Sheffield-based national crane service provider Street CraneXpress has won a prestigious national award for its record in training and development. The company – part of the award-winning SCX group – has its own Academy to help ensure a steady supply of fully-qualified crane maintenance engineers through a four-year apprenticeship programme.
Left to right: Guest speaker Rachel Riley, James Eastwood, General Manager, Street CraneXpress, Josh Clegg, UK Service Manager, Street CraneXpress, and Dr Ross Moloney, CEO, the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association.
Now its commitment to raising standards through lifelong learning and continual professional development has resulted in success in the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association Awards. Street CraneXpress won the Kevin Holmes Award, which honours the memory of a previous chairman of LEEA’s Learning and Development Committee.
Ray Fletcher, director of Street CraneXpress, said:
“I am extremely proud to acknowledge such a prestigious award.
“It is testament to all those involved with our training and development initiatives, that we can aspire to receive such high profile recognition.
“It has taken a great deal of hard work and commitment to see through our plans for developing the SCX Academy. It is extremely pleasing to see that our vision and attitude towards innovation and development is recognised by those working closely with us within in our own industry sector.”
The LEEA Awards were announced at a dinner during the LiftEx exhibition in Milton Keynes.
Guest speaker, TV presenter Rachel Riley, said:
“This event is all about celebrating the efforts of those who have done the most to raise standards.
“The fact that we received an exceptionally high volume and quantity of entries for this year’s awards, underlines how exceptional these winners are and how high our standards have become.”
The SCX Academy runs in partnership with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which brings together world-leading research and innovation in advanced manufacturing.
The SCX Academy programme gives apprentices an NVQ Level 3 in electrical engineering, as well as an HNC in electronic engineering, before they start work as a fully qualified Street CraneXpress crane engineer. They are then encouraged to continue their professional development through LEEA’s foundation and advanced training courses.
Currently, 13 apprentices are learning their trade through the SCX Academy. Street CraneXpress is renowned for its expertise in the inspection, maintenance, repair and upgrade of cranes and its know-how in advising customers on compliance with recent legislation on the safe and efficient use of older cranes.
It places an emphasis on preventative work, helping to avoid loss of production, but also offers a round-the-clock breakdown service. Most of its 800 service contracts are renewed year on year. Last year Street CraneXpress, which has about 70 engineers and administrative staff, received a Special Commendation in the Kevin Holmes Memorial Award.