Diplomas for high-flying duo

TWO managers at a Warrington-based chemical company have become manufacturing “Diplomats”
Christ Bate, assistant plant manager and Mark Hubbard, operations manager at PQ Silicas UK Ltd, off Milner Street, were awarded The Diploma in Manufacturing at a graduation ceremony at The University of Manchester.
The Diploma in Manufacturing is quality assured by the university and delivered by the prestigious Manufacturing Institute. It is designed to help staff fast track their careers and boost productivity and profits in their companies.
Chris and Mark were able to apply their studies to improvement projects at the performance chemicals business.
Chris said: “The working with people aspects of the diploma were particularly useful – enabling me to understand better how to interact with different characters and tailor training towards their needs. It
also enabled me to improve my negotiation and communication skills, so that I’ve been able to put arguments forward to win investment for areas of business improvement.”
Mark, who graduated with a distinction, used his diploma project to achieve significant efficiencies at the precipitates plant. This focused on behavioural changes to ensure that employees were fully involved in
designing and implementing business improvement activities that have already reduced production changeover times and increased plant availability.
Julie Madigan, Manufacturing Institute CEO, said: “We congratulate Chris and Mark on their achievement and the dedication they have shown in balancing demanding jobs with academia. We are delighted to see how they are applying their learning to boost performance at PQ Silicas, while fast tracking their own careers.”
She continued: “Now entering its 20th year, The Diploma in Manufacturing continues to provide a high level development programme for experienced and talented team leaders and managers who might not, otherwise, have the opportunity to participate in higher education. Our sector has transformed and is driven by skills, research and smarter ways of doing things. Our Diploma graduates are leading this march of the makers to even greater heights.”
High achieving practitioners from top manufacturing companies work with experts from leading UK Universities to deliver the Diploma. It provides a blueprint for those tasked with performance improvement and is a pragmatic, post experience learning programme that applies education to the workplace to deliver powerful results.
Further information: www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk
Pictured (left to right): Chris Bate; Dr John Davies, a member of The Manufacturing Institute Board of Trustees, and Mark Hubbard.