Forterra shortlisted for prestigious Make UK awards
We are delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist for the Health, Safety and Wellbeing and Developing Future Talent categories for the 2023 Midlands & East Make UK Awards. The final winners will be announced during the official ceremony, held at The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 1st November.
Make UK is a key player in the UK manufacturing industry, representing companies that drive innovation, research and development, and economic growth. It hosts its annual manufacturing awards to celebrate organisations that have made exceptional strides in the industry.
The Health, Safety and Wellbeing award has been developed to recognise progress in improving the occupational health and safety culture of the workplace.
Forterra has been nominated for its innovative four-year strategy, which aims to create a zero-harm workplace where every colleague embraces the mantra, ‘I don’t want anyone to get hurt.’
One of Forterra’s standout initiatives has been the comprehensive overhaul of its ‘Golden Rules’ framework. These fundamental safety guidelines are now simpler, easier to remember and more effective, helping to eliminate accidents, incidents and near misses.
With a focus on integrating these Golden Rules into every aspect of Forterra’s working culture, the company rolled them out via safety videos, safety passports and branded merchandise. Visual graphics were implemented across all manufacturing sites, decorating doors, walls, and equipment, to further ensure the Golden Rules remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Finally, to bring the Golden Rules to life Forterra partnered with Juice Learning to deliver behavioural-based Health & Safety training. With live actors simulating real-life scenarios and colleagues sharing their perspectives on safety, the training engaged employees in an immersive and informative way.
Paul Humphreys, Head of Health and Safety at Forterra, said: “Forterra’s dedication to fostering a safer workplace has led to a demonstrable work-culture change around safety and an improved understanding of compliance to reduce incidence rates. Our commitment to safety is a testament to our core values, so it’s fantastic to be acknowledged for this and shortlisted for the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Award.”
The nomination for the Developing Future Talent Category is yet another testament to Forterra’s commitment to constantly improving and modernising the industry. In response to employee feedback, Forterra initiated a comprehensive three-level Leadership Development Programme, covering Basic, Essential and Advanced leadership skills. At each stage, the programme equips employees with extensive leadership skills covering a range of topics, including mental health support, understanding bias, mastering engagement, driving change and building high-performing teams.
Michelle Francis, Head of Talent Management at Forterra, said: “Forterra’s dedication to equipping leaders with essential skills, promoting diversity and inclusion, and engaging with the community has positioned the company as a frontrunner in the Developing Future Talent category. Our purpose at Forterra is to Keep Britain Building while fostering a safe, dynamic and diverse working environment, so we’re delighted to be recognised with these nominations.”
Forterra’s nominations for these prestigious awards reflect its dedication in both health and safety and talent development. The recognition highlights Forterra’s role as a leader in the construction industry.