Employee Celebrates 50 Years by Launching Innovation Hub at Engineering Firm
A dedicated employee of 50 years opens a new innovation hub at BRUSH Group in Blackwood, showcasing cutting-edge engineering solutions.
Blackwood, Wales, BRUSH Group, Innovation Hub, Ashley Payne, Engineering
Blackwood: An energy engineering company just opened a new hub in the Welsh Valley. BRUSH Group launched its Innovation & Insight Hub to highlight its switchgear solutions.
The opening was a big deal, with customers, local officials, and Industry Wales folks all in attendance. Ashley Payne, a service product engineer, had the honor of cutting the ribbon. He’s been with the company for 50 years!
Starting as a 16-year-old apprentice in 1974, Ashley has seen it all. He’s been a key player in the company’s growth and innovation. Now, he uses his vast experience to help customers and guide the next generation of engineers.
Reflecting on his long career, Ashley said he loves coming to work. He enjoys solving problems for customers and providing solutions. It’s all about helping people, he says.
Ashley also mentors apprentices, which he finds incredibly rewarding. He believes that teaching them keeps him sharp, and he loves learning from their fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
BRUSH Group’s CEO, Nicolas Pitrat, praised Ashley’s dedication. He said it was fitting for Ashley to open the new hub, especially as it’s home to their next-gen switchgear solution called CRYNO.
CRYNO, which means ‘compact’ in Welsh, reflects its space-saving design and local roots, having been developed and made right in Blackwood. BRUSH’s solutions are crucial for maintaining reliable electrical power as the UK moves toward better energy security and net-zero carbon.