Stakeholders

As an employer committed to providing the right environment in which to work, we insist that people connected with the Group can work safely, are trained correctly, behave in the right way, and comply with all local legal and regulatory requirements, thus ensuring the sustainability of the business.

What matters to employees

• Health & Safety
• Brand
• Safe Working Environment
• Remuneration
• Wellbeing
• Job security
• Career development

What we did in 2021

•  Carried out our second All-employee engagement survey
• Appointed a Chief People Officer
• Appointed a Group Head of Health & Safety 
• Commenced a search for Group Head of Sustainability 
• Developed plans for talent development and inclusion & diversity as part of our ESG response (see page 42 to 45 of our 2021 Annual Report for details).

Our decentralised autonomous model places our companies close to their end markets and under the management of their own board of directors, providing agility, customer intimacy and entrepreneurial activities. Our companies are able to respond rapidly to opportunities and to changes in their competitive environment and are responsible for the delivery our organic growth and the success of our Group strategy.

What matters to our companies

• Health & Safety
• Operational and financial performance.
• Cash allocation.
• Product Innovation.
• Talent and development

What we did in 2021

• Modified our organisational structure with the introduction of the Group President role. 
• Increased agility, focus and scalability across the Group.
• Monitored operating company performance 
• Regular site visits by Directors
• Provided cash to facilitate capital projects 
• Introduced Innovation Forum
• Developed plans for talent development as part of our ESG response (see page 42 to 45 of our 2021 Annual Report for details).

Our operating companies engage with their customers on an individual business unit basis. Most businesses are accredited with number of ISO quality standards to provide comfort to our customers that we are able to deliver solutions which meet their exacting requirements.

What matters to our customers

• Quality products delivered on time and to the correct specification.
• ESG
• A strong health & safety culture.
• Being treated with respect.
• Working as a partnership.

What we did in 2021

• Invested in product development
• Piloted a CSR accreditation scheme across three Group operating companies, resulting in:
  • One Gold award: Hill & Smith Limited; and
  • Two Silver awards: Mallatite Ltd and Novia Corporation Inc.
• Conducted health & safety audits across 80% of our sites
• Acquired Prolectric Services Ltd, a provider of environmentally friendly lighting solutions.

We actively engage with our suppliers working closely to ensure that they provide the right quality of raw materials and services to support our commitment to quality products and to maintaining fair cashflow requirements.

What matters to suppliers

• Mutual beneficial arrangements
• Long-term relationships.
• Quality

What we did in 2021

• Operating companies regularly met with existing and potential suppliers to continuity and quality of supply.
• Maintained the Group’s payment terms at 64 days (2020: 60)

We engage with the Government and our peers by participating in industry bodies and meetings to discuss emerging policy, regulation, innovation and threats in relation to infrastructure markets.

What matters to Governments and industry

• Development of road infrastructure.
• Development of engineered solutions infrastructure
• Tested products
• Sustainable products.
• Environmentally friendly solutions.

What we did in 2021

• Tested Road products to Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (‘MASH’) in the US and Australia and Standard EN1317 in the UK.
• Represented the Group on Government and Industry safety and product committees, including the British Standards Institute (‘BSI’); the Vehicle Restraint Manufacturers Association; Perimeter Security Suppliers Association; and the Transport Research Board in the USA.
• Discussed the use of composite materials with US Government officials.

Subsidiaries engage with their local communities on a business-by-business basis supporting local charities as well as engaging with local authorities when seeking to develop their businesses.

What matters to our communities

• ESG.
• Employment.
• Health & Safety.

What we did in 2021

• Provided advice to our operating companies to help develop local ESG initiatives.
• Operating companies engaged with their local communities, supporting local charities on a business-by-business basis.

Our Chairman and Executive Directors engage with our investors through a series of meetings, site visits and presentations, ensuring that they set out our strategy for delivering long-term sustainable profit growth. Investors also feedback their views on the major corporate governance issues of the day.

What matters to our investors

• Progressive dividend performance and long-term share price growth; and long-term sustainable profit growth.
• Operational efficiency.
• Robust corporate governance and business ethics.

What did in 2021

• Reinstated our dividend policy, following the cancellation in 2020 of the 2019 final dividend.
• Developed our ESG Sustainability Plan 
• Appointed a Group Head of Sustainability
• Our Executive team met regularly with investors and analysts
• Held an Investor site visit at our Hill & Smith Ltd/Joseph Ash galvanizing joint site in Bilston, West Midlands.