July 2010 - Associate Lean Trainers

Aster is looking to work with freelance associate trainers able to deliver its lean courses. If you think you have the neccesary skills please provide your CV and a  detailed resume of lean projects/achievements to Paul Wilson at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

February 2010 - Distance Learning

Aster launched a range of distance learning courses in 2010. We are intending to release more courses in distance learning format over the coming months. 

December 2009 - New Courses for 2010

Every year Aster tries to introduce a new set of courses for delegates. Each year we think we have covered most of the main training topics and yet our clients continue to challenge us with requests for more courses.

In 2010 we will be launching two new sets of courses. The first set will be IT skills with the provision of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Database courses and the second one will be Languages for Business. The first language course we will introduce will be Manadarin.

November 2009 - Recession prompts a strategic re-think 

When recessions bite, training providers and recruitment and selection companies are often the first to suffer as organisations look to curb spending in an effort to reduce costs. However as Aster specialises in many business improvement courses we have seen an increase in business in this area. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Aster comments, "Many organisations have had to 'think' their way out of recession. Of course one of the ways of doing this is to take a close look at all your processes and remove the waste and this is where Aster can help. We are not out of the woods yet as a nation but hopefully we have turned the corner and 2010 will be a more prosperous year for all.  

Aster provides a range of business improvement courses from Six Sigma and Lean to Sales & Marketing.   

May 2009 - PRINCE2 Training Courses

In association with an accredited PRINCE2 training organisation, Aster are now able offer a range of PRINCE2 training courses to its clients including Foundation, Conversion and Practitioner level courses.

March 2009 - Six Years On.......

Aster celebrates its sixth birthday in March 2009. Despite the economic climate appearing uncertain Aster has returned continued growth throughout the past six months and has gained market share on many corporate training companies over the period. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Aster states, "We recognise that the training sector is under pressure at present and as a result have tailored our services accordingly to ensure that every pound spent with Aster on training brings value for money. We have purposely sought out and found some of the best trainers throughout the UK. This has enabled us to grow our business not only through our marketing activities but also by personal recommendation. All you need to do is look at our testimonials to realise that our trainers are not only knowledgeable on their specialist subjects but that they also deliver our courses in a passionate, charismatic and fun and enjoyable way".

November 2008 - Aster announce Webinar Programme

Aster will be providing short training courses via Webinars from January 2009. Lisa Wilson, Director states, "We get so many enquiries from english speaking countries that it makes commercial sense to develop our own webinar series of training courses. Aster will focus intially on developing webinars for its lean manufacturing training courses but will roll out the webinar programme across other topics throughout 2009".

October 2008 - Aster continues to Grow

Aster continues to buck the trend in the recruitment and training sectors. Year on year sales are up by over 45% on 2007 figures. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Aster comments, "The figures reflect the amount of work our staff have put into both market our products and services and the skills they have deployed to satisfy customer requirements.

Our business model is built upon exceptional customer service. This can be ably demonstrated by the amount of repeat business we win. Thank you to all Aster staff". 

October 2008 - Six Sigma Certification Programme  

In response to requests made from our clients Aster has launched a Green and Black Belt Six Sigma certification programme. Lisa Wilson, Director of Aster states, "This was always a natural extension of our six sigma training programmes. The certification programme is designed to ensure that delegates attending our class room training sessions provide real value for money for their organisations when initiating and leading six sigma projects.

August 2008 - Aster win order from global packaging company

Aster Training has been selected from a host of European based training providers to deliver negotiation skills and purchasing training courses to one of worlds largest packaging solutions companies. The training programme will be delivered in Paris, France in September 2008 and will have delegates from up to 25 different countries participating in the event.

July 2008 - Inaugural Lean User Group Meeting

Aster held its first Lean User Group meeting on 10th July 2008 at Du Pont in Suffolk.  The day was a tremendous success and the next event is planned for 7th October 2008 at another lean user group member's site.

If you would like to become a member of the group click on the link to the lean user group for further details.

June 2008 - Aster announce Lean Awards Programme

Aster will present two new Lean awards in January 2009. The awards will be presented in the following categories:-

• Lean Factory of the Year 2008
• Lean Business of the Year 2008

Paul Wilson, MD of Aster Training stated, "At Aster we care passionately about making UK industry more competitive by working ‘smarter not harder’ and are resolute in defending both our manufacturing and service industries against offshore competition. If we can encourage organisations of all shapes and sizes to take part in this scheme we will be going some way to making our indigenous businesses more competitive. 
  

May 2008 - Northern Hi-Tec work with Aster

Aster are specialists within the electronic manufacturing services sector. As a result it is no surprise that some of the UK's most visionary contractors turn to Aster for support. 

