News and Updates

Colleagues from Arco's clothing centre, in Preston, have raised more than £2,500 so far this year for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity Children's Appeal.

The centre has supported the hospital charity team since 2020, with colleagues regularly organising fundraising events and initiatives, including dress down days, raffles, sales, fun competitions and sponsored events.

In March, three colleagues raised more than £500 by abseiling 128 feet from Peel Tower, near Bury, and, more recently, £640 was raised for the appeal from the sale of Easter toys, door wreaths, cards, cakes and other treats, which colleagues had made and donated to be sold at an Easter market.

More is to come when, later this month, colleagues will either take to the roads on their bikes or walk a 25-mile route around Preston for the sponsored 'Guild Wheel' challenge.

Pam Walmsley, Operations Manager (Production), said:

"We are so proud to have raised funds for such a worthy cause.

"As a long-time supporter of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, we look forward to raising even more money - with events taking place each month throughout the year."

The Children's Appeal is aiming to raise £1million for a wish list of items to bring about a raft of improvements to children's in and outpatients at the Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Leyland's Broadoaks Child Development Centre, as well as all other children's facilities managed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Lucy Clark, Children's Appeal Fundraiser at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, said:

"We are extremely grateful to everyone at the Arco Clothing Centre for their wonderful support. We know staff vote on which local charity to fundraise for, so it means a lot to us in the charity team and to everyone who works for the trust that they have chosen to back our work."

To find out more about Arco's commitment to delivering social value in the communities we operate in, click here.

Two of Arco's healthcare colleagues have provided their advice and support to a group of jobseekers in central Scotland. Dougie Logan, Key Account Manager, and Keith Moir, Healthcare Specialist, recently spent time supporting the Clackmannanshire Economic Regeneration Trust, a charity which helps improve the economic inclusion, development and regeneration of Clackmannanshire in central Scotland.

Linked to Arco's relationship with NHS Scotland, Dougie and Keith were keen to support the charity and their pre-employability project. The project aims to engage and develop local people and to equip them with the skills they need to confidently apply for jobs and find employment.

As part of their volunteering, the pair hosted a session with seven local people who are searching for work but are struggling in the current market.

Dougie and Keith spoke to the group, sharing their advice on best practice when it comes to job hunting and interview preparation techniques and spoke about their own experiences to help boost the attendee's confidence.

Mark O'Hare, Operations Manager at Clackmannanshire Economic Regeneration Trust, said:

"Dougie and Keith's generous donation of time and expertise was truly invaluable to all those in attendance. We greatly appreciated their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with us, and I want to extend my deepest thanks for their contributions.

"The feedback we have received from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the value and engagement of the session."

Keith said:

"Personally, I think it's great being able to use the CSR days that Arco gives colleagues to make a positive impact on someone's life.

"The session was a great experience and it was really rewarding to see how inspired the delegates were by hearing our stories - one attendee in particular asked for help with her CV at the end of the session, having never engaged fully with the charity before."

Arco has successfully reduced its carbon emissions and plastic use by adopting a more 'circular' approach to the packaging used in the distribution of its products.

As part of its recently launched sustainability strategy - A Safe Tomorrow - Arco has committed to reducing packaging waste in its own operations and throughout its supply chain.

The introduction of new mailing bags, made from 80% recycled polythene, which in turn is widely recyclable in the UK, has secured a 35% reduction in the amount of plastic used across its operations. Their production has also been relocated from China to Europe, resulting in an estimated carbon emission saving of 38%.

Arco uses approximately 400,000 mailing bags per year and, as part of its wider efforts to minimise climate change impacts and optimise efficiency, the company is analysing how it can apply more circular thinking within its products and, in turn, how this supports customers' sustainability aims.

Arco has also changed to a new 'void fill solution', to improve the sustainability of packaging which protects products in transit. The new alternative provides a further 13% reduction in plastic usage and carbon emissions and results in 17% less waste. Arco's overarching sustainability aim is to be carbon net zero by 2045.

Jim Harbidge, Head of Sustainability, said:

"The introduction of these changes is a small, but important step that we have taken in support of our sustainability aims and is part of a planned approach to ensure we are carbon net-zero by 2045.

"We would like to thank our packaging supplier, Hazel 4D, for their advice and support in identifying and implementing these changes.

"As a responsible choice of safety partner, we are committed to taking action to reduce climate-related impacts and are focussed on wider sustainability opportunities that we can bring forward, including how we support our local communities."

