£20k investment in 3D CAM software

[Online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

In order to manufacture increasingly complex components, we have made a £20,000 investment in 3D CNC software.

The amazing Edgecam CAD-CAM package enables us to accurately produce complex parts direct from a customer’s solid model. And because the new programmes contain less CNC machinery idle time, our efficiency, lead times, competitive edge and pricing are constantly being enhanced.

It creates coding for CNC machinery programmes, saving many hours of manual programming and engineering time. The software uses latest manufacturing strategies that are essential for manufacturing complex components as they are virtually impossible to programme longhand.

And because cost estimates can be calculated direct from a 3D scan of a customer’s solid model, it allows us to produce quotations faster. From start to finish, the whole process is faster.

No plodding with the PC

[Social media for slum charity Child of Hope]

Noticing that a couple of community children had gone missing recently, we invited our friend Officer Atim from the local Police Family Unit to come and talk to our kids.

She did a great job encouraging them to stay at school and giving them helpful instructions on how to stay safe – very helpful as the slum is often not a safe place.

We really like Officer Atim and consider her part of our Child of Hope family!

New children at our slum school, and lots more news!

[eNewsletter for slum charity Child of Hope]

Here's the latest news from Child of Hope! Enjoy... and don't forget you can always find new stories on our website!

Click here to read the full newsletter

BBQ brekkie this Friday!

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Join us this Friday for a scrummy BBQ bacon bap! Anytime between 9am and 12 noon… so make it a brunch if you like!

We’re helping run a fundraiser with Autism Wessex, which has a Community Support Services office in our business centre. There’s also a bake-off event and a chance to win in the charity’s raffle. Come and tuck in!

Autism Wessex is a regional charity providing high-quality specialist services for people affected by autism and associated difficulties across the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Headteacher Mike in England

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

The Primary Headteacher of Child of Hope, Mike Kutosi, recently visited St Mary Redcliffe Primary school in England for two weeks. 

Mike has been spending time in classes observing teachers and thinking about what ideas he could bring back to Child of Hope to help develop the teaching and learning. Lucy, St Mary’s deputy headteacher and Vickie, a year 4 teacher, are returning to Child of Hope in July so will be supporting Mike on implementing any new strategies.

Here’s what Mike said about his visit to England…

“While in classes at St Mary Redcliffe Primary I have seen a lot of children working in groups which helps them to share ideas and agree/disagree on ideas. Teaching in the classes enables children to think on their own and make notes – this supports them to be critical in their thinking. 

“Children in St Mary Redcliffe are very smart in their uniform. The behaviour of the children is good and everyone has made me very welcome.

“I have enjoyed different foods which are not in Uganda. I have found the time difference strange as in Uganda it is dark at 7pm while in England it gets dark around 10pm. I have also travelled to different parts like Bath, Weymouth, where I saw the sea for the first time, and to teachers’ homes.

“I would like to extend a huge thank you for the support they have given me.”

That’s the wrong trousers!

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Today we’re going crazy with Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity on its WRONG TROUSERS DAY!

If you’re visiting or working with us today and would like to join the fun… just bring and donate £1 for the right to look wrong! You decide what to wear – from your favourite pyjamas to sport shorts, jeans to a tutu, or even hot pants! Simply wear your wackiest clothes with pride and donate £1 to help sick children.

We like Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity – it raises funds to improve the lives of sick children in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK.

Apprenticeships… the way forward

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

With a distinct lack of available qualified engineers, a proven way of helping ensure our future as a precision engineering company is to take a long-term view and develop our own people.

So, meet Jack Dinnage… he’s our fifth apprentice in five years. Jack (19) joined last August from gaining a BTech in Aerospace Engineering at Fareham College and attends a day release with Paragon Skills. His skills are developing superbly on CNC mills, lathes and some manual machinery.

And this summer – to keep the momentum going – we’ll take on No.6.

Very educational

[Photography and online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

University and college students from the UK and overseas love using self-storage with us, and right now we are helping many of them store clobber before they head home for the summer.

And because we’re really nice, students get a special discount! Call us on (01202) 520220!

