Following a highly successfulrecruitment drive, conducted in

association with local colleges of furthereducation, The Automated TechnologyGroup has made offers to nine youngpeople to join The Academy, its in-houseapprenticeship programme.

Explains Andy Osborn, Training Manager,“We held a number of assessmentevents at colleges local to our Silsoeand Kings Norton sites, at whichapplicants were challenged toundertake a series of aptitude tests,team-building events and interviews.Following these, we have made offersto nine young people to join TheAcademy. With another offer currently

pending, we expect to hit ourrecruitment target of ten apprenticesfor this year.”

“We’re looking forward to welcomingour latest recruits,” comments AndyRobinson, CEO, “and helping them todevelop their engineering skills andbusiness confidence. Their arrival willtake the total number of apprenticeswithin The Automated TechnologyGroup to 43. It is our aim to maintain a ratio of apprentices to other teammembers of around 10% and we arewell on track to achieving this, whichdemonstrates our commitment tocombatting the skills shortage in ourbusiness sector by ‘growing our own’.”

MORE APPRENTICESJOIN THE GROUP

Inside this issue:

News across the group

October 2014 Issue 6

DIARY DATES

TEAMS ENTERNATIONAL SKILLSCOMPETITION

SUCCESSFUL5S TRAINING

BILL PEDALSTO £1000

JAMBOREE HELPFOR KATHERINE

SPONSORSHIPNEWS

PPMA Show, Sep/Oct 2014The Automated Technology Group willbe promoting its end-to-end solutions forindustrial automation, power and controlon stand F50 at the PPMA Show, whichtakes place at the NEC in Birminghamfrom 30 September to 2 October.

www.atg.gb.com

If you have an idea for anevent or feedback on eventsheld to date, please feel free toemail your social committee atsocial@atg.gb.com

SPOTLIGHT ONALAN LAWSON

BRAND-NEWWORKWEAR

Following a rigorous assessment of its healthand safety policies and practices, TheAutomated Technology Group has beenawarded Safecontractor status. One of thefastest growing health and safety assessmentschemes in the UK, Safecontractor servesmore than 220 major clients and has over22,000 contractor members.

Explained Darren Ashford, InstallationsDirector, “We are delighted to haveachieved this prestigious accreditation. It clearly demonstrates to clients andprospective customers the high standardswe set for health and safety and theaccolade will assist us in terms ofprequalification requirements for future projects.”

Nick Reidy

SAFECONTRACTORACCREDITATION

In the latest of our series ofemployee interviews, we turn thespotlight on Alan Lawson, SalesManager for PSJ Fabrications.

What brought you into thisindustry?It started out as a summer job before I continued my education, which I nevergot around to!

Who inspired you most in yourcareer?I would say Derek Jackson, former Directorof PSJ – a driven man who had hiswork/life balance just about right.

If you had to do it all again,what would you do differently?Nothing. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal and tochange one thing would alter everything else.

What is the most embarrassingthing that’s ever happened to you?I remember competing in a cycle time trialevent once, where I wasn’t sure of thecourse. Spotting a lone rider in the distanceon a time trial bike, I followed him for aroundseven miles, only to watch him turn into hisdriveway. Needless to say, I was hopelesslyoff course and got back to the finish with atime that could be measured on a sundial.

Who or what makes you laugh?Johnny (9 times) Bangs, whose anticshave now taken over from the legendarytales of Martin Beale.

Do you have any hidden talents?These tend to be the things you find outwhen you really push yourself; I spend alot of my spare time competing in roadrace cycling or time trial events and hadnever really considered mountain bikingbefore. However, at the end of July thisyear, I competed in the Bontrager 12-hourendurance mountain bike race andcame 59th out of a field of over 600,despite only having ridden a mountainbike a dozen times in the last ten years. So that’s the latest hidden talent.

If you won the lottery, whatwould you do?After obviously taking care of my familyand friends, I’d give the rest of it away.

What’s your favourite book of all time?‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë; the book has everything – love, despair,success and betrayal – but ultimatelyshows the futility of revenge. I tend tore-read this every five years or so.

Who would be your perfectparty guest?The 60s soul singer, Geno Washington; I recently heard an interview with him and he’s still the life and soul of the party – the man you would love to live nextdoor to you.

What is your guilty pleasure?Chateau Latour, also the drink of choicefor a certain Mr Bond (in Fleming’s novels).

