Nacco opts for training rather than redundancy : Program enhances skills and rewards loyalty of established employees

Purpose – This paper aims to describe two training programs at Nacco Materials Handling Group, which have won UK National Training Awards. Design/methodology/approach – Explains the reasons for the programs, the form they took and the results they have achieved. Findings – Details a training program in leadership and business‐improvement skills among production operators, superintendents and managers, and a second training program in project management. Practical implications – Reveals that the first training program has improved flexibility and staff morale and the second has helped to improve product quality and potentially save millions of pounds in lost sales. Social implications – Highlights how improving the skills of the workforce can serve as an alternative to redundancies during a downturn. Originality/value – Reveals several direct and indirect benefits brought by two award‐winning training programs.