for a sign language interpreter to be in full attendance.’

Carol and Hitesh are following the IPC 610CIT course to learn about acceptability aspects of electronic assembly manufacturing. On completion they will be qualified to train others in the requirements of the IPC 610 standard. Topics covered include assembly hardware, soldering, terminal connections, printed circuit boards, component damage, wiring and training skills.

Electronics Yorkshire offers over 20 courses ranging from industrial standard soldering to advanced trainer courses. Additionally it operates a unique mobile training unit that provides companies with on-site training, and offers individual training assessment for businesses in Yorkshire and Humber.

Sheila Carr, Training Liaison Officer at Electronics Yorkshire added: ‘We are proud of our status as a specialist IPC training body and that our commitment to excellence is attracting a growing number of clients from across the UK and abroad. They all appreciate that staff trained to the highest levels provide them with a huge advantage in a highly competitive global market.’

For further information on training courses available from Electronics Yorkshire contact Sheila Carr on 0113 274 4270 ([email protected] ) or visit the website at: www.electronicsyorkshire.org.uk

Electronics Yorkshire is supported by Yorkshire Forward, European Union ERDF and the Learning and Skills Council.


PHOTO CAPTION: Remploy staff receive specialist training at Electronics Yorkshire’s training centre. Left to right: Clive Howells, interpreter, Peter Burnley, training and technology centre manage at Electronics Yorkshire, Carol Rae, production technician, Carl Lawton, manufacturing manager and Hitesh Kanji of Remploy.

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