News and Updates

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."

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