Recruitment drive initiated after company's £200,000 move

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【Summary】Spillard Safety Systems, a West Midlands manufacturer, has invested over £200,000 in a new headquarters. The facility is three times larger than its previous site and includes more warehousing space, a dedicated R&D unit, and a commercial vehicle workshop. The company has also launched a recruitment drive to hire 12 engineers and three apprentices. Spillard's growth has been fueled by the success of its AI Human Detection System and cloud-based platform, Spillard Live.

FutureCar Staff Oct 27, 2023 4:30 PM PT

Recruitment drive initiated after company's £200,000 move

Spillard Safety Systems, a fast-growing manufacturer in the West Midlands, has invested over £200,000 in a new headquarters in Four Ashes. The company has relocated to a 28,500 square foot facility, which is three times larger than its previous site. The new 'Safety Hub' includes increased warehousing space, a dedicated R&D unit, and an eight-bay commercial vehicle workshop to accommodate a 30% increase in installations this year.

The business, led by brothers Pete and Craig Spillard, has also initiated a major recruitment drive. They plan to hire 12 engineers and three apprentices to support their expanding operations. Pete, the Managing Director since 2003, explained that the new headquarters was a long-term plan. When the opportunity to purchase the building opposite their old base arose, they seized it. They renovated the building to their specifications, including a dedicated sales office, larger assembly space, and an expansive workshop area for technology demonstrations and installations.

A significant investment was made in creating a new training school within the headquarters. The school can accommodate 20 people and offers a combination of theoretical and practical workshop experience. Pete emphasized the importance of training the next generation of engineers and potentially upskilling staff from their customers. The company aims to develop a program to educate and teach customers' staff to install their HDS and 'Spillard' Live systems, which would expedite implementation by 50%.

Spillard Safety Systems experienced a successful year in 2022, with sales increasing by 25%. The growth was driven by the introduction of two new breakthrough technologies. The AI Human Detection System (HDS) has been well-received, as it identifies humans through their shape, form, and characteristics, and provides alerts when a person enters a restricted zone. The company also launched Spillard Live, a cloud-based platform that streams real-time video and analytics from multiple cameras simultaneously. Several companies, including AF Blakemore, Lomas Distribution, and Flannery Plant Hire, have already adopted these technologies.

Craig Spillard, the finance director, expressed excitement about the training school, which they believe will be the best in the industry. The school offers a mix of classroom and workshop space to train apprentices and upskill engineers. Additionally, they plan to educate customers' staff on installing their HDS and 'Spillard' Live systems. This initiative aims to address the high demand from clients and expedite implementation.

The advancements in Spillard Safety Systems technology have been recognized by industry peers. The company has won several awards, including Technology Innovation of the Year and Best Use of Technology from Construction News, National Highways SMP Alliance Best Innovation Award, and the Safety Innovation Award at the Plantworx Construction Exhibition. To explore a virtual tour of the new Safety Hub, visit https://www.spillard.com/360-tour/.