APRIL/MAYISSUE #6

JOb’s JOURNAL

DEPARTMENT NEWSSUE SAYSSTAFF CORNER

FUNDIY

We’ve had the chance to let our creativity bloom recently at Earnshaws. A new rustic decorations project is currently underway in our workshop that

has captured the imagination of our staff. We are branching out into unique wooden decorations that are handmade by our staff at Midgley.

Production Director, Ben Earnshaw, believed that Earnshaws had the capability to create rustic decorations after his own rustic themed wedding in 2012. The idea has been put on hold for a few years until the company found someone with enough time to dedicate to the project. Our eBay Store Administrator, Jen Penaluna has taken on the project and overseen the work of our talented staff to make Ben’s vision come true.

The help of two of our Production Operatives was enlisted early in May to begin cutting log slices for decorative use. Roger Etherington and Andy Holden have gone above and beyond what was asked of them and by the next morning, Andy had cut a pallet full of various sized slices. The next day, Roger surprised the team with a handmade tiered stand that was sold in the shop two days later to a happy customer.

Roger is a long-serving staff member at Earnshaws and has been with us for 41 years. We are very grateful to have such an enthusiastic and creative member of the team as this project would not be possible without his imagination. Andy Holden is a new member of our Production team and has been on hand to keep an eye out for the best logs for him to cut into slices. Another creative member of staff has been brought into the project to photograph our new rustic decorations. Deputy Foreman, Mark Pursglove, is an enthusiastic amateur photographer and has been with us for a total of 30 years. Each team member that has been a part of this project has been enthusiastic and imaginative which has led to a lovely new branch of Earnshaws products.

eBay Department News

Branching Out

Our resident creative, Roger, set to work on a surprise project last week. Our staff were unaware that he was creating a sculpture whenever he managed to find a spare ten minutes. Once he had completed his masterpiece, Roger called in the other members of the project team and unveiled his secret work to them. The surprise in question was a 5ft tree sculpture which has been made from oak and varnished with several coats to give a high glossy sheen. Before the unveiling, Roger said “I want you to say ‘wow’ when you see it” which is exactly how everyone felt once they got to see it. The handmade sculpture is in our shop at Midgley and is on sale for £160.

We are working with Blacksmith Marketing, who run our social media campaigns, to get these decorations on Facebook. You can like our very own page at facebook.com/earnshawsfencing.

Photos by Mark Pursglove - except the one of Mark Pursglove

Timmy Wolford started working for the company in July 2008, he began his working career in our Midgley fencing centre, mainly working in

the yard. In January 2015, after a 7 year long commitment to the fencing

centre, he finally achieved his goal of working in the Mill. Timmy has quickly gained confidence throughout the production department; being a fast learner has come in handy for him and his change in role clearly demonstrates his abilities.

Over the past 6-8 weeks under the watchful eye of Allan, Roger, Andy and Ian, who collectively form the Mill team, he has quickly learnt the ropes and has been able to operate the main saw over the past 3-4 weeks with minimal intervention.

Of course with any new task there are always going to be bumps in the road; the Mill recently had a small fire on the main saw. The fast actions of the team meant the fire was put out within seconds of igniting and no damage was sustained.

With the support of the team, he is quickly proving to us just how quickly he can learn new skills and we would like to take this opportunity to give our thanks to Timmy for his enthusiasm within the Production department. We would also like to thank the Mill team and the wider Production team for their patience.

See Timmy’s Saw Success

Production News

Photo by Mark Pursglove

Photo by Mark Pursglove

As part of the continued forward momentum of the production department, it’s the turn of the main log gantry to have a refresh.

The current gantry is constructed from wood and was made when we moved down the road to this site. The new gantry is constructed entirely from metal which will remain robust.

A joint effort between Robert Nichols, Edward Nichols, Graham Gascoigne, Roger Etherington, Andy Holden and Luke Smith has seen the gantry created to specification from scratch.

It is currently onsite, awaiting installation which is planned for the weekend of the 18th June.

The photos on the right show the gantry in its fully constructed state and then again once it had been painted.

Michael Mountain and Phil Swift in Trade recently sold these lovely oak beams which have been put to

fantastic use here in an outdoor space.

Trade Department News

The Great Gantry

Photos by Graham Gascoigne

Everyone has a duty to ensure their H&S and that of their co-workers and members of the public.

A great deal of ensuring a safe working environment is attention to housekeeping. It is easy to see the same mess day after day until it is just part of the environment and no longer considered. This sense of apathy can create trip/slip hazards at the very least.

A particular concern of mine is strapping. Possibly because Shaun told me if I didn’t wear my toe caps I would cut my toes off with it! As we get busier into the summer months we always see an increase in strapping around back-up. If we each picked up instead of walking past it the trip hazard this presents would be greatly reduced. There are plenty of bins around back-up for strapping so we shouldn’t be holding on to it for too long.

Other items of concern include bearers, timber from KDM packs with big nails sticking out and plastic wrap blown from bins.

Just a little reminder about what we can and cannot recycle: In the big red Dry Mixed Recycling bin:Plastics – including vending machine cups, plastic bags and wrap, bottles, yoghurt pots and any other non-woven plastics. Excluding dump bags and strapping.Paper – small amounts of paperCardboard – small amounts of cardboardMetal – drinks cans and small pieces of metal.

In the cardboard skip:Paper – large amounts of paperCardboard – Flattened cardboard packaging

In the big red general waste bin:Glass, woven plastics, food waste or recyclables contaminated with food waste, small amounts of chemical waste. If you need more recycling bins please let me know and I will sort some out.

Recycling

Sue Says...

Housekeeping

Whenever anyone goes off site on company business it is important to make sure they are doing so legally and are insured for the trip. If using their own vehicle the driver needs to have provided a copy of valid insurance including business usage to be recorded centrally.

