Tag Archives: Arco

Business, Business Headlines, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News, People

Arco Signs Up To Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

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Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has signed up to the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and has secured a bronze award – the first step in the fifth-generation family business’ ambition of becoming a gold award employer.

The bronze award, which also covers Arco Professional Safety Services, was bestowed on Arco after the safety product and services business formally pledged its support for the armed forces by becoming a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and agreeing to support existing or prospective employees who are members of the community.

Joining the ERS, demonstrates Arco’s commitment to being armed forces-friendly and being open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

Arco recognise the skills, expertise and dedication gained from working within the defence sector are highly transferable to key roles across the business, such as working at height and confined space instructors, fall protection engineer, and respiratory specialists, as well as roles across Arco’s support functions.

Penny Meddes, Chief People Officer at Arco, said: “As a family-business, with a core purpose of keeping people safe at work, Arco is delighted to strengthen its relationship with the armed forces community and promote the business as a great place to work to those who have served or are serving our country.

“This award is just the start of our relationship with the ERS and forms part of a wider strategy to promote the variety of career opportunities available at Arco to as wide a pool of talent as possible.”

Stephen Miller, Chief Information Officer at Arco, said: “As an Arco colleague and ex-serviceman, I am very pleased that the business has achieved bronze accreditation with the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and that we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

“As experts in safety, we recognise and honour the role played by all who have and are serving in the military and who risk their lives to keep us safe and we are proud to work closely with several organisations within the defence sector. The Armed Forces Covenant is our commitment to them and our ERS accreditation is a real and practical way for us to provide opportunities for ex-service personnel from all branches as they transition to civilian life which recognises the many skills and talents they have to offer.”

The ERS encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations, such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.

Business Insights, East Yorkshire, Health & Welfare, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Arco Welcomes New Report On Respiratory Protection

In 2020, Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, provided testimony to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Respiratory Health and its investigation into the dangers of exposure to silica. The initial report – “Silica – The Next Asbestos” – published that year, cited Arco’s evidence in the report findings.

A follow up report, published, 10th January 2023, goes further in looking at risk reduction strategies that can play a key role in decreasing exposure and ill health, reducing the burden on healthcare services and helping to save lives.

Once again, the APPG engaged with leading organisations and industry experts, who provided evidence on better prevention, revisiting key issues identified in the initial inquiry. Arco submitted evidence for the new report and has been cited in key areas of the findings.

Arco recommended that the most effective ways of reducing exposure can be achieved by following the hierarchy of control, eliminating, substituting, isolating or introducing engineering controls to extract crystalline silica from the manufacturing and construction process. Arco also stated that dust monitoring is vital, referencing advances in technology that provide real-time exposure level monitoring. Arco believes that without real-time monitoring, it is impossible to prove that exposure levels are within the Worker Exposure Levels (WEL).

Arco fully supports the inquiry’s recommendations, particularlyincreasing education and awareness of the risk of exposure to silica dust through compulsory modules in construction industry apprenticeship training and further education courses and making use of the latest technology for real-time monitoring.

Following today’s launch event in the Houses of Parliament,Kevin Williams, Arco’s Respiratory Manager, said: “We all know that respiratory illness can cause serious health problems, disability and even death to those exposed unnecessarily to risks, such as silica dust. We also know that these risks are often preventable and we are pleased to have contributed to the work of the APPG on Respiratory Health in this follow up report. We urge the Government to act on the findings so that we can work together with our industry partners and regulatorsto help reduce the risks for those working in some of our most critical industries.”

Read a copy of the report here

Further information on how to protect workers against silicosis can be found here

Business, Business Headlines, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull

Arco Improves Sustainability Rating To Achieve Gold

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Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has been awarded a gold medal by EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings.

The gold award sees Arco improve on the silver rating it has held in previous years, with the fifth-generation family business improving its scores in areas like the environment, by improving energy performance reporting and setting of carbon reduction targets, as well as labour and human rights and sustainable procurement.

The gold rating puts Arco in the top 5% of the 100,000 plus rated companies assessed by EcoVadis. In addition, Arco was also recognised as an industry leader, overall, by making the top 2% of companies rated by EcoVadis in its industry sector, as well as in the areas of sustainable procurement (top 1%) and environment (top 2%).

Jim Harbidge, Head of Sustainability at Arco, said: “As a responsible choice of safety partner, Arco is very proud to have secured a gold medal from EcoVadis and that our efforts to continuously improve in sustainability and ethical performance have been recognised.”

“As a business, we are always striving to be the best at what we do, to lead in our industry and in the family business sector.”

“We will continue to take steps to achieve our ambition of being a platinum-rated business in the future, including increasing our alignment to external standards and accreditations, such setting science-based targets, and further improving our reporting to stakeholders.”

The EcoVadis methodology framework assesses companies’ policies and actions as well as their published reporting related to the environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Its team of international sustainability experts analyse and cross check companies’ data (supporting documents, 360° Watch Findings, etc.) in order to create reliable ratings, taking into account each company’s industry, size and geographic location.

