Selco News

We’ve taken the next step in our sustainability journey by expanding our solar panel coverage and increasing the number of electric vehicles and alternative fuel options within our transport fleet.

We now have high-performance solar panels installed in six Selco branches, producing a carbon saving of more than 85,000 kgs – the equivalent of planting more than 5,100 trees.

The solar panels – which were fitted by Amelio Solar Panels with SolarEdge providing the web portal for real-time monitoring - have been installed in Barking, Romford, Stirchley, Sutton, Swansea and York branches.

Craig Bowler, Head of Development at Selco, said: “The installation of solar panels at a number of branches have resulted in significant reductions in our carbon footprint. During business opening hours, we are seeing the solar panels generate close to 100% of the energy required for the branch.

“We're delighted with the impact we are seeing on the overall energy consumption where solar panels have been installed and we look forward to seeing further progress replicated across other branches over time.”

In addition, our transport fleet is moving increasingly to alternative fuel vehicles, including electric forklift trucks and dropside vans.

We now have 29 HGV vehicles operating on either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). In addition, dozens of electric forklift trucks have been added to the fleet, taking the total number in Selco to 222.

Richard Evans, Head of Transport Operations at Selco, said: “The direction of travel over the last five years when it comes to our transport fleet has been towards alternative fuels and electrification.

“We have a clear long-term strategy to reduce our carbon footprint in the communities in which we operate and the progress we are making within the transport fleet is sizeable and will be continued.”

We're proud to have introduced a culture training programme for colleagues to ensure well-meaning fun remains in the workplace – while ensuring a respectful environment.

We've started providing training for our near 3,000-strong workforce as part of the “Better Banter” programme.

The initiative has been provided as part of a joint partnership between Halborns Law and the Builders Merchant Federation.

The content for the course includes debating the difference between banter and harassment, dealing with external forces such as social media, the rise in claims and avenues for dealing with unacceptable behaviour.

Around 1,000 of our colleagues are set to undergo the training before the end of this year, with the remainder to be completed in 2025.

Sally Kerr, HR Director for Selco, said: “We have strong, consistent policies and are making good strides in culture, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace so this training will ensure that we continue to make Selco a place where everyone belongs.

“This isn’t a case of ending banter – far from it. We want our people interacting with colleagues and customers and enjoying being at their place of work.

“We're proud to employ a multi-generational workforce, and I’m certain this course will help us all understand each other a little better as language and communication has evolved.

“We want to set the right tone for workplace communications between colleagues and ensure people have the right tools to deal swiftly with inappropriate banter if it occurs.”

Employment lawyers from Halborns Law have devised the content for the programme, outlining the legal framework and tests for behaviour being classed as harassment.

Members of our in-house training team have received coaching from the lawyers to be able to deliver the programme internally.

A recently-founded Southampton charity which supports people living with dementia, poor mental health or in social isolation across Hampshire and Dorset has become our latest Selco Community Hero.

The Memory Box Foundation, which was established in 2021 and supports more than 6,000 people a year, has been named as a monthly prize winner in our Community Heroes scheme.

The charity is one of just 12 monthly winners from almost 2,000 entries and has scooped £500 worth of building materials from our branches. It will also be involved in a public vote later in the year for the chance to provide a £5,000 cash boost to the charity.

The Memory Box Foundation’s main project is a reminiscence loan box service where themed items, documents and photographs from years gone by are taken into care homes across the region with the aim of engaging residents suffering with dementia and isolation in multi-sensory activity.

The charity will use its building materials prize to extend its Inside Out Sensory Garden project which sees young people aged from 11 to 25 working with care homes to build items such as hedgehog homes, bird boxes and flower beds.

Kayte West, co-founder of the Memory Box Foundation, said: “The people we work with get so much positivity from the resources we have, whether it be objects, documents, photographs or anything else we receive from the general public or through the strong relationship we have with Hampshire Museums.

“Our resources have the ability to improve people’s wellbeing and there is lots of laughter, spontaneous singing and people getting together to enjoy themselves.

“We are thrilled to have won the £500 donation from Selco which will go towards our garden project.

“It creates a really strong bond between young people and the older generation and that link is so important.

“Youngsters can be quite scared of speaking to older people, and the word dementia also creates fear, so we teach them how to communicate and about dementia awareness and it gives them a much more relaxed attitude.

