Travis Perkins plc has been ranked amongst the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2023 in new findings released by the Department for Education. In addition, the business has also outlined the progress it has made against its published carbon reduction targets.
Employers up and down the country have been recognised by the government for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeships, with the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 Small and Medium Employers (SMEs) league tables showcasing the very best apprenticeship programmes over the past 12 months.
The businesses are ranked not just on the number of apprentices they take on, but for their commitment to diversity and apprenticeship achievements. Their dedication to delivering high-quality apprenticeships is described as playing a crucial role in boosting the skills and career opportunities of people from all backgrounds, while plugging skills gaps and helping the economy to grow.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Congratulations to all the employers which have been recognised for their brilliant apprenticeship programmes. My apprenticeship was my golden ticket to a successful business career. These employers in sectors from digital, childcare and healthcare recognise the benefits apprentices can bring to their business, helping to create a talent pipeline and filling skills gaps to grow the economy. I would encourage all businesses – no matter what size or sector – to follow their lead.”
The leading Apprenticeship Employers for 2023 included the British Army, BT and the Royal Navy in the top three positions, whilst the likes of PwC, Deloitte, the Royal Air Force and Nissan also featured in the Top 10. Meanwhile, the Top Five SME Apprenticeship Employers for 2023 are Lee Marley Brickwork, PM+M Solutions for Business, FD Works, Bodystreet and Less Than Zero Barbers.
Travis Perkins plc placed 38th in the rankings for larger firms and Andy Rayner, Director of LEAP Apprenticeships and Early Careers at the merchant group, said: “We are delighted that Travis Perkins has been recognised for the second year running as a leading provider of apprenticeships in the UK. Apprentices sit at the heart of our business, they are key to upskilling our industry, whilst providing young people with the opportunity to embark on an exciting career.
“This year, we announced an ambitious target to train 10,000 apprentices by 2030, which will not only benefit our business, but the wider industry too.”
In other news from the Group, Travis Perkins plc has confirmed that it continues to make good progress against its Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) accredited, 1.5 degree-aligned carbon reduction targets.
Earlier this year, the Group confirmed that decarbonisation of the industry was the main strategic sustainability priority in response to its most recent stakeholder materiality assessment. As a result, efforts are focused on ensuring the Group is at the forefront of driving sustainability in its operations and supply chain to optimise sustainability in its products and service offering for customers.
The Group reports it has made key progress in the following areas:
Upskilling of colleagues to help customers make more sustainable choices
Improved carbon data for customer deliveries
Accelerated decarbonisation of the Group’s fleet and buildings
Development of more sustainable products and services for customers
Megan Adlen, Group Director of Sustainability, said: “We are committed to supporting customers with the information, products and services they need to help modernise and decarbonise construction. As we continue to demonstrate, that means working relentlessly on their behalf to improve the data we collate and provide, including embodied carbon and recycled content, and with colleagues to upskill our knowledge, and with customers and suppliers to collaborate on products and solutions to meet the industry’s shared ESG challenges.
“We are encouraged by the progress we have made and, given the scale and urgency of the climate change challenge we all face, we remain determined to accelerate the delivery of our decarbonisation plans at pace.”
Looking at the key areas outlined above, the Travis Perkins plc notes:
Upskilling of colleagues to help customers make more sustainable choices
The Group has evolved its award winning Apprenticeship offering via LEAP by incorporating ESG into the core curriculum. Ensuring that all apprentices cover this topic area will help build a workforce for the future that is better equipped to meet the skills shortage and decarbonisation challenges faced by the business and the industry more widely.
To support the revolution that is needed to retrofit the existing built environment with lower carbon solutions, the Group is also working with The Retrofit Academy; a not for profit organisation, to develop the expertise required to deliver high-quality retrofit at scale.Customer teams from Travis Perkins Managed Services, CCF and support functions have completed their level 2 Understanding Retrofit qualification.
Improved carbon data for customer deliveries
The Group’s specialist insulation, drywall and ceiling product distributor, CCF, has launched a new carbon reporting trial service for customers. This provides information on the carbon emissions relating to the delivery of products to site, and is part of Travis Perkins plc’s commitment to help customers decarbonise and operate more sustainably.
As soon as trusted data is available, this reporting solution will also incorporate the embodied carbon of products in order to give insight and transparency to customers, and enable customers and end users to make better informed decarbonisation choices.
Accelerated decarbonisation of the Group’s fleet
The Group has continued to expand the use of HVO as a low carbon fuel in fleet vehicles. Following last year’s successful trial, which resulted in higher carbon savings than anticipated (92% vs 90%) in the Group’s Travis Perkins, Keyline, BSS and CCF businesses, HVO has now been expanded to 40 sites to supply over 240 vehicles, saving over 1.3m litres of diesel per annum.
In July Travis Perkins plc will also start to take delivery of its new electric forklift trucks as part of Project Switch – the largest programme of its kind – which will see up to 1,100 diesel powered forklift trucks across the Group being replaced with electric alternatives by mid 2024 (eight years ahead of schedule); saving 6,600 tonnes of carbon a year.
Accelerated decarbonisation of the Group’s buildings
As part of a new initiative, Travis Perkins plc has installed EV chargers for colleagues and visitors, and continued its LED roll out programme across its branch network. The Group has also identified key locations to test a range of low carbon technologies to gain insight into the most efficient renewable energy technologies, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, suited to decarbonise its 1400+ buildings estate.
This new technology is then rolled out to all new branches, such as the recently opened Travis Perkins branch in Witney, Oxfordshire, where solar panels, electric forklift trucks, EV charging points and a heat pump are helping to keep the carbon footprint of the branch to a minimum.
Development of more sustainable products and services for customers
The Group’s Travis Perkins merchant business has launched WholeHouse; a new digital platform, which simplifies the traditionally complex process of planning, costing and building new homes at the click of a button. This service aims to help customers navigate an increasingly complex construction landscape with new legislation and decarbonisation targets, and to build better, more sustainable homes quickly and safely, but still keep control over the creative design elements and save time and money.
To support the retrofitting of homes, which is vital to achieve the UK’s climate change goals, the Group is supporting The National Retrofit Hub, to amplify industry collaboration and enable best practice sharing.
The Group is further convening the industry to drive change through a National House Builders Forum, where customers and suppliers are working collaboratively to address the shared challenges associated with decarbonisation.
For more information about Travis Perkins plc’s decarbonisation approach and roadmaps, please click here.
