Norcros plc – Digital Summary Report 2023

Norcros SA – investing in the future generation of skilled artisans

Norcros SA’s social commitment is reflected in its recent partnership with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) to launch the Youth in Engineering apprenticeship programme. Launched in August last year, the scheme saw 20 apprentices from 6,000 applicants launch their careers as artisans. It is a three-year course that requires learners to fulfil each year’s training criteria before progressing to the next academic year. 

Each apprentice will have the opportunity to work at either the TAL or the Johnson Tiles plant at Olifantsfontein for three months, where they can apply their skills and gain practical experience. The ultimate goal of the programme is to train and help learners achieve their Red Seal artisan trade certification, which is proof that they have met the national standard in their trade.

Norcros SA empowers women in plumbing with the WIP Programme

House of Plumbing is proud to empower women in the plumbing industry by launching the Women in Plumbing (WIP) Programme. It aims to bridge the gap for trained and qualified women plumbers and to provide them with more career opportunities. Out of over 4,000 applicants, 20 female apprentices were selected to participate in the three-year programme.

The programme is fully sponsored by Norcros SA and House of Plumbing, with the apprentices receiving theoretical and practical training in college and on site. They also have the opportunity to learn more about plumbing products, industry practices and various career avenues from House of Plumbing suppliers during weekly training sessions.

Abode achieves Carbon Neutral status through Planet Mark

In March 2022 Abode achieved the Planet Mark Carbon Neutrality Certification. Abode’s achievement of Carbon Neutral status is the first stepping stone on the journey towards net zero carbon and in November 2022, Abode invested in the installation of solar panels at its Barnsley head office. The installation consisted of 125 solar photovoltaic panels with a combined output of 50kWh. These PV panels should generate enough electricity for all of Abode’s current site requirements and Abode will also benefit from being able to sell the excess energy generated in the summer months back to the grid.

Further improvements Abode has made throughout the year include all office lighting being converted to LED and sensor installations to reduce the usage of electric lighting. To support Abode’s target of electrification of the company fleet, there are also plans to install further EV charging points which will benefit from energy generated from the solar panel installation.

Abode – Naturale Aquifier

An example of how the Group designs products for sustainability is Abode’s Naturale Aquifier tap, launched in 2022. It has been designed to help reduce unnecessary water and energy usage through features such as water saving technology and cold start valve. The water filter tap also reduces reliance on single use plastic water bottles.

Grant Westfield – 35 Years of Certification

In June 2022, following a rigorous audit process, Grant Westfield was recertified ISO 9001 compliant. 

This prestigious accreditation highlights Grant Westfield’s adherence to internationally recognised best practices for quality management. It provides assurance to customers, partners, and stakeholders that the business has implemented stringent quality control measures, risk management processes, and a customer-centric approach throughout its operations. Moreover, it serves as a differentiating factor, demonstrating their commitment to quality and an ability to consistently deliver products that meet the highest standards.

The team at Grant Westfield were immensely proud to receive confirmation of certification and continue an impressive record of retaining this prestigious recognition for more than 35 years.

Grant Westfield, Forest Stewardship Council 

Commitment to environmental responsibility is recognised through the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C128180) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) chain of custody certifications. This ensures that the timber used originates from responsibly managed forests and the finished products comply with globally recognised ecological, social and economic standards.

These certifications form part of a rolling programme of environmental and sustainability initiatives within Grant Westfield’s manufacturing processes and its design approach including:

• sourcing materials and manufacturing in the UK to reduce carbon footprint where possible;
• recycling 99% of post-production waste into biomass materials and other products – reducing landfill and contributing to the circular economy;
• ensuring 100% of our panels are recyclable; and
• offering a 30-year warranty, giving peace of mind your bathroom will stand the test of time.

Our ambition:

Operate with integrity and respect to regulation and laws in all dealings.

Whistleblowing

Norcros encourages an environment where honest and open communication is expected, with employees feeling comfortable bringing forward any concerns or violations of Group policies.

Anti-bribery and corruption

Norcros prohibits bribery and all other types of fraud and will 
take disciplinary and/or legal action as appropriate in all cases of actual or attempted fraud across all operations.

Human rights

Our corporate values focus on respect, integrity and fairness. We are committed to respecting the dignity of the individual and to supporting the United Nations (UN) Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and other core conventions.

Tax transparency

Norcros plc is committed to trading within the law and conducting all of its business activities in an honest and ethical manner. Our Tax Policy governs all of our business dealings and the conduct of all persons or organisations which are appointed to act on our behalf. Norcros plc and its subsidiaries has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of tax evasion, whether under UK law or under the law of any foreign country.

Triton

In the last year there has been an increased focus on the resilience of Supply Chains; of which the ethical practices of suppliers is a key aspect. For many years Triton has utilised Service Level Agreements to fully document the expected standards of supplier activities covering ethical trading, modern slavery, anti-bribery, data protection (GDPR) and corporate criminal offences (CCO). The provision of this activity is regularly audited by Triton's purchasing and quality teams. In 22/23 activity in this area intensified in two areas. In response to UK Government advice, an audit of our complete supply chain was executed to ensure that there were zero transactions with Russian or Belarus own entities and we strengthened our Sustainability position requesting and detailing expectations from our suppliers on their Carbon Reduction Plans.