If using a company vehicle the driver needs to be on the approved drivers list because the company is duty bound to periodically check that all drivers of company vehicles and on company business are legally allowed to do so.

Any drivers who take a company vehicle without being on the list are not covered by the company fleet insurance and are therefore driving illegally.

If you are organising for someone to go out either in their own vehicle or a company one please make sure they are qualified to do so using the above criteria.

As a driver if you are not confident that you are legally allowed to drive please alert your manager who can make appropriate arrangements.

Company Drivers

Staff Corner

Congratulations to Emma at our Brigg site who got married to her husband, Mark, 30th April.

Best wishes for your future together

Mrs Taylor in Lepton has rung to ask us to say a big thank you to Paul Goodwin for being so helpful with her delivery. She asked him to take some sleepers into the back garden and instead of pulling faces as expected he said of course he would and took them all around. One very happy customer!

Sue Says...

CongratsEmma!

Thank You

We currently have a vacancy for an IT Support Engineer at Midgley. Staff are welcome to apply internally - send your CV to Katie in HR.

IT Vacancy

After going part-time to concentrate on the final year of her Music Journalism degree, Jen Penaluna has completed her course and will be graduating in July with a 2:1. As part of the course, this newsletter was created as part of a practical project which received a fantastic first; the best grade. Jen would like to thank all the people that have contributed, suggested and read the newsletter since it started in November.

Jen is Graduating In April, some of our staff went bowling. Julie, Louise Wiper and her friend, Ali, Timmy, Ben and Jen split into two teams. We won’t say who lost...Julie is looking to arrange a night out to the dogs at the end of August so keep your eyes peeled, your ears open and your diary free!

Work Outings

Staff Fact File

Mark Pursglove

Job Title: Deputy Foreman

Years at Earnshaws: 30

Birthday: 18th April

Favourite Food: Partial to a Chicken Jalfrezi

Music: Indie, Alternative 80s, Alternative Rock. Favourite band of all time is U2. I’ve been a fan for 33 years after watching a programme on TV called The Tube with Jools Holland and Paula Yates that had U2 on performing live from Red Rocks and I was hooked since then.

Interests: I was in a band since 1985, when I was 21-years-old, called Perpetual Emotion. I couldn’t play anything then so I taught myself how to play bass. I had bizarre hair then too; a mullet at the back and a quiff on the top. After that, I was in a band from around 2001 called Goodbye Dave, named after Dave Parker who used to work here. We came up with the name at his leaving do when someone asked us what we were called and there was a banner saying “Goodbye Dave and Good Luck”. You can listen to some of our old songs from Perpetual Emotion and Goodbye Dave on Soundcloud/marktheU2fan.

I’m also a keen amateur photographer after buying a camera from a friend 3 years ago. I haven’t looked back since. It’s actually taken over my life! It’s nice to see the world from a photographer’s perspective and I’ve begun to appreciate what’s around me more.

You can find my work on:Facebook/MarkPursglovePhotography Twitter: @MPursglove.

This tent was made by Jen using wood from work. It’s for her rabbits to hide away in. The instructions are below and can be used to build a larger tent for a child:

You will need: 6no 50cm pieces of wood, 2no 35cm pieces of wood, 1 broom handle or dowling, 1m x 50 piece of fabric, 2no triangular pieces of fabric, approx 40cm x 50cm.

To make: 1. Arrange the frame, including the upright pieces and hold in place whilst drilling 3-4” wood screws through all three pieces and repeat for each corner. 2. Cut broom handle or dowling to preferred size and set on top of frame. 3. Measure and cut fabric, then wrap excess fabric around frame and staple into place on each side, making sure it is pulled taught over the top. 4. For the back, set the back of the frame down on top of the fabric and mark out the correct size. Wrap the fabric around the inside of the frame again and staple. 5. For the curtains, do the same as the back, but cut 3/4 of the way up in the middle. Staple in the top and bottom corners, then staple 1/3 of the way up to act as draping curtains. 6. Hole punch 3 holes approx 5cm from the edge. Cut strips of fabric and run through holes and around frame. Finish with a bow and repeat on each side.

DIY

Make Your Own Tent

Handmade Rabbit CageJen has two indoor rabbits and wanted to give them a more open plan living space. Where better to get some help to make a wooden rabbit enclosure than a timer merchants?

After showing him what she hand in mind, Alisdair Price kindly did a quick bit of maths to work out how much timber Jen would need to build a cage to the spec of 130mm wide x 100mm long x 900mm high. The dimensions were passed on to the joiners who began work on it once they had the chance. It’s well made and very sturdy, has a functioning door for a human to walk in, with a bolt to keep the rabbits in and two walls made of perspex for the rabbits to feel included in day-to-day life. The tent was made as a hideaway that they couldn’t jump on and escape!

Staff Fact File

Fun

Hangman

DISNEY

_ _ _ / _ I _ _ / _ I _ G

Below is a list of 5 films from 5 different genres. Some of the letters are filled in but that’s all you’re getting. Fill all 5 in and get in touch with Jen or the newsletter to be entered into a prize draw of those who get all 5 correct.

CULT

_ E S E _ _ _ I _ / D _ _ S

ROM COM

_ O _ E / _ C _ U _ _ _ Y

THRILLER

_ _ E / _ I _ E _ _ E / _ _ / _ _ E / _ _ M _ _

COMEDY

_ _ E _ I _ A N / _ I E

Where’s the Cat?

A Hungarian cartoonist, Gergely Dudas, also known as Dudolf, posted a series of drawn puzzles at Easter time on his Facebook page.The aim of the game is to spot the cat that is hidden amongst the owls. Good luck!