Toyota's Skills Pledge Commitment
Secretary of State welcomes Toyota’s Skills Pledge
commitment
The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and
Skills has welcomed Toyota’s commitment to developing the skills of
employees at its UK manufacturing plants.
At a meeting at the House of Commons today with Skills Secretary
John Denham, Toyota’s senior management made the Skills Pledge,
confirming Toyota’s ongoing commitment to providing skills training
and development opportunities for the 4,700 employees at its two UK
manufacturing plants.
Over the next 12 months, 1,500 production line workers will
undertake training to achieve an NVQ level 2 in Business
Improvement Techniques. Obtaining this qualification, which is
being supported by sector skills council Semta's Compact, will form
part of the on-going development activity for all production line
employees.
Speaking after the meeting Katsunori Kojima, Managing Director
of Toyota Manufacturing UK said: "We want our employees to realise
their full potential based on structured long term development
plans and by providing best practice training and development with
access to the latest technology and facilities."
John Denham said: "I commend Toyota for their long-standing
commitment to workforce development, and for reinforcing that
commitment through the Skills Pledge. It has never been more
important for manufacturers to develop the skills of their people,
as those that utilise the potential of every employee to the full
will be best placed to weather challenging economic conditions, and
to capitalise on opportunities for growth.
"It return, the Government is investing in an increasingly
flexible, accessible skills and training system that partners with
firms like Toyota to develop world-beating skills at every level of
the workforce. By 2010/11 we’ll be spending some £5bn a year on
skills.”
Business Minister Ian Pearson added: “The Government is
committed to supporting the automotive sector. It is vital that
workers, with the backing of employers such as Toyota, have the
skills they need to ensure that the UK can compete in the global
market.”
Developing and maintaining a highly skilled, motivated and
flexible workforce is essential for Toyota to retain its position
as a world-class manufacturer. Since start of production in the UK
in 1992, Toyota has continuously invested in skills and training of
employees at its plants in Derbyshire and North Wales.
All employees have a structured development plan which provides
training opportunities to develop the skills to support their daily
roles and to enable career progression.
Clive Bridge, Corporate Affairs Director of Toyota Manufacturing
UK said: "By signing the Skills Pledge we demonstrate our
commitment to world class development together with providing our
employees with the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised
qualification. This has been positively received by our workforce,
for many this will be their highest qualification."
In addition to on-site training programmes, Toyota Manufacturing
UK has recently launched its Toyota Academy in Nottingham in
partnership with Castle College, where it provides adult and young
people apprenticeship programmes.
In 2006, Toyota also opened an £11m training centre at the
Burnaston Plant, Derbyshire. The European Production Training
Centre provides skills training for supervisors from Toyota’s
manufacturing facilities in France, Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic
and Russia.
For more information please contact Steve Carter or Karen
Bradley at Toyota Manufacturing UK on 01332 283666
Toyota Manufacturing UK company outline
Toyota Manufacturing UK produces Auris and Avensis models at its
vehicle manufacturing plant at Burnaston, Derbyshire, and petrol
engines at its engine manufacturing plant at Deeside, North Wales.
In 2007, TMUK produced 277, 854 vehicles, 185,736 fully assembled
engines and 159,230 engine sets for export and local assembly at
plants across the world. To date Toyota has invested over £1.85
billion into its UK manufacturing operations and currently employs
over 4,700 members
Commitment to the environment
Since the start of production, Toyota Manufacturing UK has aimed
to minimise its environmental impact across all areas of
manufacturing operations. Since 1993, the first full year of
production:
WATER use per vehicle produced has been reduced by over 75%
ENERGY use per vehicle produced has been reduced by over 70%
VOC EMISSIONS (Volatile Organic Compounds) produced per vehicle
has been reduced by over 70%
WASTE produced per vehicle has been reduced by over 60%
Sustainable plant status
In recognition of Toyota Manufacturing UK’s environmental
commitment and performance, the company has been named as one of
only four global overseas model plants by Toyota Motor Corporation
for carrying our ‘sustainable plant’ activities. As a model plant
for Toyota in Europe, TMUK will become a ‘beacon of environmental
excellence’, piloting new processes and technologies, which can be
progressively, rolled out across all other Toyota plants in
Europe.
Semta
Semta is the employer-led skills council for Science,
Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK. Its role is
to the raise skills levels and competitiveness in the 76,000
companies and 1.9 million-strong workforce that make up these
sectors.