Q and A with Katie Aitken

What does your business do?

We are a DAF Truck Main Dealer, Service & Parts Centre

Why is Environment and Social Governance important to you?

From an environmental perspective we are ISO14001 accredited. Under this certification we must comply with a set of standards that demonstrate our practices around our environmental impact and control measures. The transport sector is responsible for 27% of the UKs total carbon emissions, our division within – HGV are responsible for 18% as such a large contributor to the carbon emissions only by taking proactive measures can we have a greater impact on driving these emissions down by supporting with the development of new technology and the means to service and repair the same.

Overall ESG is becoming more prevalent in industry and it’s something we feel by being ahead of the game with our strategy we are better placed for sustainable business growth. We are invited to tender for public service and blue-chip company contracts and it’s clear that it’s not a case of who can offer the best price or even the best service the consideration is becoming more a matter of whether our values closely align with that of the prospective customer and that is where the advantage truly lies. Northwest trucks have occupied our Wilson Road depot in Knowsley for over 3 decades many of our employees are local people and it’s important for us to be seen as a trusted employer and business within the local community.

What does Sustainability Mean to you?

The ability for our business to continue to operate, strengthen & grow, ensuring security not only for our workforce but for the local and national supply chains in our network. Considering the needs of all our stakeholders, being a good neighbour to the communities in which we operate and ensuring we fulfil our commitments to deliver new eco friendly tech to the industry in an effort to reduce the carbon emissions whilst also educating our employees on the environmental benefits of efficient working practices.

What motivates you?

Being in a position to force positive change, whether that be in the role of HR manager or heading up the Compliance department. Implementing new more efficient ways of working, rolling out an inclusive policy or introducing a new benefit or scheme all have such a positive impact on how our company performs and how fulfilled and happy our employees feel.

Can you describe/outline your typical day?

Being responsible for 2 functions within our business covering 4 sites across the northwest and over 150 employees there is never anything typical about my day. I could be doing a Health & safety Audit at the start of one day in Wigan, back in Knowsley assisting an employee or Line manager with a complex HR matter and ending in Cheshire addressing compliance conformity. This is what I love most about my role no day is the same and as both of the departments I oversee involve being connected to each site, department and staff member I have a unique opportunity to be as engaged more than others to truly understand the needs of our business and identify ways in which we can improve.

What was the best training you have ever done?

Mental Health First Aid – was a complete eye opener for me. I have not spoken to one person since who has done the same training and not come away feeling the same it’s such a positive step for businesses to be making this as much of a priority as First Aid. Employees need this support now more than ever before.

What do you do in your own time when you’re not working?

I have a 2-year-old daughter who takes up a lot of what spare time I have not working. My husband and I try and make the most of family time at the weekends along with my stepson and our little dog pepper we love a good walk on the beach & visiting friends and family etc. On the very rare occasion I don’t fall asleep whilst taking my daughter to bed, I love a good book!

What are your goals for the next two years?

I have been delaying starting a NEBOSH General certificate in Health & safety due to current workload and not having much time at home with the little one, so I want to get that completed. From a professional perspective I want to ensure that our company is on target to achieve all of our ESG goals. Support the business in a more efficient way of working through the development of new processes and systems and delivering a more substantial Learning and Development offering to our employees in support of our succession planning.

Sector Focus: Bomac Electric Ltd

Bomac has been a family-run business since it was established in the 1950s. Over half a century later, they remain dedicated to producing quality heating elements and heating products. They manufacture their products with an eye towards current trends and world events, supplying elements to commercial catering and heating markets as well as consumer appliances. This means that if you have a Whirlpool oven in your own home, it's possible that one of Bomac's grills is inside!

Bomac also provides to the high-end market. 'These customers are great because they purchase on a smaller scale but are happy to pay higher prices for a high quality product. To shift and accommodate different markets, we partnered nearly 20 years ago with a Chinese manufacturing company and were able to deliver bulk volume at near unbeatable prices.'

Bomac has global customers, including those in the UK, Europe, America and South Africa.

"We are able to price inquiries according to budget and requirements; this affords us flexibility depending on the market, whether it be niche or bulk. We can craft a solution that serves each customer exactly as they need."

At their small team based in Knowsley, they offer excellence in both manufacturing and R&D. When a customer comes with an inquiry for a product, more often than not, Bomac work with them to design something bespoke. They specialize in designing heating solutions and provide their customers with services such as creating prototypes, doing life tests and 3D designing - all from their facility here at Knowsley.

ESG is an essential factor in both attracting potential talent and acquiring new customers. For businesses that do not cast their attention to ESG, they face the danger of becoming outdated and irrelevant. As we have seen, the importance of ESG has grown rapidly over time; for these reasons corporations must be proactive in adopting such values.

'As customer demand continues to evolve, we are now obligated to redesign our products with increased emphasis on sustainability. For example, the single-use heater mat that is used in the transportation of food ingredients: A customer recently presented us with a dilemma, indicating their unwillingness to purchase the product unless we provide either a recycling service or information as to how they can recycle it. Knowing this - and understanding its importance - we must seriously consider every product that we manufacture and strive for ways in which each item can be made reusable or from recycled materials. At the end of its life cycle, how can we ensure that the product is recycled? This is a vital question that must be responded to through thoughtful design and implementation.'

The cost of production is an important factor in business, but some companies select to use recycled materials even though they are more expensive. In this way, they strive to provide goods that are higher quality and better for the environment. Bomac is currently looking into providing options crafted with recycled materials, so customers can enjoy products that have both strong performance and low environmental impact.

'Attracting talent to the business is a top priority. With some of our staff coming close to retirement age, we need to ensure that we have quality individuals ready to take over from them. From what other people in the industry say, recruiting can be difficult. Utilizing ESG practices and having sustainability plans in place can attract these potential employees.'

Survey data suggests that working for a sustainable company is important to many people. As much as it concerns prospective workers about the pay, career growth and other package details, a lot of job seekers are eager to work for an organization that shows commitment to sustainability. It's crucial for businesses today to be mindful of their impacts on society and nature.

'I think you've got to and we've got a long way to go. We're at the start of this journey, but we now need to step back and look at all of our existing products We understand the need to take a proactive approach in order to anticipate and service our customers' wants and needs.'

It's essential to consider that our products can have an impact on the environment, and it's important not to become discouraged when looking into this. From analyzing whether they can be recycled or changed to be made from more recyclable materials, small changes can make big differences. At Bomac, they are already taking a look at their own products and finding ways in which they can become involved with projects that could help reduce their ecological footprint.