Do you have any secretambitions?To keep up my lifestyle for as long as I can and to get my 25-mile time trialunder 55 minutes.

What’s your dream holidaydestination?I’ve always fancied riding my vintageVespa to the south of France.

Name your three favouritemovies of all time.‘Our Man Flint’ (the film Austin Powers wishesit could be), ‘Quadrophenia’ and the firstfive minutes of ‘Quantum Of Solace’.

What’s your favourite pastime?It would be difficult to pick between ridingmy scooter and competing in cycle races.

The 2012-2013 season was a record-breakingone for Dunstable, with promotion added whenthe SSMFL Premier League was won undefeated.The 2013-2014 season was again fantastic forthe Blues, winning the Southern League CentralDivision, gaining back-to-back promotions anda place in the Southern Premier League.

They also won the Southern LeagueChampions Trophy and Team of the Year.However, The Automated Technology Group’ssponsorship came to an end at the close ofthis season, when the group had theopportunity to increase its sponsorship of LutonTown and took the decision to assist with themomentum of their recent success. We wishDunstable Town every success for the future.

Paul Baxter

FAREWELL TODUNSTABLE TOWN

After five years festering in the fifthtier of English football, just fourgoals and ten points in theiropening eight games left theLuton faithful wondering if thiswas to be yet another fruitlesscampaign. However, Town’s 3-2comeback win, just two games into their eventual 27-match unbeaten run,epitomised the Hatters’ new-found belief.

A tricky November saw Luton crash out of the FA Cup at Welling but crucially keep their marchtowards the Skrill Premier summit on track. Allwere wary of the Hatters’ domination by Februaryas they netted 17 goals against Hereford,Nuneaton and Wrexham without reply – evenCambridge conceded the fight was over.

The 15-point gap between first and secondlooked insurmountable. If there was any hopefor the chasing pack, it came in the form ofGarry Hill’s well-drilled Woking side. Live on BTSport, Town’s unbeaten run ended with their firsthome league defeat of the season. Three dayslater, Kidderminster knocked the final two nailsinto Cambridge’s promotion coffin andhanded the title to Town.

Twitter was ablaze with #LutonAreBack and at the conclusion of Luton’s 2-1 win at WellingUnited on Easter Saturday, the 2,000 Hatters inattendance surged onto the pitch. So it was afortress Kenilworth Road return on Easter Mondayto see the champions lift the title in style.

A 4-1 thumping of Forest Green Rovers foranother full house ended a near-perfect homeseason for Still’s men. The Hatters could be inthe Premier League soon enough. That wouldrequire promotions as quick as the free-fall thatforced them out of the Football League fiveyears ago. Nonetheless, the future’s bright, thefuture’s orange.

Paul Baxter

LUTONFLYING HIGH

Austen Greenway, Senior Simulation Engineer,raced his way to two class pole positions, twoclass wins and a new lap record at Silverstone atthe end of August. Austen, who was interviewedafter the race by the TV crew at the event, was

driving his car for the first time with its newbranding for The Automated Technology Group.

Matt Challinor

LAP RECORD FOR AUSTEN

NEW BLUESThe Blues have prepared for the 2014/15Greene King IPA Championship by confirmingtwo signings to the team – the first being JoshBuggea, signed from Worcester Warriors, andthe second being Andy Petts as Strength andConditioning Coach, following the departure ofPaddy Hogben.

Kerry Thompson

The Automated Technology Group isdelighted to be supporting local Scout,Katherine Reaper, in her fundraising efforts toattend the 23rd World Scout Jamboree inJapan next year. Thirteen-year-old Katherine,who lives in Silsoe and is a member of theAmpthill and Woburn troop, succeeded insecuring a place at the event after a gruellingselection process. She will be one of 30,000young people from 120 countries to attendthe Jamboree, which is being held at Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, in summer 2015.

As well as seeking sponsorship from localbusinesses to raise the £3400 needed toattend, Katherine has been busy with a wholerange of enterprising activities including apaper round, stalls at local fairs, packingshopping in supermarkets at Christmas, acycle ride and an origami challenge.