Learn more about our commitment to tackling the impacts of climate change.

As the UK's leading safety company, Arco is committed to the recruitment and nurturing of the next generation of talent in the industry and has recently launched a new mentoring programme, MentorMe, to support colleagues with their professional development.

In particular, the programme is helping women support women to thrive.

International Women's Day (Wednesday 8th March) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The theme for this year is embracing equity, creating a gender equal world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

There is a lot more that needs to be done to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in society and in workplaces and, at Arco, one of the ways this can help to be achieved is through MentorMe.

The programme aims to encourage colleagues to share and learn from one another to boost confidence, pass on lived experiences, advice, and support their career development, no matter the individual's background or personal characteristics.

Liz Farr, Learning and Development Partner and founder of MentorMe, said:

"Our mentoring programme is a fantastic way for colleagues to pursue their personal development goals with help from another colleague in the business. We currently have 42 mentees who are being supported by 33 mentors.

"Although the programme is not specifically for, or targeted at, women, we're already seeing the impact it's having on female colleagues taking part. We have some fantastic female mentors guiding female mentees, including those who have experience of working in male-dominated environments, and they're sharing how challenges within those types of environments for women can be faced. We also have female mentors mentoring male colleagues, sharing their knowledge to create equal opportunities for all."

Lynsey Jarratt, New Business Development Manager (Yorkshire & East Midlands), said:

"I enrolled to be a mentor because I feel it's important that we all have access to such guidance should we want it. Having the ability to tap into someone's knowledge, without fear, and the comfort of having a 'go-to' for support or advice should be readily available, both personally and professionally.

"I have been lucky enough in my career at Arco to have had several mentors that have helped to guide and encourage me, both in and out of the workplace."

Susan Hinchliffe, Quality Assurance Manager CEC, said:

"I have mentored people for many years and find the whole thing so rewarding as it's a two-way relationship. I have mentored both women and men and the only difference I have found is that lots of women seem to be having to catch up. That's because they may have taken time out to start a family, so when they return, they have to work harder to rebuild relationships and get up-to-date with everything.

"I believe times have changed with more equity for working mums and mentoring is an excellent way to refocus on your career."

Katie Landon, Sales Enablement Manager, said:

"Becoming a mentor, especially for graduates coming into the business, was important to me. After leaving university and starting my career on a graduate scheme myself, I can really relate to how graduate colleagues may be feeling. It can be overwhelming, challenging and, to be honest, quite scary.

"By being able to support and provide guidance on situations my mentee is facing, I can see how the MentorMe programme can really add value to colleagues by offering a third-party and neutral perspective.

"What I love about being part of this is seeing the 'light bulb' moment in our conversations; when something clicks and hearing the response: 'I never thought of it that way'. That's when you know you are adding value to both your mentee and the business."

Shop Workwear and PPE Designed for Women

Members of the Mast and Tower Safety Group (MATS) have visited Arco's recently opened safety centre in Bracknell to host their quarterly meeting and to tour the new venue.

The MATS Group consists of organisations that own or manage masts and towers (including monopoles, gantries, satellite dishes and roof tops) or any other structure where there are specific and significant work at height and occupational radio frequency (RF) hazards.

As the UK's leading safety company and a specialist training provider, including for those working at height, Arco was proud to host members from the group and to showcase the facilities available at the new centre as well as to highlight the joined-up safety approach it offers - expert knowledge, high-quality products and training - all under one roof.

The centre opened in November last year and represented a multi-million-pound investment by the fifth-generation family business, creating 12 new jobs in the area.

The location was a strategically significant move by Arco, with the business looking to grow its brand in the south of England.

Bracknell Safety Centre is Arco's largest dedicated safety centre and hosts practical learning environments, including a 20-metre external tower for working at height training and confined space labyrinth training facilities as well as an equipment service and maintenance centre and an on-site safety store where customers can purchase products.

Ben Haughton, Technical Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"It was a pleasure to welcome members from the MATS Group to Bracknell Safety Centre and allow them use of the facility for their quarterly meeting.

"The feedback we received from members about the new centre was extremely positive and it means a lot coming from such an important industry group.

"Working at height is still one of the main causes of workplace injuries and fatalities in the UK and it is important to ensure that those who work at height have the correct training and are able to develop and enhance their skills at centres, such as Bracknell."

To find out more about Bracknell Safety Centre, click here.