15th February 2022

Supplier collaboration supports CSR activity

CSR Employability sustainability

Working in collaboration with supplier Total Construction Supplies, Van Elle is helping reduce steel reinforcement waste while supporting ex-offender employability.

Based in Wolverhampton, Total Construction Supplies has been providing Van Elle with steel cage reinforcement since 2015.

Recently their Director Matthew Hague, who has built a positive impact in his local community through CSR activity, devised a work placement programme with HMP Oakwood.

The programme takes on a small cohort of prisoners nearing release, to gain meaningful, paid work experience within the company.

Matthew said: “We believe that everyone deserves a second chance and that those leaving prison with a job to go to stand a better chance of breaking the cycle of re-offending.

“We have already run a successful pilot scheme and have taken on a full-time member of staff following his release.

“He has benefitted from training and mentoring from the team and has settled into work well. I’m really pleased to have him as part of my team.”

Programme participants fill several roles within the business, including in the factory, where they fabricate the steel cage reinforcements, which are a bespoke design for Van Elle, created from recycled offcuts.

The pile cap cages are produced and delivered to Van Elle for use in conjunction with our Smartfoot pre-cast concrete foundation system.

Aaron Haslam, Estimating Director for Van Elle’s Housing division, said: “We are really proud of our longstanding relationship with Matthew and his team at Total Construction Supplies.

“Their CSR mission to reduce construction waste using recycled steel for our bespoke steel cages is commendable and we are proud to be associated with such a positive employability initiative.”

For more about our sustainability activities visit this page.