Business · Chippenham
Chippenham metal finishing firm marks 95th anniversary with staff milestone
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
South West Metal Finishing celebrates 95 years of operations as a long-serving Chippenham employee reaches a career milestone and the company eyes expansion.
A specialist metal finishing firm with a significant presence in Chippenham is celebrating a major milestone this year, marking 95 years of continuous operations. South West Metal Finishing (SWMF), which operates four sites across the South West, is highlighting the dedication of its long-serving workforce as part of its anniversary celebrations.
Among those marking a career milestone is Sarah-Jayne Bell, who will celebrate more than 30 years with the company this October. Ms Bell, who joined the firm at the age of 18, has progressed through various roles including personnel, accounts, and data management, and has recently been appointed as the interim plant manager for the Chippenham facility.
Reflecting on her tenure, Ms Bell noted the significant evolution of the business. She highlighted the support she received early in her career, which allowed her to balance part-time work with raising a family long before remote working became an industry norm. Her work has been instrumental in the modernisation of the site, where she has led efforts to digitise processes across the business.
The Chippenham site, which employs 17 people, focuses primarily on commercial customers with a strong emphasis on the rail industry. Its services include complex anodising and phosphating processes. To meet rising demand, the company has recently invested in an electroless nickel line to increase capacity and is currently reviewing potential shift adjustments.
Group managing director Damon Gill emphasised that the company's longevity relies heavily on the retention of specialist skills. SWMF recently recognised more than 30 employees who have contributed a combined 700 years of service, including Kevin Baker, who has been with the firm for 47 years. Mr Baker currently leads the company's apprenticeship programme, which was relaunched following the pandemic to ensure technical knowledge is passed to the next generation.
Mr Gill stated that the expertise required for high-level surface finishing is difficult to find in manuals, relying instead on decades of experience shared between staff. The company continues to invest in its training pipeline, with five new apprentices expected to join this year. The firm is currently seeking to bolster its workforce across all four locations, with active recruitment underway for roles in electroplating, anodising, non-destructive testing, and paint spraying.
Source: Wiltshire Times · View original