Overview
BGB Innovation delivers engineering and manufacturing solutions to the energy industry, supplying slip rings for wind and tidal turbines, as well as nuclear and power plants the world over.
If you’re looking to recruit, T Levels are a no-brainer.
Case study details
Location: East midlands
Sector / subsector: Engineering / General manufacture & Energy
Number of employees: 110
A new generation of manufacturers
The family-owned firm has been operating for almost 50 years and employs 110 people across its two sites in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and its US base in Virginia.
As BGB’s Production Manager, Nathan Flower knows the importance of a good pipeline of talent to a growing business, and why nurturing that talent early can pay dividends. “We’ve got an ageing workforce here at BGB - lots of experienced specialists who’ve been with us a long time - so we knew we needed to do something to invest in our future team and open our doors to the next generation of manufacturers.
“We already had a good relationship with the local college in Grantham and they introduced us to T Levels,” continues Nathan. The college put forward three promising applicants, and BGB invited them all in for a chat and walk around the business. “It was important to us to offer a meaningful experience right from the beginning, and that starts with the interview.”
“The long-standing skills gap in our sector really needs addressing and T Levels can play a crucial part. It’s important that our team on the shop floor sees BGB proactively working to bridge the gap. We’re not just waiting for someone to come to us; we’re opening our doors and giving real opportunities that could then lead to employment.”
Nathan Flower, BGB Production Manager
“In fact, hosting a T Level student for a work placement is much like an extended interview. You really get to know each other over the 45 days and can see the young talent in action - by the end of it you have a clear view of whether the student is a good fit for your business. I think that’s brilliant.”
“The long-standing skills gap in our sector really needs addressing and T Levels could play a crucial part. It’s important that our team on the shop floor sees BGB proactively working to bridge the gap. We’re not just waiting for someone to come to us; we’re opening our doors and giving real opportunities that could then lead to employment.”
Skipping the recruitment process
BGB has now hosted two T Level students for work placements and has a good programme in place. “We make sure to split the students’ time between our four departments, so they get a 360 perspective of what we do. That breadth of experience really does pay dividends because by the end of the placement you can cherry pick the good ones and say ‘Brilliant, would you like a job?”
BGB aims to recruit two or three young individuals each year. “We’re ideally aiming to get to the point where we can recruit someone after they complete a T Level work placement with us, which means they’re integrated in the business, know the products and the people. And then if it feels like the right fit, we don’t have to go through a recruitment process, we can just offer a position.”
Nathan concludes: “Hosting a T Level student is a straight-forward process with surprisingly little paperwork, although the college guided us through everything.
“I can only speak from my own experience, but the students we’ve had were really switched-on. They had a good understanding of maths - a baseline requirement for our work - and they came armed with the knowledge to understand basic drawings and how to use the equipment. They’ve got that next level, so to speak.”
“For us, it’s a win-win. We can offer a meaningful work placement to support and inspire the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, while at the same time recruiting from that pipeline of promising young talent.”