A MAJOR manufacturer in Teesside is doing its bit to tackle the skills gap, by hosting a careers fair that supports its own team in finding out more about the roles available to them internally.<\/p>\n
Nifco UK, an Eaglescliffe based car parts maker, has hosted an internal Careers Development Fair, as a chance for its 500 plus strong team to find out more about the different roles available to them. The company, which has significantly added to its number and has ongoing expansion plans, hosted the event earlier this week [Monday, September 28], as a chance to encourage its team to explore roles that may suit their skillset.<\/p>\n
The event, which was organised by the company’s HR team, was attended by more than 200 people, who are looking at other career opportunities within the business. Nifco encourages its team to explore different roles, with its internal jobs market freeing up positions that can be filled by new people.<\/p>\n
Sarah Turnbull, who has been with Nifco for 15 years, is one of a number of employees who has moved into different roles throughout her career with the firm.<\/p>\n
She said: “I started out as an administrator, and have moved through the business, gaining skills and experience in a number of disciplines. It’s something that I think is a great part of working at Nifco; you get the opportunity to try your hand at different roles and find a career path that suits your own skillset.<\/p>\n
“I am now in an account manager role, working with Nissan, and have found a role that really does suit me. It’s great that other people in the company are having the opportunity to try different roles too and of course, as we continue to add to our number, the new members of the team will have the same opportunities to move and progress.”<\/p>\n
The company is expected to create around 100 roles per year, as it continues to grow in order to meet increased customer demand.<\/p>\n
Mike Matthews MBE, managing director of Nifco UK and European operations officer, said that the company would continue to add to its count over the coming months and years, something that will be welcome news for the Tees Valley, after it emerged that the area’s SSI plant would close, at a cost of 1,700 steelmaking jobs.<\/p>\n
Mr Matthews said: “We are growing at pace, and with that comes the need to ensure that we maximise the skills of our existing team.<\/p>\n
“It’s really important that our people are given the chance to grow with us, and to develop their skills and experience, and that’s something we are doing through our internal jobs fair. As people move into new roles, we are able to direct them to areas of the business where there is a skills-gap and ensure that we balance out areas of that are well-serviced.<\/p>\n
“And the company is still expanding, so there are opportunities for new people to join our business, news that I hope will be well recieved, following the terrible news of significant job losses at SSI.”<\/p>\n