Social Responsibility - Rotec Hydraulics Ltd

Inspiring future engineers

During June, we welcomed two Year 10 students from The Castle School, Taunton for a week’s work experience.

Mason and Charlie, who have recently completed their first year of GCSEs, are both interested in exploring a career in mechanical engineering. Mason commented,

“I’m interested in mechanical engineering because I think I would like an active hands-on job. When I finish school, I want to study Mechnical Engineering at college.”

Both students spent two days with our mechanical engineering team, one day with our technical design and electrical teams respectively, followed by a day split between our warehouse and hose bay. Charlie said,

“My highlight of the week was seeing how the team repair hydraulic cylinders and carry out pressure testing.”

Beverly Chalmers, HR Administrator at Rotec says,

“We were delighted to be able to welcome Mason and Charlie from The Castle School for their Year 10 work experience placement. As a business, we place great importance on inspiring the next generation of engineers by providing valuable, insightful opportunities for students.”

Rotec welcomes work experience student

This week, we were pleased to support local secondary school, Monkton Wood Academy in Taunton, Somerset, by providing a work experience placement for one of their pupils.

Den joined our Taunton Service Centre for a week, to experience first-hand how Rotec operates. Under the direction of Charlie Lewis, Rotec’s Warehouse Supervisor, Den spent time working in the warehouse and goods in department, before being welcomed into our electrical bay, workshops and technical design department.

“My highlight of the week was how welcoming and friendly everyone is at Rotec. I enjoyed my experience within the electrical bay and design office the most,” comments Den.

His first time experiencing a real-world workplace, Den chose to accept the placement at Rotec so that he could gain an insight into electrical and design engineering, alongside experiencing what it is like to work in a business. Den is planning on continuing with either electrical or design engineering after secondary school, with an ambition to become a qualified commercial pilot in the future.

Monkton Wood Academy Work experience student 2024

Den ended his week work experience in Rotec’s Technical Design office. Using SolidWorks design programme and the company’s 3D printer, Den designed and printed his own keyring as a memento of his time at Rotec.

Beverly Chalmers, HR Administrator at Rotec says,

“We were delighted to be able to welcome Den to Rotec for his work experience placement.

“We always aim to provide valuable, insightful opportunities for schools and to help inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Rotec reports 21% reduction in CO2e emissions as they journey towards Net Zero

Rotec Hydraulics Ltd are a responsible business that identifies, plans and invests in solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.

We are delighted to report a 21% reduction in CO2e emissions during 2022, compared with the previous year.

To achieve this, we have implemented changes such as installing LED lighting, investing in EV vehicles where possible and by sourcing biofuels instead of oil to reduce fossil fuel consumption on-site. Further, we have reduced our gas usage and sourced alternative heating suppliers, reducing its carbon footprint affects to 0 kgs CO2e.

The biggest independently recorded reduction is that of our business, car and van miles – which has had a significant impact on our carbon footprint and is helping us to achieve our Net Zero ambition.

Rotec’s next steps include investing in renewable technologies, such as Solar PV & Battery Storage, creating staff awareness sessions and employee incentives for green travel/zero carbon miles, in addition to procuring a 100% renewable energy provider.

Sustainability is embedded within our company strategy and engrained into our daily business due to us having the necessary management frameworks, processes and systems in place. This includes our ISO 14001 certification – an internationally recognised standard that relates to a stringent and specific set of requirements all linked to systems of environmental management.

For more information of Rotec’s Environmental Sustainability policies, updates and aims please visit https://www.rotec.net/about/environmental-sustainability/.

Rotec sponsors Powerchair Football Club GBG Spartans

It has been confirmed that Rotec are the proud team sponsors of the GBG Spartans – a Powerchair Football team.

Powerchair Football is the fastest growing disability team sport, which enables severely disabled people to play football using electric powerchairs.

Last month, premier league player and last seasons league top scorer, Bobby Allen had the pleasure of presenting Troy Willicombe, the team’s captain, with the new GBG Spartans shirts.

The GBG Spartans are kindly sponsored by Rotec Hydraulics in partnership with the charity Goals Beyond Grass.

