Polymer Training and Innovation Centre announces team

City of Wolverhampton College has employed a number of ex-PTL staff

City of Wolverhampton College has announced that it has recruited several of PTL’s former employees in order to continue the support available for staff development and education from its new Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PTIC) in Telford.

The college purchased a wide range of specialist plastic processing equipment, all training materials and intellectual property belonging to PTL when it went into administration in October 2009.

PTL’s former general manager, Charmaine Bowers, will head up the PTIC as operations manager. Holding a degree in business management, Bowers has eight years experience in personnel and training roles within the printing, automotive and plastic industries, and an additional five years in manufacturing production management with specialist building products company Epwin.

Steve Harratt, former business development manager at PTL, has been employed to concentrate on customer engagement to ensure that commercial courses are well attended. Harratt said: “This is a unique opportunity to learn from the past and to create something that will be even better to support the needs of the UK polymer processing sectors.”

Bill Mountain, who has more than 35 years of experience within the polymer industry and who spent 25 years with PTL, will specialise in injection moulding course provision and verification of the NVQ operations.

Geoff Jordan will manage blow moulding course provision and provide assessment support to the NVQ operations. Graham Pickwell will manage blown film course provision, provide NVQ assessment support and waste management consultancy support services.

In addition, two more former PTL employees who have established their own companies have agreed terms with the college to act as subcontractors. Ian Francis has been engaged to provide NVQ training and assessment support for college learners based in the North East, while Roger Edenborough has been engaged to project manage the installation of the polymer processing equipment into the new PTIC centre, which is planned to be operational by April 2010.

Georgina Parker, director of employer engagement at the college, said: “We are delighted to have on board so many of PTL’s former staff, who bring with them a wealth of expertise and knowledge.

“We have already had a lot of interest in the new centre and feedback we have received from previous PTL customers is that the service they received was excellent and we obviously wish to build on this as we launch the new PTIC.”

For more information about the centre contact Bowers on 01952 610101 or email PTIC@wolvcoll.ac.uk

[ Back ]