“The Selco Community Heroes initiative is fantastic and we are proud to be one of the winners along with a number of other brilliant charities and community groups across the UK.”

Over the course of the last six months, we have awarded 12 groups materials through our ever-popular Community Heroes initiative.

At the end of the campaign, the dozen winners will go before a public vote, with the most supported winning £5,000 in cash and the runner-up securing £1,000.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing, said: “We're delighted to be able to support Memory Box Foundation which has created an innovative and inspiring route to help support those people battling dementia.

“Community Heroes is our flagship campaign when it comes to supporting the local communities in which we operate and it’s a privilege to be able to help community groups such as the Memory Box Foundation continue their outstanding work.”

The entry period for Community Heroes 2024 has now closed.

We're delighted to have launched a new pilot scheme to offer free ‘MOT’ health checks for our colleagues and potentially help them avoid serious illness.

Health screenings have this week been available for colleagues based at our Support Centre in Wythall, near Birmingham.

Dozens of colleagues have already taken advantage of the scheme – which is run in conjunction with health and wellbeing specialists Westfield Health – in the opening two days of activity.

There are plans in place to extend the offering to our entire workforce of nearly 3,000 people across 75 branches around the UK if the trial proves successful.

The programme has been launched to coincide with Know Your Numbers Week, the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event.

Sally Kerr, HR Director at Selco, said: “Ensuring we have a team of engaged and healthy colleagues is a key priority for us at Selco and these health checks are the latest important initiative in us delivering on that.

“It’s vital that everyone keeps on top of their physical health and wellbeing with regular checks, but it’s not always easy to achieve and making health appointments is something which often gets put on the back-burner due to other pressures.

“Our colleagues live very busy lifestyles, many working full time and across a variety of shift patterns. Providing the opportunity for colleagues to secure appointments during a working day will give them the chance to ‘know their numbers’ and much more in a convenient way, and allow them to have access to professional advice so they can make informed lifestyle choices.

“Our first two days of health checks saw all appointments fully booked and the feedback has been extremely positive from the 80 people who took part.

“In addition to this, Westfield Health will also produce an anonymised overview report for us which will allow us to identify areas of focus for our wellness strategy in 2025.”

As well as checking blood pressure levels, the screenings also provide an assessment on a range of other metrics including cholesterol, BMI and blood glucose.

Results are produced immediately with a personal report provided and a discussion with a wellbeing coach included.

We're delighted to have extended our partnership with the UK’s leading tool and equipment hire specialists.

HSS Hire opened its first satellite operations in four of our branches – Slough, Milton Keynes, Tottenham and Ashton-under-Lyne – at the end of last year.

The service has now been expanded to a total of 15 branches. In addition to the original quartet, HSS Hire can now be found in Selco branches in West Thurrock, Charlton, Rochester, Camberley, Walthamstow, Crayford, Cricklewood, Purley South Croydon, Catford, Redhill and Guildford.

Craig Bowler, Head of Development at Selco, said: “We’ve been thrilled with the way that our partnership with HSS Hire has been received by our customers.

“In all the branches we have already launched HSS Hire, the response has been fantastic and our customers are thriving on the fact they can purchase their materials and fulfil their hire requirements at the same time.

“Expanding the partnership was always in the pipeline and we are delighted to have taken the next steps in that process.”

Each HSS Hire satellite desk can found at our trade counters, with HSS Hire teams in place to offer specialist advice for the offering.

Nick Hadley, Director at HSS Hire, added: “We were confident that the Selco partnership would be successful for all parties and that’s exactly how it has turned out.

“There's a natural fit between the services offered by a builders merchant and a tool and equipment hire specialist.”

HSS Hire isn’t the only service we have introduced over the last 12 months which has been expanded.

The Brick Store was created in four branches earlier this year to mark the start of our partnership with Chiltern Brick and Tile.

The initiative, which sees us offer more than 200 bricks from a wide range of manufacturers and displayed on a special ‘show wall’, was initially launched in Enfield, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans.

Watford, Cricklewood and Tottenham quickly followed suit and the service has now opened in Coventry, Leicester and Peterborough.

Customers entering these branches can either match their brick with one displayed or use the QR code to provide their information and request a follow-up call.

