Local knowledge by a former Bradford switchgear company boss has led to a Hong Kong firm choosing a Bradford training body to develop its staff.

A vanguard group of four employees from VL Automation flew from Hong Kong to attend a course at Bradford Training Association Limited, which provides accredited management development and business improvement training.

They will pass on their knowledge to VL’s workforce, and Peter Jackson, from BTAL, will go to Hong Kong in June to deliver follow-up courses for the firm’s management team.

VL Automation, a leading supplier of advanced industrial automation, computer control systems and data management, has pledged to train its entire 40-strong workforce through BTAL.

The training was organised by Ray Lacy, former managing director of Bradford-based Switchgear & Instrumentation, who is helping VL Automation implement a change management programme in Hong Kong.

Mr Lacy said: “Having been called in to help with the company’s transition, I knew it would be necessary to develop the existing management personnel and give them the confidence to manage their respective teams through the change. However, having looked for training companies within Hong Kong I was amazed to find none that could deliver programmes appropriate and practical for their needs.

“I have had a close association with BTAL for more than 25 years and know it provides first class training programmes.

“The plan is for this initial team to experience the training programme and then work closely with BTAL to set up a distance learning service in Hong Kong.”

John Igoe, managing director of BTAL, is delighted to welcome the delegation from Hong Kong.

He said: “Although we attract people from companies across the UK, it is not often that people journey such a great distance to receive our training. Ray’s discovery that there is a lack of training of our calibre in Hong Kong will certainly make us investigate the opportunity of working with him to expand our operations into the Far East.”

Jeff Au, financial director of VL Automation, who is making the 12,000-mile round trip to Bradford, believes the training will prove invaluable.

He said: “The company has more than doubled its turnover over the last two years as our reputation has grown through the delivery of first class automation systems to an increasing number of blue chip companies, including the Hong Kong Airport Authority and China’s major utility company, China Light & Power.

“With the rapid growth we are experiencing it is necessary for the company to restructure and develop its people in order to increase sales and successfully complete projects.

“We worked closely with Ray over a number of years when he established and successfully expanded Switchgear & Instrumentation’s market in Hong Kong and a manufacturing operation in China, and we are now able to draw on that experience to benefit our company.”