Posted 15 October 2012
It’s been a fascinating year – we’ve certainly worked harder, hopefully smarter, with a record number of shipments.
Copper fluctuations have been as challenging as ever with a fine line between getting pricing right and maintaining stocks.
Overall we’ve increased our stock levels by around 20% in real terms by broadening the range and diversity of products. Never shy of stocking even niche cables we view stock as an investment and not a liability.
If you are having problems obtaining any cable, talk to us – it may be we have a suitable substitute or we may have other customers also asking for it in which case we may adopt it as a new stock line.
By far the most exciting development has been our commitment to apprenticeships.
A couple of years ago we offered NVQ’s to staff and seven members of the warehouse (including the warehouse manager) took them up. This year we created 5 apprenticeship roles and with these successfully filled, we are now looking for two more people.
These are all long term, permanent jobs with trainees rotating through all departments to get a flavour of the business and ensure their focus is on looking after the customer. The more they know and understand about the business the more of a valuable asset they will become. So far the signs are highly promising with each department developing a training plan.
As the year comes to a close, I would like to thank all our customers for their support and business and reiterate if you have any comments – good or bad – or would like to discuss anything in this issue of Wired, please get in touch – email, phone, fax or just call in for a chat.
Best wishes
Jon Herbert