ATG Social Committee

JAMBOREE HELPFOR KATHERINE

Two teams of apprentices from The Academyare entering the WorldSkills UK nationalcompetitions, to be held at The Skills Show atBirmingham’s NEC in November. The event willsee young people demonstrate their skills asthey compete against one another indisciplines ranging from stonemasonry tofloristry and media make-up to landscapegardening. The Skills Show is the UK’s largest skillsand careers event, attracting over 75,000visitors and providing inspiration for youngpeople to explore a wide variety of careers.

The Automated Technology Group is enteringtwo teams into the Industrial Controlscompetition, which will require them toshowcase their ability to solve a probleminvolving PLC programming, use of an HMI and some mechanical fitting skills, as well asknowledge of pneumatics and hydraulics.The first-year team consists of James Masonand Josh Russell, with James Ellis and KerryThompson making up the second-year team.

James Kissane, who is acting as their mentorfor this challenge, says, “They have gainedvaluable experience in all aspects of theprocess through their experiences in fittingout the Training Room and we wish them thebest of luck.”

Andy Osborn

The reaction to the new-look branded workwearhas been overwhelmingly positive. With poloshirts, gilets, jackets, trousers, caps, beanie hats,hard hats and safety vests now available, theclothing range is both stylish and practical.

Commented Nick Reidy,Business DevelopmentDirector, “The newworkwear has beenvery well received byboth employees andclients. Our staff arethe ambassadors forthe brand identity ofThe AutomatedTechnology Group, sowe not only want themto be comfortable,safe and warm in theirwork, but also to lookprofessional.”

ATG Social Committee

BRAND-NEWWORKWEARTEAMS ENTER NATIONAL SKILLS COMPETITION

Bill White, Programming Technician at PSJ,took to two wheels recently to tackle theLondon to Brighton cycle ride in aid of theBritish Heart Foundation. Dedicating his rideto his late mum, Bill completed the course in three and a half hours and his efforts haveraised over £1000 in sponsorship.

Bill, who also completed the event last yearas part of a team of seven from TheAutomated Technology Group,commented: “This time I managed to ridefor the whole 54 miles, including thesteep climb up Ditchling Beacon. As ever,it was a great spectacle – with about30,000 people taking part – and theatmosphere was great.” Bill would like tothank everyone who sponsored him andshowed their support.

Johnny Bangs

BILL PEDALSTO £1000

FROM THECEO’S DESK...

Recently some employees within Autotech andIgranic completed a 5S training course. For theuninitiated, 5S is a workplace organizationmethodology based on five Japanese words:‘seiri’, ‘seiton’, ‘seiso’, ‘seiketsu’ and ‘shitsuke’.Although various English versions are possible,they can be translated into ‘sort’, ‘straighten’,‘shine’, ‘standardize’ and ‘sustain’.

The course showed how small changes to makea business more organised and efficient couldhelp a company to produce high qualityproducts. The methods involve working as ateam to discuss what can be done to improvecertain areas in the procedure or organisation.You may have noticed some of these minorchanges around the company, particularly inthe panel shop areas and also the print room in the office upstairs.

Kerry Thompson

SUCCESSFUL 5S TRAINING

With a forecast of 3% growth in GDP for the UK and an evident upsurge in

manufacturing, The Automated TechnologyGroup is well placed to continue on the path of success. As well as general buoyancy in themarkets we serve, our customers are highlyactive right now. Jaguar Land Rover, forexample, is investing in more plants worldwideand the Thames Amp 6 phase of investment is kicking off; we have a huge list of othersignificant projects for power, airports and evenfootball stadiums!

Through regular interaction right across thegroup, it is obvious that we are one integratedteam, keen to work together. With highly skilledemployees and fantastic experience through a range of large and complex projects, it ishardly surprising that our services are in suchdemand. I am really excited about the futureand firmly believe that we are ideally placed to continue our success.

The competitors, left to right: Kerry Thompson,James Ellis, Josh Russell and James Mason

The 2012-2013 season was a record-breakingone for Dunstable, with promotion added whenthe SSMFL Premier League was won undefeated.The 2013-2014 season was again fantastic forthe Blues, winning the Southern League CentralDivision, gaining back-to-back promotions anda place in the Southern Premier League.

They also won the Southern LeagueChampions Trophy and Team of the Year.However, The Automated Technology Group’ssponsorship came to an end at the close ofthis season, when the group had theopportunity to increase its sponsorship of LutonTown and took the decision to assist with themomentum of their recent success. We wishDunstable Town every success for the future.