A Windsor primary school has created a special sensory garden ahead of the new academic year – with the help of our Slough branch.

Cranbourne Primary School, based on Lovel Road in Winkfield, has created ‘The Nook’ to support children at the school in exploring the outdoors in a safe environment.

The team at our Slough branch, based on Farnham Road, assisted with the project, donating sleepers, fixings, bark and weed control fabrics.

Sarah Stone, volunteer fundraising manager at the school which has around 200 pupils, said: “We are extremely proud of the new sensory garden and it’s going to make a huge difference for all children.

“After Covid and with a heightened anxiety amongst many children – particularly those with additional needs - there is an increased requirement for areas such as these.

“We had an indoor sensory area at the school but wanted to replicate it outdoors.

“We have a history with outdoor spaces having created Monty’s Garden which is where children grow their own plants, vegetables and fruits. We’ve had recognition for that at the Royal Windsor Show from Alan Titchmarsh and even members of the Royal Family which has been fantastic.

“We then looked to create the sensory garden and, in the few days it was used before the end of last term, it proved a real hit.

“It’s been a big community effort to create the garden and Selco were particularly instrumental in helping to develop the area for the wildlife pond.

“The team at Selco Slough are extremely helpful, willing and open to ideas when it comes to supporting community projects and their communication and support has been first class.”

Selco Slough has supported other local community projects recently, including the GMG Gurdwara on Bath Road in Slough and Cippenham Royal British Legion Poppy Garden project.

Tim Howard, branch manager of our Slough branch, said: “We have been thrilled to support the project at Cranbourne Primary School which attracts pupils from across the local area.

“To be able to make a donation which helps support the outdoor learning and development of primary school children is something everyone at the Selco Slough branch is extremely proud of.

“We hope it makes a real difference for many years to come.”

A specialist school in Warrington is further improving the outdoor facilities for its pupils after winning building materials in our Community Heroes competition.

Fox Wood Special School, on Holes Lane, is the latest good cause to scoop £500 of materials.

The school, which caters for 4- to 19-year-olds with learning disorders, plans to use the funds to buy new fencing for around its teepee.

Rachael Penn, PTA Chair at Fox Wood, said: “We are thrilled to receive this fantastic backing from Selco.

“We work with children with complex learning needs and we want to give them meaningful and exciting opportunities to improve their day-to-day lives and their mental health.

“We recently carried out fundraising activities to buy a teepee but we need to make the area safe. We can’t wait to visit our local Selco in Warrington to buy the fencing and materials we need to do that.

“Budgets are stretched so when companies like Selco step in to help it is a huge boost.”

Over the course of six months, we are awarding 12 groups materials through the ever-popular Community Heroes scheme.

At the end of the campaign, the dozen winners will go before a public vote, with the most supported bagging £5,000 in cash and the runner-up securing £1,000.

Simon Humpage, Head of MultiChannel Marketing at Selco, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Fox Wood Special School, which does amazing work in improving the lives of children with additional needs in Warrington.

“Community Heroes is just one of the ways Selco gets involved with local communities around our 75 branches. It’s a privilege to be able to help community groups and good causes across the country to make tangible differences to their facilities.”

Rachael said the school would buy specialist play equipment, including a wheelchair swing and trampoline, if it was successful in winning the £5,000 jackpot later in the year.

Community Heroes is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made online by explaining in no more than 100 words how the building materials or money would be used to benefit the organisation.

A housing advice charity is ready to add soundproofed rooms to its facility in Loughborough after being named a winner in our Community Heroes competition.

The Bridge (East Midlands) has scooped £500 worth of building materials.

The charity, which delivers specialist housing related advice, support and assistance services to vulnerable people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, will spend the cash on soundproofing rooms to make private conversations easier.

Nash Chhatralia, CEO of The Bridge, said: "We are thrilled to receive this fantastic prize from Selco.

"We are a long-standing homeless prevention charity working alongside homeless and vulnerably housed people across the region.

"We plan to construct soundproof partitions within our office, facilitating private conversations for housing advice, mediation and other confidential matters.

"These booths will ensure individuals and families can discuss their housing situations without fear of being overheard, fostering trust and openness in our consultation."

Last year the charity supported more than 5,000 individuals, preventing 97% of those from becoming homeless.

Nash and the team will visit Selco Leicester on Parker Drive to select their materials.

