“TRUST Mills to do things differently!...” reports the MTD CNC website

Mills’ new Employee TRUST initiative will reward loyalty and incentivise staff – and help secure the long-term future of the company.

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, is a progressive company that has a reputation for challenging the conventional, raising the bar and doing things differently.

On the back of a highly-successful MACH show in April and major investments made to developing its campus facility in Leamington, and with 2014 half-year results expected to be the best in the company’s 42 year history, one might be forgiven for thinking that Mills, which has just successfully completed a management buy-out and the appointment of a new Operational Board of Directors, might take its foot off the pedal.

Not so.

Because, rather than rest on its laurels and potentially leave its continued growth and sustainability to chance, the company has recently implemented an innovative employee TRUST scheme designed to reward staff for their continued service...and in doing so help secure the long-term future of the company.

The Trust, created by the gift of a substantial share-holding by Nick Frampton and Andrew Jack means that Mills has the widest employee participation of any company in the UK machine tool sector.

Says Paul Hooper-Keeley:

'Independent research reveals that employee-owned companies consistently perform better and deliver improved customer service.

'Because, we are a privately-owned company with total autonomy and flexibility over the running of our business and, because we are dedicated to improving our performance and customer service by investing in our people, the creation of an employee TRUST was a natural and obvious choice.'

The TRUST gives all Mills employees a vested interest in the future growth and profitability of the company.

It helps address issues facing all UK manufacturing companies – namely attracting and retaining skilled and experienced staff, and will, according to Paul Hooper-Keeley, 'not only make existing staff feel even more valued and integral to the future growth and success of the company, but also attract new talent to Mills who are looking to join and contribute to one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most innovative machine tool companies.'

“Mills CNC has a new Managing Director reports machinery.co.uk

Mills CNC has announced that Paul Hooper-Keeley has taken over the management and running of the company.

Nick Frampton (previous managing director) and Andrew Jack (previous technical director) will both retain a shareholding in the company and remain as consultants to ensure continuity of service and support to customers and partners during the transition.

Nick Frampton explains the reason for the change: "With 2014 half-year sales turnover figures expected to exceed £ 35 million for the first time in the company's history (some 25% up on the same period last year), and through a range of recent customer focused investments made over the last 12 months at our Campus facility in Leamington, Mills CNC, widely-recognised as one of the most progressive in the machine tool sector is in a strong position, primed and ready for the next phase in its illustrious 42-year history."

Mills CNC will also now have an operational board of directors comprising existing directors and senior managers already at the firm.

The new managing director, Paul Hooper-Keeley (previously finance director), is joined by senior managers Nick White, Kevin Gilbert and Tony Dale, who have been appointed sales director, operations director and technical director, respectively.

Adam Attwood will continue as chairman and non-executive director, a role he has occupied at Mills for the last six years.

Managing director, Paul Hooper-Keeley says: "These are exciting times for Mills' employees and our customers.

"The impressive growth we have experienced over recent years, and the ambitious plans we have for the future, have necessitated a strategic change in the way we organise ourselves and run the business.

"The composition of the new operational board of director does this, and more accurately reflects the importance and inter-relationship between machine tool sales, customer service and technical support.

"The key message to customers is that we at Mills are passionate about customer service and are dedicated to delivering first-class machine tools and manufacturing solutions, and providing world-class support.

"Our principles, values and business approach, based on integrity, respect and commitment to meeting and exceeding our customers' requirements, remain as strong in the new structure as they ever were in the past...and that's why I am confident about the future."