OCTOBER 2019 MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE
personnel, this has risked being diluted. Staff
numbers have more than doubled since 2017,
from 20 to 45, and it’s vital to ensure they are
fully integrated with Paxman’s values. “Back when
we had 20 employees, the recruitment process
was very much explaining the story and getting
them bought into it,” explains Richard. “That
has, unfortunately, got a bit lost recently. We’ve
started putting checks in place to make sure
employees don’t just understand the company
values, but live by them. We have a stronger
recruitment and retention process, with better
training in place to ensure team members know
how to properly recruit. Four or five years ago,
it tended to be family members or other senior
management who would hire people; now there
are several people recruiting for different roles.
We have to ensure the methods are consistent
and the values are upheld.”
One way this is achieved is via the Paxman
Pioneer Pathway, a method of outlining the
company’s business objectives and overlaying
that with its core values. Everything done at
the factory relates back to this, and everyone
is expected to adhere to the same standards –
starting with Richard.
“We share patient stories and news with
everyone in the company,” he expands. “When
you’ve had a tough day, reading success stories
makes you realise that it’s all worth it. If it’s the
end of the quarter and you’re getting pressure
from all angles – we have more stakeholders
than we did two years ago – it can be tough. One
setback can really get you down, but you have to
take time to remind yourself why we’re putting
ourselves through it.”
These stories, which land in Richard’s inbox
and on the Paxman doormat on a daily basis, are
as diverse as they are heart-warming – from people
being able to attend their child’s wedding without
needing a wig, to being able to go to work and not
have everyone ask questions about their condition.
“We had one amazing story recently about a
woman whose two-year-old daughter played with
her mum’s hair as she fell asleep,” says Richard.
“Our product has meant she’s still able to have
that quality time with her child.”
Photography: Dean Smith
Output at Paxman’s factory in
Huddersfield has more than
doubled in the past two years
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