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Safety specialist Arco has teamed up with the Hull KR Foundation to fund an apprenticeship at the Super League club's official charity.

Arco has agreed to transfer levy funding to the foundation to pay for a Level 5 operations manager apprenticeship.

As well as having its own strong apprenticeship programme, Arco regularly makes funding available to local organisations who want to recruit new apprentices or offer apprenticeships as development opportunities for existing staff.

The 140-year-old Hull-based company has previously funded apprenticeships for Martin House Children's Hospice in 2022 and building repair and maintenance contractor KWL in 2023.

Darren Ford, Arco's head of organisational development and learning & development, said:

"At Arco, we pride ourselves on giving back to the community and supporting great causes.

"Apprenticeships are a great path for people starting out or looking to change careers and for employees looking to further develop their skills and expertise.

"It's great to be able to support the Hull KR Foundation in this way, and we're confident the apprenticeship will be a great success."

The Hull KR Foundation provides people in Hull and East Yorkshire with opportunities to improve their lives through community programmes across four areas: employability and skills, health and wellbeing, social inclusion and sports participation.

Paul Hamnett, CEO of the Hull KR Foundation, said:

"Connecting with Arco has enabled us to support the development of the foundation's staff.

"We want to be able to provide the higher-level development opportunities, and linking into the levy funds is a fantastic way to enable this.

"I am grateful that Arco wanted to support us and look forward to establishing a strong relationship between two Hull-based organisations"

Arco launched its Future Experts apprenticeship programme in 2015 as a key part of the company's talent development strategy.

Its apprentices benefit from a blend of on-the-job training and formal education, with 100 per cent of Arco apprentices having secured permanent positions within the company after completing their training, and 75 per cent remaining employed at Arco for at least 12 months after completion.

Ian Fenton, general manager of Arco's National Distribution Centre in Hull, recently completed a Level 5 operations manager apprenticeship.

He said: "The course was very informative and the sessions I had where other people from other businesses were present really helped me to understand and learn what happens in other businesses, not just Arco.

"I learnt new skills and refreshed myself on skills I already have, which gave me confidence along the way. I would recommend an apprenticeship as it develops you as a manager, a colleague and a person, which will hopefully allow me to progress in my career."

Find out more about working at Arco

A fearless team from Arco have taken on a 10,000ft skydive, raising almost £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Chief executive Guy Bruce, commercial director Jamie Sadler and client manager Louise Brown, along with Guy's 18-year-old son, Max, all took part in the "Jump of Their Lives" for Macmillan, Arco's longest-standing charity partner.

Collectively, the Arco team almost doubled their fundraising target, raising £7,845 to help support people affected by cancer.

Guy Bruce, chief executive of Arco, said:

"What a thrilling experience! I am really proud to have completed the jump, but more importantly of what we have collectively raised to make a difference for such an important charity.

"Sadly, we are too often reminded about the important work Macmillan does as we are touched by stories of colleagues, friends, family and loved ones affected by cancer.

"Thank you to everyone for your support and contributions. It means a lot."

Since making its first donation to Macmillan in 1998, Arco has gone on to raise more than £260,000 over the past 26 years and hopes to hit the £270,000 mark in the next 12 months.

The company recently held its most successful Macmillan Coffee Morning to date, raising more than £1,600 for the charity.

Fiona Gavaghan, Macmillan fundraising manager, said:

"We are so thrilled that Arco have got involved with this year's 'Jump of Their Lives', building on their fundraising for Macmillan.

"It's thanks to fundraisers like Arco that we can continue to be there for people living with and affected by cancer. Every £34 raised during this event will pay for one hour of a Macmillan nurse's time.

"We can't thank them enough."

Anyone affected with cancer can contact the free Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 (seven days a week, 8am to 8pm) or visit the Macmillan website.

Find out more about Arco's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Arco has launched a new inclusion committee focused on driving equity and diversity within the business.

The UK and Ireland's leading safety expert announced the forming of the new committee as part of National Inclusion Week (23-29 September).

The theme of this year's National Inclusion Week, "Impact Matters", is about taking meaningful steps toward real, sustainable inclusion in the workplace.

Arco is inviting any of its 1,400 employees to take part if they choose to do so, with the aim of raising issues and discussing actions that create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can be at their best.

The committee is a strengthening of Arco's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I), and creating a workplace where every voice is heard, and every colleague is valued.

By joining, staff will have the opportunity to influence decisions and actions that foster a supportive and inclusive workplace environment.

Chief commercial officer Simon Allan-Brooks is the executive sponsor of the committee, which will be chaired by market research and insight manager Leigh Hanson.

Asked why he wanted to be the sponsor, Simon said it was important for people in all areas and all levels of the business to be part of the committee.

He said: "It is a real privilege to be part of such a great committee and driving inclusion forward. I am looking forward to the self-education along the way with our team.

"For me as an executive, it's really important to be a sponsor for such an important topic. It's also a continuous education journey for me. As a middle-aged, white male, I'm stereotypically the person that needs to really learn about inclusion.

