Airedale recognises long-serving staff

UK: More than 55 people with in excess of 1,100 years of combined service are this year celebrating long service awards with Airedale.

Between them, the Leeds-based specialist cooling systems manufacturer, its Johannesburg subsidiary, AIAC Air Conditioning South Africa, and Consett-based subsidiary, Barkell, can boast an enviable long service record: 38% of the combined workforce have clocked up 11 years or more with the business.

Company secretary, John Clegg, can claim 35 years with the company. He first met the original directors, Peter Midgley and the recently deceased Alan Duttine, in 1974 when the business was in its infancy and was finally persuaded to join in 1980 as group financial controller.

Clive Parkman, the group’s managing director, commented: “I’m always exceedingly proud to present our long service awards. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength and size of our workforce and shows just how dedicated people are. The wealth of knowledge they bring to the design, manufacture, integration and support of our high quality British engineered products deserves to be celebrated.

Airedale attributes its long service achievement in part to a commitment to investment in its people. Currently there are 13 apprentices gaining experience in R&D, manufacturing, controls, and external service and technical support. All of these trainees are expected to stay on at the end of their internships, following in the footsteps of former apprentices like technical support commissioning engineers, Richard Chalk and Adam Ellis, who are both celebrating 15 years with Airedale this year.

Staff, new and old, are now gradually returning to the company’s main factory in Rawdon, which has now been rebuilt following the major fire in September 2013.

“The phased return to our Rawdon site is now well underway and everyone is extremely excited about the future,” commented Clive Parkman.