Wesley Maphosa is a Videographer, Radio Host and Power Gems ballast maker
A new job at Power Gems is the least interesting thing about Wesley Maphosa.
Our latest hire is a freelance videographer, a radio show host, and is studying for a business qualification. Somehow, he manages to work full time on the production of ballasts at Power Gems in Irlam, outside Manchester.
Shaving minutes off your commute helps to fit everything else in.
Wesley lives in Partington, just over the Manchester Ship Canal from Power Gems HQ, so cycles or electric scooters to work. Our bike shed is pleased to have a regular user – while we encourage active transport and have a bike-to-work scheme, more of us need to develop a cycling habit.
Wesley, aged 25, has joined the team as an Electrical & Electronics Assembler/Packing Assistant. He is learning on the job, drawing on his experience in a range of machine operative roles, plus loading/unloading, drilling, cutting, welding and grinding. For Wesley, this first step in the electronics industry requires attention to detail and fine motor skills.
“We could see transferable skills and sense general enthusiasm during the interview, which is as good for us as a long history of electronic assembly,” says Phil Ellams, co-owner of Power Gems. “Maybe better, so we can grow people the Power Gems way. You could say enthusiasm is 50% of the job. The rest we can train for.”
Wesley has several side projects:
For personal fulfilment, he started a Business Studies course at University Campus Oldham. We’re accommodating his attendance on Thursdays by providing flexible working.
He is the host of House Muntu HR on Pie Radio, covering all genres of house music.
Pie Radio is the only fully-owned and led BAME station in Manchester, specialising in urban music, rap, hip hop, grime, afrobeat, dancehall and drill, putting it in the same category as BBC Radio 1xtra and Capital Xtra, but on a local platform.
And Wesley is as comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind professional broadcasting equipment. He also works as a model and a film extra.
You can find examples of his videography on Instagram @wezlees
Wesley couldn’t have come at a better time. With TV and film production re-starting, Power Gems is working hard to meet the demand for equipment. High-speed ballasts and LED products are flying off the line for location filming in Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy and Canada. More news, as and when we get photos of Power Gems out-and-about. Those ballasts don’t know how lucky they are.
Looking back to this time a year ago, Adam and Jessie joined the ballast team at Power Gems. We were facing uncertain times, and not much has changed (apart from Brexit). But, fingers crossed, we are thriving rather than surviving. We hope you are too.
