News and Updates

Arco, has been awarded certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for the health and safety management system at its clothing centre, in Preston, highlighting the company's continued commitment to exceptional health and safety standards.

Following a rigorous assessment, the BSI determined that the site conformed to the ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management Standard, which is designed to prevent work-related injury and ill-health and to provide safe and healthy workplaces.

The BSI assessor spent time talking to colleagues across the site, including the clothing centre's management and Arco's safety, health and environment (SHE) team, as well as assessing working practices and processes and examining documentation.

In the report, the assessor commented that colleagues had 'a very good understanding of the management specification obligations' and that this was 'demonstrated by all participants interviewed and evidence of implementation in all areas planned has been confirmed through this assessment'.

Stephen Crossley, General Manager of Arco's Clothing Centre, said:

"To receive the ISO 45001 standard is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates our commitment to living up to Arco's core purpose of keeping people safe at work.

"This is the first time we have secured this globally recognised standard and it is a great example of how we, as a business, are continuing to lead within the health and safety industry."

Jo Heselton, SHE Manager at Arco, added:

"We are proud to have attained ISO 45001 and I'd like to thank all those colleagues involved in supporting the assessment, this certificate really is a testament to their hard work, day-in and day-out, in ensuring our clothing centre is a safe and healthy workplace.

"As with any assessment, it's not just about the hard work on the day but the many weeks of preparation to ensure we can demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of our health and safety management system."

Find out more about Arco's clothing centre.

Arco has begun using environmentally conscious recycled threads at its clothing centre in Preston.

Following a successful pilot with supplier, Madeira, Arco, the UK's leading safety company, has introduced recycled threads from Madeira's Polyneon Green range into its personalised workplace clothing embroidery and decoration service. Polyneon Green threads are made from 100% recycled PET bottles, reducing carbon emissions associated with virgin thread production and reducing the amount of plastic in the environment.

Over the course of 2022, when the trial began, 62% of the cones supplied from Madeira were Polyneon Green. So far in 2023, 67% of the total cones supplied to Arco have been with thread made from the alternative.

In addition to the thread being made from recycled materials, they also have Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®, Annex 6 product class I certification, which ensures they do not contain any harmful chemicals. The boxes that the cones are packaged in are made of 66% recycled cardboard and they themselves are fully recyclable, the protective wrapper used for each cone is also 100% recyclable. In total, 1.148 tonnes of recycled threads have been used in the clothing centre since the trial began.

According to a recent study by the European Environment Agency, EU consumers discard 5.8 million tonnes of textiles annually, two thirds of which from synthetic fibres. This accounts for around 13% of all plastic waste globally.

Jim Harbidge, Head of Sustainability at Arco, said:

"At Arco, we work in partnership with our suppliers, customers and relevant bodies to develop and provide responsible solutions for safer businesses.

"Switching to recycled threads is an example of how Arco is taking action for a safer tomorrow and making it easier for our customers to meet their sustainability and circularity goals and to be confident in making more responsible purchase decisions."

Stephen Crossley, General Manager of Arco's Clothing Centre, said:

“Working closely with our supplier, Madeira, we have successfully implemented important changes to the thread we use for our embroidery and decoration services.

"Our job is never completed when it comes to sustainability, so, as the Polyneon Green range continues to develop, in terms of colours and finishes, we will seek to source even more of the threads we use from this range."

Andrew Maylor, Managing Director of Madeira UK, said:

"As a long-term supplier of embroidery threads and accessories to Arco, we are proud to be working in partnership with them to help take action for a more sustainable future.

"Our Polyneon Green range was created in response to the global demand to reduce plastic bottles. With Polyneon Green, we are reducing the amount of plastic in the environment and making the textile industry more sustainable. Our aim is to develop the range further so that our customers can continue to have more sustainable options to choose from."

To find out more about the services available at Arco's Clothing Centre, visit: www.arco.co.uk/about/comprehensive-product-range/specialist-clothing-services

To find out more about Madeira's Polyneon Green: www.madeira.co.uk/embroidery-threads/polyneon-green/

The Plant a Tree Today (PATT) Foundation is a UK Registered Charity that want to take action against climate change by planting native trees and reforesting areas destroyed by illegal logging, development and agriculture.