Paul Baxter

FAREWELL TODUNSTABLE TOWN

After five years festering in the fifthtier of English football, just fourgoals and ten points in theiropening eight games left theLuton faithful wondering if thiswas to be yet another fruitlesscampaign. However, Town’s 3-2comeback win, just two games into their eventual 27-match unbeaten run,epitomised the Hatters’ new-found belief.

A tricky November saw Luton crash out of the FA Cup at Welling but crucially keep their marchtowards the Skrill Premier summit on track. Allwere wary of the Hatters’ domination by Februaryas they netted 17 goals against Hereford,Nuneaton and Wrexham without reply – evenCambridge conceded the fight was over.

The 15-point gap between first and secondlooked insurmountable. If there was any hopefor the chasing pack, it came in the form ofGarry Hill’s well-drilled Woking side. Live on BTSport, Town’s unbeaten run ended with their firsthome league defeat of the season. Three dayslater, Kidderminster knocked the final two nailsinto Cambridge’s promotion coffin andhanded the title to Town.

Twitter was ablaze with #LutonAreBack and at the conclusion of Luton’s 2-1 win at WellingUnited on Easter Saturday, the 2,000 Hatters inattendance surged onto the pitch. So it was afortress Kenilworth Road return on Easter Mondayto see the champions lift the title in style.

A 4-1 thumping of Forest Green Rovers foranother full house ended a near-perfect homeseason for Still’s men. The Hatters could be inthe Premier League soon enough. That wouldrequire promotions as quick as the free-fall thatforced them out of the Football League fiveyears ago. Nonetheless, the future’s bright, thefuture’s orange.

Paul Baxter

LUTONFLYING HIGH

Austen Greenway, Senior Simulation Engineer,raced his way to two class pole positions, twoclass wins and a new lap record at Silverstone atthe end of August. Austen, who was interviewedafter the race by the TV crew at the event, was

driving his car for the first time with its newbranding for The Automated Technology Group.

Matt Challinor

LAP RECORD FOR AUSTEN

NEW BLUESThe Blues have prepared for the 2014/15Greene King IPA Championship by confirmingtwo signings to the team – the first being JoshBuggea, signed from Worcester Warriors, andthe second being Andy Petts as Strength andConditioning Coach, following the departure ofPaddy Hogben.

Kerry Thompson

The Automated Technology Group isdelighted to be supporting local Scout,Katherine Reaper, in her fundraising efforts toattend the 23rd World Scout Jamboree inJapan next year. Thirteen-year-old Katherine,who lives in Silsoe and is a member of theAmpthill and Woburn troop, succeeded insecuring a place at the event after a gruellingselection process. She will be one of 30,000young people from 120 countries to attendthe Jamboree, which is being held at Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, in summer 2015.

As well as seeking sponsorship from localbusinesses to raise the £3400 needed toattend, Katherine has been busy with a wholerange of enterprising activities including apaper round, stalls at local fairs, packingshopping in supermarkets at Christmas, acycle ride and an origami challenge.

ATG Social Committee

JAMBOREE HELPFOR KATHERINE

Bill White, Programming Technician at PSJ,took to two wheels recently to tackle theLondon to Brighton cycle ride in aid of theBritish Heart Foundation. Dedicating his rideto his late mum, Bill completed the course in three and a half hours and his efforts haveraised over £1000 in sponsorship.

Bill, who also completed the event last yearas part of a team of seven from TheAutomated Technology Group,commented: “This time I managed to ridefor the whole 54 miles, including thesteep climb up Ditchling Beacon. As ever,it was a great spectacle – with about30,000 people taking part – and theatmosphere was great.” Bill would like tothank everyone who sponsored him andshowed their support.

Johnny Bangs

BILL PEDALSTO £1000

Following a highly successfulrecruitment drive, conducted in

association with local colleges of furthereducation, The Automated TechnologyGroup has made offers to nine youngpeople to join The Academy, its in-houseapprenticeship programme.

Explains Andy Osborn, Training Manager,“We held a number of assessmentevents at colleges local to our Silsoeand Kings Norton sites, at whichapplicants were challenged toundertake a series of aptitude tests,team-building events and interviews.Following these, we have made offersto nine young people to join TheAcademy. With another offer currently

pending, we expect to hit ourrecruitment target of ten apprenticesfor this year.”

