Apprenticeships provide a vital cornerstone for growth plans

Like many companies, Regal Precision Engineering has faced some challenging trading conditions recently. As Operations Manager, Steve Lee says: “It’s been very well documented that the last few years have been tough in all aspects of manufacturing and, like many other companies, we’ve also gone through a consolidation process.”

In spite of this, the company has kept looking forward. “We are now confidently looking to the future and looking to grow the company even more by launching a concerted marketing drive.” Steve comments. “We believe that we can compete on a greater range of products than we have been doing.”

However, strong growth needs firm foundations, which of course relies on a well-trained workforce. It’s something the company has invested in with great commitment. As part of this commitment Regal Precision Engineering has an ongoing policy of employing and investing in apprentices - of whom, it currently has three with a fourth having recently completed his qualifications.

The company’s 43 staff are involved in manufacturing main airframe components including fuselage parts as well as mechanical components for flight controls and undercarriages. It already has both civil and military approvals with Airbus and BAE Systems and supplies its products directly to RAF bases.

Precision engineering depends on a committed and skilled workforce, without it the company's plans for growth might well founder, and apprentices have played an important role in this. Howard Nicholson, managing director, says: “Even when times have been hard we have continued to invest in apprentices. We have always done that and will continue to do so. It can be tempting to reduce the commitment to apprentices during difficult financial times, but this would mean a huge potential gap in skills.”

Of course there’s a danger that once you’ve made the investment in them, apprentices will leave to work somewhere else. Regal Precision Engineering has found that making a commitment helps encourage loyalty. “We always encourage our apprentices to achieve the highest level of qualification they can - we don’t just put them on a machine and take no further interest. We currently have two former apprentices, now in their late twenties, who have done particularly well. One is a lead hand in our CNC milling section, the other works in the programming department - investing in the future of the industry is vital.” Howard Nicholson advocates.

It’s not just about investing in individuals. Steve Lee is a firm believer in the benefits of the wider community. “The Northwest is the place to be for any company which specialises in the aerospace sector. We believe that we are better placed here than we would be anywhere else. The Northwest is where the aerospace companies are clustered and this also makes it the best place to be from the perspective of knowledge transfer.”

Mr Nicholson added: “Twenty years ago the aerospace sector in the Northwest was a very close knit community, and it was invaluable being a member of a support organisation which helped you keep up to date with the industry and work closely with other companies in the region. There are tremendous benefits.” Regal Precision Engineers is a founder member of the Northwest Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) and has belonged to the organisation since it was known as the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace.



Did you know

Regal Precision Engineers is a family-owned business which specialises in the manufacture of high-precision components, parts and fastenings to exacting standards. Its clients include Airbus and BAE Systems, with whom it has three major long-term support contracts across three different aircraft platforms - the VC10, Harrier and Tornado.

The company’s specialist areas of work include the manufacture of complex prismatic parts including full 3D profiling, CNC machining, universal grinding, thread rolling and non-destructive testing.

Colne-headquartered Regal Precision Engineers, which was founded by Ray Kitchen in 1982, works closely with companies operating in the engine component, hydraulics, power generation and printing sectors.

But the company has become particularly well-known for its work in the aerospace sector - which accounts for more than 70 percent of its total work.

It is taking part in the NWAA’s Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence (ASCE) programme.
This has been established to promote (sic) relationships between different companies operating in the region; performance, development and lean practices; streamlined accreditation by reducing auditing.

“We are involved with the ASCE programme which has been particularly beneficial to us and we are looking forward to getting our teeth into it in the future. ASCE is a real, measurable way of propelling the business forward and improving the company in a number of ways;” says Steve Lee.