Number Forty Three May June 1967
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NUMBER FORTY THREE MAY JUNE 1967 VS ON HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN PLANT RANK ORGANISATION nightsofhomework.(Theycould "The setting up of the School, in the Careers inthe Making choose forthemselves whether they old Brewery building, coincided with wanted Saturday or Sunday night off!) the decision to issue proper indentures "The next development was half-day to apprentices and to increase the yearly release, then day release, and so the intake to the present " 6 y Fa lad has 0-Levels or C.S.E. in Scheme are varied.Briefly, they range level of 20-- 1 religious knowledge and woodwork, from Craft Apprenticeships. which train Scheme gradually built up to an intake students. then he may make an extremely good young men for skilled jobs in Produc- of about ten boys per year. "The interviewing of applicants took "In 1961the Training School was on a new meaning with the introduction undertaker, but he won'tfitinto a tionMachine Shops, Toolroom and started to give off-the-job basic training. Maintenance Departments, to Technical of the new pattern for Technical Educa- modern engineering industry like ours." This was necessary because at this time tion. That's our Personnel Manager, Frank Apprenticeships,bothElectricaland It was decided to knit academic Edwards. speaking. Mechanical, with the chance, for those we were moving from small on to larger qualifications more closelyv. ith entry batchproduction,which meantthe "You know." he said, "parents stop of special ability, of gaining technologist qualifications for Engineering Courses, qualifications leading to Management disappearance of the basic types of and nowadays entries into various types me in the street and say: 'My boy has machine tools from the shops. of apprenticeships six 0-Levels: he wants to be an appren- positions. are governed by tice.'But they don't stop to consider "On the Commercial side, an appren- Top: Apprentices completing various exercises on the centre lathe and milling machine what subjects those 0-Levels represent, tice could receive training in such sub- under the guidance of Bill Stearn. Below: Len Hart gires basic training instruction or what grade of 0-Level has been jects as Accounts, Computer Services, in the lecture theatre. achieved. etc., and specialist qualifications are "I do wish that all parents. careers often obtained. masters, andthepupilsthemselves, "Today our apprentices havethe would find out exactly what is required advantageofa well-equippedand of them educationally. Iappreciate staffed Training School, with day or that itis difficult for some 15- or 16- blockreleasetocollege,sandwich year -olds to be absolutely sure what courses, visits to other factories, discus- they want to do: nevertheless statistics sion groups, etc. But it was not always show that at least 75 per cent. of this SO. age group are sure. "The Apprenticeship Scheme started "There is plenty of information avail- about 1942, as soon as the Company ableaboutapprentice andtraining was establishedatMitcheldean.At schemes both in Engineering and other first the intake was about five lads per fields at the Youth Employment Service year and they gained their training in of the Minister of Labour. The staff are the shops.There was no release for trained to help and should be asked for College: instead the boys had to attend advice and guidance in individual cases. night school to study for their examina- "The opportunities offered by our tions three evenings a week with three 2 7-**Irlrer-T, Apprentice Richard Morgan, a regular prize-winner, with instructor William Luker. In the background can be seen the Forest of Dean Technical College cup, which keeps returning to us! academic qualifications. winners in the Craftsmanship Competi- FUND RAISING (Hithertothe NationalCertificates tion run by the Gloucestershire & South in Engineering had been everyone's aim. Worcestershire Productivity Association, irrespective of academic qualifications, while the cup awarded by the Forest of IS FUN! and one could go in, time and time Dean Technical College for collective again, for the examinations-in fact, examination results has come back to us R. EVAN S the failure rate was something like 80 year after year with almost clockwork per cent!) regularity! Two hundred poundsfor the After the show the ladies gave a Keep "About the same time, incidentally, "We are proud of the fact that ex- Muscular Dystrophy Group of Great Fit Display, led by Mrs. Ruby Phillips the Certificate of Secondary Education apprentices are taking their places in Britain! This splendid sum brings the(Accounts) and accompanied by Mrs. (C.S.E.) was introduced enablingall Managementatalllevels;inthe Ladies' Keep Fit Club's total efforts for Greta Negrin at the piano.The many school leavers to possess, and produce technicalfieldsex-apprenticeshave charity since they started in June 1964 guests required little