Large new laboratory opens in Leeds
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 10 September 2013 08:16
- Written by News Editor
- Hits: 1523
The managing director of Genix Healthcare, Mustafa Mohammed, is investing £1m in a new facility in Leeds to offer manufacturing and training facilities and job opportunities for 200, including apprentices. With many practices now outsourcing their lab work to overseas laboratories, the British dental technician trade has taken a sharp decline in recent years. The new facility Sparkle Dental Laboratories Ltd is looking to change this.
10 years ago there were more than 12,000 qualified dental technicians operating in the UK, this figure now stands at approximately 5,000 and is decreasing by a further 200 qualified technicians every year. By providing a unique high quality service Sparkle Dental Laboratories are hoping to reinvigorate this once prosperous profession.
Sparkle Dental Labs are helping to increase the number of dental technicians working in the UK by offering training and a unique apprenticeship programme to those looking to get involved in the dental profession. They are working with the National Apprenticeship Service to create the first apprenticeship for technicians. The apprenticeship will offer practical ‘on the job’ training at their laboratory in Leeds. The apprenticeship will result in a qualification leading to registration with the GDC as a dental technician.
One of the company’s aims is to increase public awareness of the risks associated with laboratory work that has been carried out overseas. As a direct result of this, more patients are now keen to ensure their cosmetic, restorative and implant solutions are made in UK where the workmanship is guaranteed and the materials used are of a higher standard and the working conditions of the dental technicians are very good.
This is exactly what Sparkle Dental Labs provides as it is one of a small number of dental laboratories in the UK to receive the MHRA, DAMAS and ISO quality assurance marks. The latter is a quality assurance mark that proves the consistent level of quality that their clients receive. Their ISO report stated that they “implemented an excellent Quality Management System which in many ways far surpasses the requirements of the ISO 9001 2008 Standard.”
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report