March 2019

NEWS A former apprentice of HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd, the Birmingham-based manufacturer of hydraulic valves and manifolds, has won the Vocational British Education Award for England (Zone 1 Region). Daniel Millington, who completed his Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship one year early, moved into the position of engineering technician following successful completion of his apprenticeship, before being promoted to process engineer at the end of last year. ‘Fantastic journey’ Although he was unable to attend the ceremony, due to exam commitments for his Engineering degree, Millington commented: “My apprenticeship and education has been a fantastic journey and has allowed me to accomplish some fantastic things, it’s the best decision I ever made.” The British Education Awards is a non- profit organisation, established to celebrate and promote excellence in British Education; with the ceremony now in its third year. The award ceremony, held at Hilton Manchester Deansgate, saw 76 candidates HydraForce apprentice wins British Education Award 10 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS March 2019 www.hpmag.co.uk shortlisted, with awards presented to winners in five regions: England (divided into two zones), Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and within four different categories – GCSE or Scottish National 5, A Level or Scottish Advanced Higher, Vocational and Degree. Students were also judged for their extracurricular activities and responsibilities, of which Millington has many, including being an ambassador for young apprentices throughout the Midlands region, as part of the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (WMAAN), which helps young people to start their careers; as well as mentoring the company’s younger apprentices. This award also follows Millington’s success as winner of the Regional Apprentice award for the Midlands, for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) and the National Apprentice of the Year award for 2018. Role model Christine Tolley, head of human resources at HydraForce, accepted the best Vocational Student award on Millington’s behalf in Manchester: She said: “Dan is an example to people of all ages of the value of both apprenticeships and life- long study and we are confident he will continue with his development and become a role model to others in the business.” Daniel Millington: “[The event] really showcases what the up and coming generation can do.” Due to major expansion, Jubilee Clips has moved back into a factory building that has been dormant for over a decade. Back in 2006, Jubilee Clips acquired a new site by the river Medway in Gillingham, able to accommodate all manufacturing and technical facilities of the group in a single location for the first time since the company was founded in 1921. In the years since the move to the new site, Jubilee managed to sell the majority of its old buildings but held on to the Jezreels Tower Works site on the A2 in Gillingham, always mindful that the large building may be useful again sometime in the future. With demand constantly on the rise as well as Jubilee continuously investing in modern production machinery over the past 10 years, even the current site became too small and the decision was made to revive the old factory site, which is steeped in history. The building was built on the site of the Jezreel’s Temple, the former place of worship of the Jezreelites, which was demolished in 1961. The current Jezreels Tower Works was initially used as an electro-plating works and was acquired by L Robinson and Company, the parent company Jubilee Clips, in the late 1960s. Modernisation Over the past year, work has been carried out to modernise facilities on the inside and outside of the building to bring it up to standard of a 21st Century manufacturing site. During the August shutdown period, most of Jubilee’s heavy-duty machinery was moved to the Jezreels factory, leaving more space at the main Owens Way site to be filled with state-of-the-art machinery to streamline its hose clip assembly process, as well as production machinery for new product lines. Jubilee Clip’s latest additions include 316 stainless steel Multiband and the Flexiband band and buckle system and plans on further growing its product range over the coming years. Jubilee Clips expands