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SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES

We aim to support and develop communities as an active partner; helping to make the world a better home.

We encourage our colleagues to get involved in communities - join partnerships with schools, colleges and universities, to support local businesses and our charity partner. Wherever Saint-Gobain operates, we want to be considered a long-term partner for communities - and a good neighbour. We also want to be a business known for being responsible and ethical – be that in our sourcing of products, our employment practices or through open dialogue with community groups or authorities.

Richard Batley, HR and CSR Director, Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland

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DISCOVER OUR PRIORITIES IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES:

CREATING SOCIAL VALUE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

CREATING SOCIAL VALUE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

We invest in supporting small local construction businesses and entrepreneurs via our Entrepreneurship Foundation launched in 2015. We have evolved the Foundation to include a new partnership with the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs [IOEE], to combine with our partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board to develop the programme for the Foundation. Those who join our Foundation, which is free to join and fully funded by Saint-Gobain now receive a years accredited business training and a Professional Diploma in Managing a Small Business from the IOEE.

CREATING SOCIAL VALUE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

CREATING SOCIAL VALUE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

We invest in supporting small local construction businesses and entrepreneurs via our Entrepreneurship Foundation launched in 2015. We have evolved the Foundation to include a new partnership with the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs [IOEE], to combine with our partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board to develop the programme for the Foundation. Those who join our Foundation, which is free to join and fully funded by Saint-Gobain now receive a years accredited business training and a Professional Diploma in Managing a Small Business from the IOEE.

HELPING TO ERADICATE MODERN SLAVERY

HELPING TO ERADICATE MODERN SLAVERY

The construction industry is a high risk area for modern slavery. We work with the charity Stronger Together whose aim is to reduce modern slavery, particularly hidden forced labour and labour trafficking. We support the industry by helping Stronger Together develop tools, resources, best practices and training aids for businesses in construction to understand the risks of modern slavery, how to spot modern slavery and address supply chain risks.

We monitor and audit our supply chain and have trained hundreds of colleagues to understand how to spot signs of modern slavery in high risk areas of our recruitment or supply chain.

    HELPING TO ERADICATE MODERN SLAVERY

    HELPING TO ERADICATE MODERN SLAVERY

    The construction industry is a high risk area for modern slavery. We work with the charity Stronger Together whose aim is to reduce modern slavery, particularly hidden forced labour and labour trafficking. We support the industry by helping Stronger Together develop tools, resources, best practices and training aids for businesses in construction to understand the risks of modern slavery, how to spot modern slavery and address supply chain risks.

    We monitor and audit our supply chain and have trained hundreds of colleagues to understand how to spot signs of modern slavery in high risk areas of our recruitment or supply chain.

      ENSURING OUR MATERIALS ARE RESPONSIBLY SOURCED

      ENSURING OUR MATERIALS ARE RESPONSIBLY SOURCED

      Our supply chain is critical to our goal to be a responsible business. We have over 25,000 suppliers from 40 countries - a mix of local, national and international suppliers and an annual spend of more than £2bn.

      Having transparency of our supply is ever more important. We assess and audit our suppliers and, if needed work with them to improve performance, in terms of their health and safety, employment conditions and staff welfare.

        ENSURING OUR MATERIALS ARE RESPONSIBLY SOURCED

        ENSURING OUR MATERIALS ARE RESPONSIBLY SOURCED

        Our supply chain is critical to our goal to be a responsible business. We have over 25,000 suppliers from 40 countries - a mix of local, national and international suppliers and an annual spend of more than £2bn.

        Having transparency of our supply is ever more important. We assess and audit our suppliers and, if needed work with them to improve performance, in terms of their health and safety, employment conditions and staff welfare.

          SUPPLIER PAYMENTS & PRACTICES

          SUPPLIER PAYMENTS & PRACTICES

          With more than 25,000 suppliers, ranging from large international groups to small catering and service companies, we are reliant on our suppliers to keep our business going and help us serve our customers.

          We aim to develop partnerships with suppliers that are mutually beneficial. Our suppliers help us innovate, and serve customers from our 1,100 locations. We report twice a year on how we treat and pay our suppliers.

          SUPPLIER PAYMENTS & PRACTICES

          SUPPLIER PAYMENTS & PRACTICES

          With more than 25,000 suppliers, ranging from large international groups to small catering and service companies, we are reliant on our suppliers to keep our business going and help us serve our customers.

          We aim to develop partnerships with suppliers that are mutually beneficial. Our suppliers help us innovate, and serve customers from our 1,100 locations. We report twice a year on how we treat and pay our suppliers.

          WE SUPPORT AND DEVELOP CONSTRUCTION SME'S THROUGH OUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOUNDATION, HELPING ACCELERATE THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS 

          QUICK READ STORIES ABOUT OUR ACTIONS TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP COMMUNITIES:

          TRANSFORMING YOUNG LIVES - PROVIDING THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE

          Our Future Place training academy in Lewisham, London, developed in partnership with Barnardo's and YouthBuild helps some of the most vulnerable young people providing both life and construction skills. The intensive training, and personal support the Future Place Academy provides, has a transformational impact on many of these young people. 38 young people graduated from the Academy in 2019, almost all with recognised industry qualifications and, as result, 24 of those went on to secure direct employment as a result of their training with customers of Saint-Gobain who we introduced to the Academy.

          PROVIDING INMATES AT HIGHPOINT PRISON WITH SPECIALIST TRAINING

          With our customer, MAC’s plastering, we have joined forces to support inmates at HMP Highpoint to provide specialist training in dry lining to prisoners. Providing free of charge materials and expertise the scheme has been expanded to include HMP Olney.

          RESPONSIBLY SOURCING OUR PRODUCTS - LOCALLY

          The BRE standard BES 6001 guides manufacture of construction products such as Saint-Gobain in how to ensure and prove that products have been made with materials that have been responsibly sourced. Five of our key manufacturing businesses are independently accredited to this standard: Gyproc, British Gypsum, Isover, Saint-Gobain Glass and PAM.

          SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED AND REDUCING WASTE

          Recycling Lives are Award-Winning Recyclers, and provide accommodation, education, training and work experience to homeless and long-term unemployed individuals, with the aim of helping them back into full-time work and finding them a place to call home. As a social enterprise we have developed our relationship with the charity since 2015 and have supported them with donated materials, equipment and expertise. We are looking at ways to collaborate more with Recycling Lives, in particular around our Zero Waste goal and the opportunity to further develop our circular economy.

          THE SAINT-GOBAIN FOUNDATION SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT WORK, OR HOUSING, DEVELOP YOUNG PEOPLE'S SKILLS OR IMPROVE COMMUNITY BUILDINGS