To begin Day 3, we had the privilege of travelling to Lisburn to meet Richard, Simon and a few other members of the team at Creative Composites. During the visit we were given an introduction to their business, alongside a tour of the factory where the composite products are made. We found out that they work on behalf of many large companies including Aston Martin and McLaren. It was fascinating to be able to see the production of many vehicle parts.
After that we headed over to Camlin Group to meet Chris, Peter, Gordon and a few others. They showed us the fabrication processes of many of their products on the factory floor, alongside models of the finished product in the board room. Following this, Gordon talked us through many aspects of their company and was happy to answer our questions.
Bailey Duncan
The third business we visited was McDonald’s in Sprucefield, where we were greeted by Gareth Moore and enjoyed lunch in the restaurant. Gareth gave us an overview of what it means to operate as a franchise and outlined the history of the outlet. We were given insights into the competitive market of the fast-food industry and the many challenges Gareth and the business has faced because of new competition in the area. We were then given a tour of the facilities behind the counter, including the kitchen, cleaning area and various storage units.
Finally, we travelled to Newtownabbey to visit BLK BOX, a gym and fitness equipment manufacturer. We were greeted by Greg Bradley, who summarised the purpose and background of the business, the focus of which is to provide world class equipment while maintaining a bespoke approach to their products. The company has worked with global brands such as Nike, and with elite sports teams such as the IRFU. Greg has placed emphasis on maintaining their brand strength while also providing bespoke designs and requirements in order to ensure satisfaction.
We were given a tour of the manufacturing warehouse and an explanation of how each product is made to the specific requirements of each customer, including different materials, abstract colours and making sure the standard of the delivery to the installation of the equipment is nothing short of perfect. Greg outlined some examples of problems that the business faced such as supply chain issues and a shortage of skilled manufacturing workers and how his team have overcome them. He strives to continue to expand output through marketing and constantly developing new products and innovative new methods of production.
Oliver Howe-Joyce
