NEWS | Round-up
Our climate change champion Richard Hagan, MD of Crystal Doors, explains why your team could be the key to unlocking the potential of sustainability to your business
Don’t forget to
celebrate your team after EARTH DAY
I HAPPILY admit to being an obsessive learner. Once I become aware of something new, be it technology, environmental, design or otherwise, my mind’s chatterbox gets going and I will endlessly trawl the web until I understand what my personal angle of action is. I’ve noticed that I always go through four steps during this process: awareness, education, action and finally celebration. The last part is sometimes the most important, but too often it’s forgotten in the midst of all the difficult work to save money and save the planet. This year’s Earth Day on April 22 is a good reminder
to build awareness, educate ourselves and others, act, but also crucially to celebrate.
Celebrating our achievements and the achievements
of others is a crucial part of the learning process because it helps to cement and amplify the awareness, education, and action. Last year, kbbreview surprised me with the Special Achievement Award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards for leadership in climate action and I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of being appreciated – it drives me forward to do more. We can all do more to engage, enthuse and empower our teams through this kind of celebration. We’re all on a journey, each with our own levels of experience and awareness, which is why acting as a collective with a shared vision is so important.
We’re all on a journey, each with our own levels of experience and awareness, which is why acting as a collective with a shared vision is so important
It can be as simple as praising those who choose to cycle or walk to work, or offering a small gift to those who share their
actions or
learning to become more sustainable in their work or home life. I know my office has a sing and even a dance whenever someone visits or gets in
touch to give the team praise for their achievements. My team are my world. Even though sometimes they think I’m on another planet when my obsessive learning gets the better of me and I’m full of ideas for the next R&D project or big-ticket investment, they see my passion and that’s enough to join me on the journey. This year I have set plans in motion for Crystal Doors to become an employee-owned company – part of my commitment to give back to my team’s efforts over the past 28 years. Every individual feels they belong to the company and takes pride in working for an organisation that cares. That is ultimately what’s behind Crystal Doors’ success – solar panels, electric cars and other green gizmos only get you so far. For myself, I celebrate every day, knowing my team do so much that gives me the energy to do more. Even if it’s just one day a year, celebrate your people and successes – it’s a crucial part of the sustainability puzzle.
14
Symphony completes its factory expansion
KBB FURNITURE manufacturer Symphony Group has finished its 300,000sq ft extension to its headquarters in Barnsley, Yorkshire. The factory in Barnsley is the largest of Symphony’s four sites, bringing the total area, including Rotherham, Wakefield and Nottingham, to over 1.3 million sq ft. The investment cost £30 million, and the HQ is now 800,000sq ft. It will be operational during the first half of 2023 as the internal fit-out is still under way. The extension will also bring more employment to local people. Richard Bunton, managing director for Symphony Group, said: “While the current economic climate is uncertain, Symphony continues to look ahead, planning for the long-term and future growth opportunities. This investment demonstrates our commitment, confidence and belief in both our business and the loyal customers we serve. Our focus is on delivering quality on-trend products backed by outstanding service and an ethical conscience.” Sustainability is a vital area for Symphony, and it has plans to expand its delivery fleet using more efficient vehicles. Recently, it was awarded gold status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS), having reduced its carbon emissions per £1m turnover by 37% in five years, saving 4,729 tonnes of carbon dioxide between 2019 and 2021. One of the main contributors to this achievement was its biomass boiler and using FSC certified wood.
Looking ahead over the next 12 months, Symphony is launching new ranges and products, including new kitchen cabinetry and worktops.
James Mayor Homes opens first kitchen showroom in Macphersons appliance store
BESPOKE KITCHEN and home furniture maker James Mayor Home has opened its first ever kitchen showroom in the Macphersons
Appliances Harborne, Birmingham.
The new showroom within the newly refurbished Macphersons store will feature James Mayor Home’s bespoke furniture, allowing customers to view and buy kitchens and appliances under one roof.
John Mayor Home has been manufacturing furniture for every room in the home for more than 40 years and each kitchen is handmade to the customer’s specifications in its 5,000sq ft factory in Birmingham. The company also provides a design service and a representative will be made available to meet customers by appointment at the Macphersons store. More than 20 appliances are featured throughout the displays, including handleless Miele Artline cookers, Quooker hot water taps and Liebherr ‘column’ flush-fit refrigerators. James Mayor Home creative director Sherry
Wales said: “This new show space will enable us to work more closely with our clients across Birmingham and beyond, so we are thrilled to
store in
be here in what is a complete first for our brand. Every James Mayor kitchen is designed to our clients’ tastes, and we take pride in ensuring that every single door and trim is made by hand with nothing as standard in our own Birmingham workshop. The kitchen design possibilities are endless because of the bespoke nature of our in-house approach.”
Macphersons Appliances general manager Simon Farnan said: “James Mayor truly completes the showroom to offer what our customers a seamless integration of premium kitchen design with top-of-the range appliances.”
• April 2023
Climate
Champion Change
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