"So, while it's a topic I'm interested in and one I should be driving, I also have a lot to learn. And what better way than to be involved right from the outset?"

Arco has worked closely with Garry Clarke-Strange, of Think Inclusion Consulting, to define what inclusion means for the company.

Garry said: "From working with Arco this year to define their approach to inclusion, to now seeing change and action happen so quickly is refreshing and inspiring in equal measure; and something the entire industry should aspire to follow.

"I'm excited to see the impact the inclusion committee, with the support of Simon and wider executive team, will have over the next 12 months towards helping ensure that everyone at Arco can feel like they belong."

Arco's Chelsea Baxter has been named Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the inaugural East Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, with Arco runner-up in the Large Employer of the Year category.

The awards, which celebrate apprentices, employers, colleges, trainers, and supporters across the region, were held last night at the MKM Stadium in Hull.

Chelsea, an E-Procurement Analyst at Arco, picked up the win after recently completing her Level 3 improvement technician apprenticeship with distinction.

Chelsea said: "It's scary going back into a learning environment so long after finishing university in 2014, but I had fantastic support from Arco, particularly from my manager Paul Burton, which made it not so scary.

"The apprenticeship took a lot of work and it's fab to see that acknowledged with this award."

Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading safety specialist, was highly commended in the Large Employer of the Year award, which was won by BAE Systems.

Arco's Future Experts programme was launched in 2015 and is an important part of the company's talent development strategy.

Apprentices benefit from a blend of on-the-job training and formal education, with 100% of apprentices having secured permanent positions within the company after completing their training, and 75% remaining employed at Arco for at least 12 months after completion.

Arco plans to expand its apprenticeship offerings in the future, increasing the number of higher and degree-level apprenticeships available to employees across the business.

Darren Ford, Arco’s head of organisational development and learning & development, said:

"We are so proud of our colleague Chelsea for winning this well-deserved award, and thrilled to be highly commended as a business for our apprenticeship programme.

"At Arco, we believe that investing in the future means investing in our apprentices. The recognition at the East Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards is a testament to our dedication to empowering individuals and driving business success through our Future Experts programme.

"We are proud of what we have achieved and excited for the future of our programme and of our apprentices."

Find out more about working at Arco

Leading workwear and safety footwear brand TROJAN has launched its most inclusive range of safety shoes to date, including unisex work trainers that offer "true female fit".

The new TROJAN footwear range, available exclusively from Arco, has been designed in a modern style, reflecting the growing shift in consumer preferences from traditional safety boots and shoes to more stylish, casual trainers and hiker boots.

Along with specific men's and women's options, the new collection includes unisex trainers that have been moulded on the contours of women's feet in sizes 3-6, offering a true female fit. This makes it easier for businesses across a variety of industries to kit out their whole team with the same level of comfort, support and protection.

The range includes five new styles, all made with lightweight materials and offering enhanced comfort and performance features such as improved footbeds.

• Perses men's safety trainers
• Maia women's safety trainers
• Nyx women's safety hiker boots
• Eurus unisex safety trainers (steel)
• Notus unisex safety trainers (non-metallic)

All five options meet the latest safety footwear standard (EN ISO 20345:2022), providing slip resistance and steel or composite toe protection and midsoles. The non-metallic styles incorporate advanced midsole materials to provide superior protection.

Trojan products undergo extensive testing in Arco’s own Product Assurance laboratory, the first UK testing lab able to carry out UKAS-accredited testing against impacts, compression, midsole perforation, slip resistance and electrical resistance of safety footwear certified to the revised standard.

To help businesses achieve their sustainability goals, all styles in the new TROJAN footwear range incorporate recycled materials in the linings, laces and footbeds, with 45 per cent Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified uppers.

Becky Casson, buying director at Arco, said:

"Arco is committed to leading the way in innovative and inclusive workplace solutions. This new Trojan footwear range not only modernises our footwear offerings but also reinforces our dedication to providing more inclusive workwear options.

"We believe that every worker deserves footwear that fits well, looks great, and performs under pressure, and this collection delivers just that."

See the full TROJAN range

Engineering students at Hull's Ron Dearing UTC have been learning all about workplace safety, thanks to the experts at Arco.

As part of the city centre school's Engineering Safety Week [September 9-13], the UK and Ireland's leading safety specialist held workshops for students, including an interactive display area based around virtual reality (VR) and a competition focused on working at height safety.

Arco's Brian Grunes, Louise Brown and Nerys Knight ran back-to-back sessions throughout the day, with groups of students ranging from Year 10 - 13. Students took part in a competition to see who could put on a safety harness and correctly fasten it in the quickest time, featuring a 'Top Gear' style leaderboard and a £50 Arco voucher for the winner.

The students were then introduced to a range of working at height scenarios using VR headsets. They experienced the fall potential and safety considerations of working at height, with virtual settings including Blackpool Tower and Hull's own landmark The Deep.