Looking into the future the team are looking at qualifying for the national league at the end of this season.

To find out more about this fully inclusive team sport, with no age and no gender limits, please visit the Goals Beyond Grass charity website.

Rotec supports ‘Shine Bright for Bristol Children’s Hospital’ this Christmas

One thing no-one has on their Santa wish list is spending Christmas in hospital. Unfortunately, the reality is that many children and families will have to spend time away from home, to receive vital care.

Rotec Hydraulics Ltd is proud to announce we will once again be supporting Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, the official Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, this festive season.

To help better the quality of life for the thousands of children that’ll be treated at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children over this Christmas season, we sponsored Noel (a Christmas Tree inspired Gromit Unleashed character) on a magical projection lighting up the hospital. Our donation will go towards helping to fund two new life-saving ventilators.

Rotec’s Managing Director, Paul Prouse comments,

“It has been a pleasure to support Bristol Children’s Hospital’s charity for 10 years now. The hospital team go over and above to support and care for children and their families every year. We are proud to be supporting this worthwhile cause once again in 2023.”

Bristol Children’s Hospital cares for over 100,000 babies, children and young adults from across the South West annually and supports patients with rare genetic disorders, neurological conditions, congenital heart disease, traumatic injuries, cancer and kidney disease.

Everyone can get involved with the campaign by spreading cheer in their community and decorating their house, window or garden. For more information about the ‘Shine Bright’ campaign, including how to get involved visit grandappeal.org.uk/shine-bright or you can donate here grandappeal.org.uk/christmas-appeal.

Every penny raised will help children in hospital get the care they deserve and families the support they need.

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Rotec welcomes local school students for work experience

Max and Yaakoub of Taunton Academy

During June and July, Rotec Hydraulics Ltd welcomed students from Year 10 to provide them with an insight into an engineering workplace.

The students, who are pupils at The Castle School and Taunton Academy, all chose the placement at Rotec due to their interest in exploring possible careers within the engineering sector. During their week at Rotec’s Taunton Service Centre and Head Office, Joshua, Raynier, Max and Yaakoub spent time in key areas of the business including Warehouse, Technical Design, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Max, of Taunton Academy, is drawn to a career in engineering because of his love of ‘hands-on’ subjects. The highlight of his work experience was supporting Rotec’s Mechanical Engineers install hydraulic winches onto the front of field vehicles for a national utility company. Max said,

“It was great to experience what it would be like to work as an engineer. My favourite part was working with Rotec’s Mechanical Engineering Team on the winches. My ambition is to be an engineer in the future.”

The most enjoyable part for fellow Taunton Academy student, Yaakoub was spending time with Rotec’s Electrical Engineering Department. He commented,

“I wanted to do my work experience at Rotec because I want to be an Electrical Engineer when I am older. Spending time with the Electricians here was really great.”

Castle School pupil, Raynier chose to carry out his work experience at an Engineering company after being inspired by his Electrical Engineer father. Raynier had a varied week and said,

“My favourite department in Rotec was definitely the Technical Team office. I liked working with the Design Engineers and learning about the different computer programmes they use.”

Joshua from The Castle School has ambitions to be a pilot. However, has always been fascinated by engineering and was keen to accept Rotec’s work experience placement for an insight into a real-world workshop. Joshua commented,

“Thank you to Rotec for allowing me to carry out my work experience here. I have thoroughly enjoyed this week. My best part was spending time with the Electrical Engineering Team and being shown how to build an electrical panel for the Marine industry.”

Providing work experience placements and opportunities to inspire a pipeline of future engineers is a key element of Rotec’s business ethos. With a national shortage of engineers within the UK, estimated to cost the economy around £1.5bn a year, Rotec hopes it can do its bit to inspire the next generation. Operations Manager, Mark Coniff said,

100% Achilles audit _Rotec Hydraulics Ltd

Raynier and Joshua of The Castle School

“We were delighted to be able to welcome Joshua, Raynier, Max and Yaakoub to Rotec for their work experience placements. By providing these opportunities, along with welcoming a new cohort of engineering apprentices in September, we hope to be able to foster a new pipeline of engineers for the future.”