As tools and job requirements continue to evolve, it is more important than ever for businesses to upskill their workforce. This comes in the form of training that equips participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to meet the constantly changing demands of the industry. As a business, Mirka recognises that the evolution is ongoing, and it means that Mirka’s training programme needs to be fluid to ensure it meets the needs of the customer as well as aligning with what is going on in the sector.
According to Neil Newbrook, business sector manager wood, at Mirka UK, “Our training programmes deliver significant value in the short, medium and long term to businesses as well as the industry. The training is a key part of the full service offering we provide our customers, and the process is pretty simple. We meet with the customer to assess their current sanding and polishing processes which then leads to an action plan that involves staff training and implementation of recommended working practices. Even after the training is completed, Mirka will continue to follow up with regular contact or on-site support. We know this approach works because it allows our technical team to tailor each programme to the needs of the business to ensure their requirements are met instead of it being a one-size-fits-all approach.
“With our training, we also use a ‘Train the Trainer’ method which has been designed so that Mirka’s technical team trains a member of the customer team and they can then train new starters on specific Mirka tools and processes or carry out refreshers for any staff that need it.
“Where the training takes place is just as important as the training itself, so we ensure that it is done where the workforce feel comfortable. Our team knows there are benefits to running the courses on site or at our training centre in Milton Keynes.
However, it is left in the hands of the customer to decide where it takes place. For on site, the customer has the familiarity of their usual surroundings, which enables Mirka’s experienced technicians to highlight how their own specific products or processes would work in an environment they are familiar with. When Mirka takes the training away from the workshop floor to its training centre, participants can take part in classroom-based learning, before having their hands-on experience with the relevant tools, abrasives and solutions. One of the main takeaways we have seen by bringing it to the Mirka Training Centre is that without the distractions of the normal work environment, the attendees tend to ask more questions, which, in turn, leads to more discussion points being covered during the training programme.
“Overall, training is something that should be carried out on a regular basis to ensure the workforce has the knowledge and skills to use tools at an optimal level to perform the work efficiently. This will lead to increased productivity when it comes to the work cycle and the potential to open up new avenues for the business.”
