Vacu-Lug Staff Gain Qualifications

A total of 17 Vacu-Lug employees, accounting for approximately 12 per cent of the company’s staff, have gained qualifications related to the retread tyre business during 2008. Among these is Craig Caithness, Operations Technician at Vacu-Lug’s Grantham retread tyre factory, who has been awarded the UK’s highest mark in the 2008 City & Guilds Part 1 in Workshop Practice examination organised and operated by the Retread Manufacturers’ Association.

In total six Vacu-Lug employees sat and passed the City & Guilds examination, which is the fundamental qualification for the retread industry and covers every aspect of retreading from initial inspection to final quality control. Of the Vacu-Lug candidates, Craig was awarded a Distinction, while three of his colleagues gained Passes and two Credits.

At the same time, a further 11 employees were awarded NVQ Level 2 qualifications in Business Improvement Techniques in a course coordinated and assessed by Grantham College. This course covers a number of topics, including World Class Manufacturing, Lean Management, the S5 Quality Standard, Process Improvement and Continuous Improvement.

“We are delighted at these results, which reflect both Vacu-Lug’s focus on staff development and the commitment of the individuals concerned,” comments Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres’ Managing Director, Tim Hercock. “As an organisation we are constantly looking to improve our performance and levels of customer service and recognise the way forward is through having the best qualified and most proficient staff in the business. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to everyone concerned for the success they have achieved this year.”