Manufacturer wins award for developing its employees

From left: Christian Warden, EEF Programme Director, Louise Rigby, HR Director at SMR Automotive, Sam Clarke, SMR's HR manager. Picture: Chris Sharp Photography

A Portchester-based company has been recognised as a British manufacturing champion after taking silver at the EEF/Aldermore Future Manufacturing Awards.

SMR Automotive, which manufactures rear-view mirrors for passenger cars and employs 688 staff,  was singled out at the national awards in London last week.

It was in the running for the Developing People Award, given to the manufacturer that has done the most to build skills, harness talent and develop its employees.

SMR was selected by a panel of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics.

Judges were impressed by its clear, data-driven approach to understanding development needs, putting plans in place and recognising and nurturing home-grown talent.

The company has devised a broad and flexible programme, which has been such a success at the site in Portchester that the programme is now being rolled-out into the wider leadership group.

Managing director Alun Tribe, said: ‘We’ve always said that it’s the people that make our business the success that it is.

‘We wanted to ensure that we had an innovative development scheme in place to ensure our employees remain motivated and to create a culture where people can thrive.

‘To win this award and to have our success recognised is a great accomplishment and compliment to our team.’

Carl D’Ammassa, group managing director – Business Finance at Aldermore, said: ‘This company has proved itself to be inspirational.

‘SMR deserves this recognition and we wish them every success in the future.’