Welding and fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources is celebrating becoming one of the first SME manufacturing companies in the South West to achieve ready to supply status through the Fit for Nuclear (F4N) programme.
The Gloucestershire-based company received guidance and support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on what it needed to do to meet the required industry standards for supplying the nuclear sector.
Gaining another key market in which to seek new contracts caps a very successful 2014 for Arc Energy, a year that also marks the company’s 20th anniversary.
Earlier this year, managing director, Alan Robinson was named the Best European Welding Coordinator by the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF); while Director, Andrew Robinson took home the Director Development Award at the Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Director of the Year Awards.
Arc Energy has worked closely with MAS over the last nine years on numerous projects to support the development of its team, business strategy and processes.
During this period, the company has increased its turnover by over 250%, more than doubled the workforce and taken on a number of apprentices.
Alan and Rosemary Robinson commented: “Every project we have completed with MAS has been valuable and has always improved the business. Our shop floor is as organised and successful as it has ever been and communication is 10 times better than before.
Production is so much mor”e efficient and there is now an ethos of continuous improvement with staff encouraged to put their suggestions forward. Whenever we are looking to make improvements to our operations, MAS is the only organisation we consider.”
John Phillipart, MAS advisor for Gloucestershire, said: “Arc Energy is a very focused and driven company, constantly looking at opportunities to grow.
“With our support in helping to develop the team and streamline production, the business has been able to expand its operations sustainably and adapt to changes in the market.
“We are proud to have developed such a strong working relationship and look forward to many more years of partnership.”
MAS has recently joined forces with the Nuclear AMRC to help more SME manufacturers in the South West access support through F4N and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the UK’s rapidly developing £60bn civil nuclear new build programme and in decommissioning.
Offering a business improvement journey that will identify strategy, implement new processes, secure necessary accreditations and provide supplier matching opportunities, the F4N programme also offers participating SMEs the chance to apply for match funding for business improvement or R&D projects.