Formed in 1983, Northern Hi-Tec Ltd is one of the UK's leading electronic manufacturing service providers. They are amongst a select group of UK based contract electronic manufacturers able to offer both electronic design consultancy and full turnkey electronic manufacturing services from concept to delivery - all under one roof.   

Aster will be providing lean training and consultancy to Northern Hi-Tec as their business manages the expansion arising from their very successful business model. 

May 2008 - Aster selected to provide Lean Training

Milton Keynes based Aster Training has been selected to provide a series of lean training courses to Chesterfield based Kingfield Electronics Ltd. Kingfield is one of the UK's most progressive contract electronics manufacturers specialising in full turnkey box build electronic products. 

April 2008 - Aster forms Lean User Group

In response to feedback received following our lean training courses from clients, Aster launched a Lean User Group in April 2008.  

The objective of the user group will be to allow companies the opportunity and forum to network with other organisations to discuss best lean practice, joint problem solving, possible business co-operation and other lean ideas to make their businesses more competitive.

Events planned include:-

• Open factory visits – where a member company will open their facility for other companies to visit
• Lean Seminars (free to members) - presented by members for the benefit of other members
• Dinners & other social gatherings
• Lean Organisation of the Year Awards
• Guest Speakers from the lean community within the UK

If you would like further information about how to join the Aster Lean Users Group, click here

March 2008 - Paul Martin joins Aster Training team

Master Black Belt, Paul Martin has joined Aster Trainings associate team and will be the lead trainer for Asters Six Sigma Training Programme. Paul Wilson, MD of Aster Training stated, "We are very pleased to have secured the services of one of the UK's leading six sigma trainers. 

January 2008 - Aster to add Six Sigma Training to Portfolio

In 2008, Aster Training will build upon its successful lean practice by incorporating a range of Six Sigma training courses. This will comprise a comprehesive set of training courses from an introduction level course all the way through the 'belt' structure. This will in time will lead to a lean-sigma set of courses for those advocates which are able to derive most added value out of these two continuous improvement tool kits.

November 2007 - New Training Disciplines for 2008

Aster had added new disciplines to its training portfolio each and every year it has been trading. In 2008 Aster will be launching two new packages of training in the form of First Aid Training and Finance Training as well as building upon its already established Sales and Marketing offering. 

Lisa Wilson, Business Support Director of Aster comments, "Aster is rapidly becoming one of the main players in the corporate training market within the UK. Our clients tell us that they would prefer to deal with one company for all of their training requirements and in Aster they see a company which aspires to this goal".

October 2007 - Aster reports significant Growth

Over the last financial year Aster recorded growth of 27%. The business has been very successful in attracting and retaining clients across a wide spectrum of disciplines and industry sectors. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Aster Training states, "We have continued to grow our training business in both the UK and Western Europe.

Last financial year saw the introduction of our e-commerce web-site which has resulted in significant new sales in North America, Africa and Australasia. We are very pleased with progress over the last year and hope shortly to announce some new business deals which will allow us to further penetrate the European and North American market".

June 2007 - Aster launch Telesales Training 

Aster will be launching additional sales training courses in the second half of 2007. This is in direct response to significant customer demand for these courses. The first course, telesales training will be launched in September 2007.

May 2007 - Bacardi select Aster for 5S Leadership Training

Bacardi has selected Aster Training to provide 5S Leadership Training. Aster will carry out the training at their Glasgow HQ in June 2007.

May 2007 - Aster to support National Energy Foundation 

Aster Training is to provide support to the National Energy Foundation (NEF) http://www.nef.org.uk/ in the provision of a range of sustainable energy training programmes commencing in July 2007. Paul Wilson, Director of Aster commented, “We are delighted to have been chosen by the NEF to provide support for their range of courses. Organisations like the NEF have brought to our attention the importance of renewable energy issues on both a local and national level. Aster is keen to support the programme by further helping to promote these worthwhile initiatives”.

For further information on environmental courses, contact Paul Wilson on (01296) 720281.

May 2007 - Lean Simulation Games prove popular

Aster introduced two lean manufacturing simulation games in 2006. Both games have proven very successful both at home and abroad. Export orders have been received from both the USA and South Africa. Paul Wilson, Director of Aster stated, "We knew when we launched these products that there was a market for this type of training aid but the demand has left us pleasantly surprised. For more information about the two games available click on the link lean games. 

March 2007 - Aster e-commerce site goes live

The new look Aster e-commerce site is now live. This site encompasses lots of new features including the ability to order on line, buy a wider selection of new training materials and games and will shortly have the ability to download courses directly to your desktop.

March 2007 - Supervisory Skills for Staff in Theatre Land

Aster has been selected to provide Basic Supervisory Skills training for staff at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Welcoming audiences averaging almost 500,000 per year, Birmingham Hippodrome can lay claim to the highest regular annual attendance of any single theatre in the country.

March 2007 - Poka Yoke or Mistake Proofing!

