Siderise named in Building’s Good Employer Guide for second year running

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPassive

Siderise recognised for second year

Siderise has been named in Building’s Good Employer Guide 2026 for the second consecutive year and remains the only product manufacturer included on the list.

The guide recognises organisations for their commitment to people, culture and workplace experience.

Siderise linked the recognition to its work on employee wellbeing, safety and inclusion.

It also cited professional development routes, internal progression and flexible working policies.

The statement said its workplace culture is shaped by collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement.

Siderise highlights workplace policies

Siderise said the recognition reflects the contribution of teams across the UK and internationally.

Mark Hendy, Cheif HR Officer, said: “I’m really pleased to see Siderise listed within the Building Good Employer Guide for a second consecutive year, particularly as we are once again the only construction products manufacturer included.

“Our culture is the result of the daily actions and behaviours of each and every colleague, and I’m really proud that we’ve once again seen this recognised through our inclusion on this prestigious list, alongside many reputable peers.”

The company said it will continue its workplace focus through 2026.

Fire Service receive Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers accolade at House of Commons

by EventsPeople

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) was honoured to recently be named as one of the country’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

As part of the accolade, earlier this week (Tuesday 10th September) a representative from TWFRS proudly attended the House of Commons for a special lunch reception hosted by Baroness Smith, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education for the recipients of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers award.

The announcement by the prestigious apprenticeship index has placed Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service among highly respected public and private sector organisations. 

Over the past six years, TWFRS have successfully delivered 145 in-house and externally operated apprenticeships, with results including 122 passes and 23 distinction grades. 

The workforce areas to benefit from the varying courses have been accountancy, community safety advisors, data protection, firefighter control, heavy vehicle technicians, learning and development consultant business partners, management and operational firefighters.

Dale Howey, Head of Learning & Development at TWFRS, said: “It was an honour and a privilege to attend the House of Commons to receive our award on behalf of the Service, our apprentices and the communities that we represent and protect across Tyne and Wear.

“To be amongst the gathered representatives from the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers epitomised all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at TWFRS to help nurture the future generations of fire service employees.  We will use this recognition as a springboard to excel and develop for the years ahead.

“We would also like to thank all of the firefighters for their efforts in ensuring they engage with the development of the apprentices, and to the wider Learning and Development team who help to bring the programme to life.”

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service currently has 71 TWFRS employees taking part in the Apprenticeship Programme, with an additional 25 people starting in September.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers* celebrates England’s outstanding apprenticeship employers and helps future apprentices, parents and careers advisers to identify apprenticeship opportunities at the country’s leading employers.

*Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were placed 88th.

Lynsey McVay, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at TWFRS, said: “We are proud as a service to receive this prestigious accolade of being named amongst the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

“It perfectly reflects all of the hard work delivered over the last six years as the apprenticeship scheme epitomises our investment in education and career development.  The beneficiaries of this work aren’t just the employees but their colleagues and the community which they both protect and represent.”

Every new emergency contact handler, community safety advisor and operational firefighter is enrolled on to the apprenticeship scheme. This allows them to study and develop as part of their on-the-job training once they start in their new role.

For further information about the work being delivered in the community by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, please visit www.twfire.gov.uk.

UK fire industry workers demand PPE

by Breaking News

According to a survey by Populus Data Solution, the vast majority of workers across industries believe that it is their employer’s responsibility to ensure they have the right protective equipment in the workplace, with a significant number stating they would refuse to go to work without the right PPE.

The survey, carried out for industrial workwear and protective clothing specialists Ballyclare, also found that a large proportion of workers are still seeking clarity on PPE from their employers and the Government. The results come as Ballyclare publishes a new factsheet, clearly spelling out to employers and employees exactly which PPE should be worn across various workplace settings and how it can be worn most safely.

As the economy slowly reopens, worker safety is a key focus for both employers and employees. When asked who should be responsible for ensuring workers have the right equipment to work safely, 87% of respondents said it is the employer’s role, while 40% also said the Government should shoulder the responsibility. Those working in the retail and consumer, manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors all pointed to their employers as responsible for making sure they had the right protective gear (89%), while hospitality and leisure followed close by (84%).

In a stark illustration of the issues facing businesses coming out of lockdown, the survey found that if an employer did not provide the employee with personal protective equipment, almost twice as many people would refuse to go into work than would not. 40% said they would be either likely or very likely to refuse to go into work, whilst 23% said they would still attend.

The survey results showed that a significant majority of workers are crying out for clarity on what protective equipment they should wear. 74% said they would feel far safer in returning to work if their employers provide the right PPE – with 81% saying they wanted clear advice from their employer. At the same time, 73% of people said they also wanted clear advice from the Government.

As lockdown measures are relaxing and people consider their back-to-work options, the analysis shows that if people were able to go into work tomorrow, a slightly higher number of people would not feel comfortable doing so than would feel comfortable. 36% said they would not feel comfortable compared with 30% who said they would. The data also shows that 8% of people are already back at work and do not feel comfortable at the moment.

Silke Hendricks, Managing Director of Ballyclare, says: “If people continue to feel insecure about returning to work, we could see a huge impact on the UK’s efforts to reopen the economy. The more employers can do to communicate the steps they are taking to make the workplace safe, the better. We have created a factsheet, based on our years of experience of working with PPE, to provide some practical advice as companies look to do everything they can to reopen their workplace in as safe a manner as possible.”