Food & Drink News, Health & Welfare, News Headlines

Yorkshire’s Arco Partnership Supports Hundreds Of Families In Scotland

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More than 300 children, young people and their families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area have been supported as part of a partnership between Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, and children and family charity, Action for Children.

Following Arco’s success in securing a contract to supply products and services to NHS Scotland, the fifth-generation family business linked up with Action for Children to fund two new roles supporting young people and disabled children.

Action for Children supports children and young people across the UK, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.

The partnership with Arco has funded the recruitment of a Community Support Worker and a Trainer/Qualifications Assessor within the organisation.

The additional Community Support Worker is based at the recently refurbished Silverton Community Hub, a centre specially designed to support children and young people with complex learning difficulties and a range of physical health needs. Staff at the community hub provide personalised support, helping children to overcome barriers that may hinder their involvement in the local community. Staff facilitate access to local community-based facilities, resources, networks and amenities, including swimming pools, gyms, youth groups, green spaces and museums. This empowers the children to pursue their own personal interests and preferences while growing their confidence, social skills and reducing isolation by supporting children to form new friendships. They provide regular support to parents, siblings and other family members too.

The Trainer/Qualifications Assessor is supporting Action for Children’s Youth Employability Project, a scheme that aims to help young people breakdown barriers to employment. Such barriers are addressed through valuable employability skills and vocational training, developing their aspirations, ambition and future job goals by encouraging their interest in learning. For some of the young people, the support they have been offered has helped them get the first qualification they’ve ever had.

Andy Owen, Head of Healthcare at Arco, said: “Arco is passionate about supporting the communities we call home and helping children and young people achieve.”

“We are really proud of what our partnership with Action for Children has accomplished to date.”

“The new members of staff are delivering tangible benefits and life-changing opportunities for children, young people and families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area by helping to improve wellbeing, quality of life and personal outcomes for disabled children and by developing employability skills and vocational training for young people so they can progress into chosen careers.”

Grant McFarlane, Senior Relationships Manager at Action for Children, said: “Arco has provided direct financial support where Action for Children needed it most. There’s a wonderful lasting legacy for children, young people and families thanks to Arco’s funding.”

In addition to the funding allocated by Arco, colleagues from its healthcare team recently spent time helping to transform the garden at one of Action for Children’s short break centres so that vulnerable children and young people can play in a nurturing environment where they feel safe and are given the opportunity to thrive.

A video has been created to highlight the work of Arco’s partnership with Action for Children and to demonstrate how, as a business, Arco can help customers achieve their social value goals. Watch the video on You Tube here

Business, Business Headlines, News, News Headlines

Arco Welcomes Graduates After Launch Of New Placement Programme

Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has launched its first ever dedicated graduate placement programme as part of its ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of talent in the safety industry.

From hundreds of initial applications, Charlotte Andrews, Tom Newman, Olivia Richardson and Harry Shepherd have joined the fifth-generation family business as part of the 18-month paid programme, based at Arco’s new office and collaborative workspace at Blackfriargate, in Hull.

Developed in-house by Arco’s Learning and Development Team, the programme will see the graduates develop their skills and knowledge within diverse areas of the business, including in finance, the commercial team, marketing and HR, and acquire further relevant qualifications in their areas of specialism.

Darren Ford, Head of Learning and Development at Arco, said: This is the first time we have run a dedicated graduate recruitment programme, which further demonstrates our business’ commitment to developing talent.”

“It’s fantastic that we were able to attract so many high-calibre applications and we’re delighted to have successfully recruited four exceptional candidates in Charlotte, Tom, Olivia and Harry to Arco.”

“They will bring fresh ideas and ways of working to our business while we offer them an invaluable early career development opportunity in return.”

One of those taking part in the programme is Olivia Richardson, a Media and Screen Studies graduate from the University of Hull, who will be joining Arco’s marketing team as a Marketing Graduate.

Olivia said: “Having lived in Hull all my life, I was always aware of Arco and knew that they had a strong reputation of being a good company to work for and that they really contribute to the local community, so I knew that it would be a company that would fit with my own values.”

“The graduate assessment day I took part in for the programme was a real challenge and pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it and was excited to be chosen as one of the four graduates.”

“After completing my course at university, I had established my own online business and this project had introduced me to digital marketing and the principles on how to create and grow a brand. I knew at that time that this was something that I wanted to explore further as a career.

“During my placement I will be dividing my time between three different teams, something I am really looking forward to as it will mean developing a variety of new skills and learning from different experiences. I think this will be a very valuable opportunity to have at the start of my career, as I can explore different roles and decide which area I would like to specialise in.”

“Upon completing the graduate programme, it would be great if I could eventually go on to help others do the same thing as they start out in their careers.”

Arco has a strong history in attracting and nurturing talent, including through its Future Experts programme, which has supported nearly 60 apprentices since its launch in 2016.

It is hoped that the Graduate Placement Programme will become a regular avenue for recruitment for Arco in the future and that the placements will provide a platform for career development at the business.