“We’re looking forward to welcomingour latest recruits,” comments AndyRobinson, CEO, “and helping them todevelop their engineering skills andbusiness confidence. Their arrival willtake the total number of apprenticeswithin The Automated TechnologyGroup to 43. It is our aim to maintain a ratio of apprentices to other teammembers of around 10% and we arewell on track to achieving this, whichdemonstrates our commitment tocombatting the skills shortage in ourbusiness sector by ‘growing our own’.”

MORE APPRENTICESJOIN THE GROUP

Inside this issue:

News across the group

October 2014 Issue 6

DIARY DATES

TEAMS ENTERNATIONAL SKILLSCOMPETITION

SUCCESSFUL5S TRAINING

BILL PEDALSTO £1000

JAMBOREE HELPFOR KATHERINE

SPONSORSHIPNEWS

PPMA Show, Sep/Oct 2014The Automated Technology Group willbe promoting its end-to-end solutions forindustrial automation, power and controlon stand F50 at the PPMA Show, whichtakes place at the NEC in Birminghamfrom 30 September to 2 October.

www.atg.gb.com

If you have an idea for anevent or feedback on eventsheld to date, please feel free toemail your social committee atsocial@atg.gb.com

SPOTLIGHT ONALAN LAWSON

BRAND-NEWWORKWEAR

Following a rigorous assessment of its healthand safety policies and practices, TheAutomated Technology Group has beenawarded Safecontractor status. One of thefastest growing health and safety assessmentschemes in the UK, Safecontractor servesmore than 220 major clients and has over22,000 contractor members.

Explained Darren Ashford, InstallationsDirector, “We are delighted to haveachieved this prestigious accreditation. It clearly demonstrates to clients andprospective customers the high standardswe set for health and safety and theaccolade will assist us in terms ofprequalification requirements for future projects.”

Nick Reidy

SAFECONTRACTORACCREDITATION

In the latest of our series ofemployee interviews, we turn thespotlight on Alan Lawson, SalesManager for PSJ Fabrications.

What brought you into thisindustry?It started out as a summer job before I continued my education, which I nevergot around to!

Who inspired you most in yourcareer?I would say Derek Jackson, former Directorof PSJ – a driven man who had hiswork/life balance just about right.

If you had to do it all again,what would you do differently?Nothing. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal and tochange one thing would alter everything else.

What is the most embarrassingthing that’s ever happened to you?I remember competing in a cycle time trialevent once, where I wasn’t sure of thecourse. Spotting a lone rider in the distanceon a time trial bike, I followed him for aroundseven miles, only to watch him turn into hisdriveway. Needless to say, I was hopelesslyoff course and got back to the finish with atime that could be measured on a sundial.

Who or what makes you laugh?Johnny (9 times) Bangs, whose anticshave now taken over from the legendarytales of Martin Beale.

Do you have any hidden talents?These tend to be the things you find outwhen you really push yourself; I spend alot of my spare time competing in roadrace cycling or time trial events and hadnever really considered mountain bikingbefore. However, at the end of July thisyear, I competed in the Bontrager 12-hourendurance mountain bike race andcame 59th out of a field of over 600,despite only having ridden a mountainbike a dozen times in the last ten years. So that’s the latest hidden talent.

If you won the lottery, whatwould you do?After obviously taking care of my familyand friends, I’d give the rest of it away.

What’s your favourite book of all time?‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë; the book has everything – love, despair,success and betrayal – but ultimatelyshows the futility of revenge. I tend tore-read this every five years or so.

Who would be your perfectparty guest?The 60s soul singer, Geno Washington; I recently heard an interview with him and he’s still the life and soul of the party – the man you would love to live nextdoor to you.

What is your guilty pleasure?Chateau Latour, also the drink of choicefor a certain Mr Bond (in Fleming’s novels).

Do you have any secretambitions?To keep up my lifestyle for as long as I can and to get my 25-mile time trialunder 55 minutes.

What’s your dream holidaydestination?I’ve always fancied riding my vintageVespa to the south of France.

Name your three favouritemovies of all time.‘Our Man Flint’ (the film Austin Powers wishesit could be), ‘Quadrophenia’ and the firstfive minutes of ‘Quantum Of Solace’.

What’s your favourite pastime?It would be difficult to pick between ridingmy scooter and competing in cycle races.