persuasion to buy to prospective employers, an account of visited the Xerox Corporation in the to £400! tickets for the raffle, the excellent prizes successes and failures of their school U.S.A. on behalf of the Company at Two years ago the Club raised £82 in for which were generously donated by careers. various times. Bob Evans, Roy Powell aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. local traders. "Once selected, our apprentices followand John Smith are three such ex- The proceeds from their latest social Mr.Brian Weyman (2400Dept.) a laid-down syllabus which has beenapprentices who come to mind. evening, held in the Social Centre on kindly acted as M.C. and the evening approved by the Engineering Industry "Mention has been made of the April 22, exceeded everyone's expecta-concluded with dancing until midnight Training Board, the first year being E.I.T.B.This Board was set up to tions, and the Club wish to offer their to the Blue Ramblers Dance Band, spent in the Training School. Our aim ensurethat adequate training of a sincere thanks to all those whose help whose drummer, Graham Beavan, works proper standard was being performed and generosity made the evening such in Production Control. is to produce trained engineers to an a success. exacting practical standard, the acade- inallBritish engineering industries. Mr.F. Wiclsstead, theClub's The industry is levied with a charge on Thanks are due firstlyto Messrs. mic standard being limited only to an H. W. Raynor of Ross who once again president, came along with Mrs. Wick- individual's capabilities; proof of this pay-roll of 21 per cent and each com- supplied the delightful outfits for thestead; with them were Mr. and Mrs. is provided by the fact that, at the pany is granted re-imbursement related Spring and Summer Fashion Show. J. C. C. Woods, and we were also very present time, three apprentices are at to the type and quality of training it pleasedtowelcomeMrs.G.S. provides. Plenty of ideas here for your holiday Colleges of Advanced Technology, hav- wardrobe: suits to suitall occasions, Hemingway and her daughter Janice. ingdisplayedoutstandingacademic "It is the aim of our Company to Two people present who had a particu- ability. comply with the Board's requirements useful day dresses, swinging separates. not purely as a duty but rather as a beachwear for sunny days and rainwear lar interest in the success of the venture "Recent achievements have included that could make you wish for a wet day! were Mr. and Mrs. G. W. I. Vickers, awards both collective and individual continuing policy of training for the chairman and secretary respectively of in apprentice competitions. future prosperity of Mitcheldean ". Matched %% ith the right accessories, they "For example, our second-year ap- were alleasy on the eye and on the purse. a new branch of the Muscular Dystrophy vvvvv,, COVER PICTURE Shoes to complete the ensembles were Group of GreatBritainsetupin prentice Richard Morgan recently won Gloucester last October. secondprizeinthe Junior Grade, rLit',\cc,' a 'puss' pending?This kindly provided by Mrs. E. Roberts Machining/Fitting Section,ofthe one, which seems to have adopted Shoe Shop, Mitcheldean. Expressing his gratitude to the Ladies' Engineering Employers' West of England us, was recently discovered settling Mrs. Elsie Olivey, a good friend ofKeep Fit Club, Mr. Vickers told of the ApprenticeCompetition the Club, arranged the floral setting for various ways in which the Group's funds Association down for a cat nap in Despatch the show, while the furnishings were were used to assist sufferers from this for 1966. Office! PHOTO: A. HAMBLIN "Our apprentices are consistent prize- ,Ar,./1"..".A.M."A"^"IVAN1.".", WV, NS supplied by Foyle's of Cinderford. wasting disease of the muscles. 4 5 Mr. Wickstead shows the914assent* control unit to Mr. John Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Rank Organisation, and ( far left) Mr. Graham Dowson, Director of Marketing. PP THE CHAIRMAN'S VISIT T is 12 months since the Chairman's last'sit to Mitcheldean, and when he came Ion April 11 he noted with satisfaction the progress that had been made with regard to the provision of new facilities for the expanding Engineering Department. He thought the facilities that had been provided for the 2403 were excellent, but highlighted the importance of getting production back on schedule. He had every confidence in the future of the 2400, he said, but was disappointed that we were delaying its introduction, although no one in the Company was under- estimating the problems involved in getting a product of this nature into the market. After a tour of the Works, and meetings with our senior executives, Mr. Davis was joined by 27 investment analysts who had come down from London to see the Plant.He subsequently said how deeply appreciative he was of the way in which our guides had escorted the visitors who. he felt sure, would take away with them a good impression of Mitcheldean.