Burton-headquarted Russell Roof Tiles (RRT), who next year will have spent 25 years in the town, is looking forward to a solid future by investing in young local talent.
Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent manufacturer of tiles and fittings who currently employs a team of 150 across its two Burton sites and a third in Scotland.
The company has 13 young members of staff across its two Burton sites, with an average age of 23. They have been recognised for their burgeoning talents by Managing Director Andrew Hayward, who is a firm believer of nurturing talent in his workforce, enhancing the company’s assets and the local talent pool.
Daniel Hancox, 22 from Burton on Trent, started at RRT straight from college having completed his A Levels. Identifying his desire to progress, Daniel was enrolled onto a Business Management Degree and is doing a CIMA accounting qualification which helps in his current role as Management Trainee, assisting the company’s Financial Director with accounts and reports.
Commenting on the company’s attitude to junior staff Daniel said, “Getting companies to take that leap of faith on fresh workers is difficult, but RRT is different. They value youth for what it is: fresh thinking, creative minds, and mouldable talent. The team here recognise hidden abilities and nurture them, building a workforce for tomorrow.”
A more recent recruit to the company is 21 year old Zoe Hassell from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, who although being at the company less than three months has already shown the determination to advance.
Zoe is currently completing distance-learning degree in Managing in the Service Industry which will enable her to progress from her role as a Customer Service Advisor to a management level position.
Zoe previously worked in events management and comments on her move to the construction product industry, “It’s a great time to be in the construction and manufacturing sector, with all the new homes being built there is a real demand for our Burton-made RRT product.”
RRT has also invested in new talent in the manufacturing arm of the company. Recruiting and training continues to underpin the future foundation of the business.
Otto Mathiesen at 21 years of age has just completed his Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship after three years with the business and comments “RRT has provided me with a fantastic opportunity at a young age to build a career in my chosen field.
“Like many of my colleagues I am very grateful and committed to the business and its ethos for supporting young people for giving me not only vocational skills but a real self-belief in my ability and a firm understanding of teamwork in the workplace.”
It is not only academic training courses that Andrew favours for his young workforce, he is also a great believer in training on the job and work based learning, with a number of his newer recruits in Sales learning the skills they need from established managers.
Andrew comments, “It’s an exciting time of growth after a tough few years and the growing market demands new staff. We are building a team for the future, ensuring that the skilled aging workforce has people with youth, drive and talent to take up that gauntlet and make the UK manufacturing industry a legacy that can stand the weathering of time.”