[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text 1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
This section contains a number of documents that give a real insight into what it was like to be a part of the British Needle Company \u2018family\u2019.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Wages” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Looking at the wages documents (below) from 1957 what is notable is how many people have been with the Company for over 30 years.<\/p>\n
The hours of work are also interesting with the majority of men working over 44 hours per week (although some worked 50 hours per week) and Yardman\/Stoker Jack Harris managed to work 62 hours per week!\u00a0 In contrast Toby Robinson, who operated the drop hammer (kickstamp), only did 37 hours per week \u2013 but he was 72 years old!<\/p>\n
The document also states the Company had cut \u2018unnecessary overtime\u2019 for the men but indicated there was still a problem in terms of \u2018getting the women to do 44 hours per week\u2019.<\/p>\n
It is also noted that, due to a lack of orders at the time, the Company had to reduce its workforce. This document provides the various reasons why individuals left the Company, including four who are reported as having left because \u2018they were useless\u2019!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”6088,6089,6090,6091,6092,6093″ posts_number=”6″ show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#b70a4d” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.5)” hover_icon=”U||divi||400″ module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ caption_text_align=”center” animation_style=”slide” hover_enabled=”0″ pagination_font_size_tablet=”51″ pagination_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_css_gallery_item_title=”display: none;” border_radii_image=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Other” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr07.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 7P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Pensions: A letter dated 4 August 1943 provides an insight into some rather interesting staff pension arrangements.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr08.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 8P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Canteen Accounts: The accounts provide a breakdown of the costs and volumes involved in providing a meal and refreshment service for the Company employees in 1944\/1945.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr09.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 9P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Canteen Notes: These notes for the canteen cook provide instructions on the most efficient use of ingredients.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr10.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 10P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Recruitment Spectification: A 1949 advertisement for the post of Assistant to the Directors received over 250 applications. This is the Person Specification for the role \u2013 count how many discrimination claims this would generate today!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/hr11.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image 11P” module_class=”tjborderimg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Recruitment Letter: A 1946 letter from the Company, possibly sent to the local Labour Exchange, aimed at recruiting young people \u2013 note the offer of free meals to 14 and 15 year olds.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Back Button” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/bnc-archives\/” button_text=”Back to British Needle Company Archives” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_icon=”||fa||900″ button_icon_placement=”left” custom_margin=”24px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An insight into what it was like working at the British Needle Company.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6082"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6106,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082\/revisions\/6106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}