Recruitment drive launched after relocation to new HQ.

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【Summary】Spillard Safety Systems has invested over £200,000 in a new headquarters in Four Ashes, expanding its facilities to accommodate a 30% increase in installations scheduled for this year. The company has also initiated a recruitment drive to hire 12 engineers and three apprentices. The new headquarters includes more warehousing space, a dedicated R&D unit, and an eight-bay commercial vehicle workshop.

FutureCar Staff Oct 27, 2023 6:31 AM PT

Recruitment drive launched after relocation to new HQ.

Spillard Safety Systems, a rapidly growing manufacturer in the West Midlands, has invested over £200,000 in a new headquarters located in Four Ashes. The company has relocated to a facility that is three times larger than its previous site, spanning 28,500 square feet. The new 'Safety Hub' provides increased warehousing space, a dedicated R&D unit for product development, and an eight-bay commercial vehicle workshop to accommodate a 30% rise in installations scheduled for this year.

Brothers Pete and Craig Spillard, who lead the company, have also initiated a significant recruitment drive. They plan to hire an additional 12 engineers and three apprentices. Pete, the Managing Director since 2003, explained that the new headquarters was a long-planned venture. When the opportunity arose to purchase the building opposite their previous base, they seized it. The building was stripped down to its shell and redesigned to their specifications, featuring a dedicated sales office, larger assembly space, expanded room for R&D, and a workshop area to facilitate more installations and technology demonstrations.

One notable investment is the establishment of a new training school within the headquarters. The training school can accommodate up to 20 individuals, providing a combination of theoretical education and hands-on practical workshop experience. This initiative is crucial for nurturing the next generation of engineers and potentially training staff from their customers.

In 2022, Spillard Safety Systems experienced a record-breaking year, with sales increasing by an additional 25%. The growth was primarily driven by the introduction of two groundbreaking technologies aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities while enhancing operational performance. The AI Human Detection System (HDS) has been well-received, surpassing traditional systems by identifying humans through their shape, form, and characteristics. It delivers audible and visual alerts when a person enters a predetermined restricted or exclusion zone. Another successful launch was Spillard Live, a cloud-based platform that captures and streams real-time video and analytics from multiple cameras simultaneously. This technology has already garnered interest from companies such as AF Blakemore, Lomas Distribution, and Flannery Plant Hire.

Craig Spillard, the finance director, expressed excitement about the company's training school, believing it will become the industry's premier institution. The school offers a combination of classroom and workshop spaces to train apprentices and upskill engineers joining as part of the recruitment drive. Additionally, they are exploring the development of a program to educate and train staff from their customers in installing the HDS and 'Spillard' Live systems. This initiative aims to significantly speed up implementation by 50% and meet the growing demand from clients in all sectors.

The technological advancements of Spillard Safety Systems have gained recognition from industry peers, earning them prestigious awards such as Technology Innovation of the Year and Best Use of Technology from Construction News, the National Highways SMP Alliance Best Innovation Award, and the Safety Innovation Award at the Plantworx Construction Exhibition. To take a 360 virtual tour of the new Safety Hub, visit https://www.spillard.com/360-tour/.