Over the course of six months, we are awarding 12 groups with a windfall worth £500 through our ever-popular Community Heroes scheme.

At the end of the campaign, the dozen winners will go before a public vote, with the most supported bagging £5,000 in cash and the runner-up securing £1,000.

Simon Humpage, Head of MultiChannel Marketing at Selco, said: “Community Heroes helps to make a tangible difference to charities, community groups and good causes right across the country.

“It’s a very tough job selecting two winners each month from the hundreds of amazing entries, but our judges were impressed by The Bridge (East Midlands) and its commitment to continued improvement for its clients.

“We look forward to receiving the next batch of entries at the end of the month.”

Community Heroes is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made online by explaining in no more than 100 words how the building materials or money would be used to benefit the organisation.

Our charity partner Cancer Research UK will take centre stage at Salford Red Devils this weekend when the Super League club host their latest charity match for the visit of Leeds Rhinos.

As front of shirt sponsor for Salford Red Devils, we are proud the focus will be on Cancer Research UK - which funds doctors, nurses and scientists to carry out pioneering research to help provide a solution to defeating cancer – on Saturday.

Thanks to our brilliant customers, colleagues and suppliers, we have raised an incredible £500,000 for Cancer Research UK over the last two-and-a-half years – and Salford Red Devils fans have the chance to play their part in supporting the charity this weekend.

Cancer Research UK representatives will be at Saturday’s game, with a presence in the fan zone before the match where supporters will have the chance to find out more about the charity’s work and ask any questions.

There will also be the opportunity for fans to donate money to the charity around the ground, either through bucket collections or via a contactless payment.

Chelsie May, Relationship Manager for Cancer Research UK, said: “We are really excited about engaging with Salford Red Devils fans before Saturday’s big game.

“The team at Selco have been wonderful supporters of Cancer Research UK over the last couple of years and we are delighted to be extending our partnership with them through Salford Red Devils.”

Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute is based at the University of Manchester and its work spans the whole spectrum of cancer research, from investigating the molecular basis of cancer to developing new treatments.

The Manchester Centre delivers world-leading research that accelerates the transition of lab-based discovery to the clinic for the benefit of people affected by cancer. It’s also home to one of its RadNet centres of excellence, which together form a network that aims to improve cancer survival by optimising and personalising radiotherapy.

Over the last 50 years, Cancer Research UK's work has helped double breast cancer survival in the UK.

It was a key player in the development of radiotherapy, which now benefits more than 130,000 patients in the UK every year, while its research led to the development of the HPV vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90% of cervical cancers in the UK.

Children at a Solihull school will have an extra spring in their step after the outdoor learning and play area was spruced up with the help of Selco.

Burman Infant School, on Velsheda Road in Shirley, has benefitted from the support to bring enhancements to its playground.

A team of seven members of our category management team from Selco’s Support Centre in Wythall attended the school to carry out the work, which included replacing and painting fencing, repairing the gate and refreshing the storage shed.

We also provided all the materials and paint used on the project.

Ella Saxty - Headteacher at Burman Infant School which has more than 200 pupils across nursery, reception, year one and year two - said: “I would like to send a huge and heartfelt thanks to Selco as a whole and the team that volunteered to carry out the work in particular.

“We were hopeful that they would paint one fence in the time they had but the team ended up doing so much more.

“We don’t have any money to carry out anything but absolutely essential repair work so we would normally have to hold a fundraising event and then carry out a bit of work and repeat the process many times to get things done.

“To have a company like Selco support us with not only materials but also a number of its team volunteering is incredible.

“It has made a huge difference to the outdoor area used by our nursery and reception children, not only visually but also in inspiring the children who are approaching their learning in a different way because of the more vibrant look we now have.”

The attendance of the team came after we introduced a new scheme offering all of our near 3,000-strong colleagues the chance to volunteer to support a local community project on a working day.

Gary Walker, a member of our category management team which attended, said: “It was a fantastic day and something we were very proud to be involved with.

“The outdoor area needed some repair work and we got stuck in as a team and made the repairs and carried out the painting.

“The school were thrilled to have our support and made us feel very welcome, providing us with regular refreshments on what was an extremely warm day.

“We hope they are happy with the final outcome and the children get many more years of benefit from their outdoor play and learning.”