"The training programme was a substantial driver in taking us from a loss-making position to a profit"
Unlocking management potential to achieve growth
Andrew Churchill recognised that, in order to grow, his business needed to diversify and change. It was however, critical to the success of the business that the change process did
not impact negatively on the quality, versatility, skills and best practice that were already in place.
JJ Churchill is fortunate in having a very loyal workforce, with many of today’s employees having been with the company for over 20 years and across multiple generations – Andrew is not unique in being a third-generation employee! He recognised however, that this posed its own challenges.
“Our team knows the product and the customers intimately, but when it comes to moving forward with the times, the longevity of the workforce can also be one of the biggest brakes on change”.
Andrew needed the ability to guide his senior management team through a period of change. He recognised that, by understanding and buying into the need for change, they would then be equipped to cascade the processes down to supervisor and shop-floor level.
“I was looking for an organisation to help us tailor a programme of learning and development that we would run over a period of two to three years. EEF has been incredibly instrumental in taking us through this journey and what I have found most liberating, is that right from the beginning EEF listened to what we wanted! ”
Once we understood Andrew’s goals and the business outcomes he hoped to achieve, we were able to design and deliver specific training courses to deliver his objectives.
We ran a series of courses with the management team over a two-year timeframe, with a period of review and modification built in between courses. We then went on to deliver a second series of courses appropriate to both supervisor and shop floor employees.
During this period, JJ Churchill has developed advanced management skills, capable of delivering best business practice, as well as enabling an impressive trebling of turnover.
“Trebling of turnover on its own is interesting, but not terribly important. It’s what that delivers to the bottom line that counts, and I am pleased to say that the training programme was a substantial driver in taking us from a lossmaking position to a profit steadily over each of those years.”
JJ Churchill and EEF - working together to influence government policy
JJ Churchill has also greatly valued the network access afforded by being an EEF member. Not only has the company derived great benefit from networking within the manufacturing sector itself, it has also gained the opportunity to influence government policy through our considerable influence in policy and representation.
“This has translated into us being part of EEF’s Taxation Project Committee and Economic Policy Committee. At the same time, representatives from the Treasury accepted an invitation to visit JJ Churchill as part of the ongoing process of dialogue to drive change, enhance and refine future manufacturing policy and legislation.
” Managing the workforce productively Over the 37 years we’ve been working together, we’re proud that our legal experts have never lost an employment tribunal for JJ Churchill. Ultimately though, our aim is to equip the organisation with the right support and guidance so that it doesn’t find itself facing tribunal again.
By providing access to our employment help desk, expert lawyers and employee relations specialists, as well as regular updates and briefings, we keep members like JJ Churchill fully informed and ready to meet the day-to-day challenges of business.
Turning compliance into opportunity
Whether it’s employment law, HR processes, health, safety and environmental advice, or learning and development initiatives – EEF’s information is both timely and practical. Our support is aimed at keeping businesses like Andrew’s one step ahead of the rapidly evolving legislative framework.
“We can’t afford to wait for legislation to force change, and we don’t wait for our customers to demand certain accreditations. By the time you wait to be asked, you’ve lost the competitive advantage. So we look to EEF for support via its email alerts and monthly bulletins for advice in these areas - along with guidance on innovation, climate change strategy and proactive work with government legislation. "
A partnership which delivers real value
By working with JJ Churchill to understand the requirements of its supply chain, we were able to help the organisation turn legislative compliance into business benefit.
In terms of business value though, Andrew has no doubt where the partnership with JJ Churchill and EEF has delivered the greatest benefit:
“From my perspective, it is EEF’s approach to training that has been most valuable recently. If I look back four years, I seriously doubt whether we would still be in business if we hadn’t made the transition with the management team. It has really enabled us to grasp and deal with the volatile nature of our markets.
Without that support and training, we probably wouldn’t now exist. Instead, we have trebled turnover, annually reinvested 10% of sales revenue (around £2 million) into new equipment, and enhanced our overall infrastructure. ”