As a manufacturer of high precision components used on over 90% of commercial aircraft, if you’ve ever stepped foot on an aeroplane, you’ve probably felt the benefits of Greene, Tweed’s products.
With 1600 employees over 18 different countries and a goal to reach a turnover of $1 billion, the company trusts Nottingham, as its only UK manufacturing site, in playing a key role in its success as we not only provide the global giant with an excellent location for key customers such as Rolls Royce, but also a “loyal and highly skilled employee base”, says Senior Recruiter Martin Johnson.
Greene, Tweed, who was established in New York in 1863, has since enjoyed success all over North America, Asia and Europe. The decision to open a facility in the UK in 1983 “came with the opportunity to manufacture 24/7 globally”, thanks to our convenient location between the time zones of North America and Asia. However, it has been Nottingham’s central location within the UK, with excellent road and air travel links that have really supported the business: the ability to get to East Midlands airport in twenty minutes for European flights and the majority of major UK airports in less than two hours for more exotic destinations has proven to be invaluable to the global leader for whom International travel is a part of everyday business.
Although the company’s Ruddington based site has provided Greene, Tweed with an excellent value for money plot, for Martin “being in Nottingham is not only cost efficient, but provides us with employees who embody the skills sets and capabilities we stand for.” Continually welcoming staff who represent its values of “willingness, capability and the ability to grow, qualities that Martin believes Nottingham graduates consistently exemplify, the company is keen to continue developing and strengthening its Nottingham based site and its ever-growing team. As well as investing $8 million in tripling the size of its Ruddington facility in 2008, the business has since devoted further millions of dollars in product differentiation, state of the art equipment and its people: Greene, Tweed is here to stay.
From just one Nottingham based employee in 1983, to over 200 in 2014, the firm’s skilled team has grown from strength to strength. Due to increased demand, the Ruddington site has recently been able to take on a further six employees, who have successfully aided the UK business in increasing its sales and productivity. Similarly, the company will offer employment opportunities in purchasing, quality, engineering and customer service in 2015, while continuing to employ the two university graduates on its two year rotation programme, as well as a group of 4-6 young apprentices, who the business invests in each year.
By working closely with local colleges such as Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology, as well as developing plans to lead employability skills workshops at the city’s two leading universities next year, Greene, Tweed is keen to encourage Nottingham’s young people to participate in the progression of their own futures within Nottingham’s renowned engineering sector.
None of this is to suggest that education finishes when employment at Greene, Tweed begins; the company is strikingly dedicated to developing the qualifications and skills of its employees. As well as guiding apprentices on a 4 year training scheme which includes a weekly day release to college, the business also provides the opportunity to progress onto higher education, at no expense to the employee.
Even more impressively, several employees have completed MBAs at local universities under the sponsorship and support of the company, and five members of staff have become chartered engineers this year, thanks to the firm’s close commitment to developing its team and by working closely with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. This support of employee development, together with the prospect of gaining international experience in destinations such the USA, provides today’s graduate market with unquestionably rich opportunities right here, within Nottingham.
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