Tokheim Group S.A.S., based in Paris (France) is one of the world's leading manufacturers and servicers of fuel dispensing equipment. With operations in many countries, Tokheim offers customers a complete range of fuel dispensers and pumps, retail automation systems, payment terminals, media devices, replacement parts and upgrade kits.

Tokheim has selected Aster to provide a Poka Yoke Skills training course at its Dundee based facility.

February 2007 - Aster to provide Health & Safety Training

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

• CIEH Level 2 award in Health and Safety in the workplace
• CIEH Risk Assessment Principles and Practice
• CIEH Principles of Coshh (1/2 day)
• CIEH Principles of Manual Handling (1/2 day)

DAL courses

• Control of Contractors
• Safety for Managers
• Office Safety and the use of Display Screen Equipment (1/2 day)

Fork Lift Truck (FLT) Training

• Reach and Counterbalance trucks only (up to 5 tonne)
  
• Novice (no experience) - 4 day course
• Semi experience -  2 days
• Refresher for experienced operator - 1 day
  

If you would like further information about courses, venues or planned dates, please do not hesitate to contact us.

December 2006 - Kingfield Heath choose Aster

Aster has been selected to provide negotiation skills training to the commodity teams at Kingfield Heath.

Kingfield Heath are wholesale distributors supplying on a 'trade only' basis to office supplies dealers and resellers throughout the UK and ROI..

The company operates from 9 warehouses, including a state of the art Central Warehouse at Magna Park, near Leicester, and is supported by a Head Office in Sheffield.

December 2006 - Hale Products engage Aster Training

Hale Products, the Warwick based fire pump manufacturer has chosen Aster to supplement progress they have made to date by value stream mapping their main business processes.

Paul Wilson of Aster Training stated, "Hale has made really impressive progress, Aster has been engaged to identify further potential Kaizen opportunities by taking a fresh look from a third party perspective".

December 2006 - AsterTraining win repeat business

November 2006 - Renault select Aster Training

November 2006 - Health & Safety Programme for 2007

November 2006 - Sturrock Power engage Aster Training

October 2006 - Market leaders select Aster

October 2006 - Aster to set up e-commerce site

• 5S Red Tags
• 5S Posters
• 5S Audit Forms
  
• 7 Wastes Posters
• SMED Checklists
• 5S Simulation Games
• Lean Manufacturing Simulation Games
• Lean Office Simulation Games
• SMED Simulation Games
  
• TPM Tags
  
• A Lean 'Health-Check' for you to test your own company's lean credentials.
  

September 2006 - HR for Line Managers & Hughes

Milton Keynes based Hughes Network Systems has chosen Aster to provide HR training for its line managers. Commencing in October 2006 this training will be designed to make managers aware of their roles and responsiblities with regards to existing and new legislation and legal requirements.

September 2006 - Crown Aerosols select Aster for SMED

Sutton in Ashfield based Crown Aerosols has selected Aster to provide staff with on-site SMED training. Paul Wilson, MD of Aster commented, "We are delighted to have been chosen by Crown to provide single minute exchange of dies support to their business. Our SMED course is recognised as one of the best in the UK and our practical, flexible approach to training this lean tool has led to Aster receiving this  order.

September 2006 - Xyratex place order with Aster

August 2006 - 5S & 7 Wastes Training for Grampian Foods

Grampian Foods is the UK's leading privately owned agri-food business producing frozen chicken, pork, beef, lamb and turkey products for the retail and food service sectors.

August 2006 - Bury PCT choose to negotiate with Aster

August 2006 - Raychem choose Aster for 5S Training

July 2006 - Watson Fuels engage Aster Training

July 2006 - SCA Packaging select Aster for SMED Training

July 2006 - Aster launches Lean Simulation Games

June 2006 - TPM Training for the Weir Group

June 2006 - Mitsubishi select Aster for Team Leader Training

Aster has been selected to provide Team Leader Training for staff at their Milton Keynes Facility.

June 2006 - Perkins choose Aster for SMED Training

May 2006 - RPC Containers select Aster to roll out 5S.

May 2006 - Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen

April 2006 - Practical Negotiation Skills

• Magiglo have been producing an award winning range of gas fires in Broadstairs, Kent, UK for nearly 20 years. 
• Janikin Rooke is a specialist group of Resource Solution Providers
• Demco, the UK's leading library design consultancy, specialising in the design, specification installation and project management of library refurbishment and new build projects.

April 2006 - HR for Line Managers Training

March 2006 - 5S and 7 Wastes Training

January 2006 - The Lean Practice continues to grow....

Aster Training continues to develop its Lean Practice. At the request of several customers further courses have been added to the portfolio for 2006. Orders for Lean courses continue to grow from companies operating across all disciplines and sectors.