Green-fingered colleagues from our Customer Experience Centre (CEC) used one of their two annual volunteering days to support the PATT Foundation on the charity's four-acre nursery site just outside of Hull. The team potted native tree seedlings, watered plants, sowed seeds and harvested food crops for local food banks alongside constructing wigwams to establish the planting of runner beans, lettuces and Pinus Sylvestris.

Chris Hepton, Customer Service Team Leader, said:

"It was great to learn about what the PATT Foundation do and it's good to know that that our efforts will go towards helping food banks".

Well done to all involved!

Arco won the Yorkshire Family Business of the Year Award at the Family Business United Awards last week.

We were up against 200+ national businesses, so we feel incredibly honoured to have taken the top spot in the Yorkshire category. Arco's entry outlined the company's joined-up safety solution offering, company values, philanthropic activity, innovations in sustainability, and achievements from across the company's 139 years in business.

The judges recognised the role which the Martin family has played and continue to play through their stewardship and investment in the business. Whether that be through being active members in our communities through charitable work or lobbying for change in parliament against non-compliant PPE, their passion, expertise and support is invaluable.

At a ceremony held in London, Charley Seward, Supplier Relationships and Transformation Manager and fifth-generation family member, and Becky Casson, Buying Director, proudly picked up the award on Arco's behalf.

Arco were also runners up in the Supreme Champion Award, the national title which they won in 2021.

Charley Seward said:

"I was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the 1600 members of the Arco family who make this business tick. As colleagues, we know we have something very special at Arco, but it's wonderful to have this validated by Family Business United too."

Guy Bruce, CEO, said:

"It's a privilege and honour to have our business recognised in this space and to be able to share in the celebrations with other family business of all sizes, generations and sectors who were also awarded on the night. "Congratulations to all colleagues on this achievement - you all play a part in making this business great."

Arco has achieved an historic milestone following the completion of the 50,000th face-fit test, as part of its programme of respirator protection and fitting services being delivered to NHS and social care sector in Scotland.

In 2020, while health services were struggling to source PPE and ensure all their workers were adequately protected during the Covid-19 pandemic, Arco stepped in to supply essential PPE and face-fitting services to Scotland's health and social care sectors, with the business continuing to supply NHS Scotland successfully and reliably; to 50 local hubs for distribution to over 2,700 sites. Arco is continuing to ensure the nation's dedicated health and social care professionals are ready, whenever they may need to rely on respiratory protection.

Over past three years, Arco has supplied 200million surgical masks, seven million FFP3 masks and 10million visors. Arco has also supplied 200million gloves and one million medical type coveralls.

In addition to products, Arco worked with hospital teams throughout Scotland to deliver a face-fit testing programme, ensuring facilities, estates and clinical workers felt safe and were protected with correctly fitting FFP3 masks - the type that forms a seal around the face to protect healthcare workers when the risks mean a simple face covering isn't enough. As people come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, it's a legal requirement and crucial that healthcare workers have a fit test to make sure their mask won't leak, and they know which masks are suitable for them to wear.

Dougie Logan, Healthcare Key Account Manager, said:

"A big thank you to our team of fit testers who have made this possible.

"I feel so proud we've been able to help those most in need. Thousands of people, both in and out of the NHS, have been protected thanks to the time and expertise of our colleagues. It was a huge team effort."

To ensure staff continue to benefit from the highest level of protection, it is recommended that face-fit testing is undertaken every two years or sooner to accommodate any physical changes to the wearer, such as weight loss or gain or things like new glasses that might affect how a mask fits.

Keith Moir, Healthcare Specialist at Arco, said:

"In the past two years, we've efficiently managed over 7,000 days of Fit2Fit approved testing at over 20 hospitals across Scotland for workers on both day and night shifts.

"As experts in safety, with a core purpose of keeping people safe at work, ensuring 50,000 frontline NHS and social care staff across Scotland have been face-fit tested is an important milestone.

"In addition to the Fit2Fit testing, in-person and virtual support has been provided to clinical staff wearing respiratory protection and we have also organised face-fit training for over 300 NHS staff across Scotland, delivering bespoke sessions, as well as ongoing coaching and mentoring for staff so they themselves can be trained to Fit2Fit standards, the scheme that helps ensure fit testing meets legal standards. Several have gone on to pass their Fit2Fit examination, a big achievement."

To find out more about the importance of face-fit testing and the services, click here.