Fighting ignorance, poor choices and desperation

[Social media for slum charity Child of Hope]

Our Welfare team prides itself on having good working relationships with the children and their families. They act as our ‘Social Services’ and are integral to our holistic programme. Children cannot make the most of the education we provide if they are having trouble and strife at home and our welfare team spend hours everyday visiting parents and guardians, giving advice, counselling and, unfortunately, sometimes having to involve the police.

For the majority of cases, our kids’ parents are co-operative and helpful. Just occasionally we have a family who, for whatever reason, can’t or won’t co-operate and the child’s future is put at risk because of this.

Recently this was the case for Sam (7 yrs) and Thomas (6 yrs). Despite several years of schooling with us, out of the blue their grandmother decided that she would return to her village home in Karamoja, taking the children with her... read more

Helping to govern and develop SC21

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

Groveley MD Peter Bennet has joined the national SC21 Performance, Development and Quality special interest group.

The group acts as the focal point for all performance and development work under the 21st Century Supply Chains (SC21) programme. It ensures that the performance and development guidelines for implementing supply chain performance improvement are successfully implemented across the supply chain. That includes governance of toolkits such as Business Excellence, Manufacturing Excellence, Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Procurement.

Its activities include the maintenance of the SC21 supply chain development and performance (metrics) processes, and accreditation/oversight of supply chain development training providers.

Groveley itself holds SC21’s silver accreditation.

Frontline defence

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

We are exploring the use of custom-made ear defenders for staff members working on on certain machinery. These are strange-looking, special defenders that exactly fit the person’s ear to maximise protection from machinery noise – while allowing them to clearly hear conversation… and they are more comfortable.

Effective ear protection is essential for all noisy industrial environments… many are disposable, but this type last for many years with easy cleaning.

Continuous exposure to noise levels above 85dB can cause hearing loss and, as of April 6th 2006, Health and Safety regulations require all employees to have ear protection if exposed to 85dB of noise. 85dB is about the noise level of a truck engine or busy road.

Workhouse to home

[Photography and online PR for Kirolite Ltd]

Who would have thought the site of an old workhouse would now be a delightful place to live! Well, a new development of one and two bedroom luxury apartments in Hertfordshire has succeeded – helped by gorgeous kitchens produced by Kirolite.

The 11 bespoke, fully-fitted kitchens feature high-lacquer finish on cupboards topped with a seamless, Hi-Macs work surface. Taking the client’s brief and transforming it into stunning modern kitchens, the heart of a home.

The apartments (by developerHerts Builders Ltd) are contemporary, while retaining the individuality and exterior features of the original building.

The site has lots of historic interest, with the original listed building being a workhouse in the 1800s. It subsequently became a hospital before it’s conversion to offices in the 1990s.

Click on picture for more images.

Moo-tastic business benefits from self storage

[Photography and social media for Store & Secure self storage]

Online cool baby clothes retailer Baby Moo’s has just up-sized its storage room at Store & Secure due to increased business. We caught up with Bournemouth-based founder and designer Anna-lee Kewley on a flying visit to her stock room last week and she updated us on how her business is doing.

At just 31 with two young children aged three and four – and no previous web, marketing or business experience – Anna’s business is booming. What started with just £230 and an idea is now turning over up to £8,000 a month.

She uses her room at Store & Secure mainly to hold her excess stock – so whenever she runs low on product in her workshop at home, she will pop in and collect more to replenish her stock.

Because there’s always someone here to sign for packages, we receive Anna’s goods-in and returns. We simply call her when something arrives and she comes in to store them away.

Anna said: “When I was pregnant with my first child, I found most baby clothes were pastel pinks and blues, a bit boring for my taste, and anything slightly funky was just expensive. So I sold some stuff on eBay, built a website, imported some funky baby clothing and sold it.

“I became a massive geek very fast, rebuilt the website myself onto WordPress in 2013, got heavily into SEO online marketing and PR, and we had a huge upturn in business. It was amazing. Now I design all the clothes and have them made in UK, India and Turkey.

“I use the terms alternative and funky for the clothes, there’s also some seriously wacky stuff in there… punk gear, skull motifs bright colours and black – it all sells really well.”

Anna spends a lot of time working on the business, between 60 and 70 hours a week… and on the whole, loves it.

If you’d like to read more of Anna’s story, there’s an great article on the Bournemouth Echo website.