December 2005 - Adare Lexicon select Aster for 5S training

Adare Lexicon the transactional mail specialists specialising in handling highly complex print runs including statements, bills, payrolls or statutory notifications has selected Aster Training to carry out 5S & 7 Wastes training for a number of their staff.

November 2005 - Aster to add HR training to portfolio

• Appraisal Skills/Performance Management
  
• Attendance Management/Absence Management
  
• Basic Supervisory Skills
• Change Management
  
• Discipline & Grievance Skills
• Human Resources for Line Managers
• Interpersonal Skills
• Interviewing Skills
  
• Presentation Skills
  
• Selection & Recruitment
  
• Team Building
• Time Management
• Train the Trainer
• Work Life Balance
  

 November 2005 - Cornwall College sign up for Lean Training

Cornwall college is the leading provider of further education in mid-Cornwall. The college has recently signed up to a package of training courses from Aster on topics such as Lean Manufacturing, Kanban and 5S.

October 2005 - ABB select Aster for Lean Manufacturing

October 2005 - MTL Instruments select Aster for 5S Training

Headquartered in Luton, England, MTL is a leader in the field of intrinsic safety explosion protection devices, fieldbus technology and surge protection. The group is also committed to developing markets in the field of Open Control Systems for the process control industry.

September 2005 - Integra Neurosciences go Lean

Aster Training has been engaged to provide 5S training to the manufacturing areas of Integra Neurosciences' Andover facility.

September 2005 - FOSROC to implement Lean

FOSROC the manufacturer of electro-chemical concrete repair solutions has engaged Aster to train their lean manufacturing project champions.

September 2005 - UK companies select Aster for 5S Training

J.S.T. (UK) Ltd and Greencore have both selected Aster Training to provide 5S training.

JST are a 'Full Service' supplier for the design, manufacture and supply of electrical/electronic terminals and connectors.

Greencore Group plc is a major international manufacturer and supplier of food ingredients and prepared foods.

August 2005 - Tyco Electronics select Aster for 5S Training

Tyco Electronics has engaged Aster Training to provide 5S implementation training to its operations staff at its facility in Bideford, North Devon. Tyco Electronics is the world's leading supplier of electrical and electronic connections and interconnection systems.

August 2005 - Element Six to implement 5S

Aster Training has been selected to provide 5S implementation training to the manufacturing team at Element Six's Ascot facility.

Element Six is the world's leading supplier of high quality superabrasives and industrial diamond materials, including both diamond and the complementary superabrasive cubic boron nitride (cBN).

August 2005 - FOSROC to negotiate with Aster

Fosroc, the Tamworth based manufacturer of electro-chemical concrete repair solutions has engaged Aster to provide negotiation skills training to its procurement and account management staff.

July 2005 – Aster launches two new web-sites

June 2005 – IPC Training Courses added to portfolio

Aster will be launching two new training courses in September 2005. The courses designed specifically for the electronics sector will be aimed at providing both basic and advanced soldering skills to IPC standards for clients throughout the UK.

Available exclusively as in house courses, training will be delivered by a qualified IPC training instructor.

May 2005 – Demco select Aster for Marketing Training

Aster was selected to provide marketing training to Demco Worldwide. Demco is the market leader in library design and supplies.

April 2005 - Introduction to Purchasing Training

H&R Global Special Products has a global presence and develops and markets innovative products and services at the leading edge of technology.




LBJ Fabrications Limited is a private limited company engaged in the manufacture and installation of architectural louvers, air handling and noise control equipment.

April 2005- Kingfield engage Aster for Sales Training

March 2005 - Two years on.....

March 2005 - Aster train Darby Glass in Lean Manufacturing

1st March 2005 - GEEST to remove 'waste'

GEEST plc, one of the leading fresh prepared foods and produce companies in the UK has engaged Aster to carry out Value Stream Mapping training for a selection of their management team The training which is to carried out in March 2005  is aimed at eliminating or reducing 'waste' within the GEEST value streams.

February 2005 - Aster tender for Ford Lean Training Programme

January 2005 - Aster launch Lean Manufacturing programme for office based engineers

December 2004 - Danfoss Randall employ the latest lean tools & techniques

November 2004 - Niftylift select Aster to train office based staff in lean enterprise

November 2004 - GEEST to go lean with the help of Aster

October 2004 - Aster facilitate Failure Mode Effect Analysis training for local engineering company

October 2004 - Aster Highly Commended in Citizen Business Awards 2004

October 2004 - Aster win contract from the "Sound of Rock" Company

October 2004 - Aster wins prestigious Business Award

August 2004 - Kanban Training for two market leaders

July 2004 - Aster win Lean Manufacturing contract

March 2004 - Aster awarded Centre of Expertise in Manufacturing status by the DTI MAS

November 2003 - Aster joins local Chamber

November 2003- 5S Introduction

October 2003 - Aster gets on line presence

March 2003 - Aster Incorporated