A FAST-GROWING ergonomics business is recruiting staff and expanding into new premises.
Canary Designs will relocate from Denbigh to St Asaph Business Park in the coming weeks, after a successful start to the year.
Managing Director John Lovegrove has carved a path working with giants of the nuclear and aerospace industries, as well as delivering talks to some of the UK’s biggest organisations – notably the Red Bull F1 team, Bentley and Ford – and appearing as an expert witness in High Court trials.
He plans to employ three graduate level candidates with the capability to use design packages to produce physical layouts, product designs and environmental schemes such as lighting designs and system architecture for computer-based systems, as well as complex organisational modelling tools.
The assembled team will form an ‘ergonomics department’ that can provide organisations with a complete evaluation of all of the factors that influence the health, wellbeing and performance of their workforce.
“I’m working alongside some of the biggest organisations in the country, including major companies right here in North Wales such as Magnox and Airbus,” said John, who lives in Llanrhaeadr with wife Lisa and children Robin and Awela.
“The business has been steadily growing so I thought the time was right to expand and move to the new office, before taking on graduates who can gain vital experience while supporting this growth.”
He added: “There is a need for more people in ergonomics, and while it could be considered a specialist arena a lot of the skills and expertise required can be transferred over to other industries and occupations.
“That’s why I’m keen to spread the word and start training the next generation of ergonomists, designers and engineers right here on our doorstep, rather than them having to travel to other parts of the UK to study and work.”
John is looking for candidates across the North Wales region and beyond, with or without a specific ergonomic qualification, given he supports the CIEHF (Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors) careers pathway programme.
The 39 year-old is also keen – having working with the late Professor Stuart Kirk at Loughborough, of which he is a graduate – to develop an A-level in Ergonomics and an apprenticeship qualification, as an alternative to the higher education route.
A former student at Prestatyn High School, John made headlines last year as an expert witness in the case of blind adventurer Mark Pollock, who received millions in compensation after falling 25ft out of a third floor window at his friends’ home during the Henley Regatta.
Mr Pollock – the first blind man to reach the South Pole – had just returned from the 1,400-mile Round Ireland Yacht Race and was staying with the couple when the incident occurred, leaving him paralysed and confined to a wheelchair.
“This was a unique case where my 20 years of experience was called upon in tandem with cutting edge technology and simulation software,” said John.
“Providing evidence in High Court trials is another key area of the business, but obviously I can’t do everything alone and need a strong team beside me to build upon all aspects of the work we do at Canary Designs.
“It’s an exciting time, and as the company grows the spotlight will be on how best we can keep our future ergonomists in this area, as well as attracting talent to North Wales.”