Brian Grunes, technical lead for confined spaces at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"The students seemed to really enjoy our virtual reality experiences, which allow learners to experience the dangers posed in high-risk working environments, but in a safe and engaging way.

"Many asked questions and appreciated the opportunity Arco provides as a future employer. The day was a huge success and we're all looking forward to returning in the future."

Kayleigh Whitehead, 17, who is studying double engineering, maths and physics at the UTC, said:

"It was a great experience that allowed us to see how the health and safety work we do at the UTC is used in industry and its importance to people's everyday life."

Arco has been a major partner of Ron Dearing UTC since the college opened in 2017, helping the college address the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) skills gap.

Earlier this year, Arco donated personal protective equipment (PPE), including lab coats, safety footwear and safety glasses, for students to wear during their workshop training, as well as branding the UTC's workshop and digital lab space.

Glenn Jensen, senior assistant principal at Ron Dearing UTC, said:

"Health and safety awareness is one of the fundamental threads that flows through the different engineering pathways at Ron Dearing UTC.

"Having a prestigious sector leader such as Arco showcasing at the UTC is amazing for our students and further enriches our fantastic employer-led curriculum."

Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading safety company, welcomed MSP Fiona Hyslop to its industry-leading Linlithgow Safety Centre this week..

The Linlithgow Safety Centre opened in the West Lothian town in 2021, providing consultancy, training, services and equipment to manage complex, high-risk, hazardous working scenarios.

Specialising in working at height, confined spaces, respiratory, and health and safety training, the Arco Professional Safety Services team delivers cutting-edge training for those working in situations with highest risk of serious injury.

During her visit, Ms Hyslop was shown around Arco's purpose-built facilities, which provide realistic, practical training environments. Ms Hyslop observed Arco's industry-leading training procedures for these specific working environments, and then took part in a Q&A session focused on training solutions for dangerous working scenarios.

Ms Hyslop was shown around Arco's facility by Steve McIver, Arco's training and consultancy team lead, who has 40 years' experience in the clean water and wastewater industry, and who also sits on the Water Jetting Association Technical Training Committee.

Steve said:

"We were pleased to welcome Ms Hyslop to our Safety Centre in Linlithgow, which provided an opportunity to showcase our expertise and commitment to customer safety in the region in the most challenging of environments."

Throughout the day, Arco's team and Ms Hyslop discussed the continuing partnership with NHS Scotland and Scotland Health and Social Care in relation to pandemic preparedness. Over two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, Arco supplied 200 million surgical masks, seven million FFP3 masks and 10 million visors, meeting around 87% of Scotland's healthcare needs. Arco also provided face fit testing to over 40,000 frontline staff across Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop MSP said:

"I was pleased to visit Arco's Safety Centre in Linlithgow on Monday. I was keen to hear about the history of the company and an update on where they are now.

"It is clear to see that safety is the number one priority at Arco, offering a vast range of health and safety training, including confined space training, training at heights and high-pressure water jet training. As well as providing physical PPE, Arco also ensures those receiving the PPE have had the appropriate training to use it.

"I was also interested to hear about the role Arco played in the Covid-19 pandemic, with the majority of NHS Scotland's requirements for PPE being fulfilled by the company."

For further information about the joined-up safety solutions offered at Arco's Linlithgow Safety centre, visit: www.arcoservices.co.uk/linlithgow-safety-centre

Safety specialist Arco has launched its own range of working at height equipment, designed and developed with experts from its safety services division, along with its fall protection manufacturing partners.

The new range introduces an own brand offering to add to the wide selection of fall protection equipment Arco already offers from some of the biggest brands in the safety industry.

The range features 17 products, including safety harnesses; anchorage slings; arrest, restraint and positioning lanyards; and self-retracting blocks, all designed to keep workers safe when carrying out tasks at height and in confined spaces.

The harnesses and lanyard are used together to prevent accidents when there is a risk of a fall from any height. The self-retracting blocks are designed for lower-height applications, instantly locking on impact to prevent falls.

Arco Professional Safety Services experts are already using the new equipment in the field and when delivering training courses at the company's five safety centres across the UK.

Mike Clayton, technical lead for working at height at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"The new Arco working at height equipment range has been designed, developed with help from our own experts to bring total assurance and quality to the safety products market.

"Arco leads the market in working at height expertise with our joined-up safety solutions tailoring the perfect combination of products and services.

"Bringing our own working at height product range to the market furthers this offering, with another avenue for our core purpose, keeping people at work safe."

Falling from height is the most common cause of death in the workplace, accounting for 36% of fatal injuries in 2023/24, according to recent HSE statistics¹.

As a trusted safety provider with 140 years of experience, Arco offers working at height equipment for sale and hire, as well as safety solutions such as consultancy, training and equipment maintenance services through its Arco Professional Safety Services division.

See the new Arco working at height equipment range

Find out more about Arco Professional Safety Services' working at height solutions

¹HSE statistics: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm.