Otley-based Produmax (www.produmax.co.uk), an aerospace engineering specialist, has won a new national award that recognises how its staff and management have worked together and developed their skills to grow the business.

The presentation of the Sharing in Growth Ikigai trophy to managing director Jeremy Ridyard was attended by the company’s 70-strong workforce and guests from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Safran Nacelles, BAE Systems and Senior Aerospace (plus the EEF, Bradford City Council and Keighley College).

Sharing in Growth is a Government-backed programme to raise the competitiveness of the UK aerospace supply chain. Produmax, which makes flight control components, was selected for the Sharing in Growth transformation
programme in 2014.

Since then, the company has opened new headquarters and changed its culture, creating a far-sighted strategy and delivering operational improvements.

As a result, the family-run firm has secured contracts worth almost £20 million, won three new customers and expanded its workforce by 40%.

Finance director Mandy Ridyard said that Produmax’s growth and success are due to the capability, enthusiasm and skills of its workforce, plus the support of Sharing in Growth: “We have managed to consolidate two factories into one new one, introduce new levels of automation and improve our culture and brand exposure — all at the same time.

"We know employee engagement is key to cracking the productivity puzzle; we have increased our employee engagement by 25% and our productivity by 32%.

"We are very proud of our achievements, and we will keep applying continuous improvement for continued growth.”

Presenting the Ikigai award, Sharing in Growth chairman Bryan Jackson explained that Ikigai is a Japanese word encapsulating passion and purpose.

“Produmax is the embodiment of Ikigai in that it is good at producing something the world needs, and it has created a team culture where people are passionate about raising their skills to contribute to a successful business.”

The event also celebrated the company’s investment in staff development, with the award of national qualifications to 14 staff as part of the Sharing in Growth programme.