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Empowering the workforce
“ Vaculug is about being a team . We aim to attract talented people to join us and then enable them to grow within the team and alongside the company as it steers in a new direction . I am a true believer in forward thinking . It ’ s important to do things differently to how they ’ ve always been done , to acknowledge mistakes , learn from them , think outside the box , and improve on what ’ s been done before .
“ We allow people to be creative . In terms of innovation , we aim to anticipate the future needs of our consumers , as well as take the developments in vehicle manufacturing into account . We also developed a sustainability forum this year , where we can brainstorm the next big thing alongside service providers and fleet managers . This gives us the opportunity to assess market needs . We held our first forum in April , had our second in October , and the next is scheduled for April 2024 . It ’ s surprising how beneficial these types of initiatives can be .
“ As an organization , we obviously need to make money to survive , but first and foremost , our business is about our people , and we want to make sure that we ’ re looking after them . We hold annual family events at a nearby activity center , where everyone gets together . These are great , successful events that help to nurture our family culture .”
Overcoming challenges
Looking to the future , Jorge would like to see the business in a very different space to where it is today . “ The company is certainly going in
Vaculug is dedicated to reducing waste , reusing materials , and recycling resources whenever possible
the right direction . I ’ m a firm believer , however , that you can ’ t control the future . The past few years have been testament to that . The only thing you can control is your attitude , and how you respond to the events that are coming your way . I ’ m not talking about being reactive , but rather being responsive , so that you are capable of navigating whatever challenges come your way .
“ Manufacturing in the UK is very expensive , when compared to other parts of the world , and the competitive , cost-effective products coming from Asia are a challenge for us . So , we need to do things differently to remain competitive . From inflation to raw materials and labor shortages , there will always be challenges , but that doesn ’ t mean they ’ re insurmountable . I see opportunities as well . We are in a market that is very dynamic . The UK market is at the forefront of Europe . You have to be very competitive , which means you have to be very resourceful as well . So , there is massive opportunity for us ,” he concludes . ■
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