Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading safety expert, has reduced its carbon emissions by 21.2 per cent in a single year, its biggest annual decrease to date.

The reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions substantially outperformed Arco's 5.5 per cent target, and is a significant step towards the company's goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

The record carbon reduction is one of several significant achievements highlighted in Arco's 2024 Sustainability Report, released today.

The 2024 report shows considerable progress in the company's sustainability strategy, A Safe Tomorrow, which sets out Arco's aims to have a positive impact on people and the planet, while helping customers meet their own sustainability goals

Initiatives such as the installation of solar panels on Arco buildings have helped the company reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and cut its carbon footprint over the past year.

Focusing on efficient use of water in its global operations has also seen Arco reduce its water use by 22.6 per cent.

In 2025, Arco will take this commitment to carbon reduction further by setting science-based targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), including for Scope 3 emissions related to manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life product management.

Responsible Choice

Importantly, Arco reduced carbon and water use while increasing sales of its Responsible Choice ranges of PPE and workwear by 200 per cent. These products feature verifiable sustainability claims or independent certifications, making it easier for businesses to buy more responsible products.

Arco also hit its annual target for use of "Better Textiles". These more sustainable textiles made up 10 per cent of Arco's total textile sales in FY24, and the company aims to increase this to 17.5 per cent by 2025, aligned with The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Textiles 2030 initiative.

Circularity and digital innovation

Working with customers and stakeholders, Arco is driving product circularity, developing closed-loop systems, expanding recycling and take-back schemes and providing garment life-extension services, such as laundry and repair.

The company has also invested in its digital capabilities to improve sustainability, utilising data-driven insights and embedding traceability and transparency in its Responsible hi-vis and workwear ranges.

Less waste and packaging

Arco has continued to reduce packaging and waste, removing single-use plastics and moving to more plain cardboard packaging. In FY24, the company recycled about 90 per cent of cardboard, plastic, clothing and building waste produced at its premises.

Commitment to communities

Activity such as volunteering and other support for charities saw Arco generate £39.3 million of social value in FY24, including £4 million in Hull and East Yorkshire. The company has continued to support long-standing partners such as Macmillan Cancer Support and in May 2024 launched a new partnership with The Mental Health Foundation.

Guy Bruce, chief executive officer at Arco, said:

"At Arco, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the energy powering our buildings, to the materials that make up our products, to the way we work with our suppliers, we're always thinking of new ways to help secure a safer tomorrow.

"As Experts in Safety, Arco's core purpose has always been to keep people safe at work. And with a clear commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, we truly believe we can help secure a safer tomorrow for people, businesses and the planet."

Download the Arco Sustainability Report 2024 and read more at arco.co.uk/sustainability

Arco Ltd, the UK and Ireland's leading safety expert, has announced a return to operating profit, with financial results ahead of target, one year into its 'Destination 2030' transformation plan.

The Hull-based company’s annual results, published today, show increased profits of £4.4m for the year ended 30 June 2024 (FY24), with the business making a pre-tax profit of £1.3m, excluding exceptional items, compared with a pre-tax loss of £3.1m in the previous year. 

The turnaround in profit was achieved despite sales being 6 per cent lower, as the company focused on quality of earnings and improving gross profit margin. Arco achieved its highest gross profit margin in five years at 23.9% and ended the year with a strong net cash position of £3.5m. 

'Stronger and more disciplined business'

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."