April 5, 2023 Award shortlist is seal of approval for sustainability investment

We’re a finalist! Fabweld Steel Products’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised after we were named on a shortlist for the Business Insider Made in the Midlands Awards.

FSP is in the running for a prestigious award in the  Sustainable/Ethical Manufacturer category and we’re  looking forward to joining the other eight shortlisted businesses at the presentation dinner.

Managing director Wayne Carter said: “We are over the moon to be shortlisted for the Made in the Midlands award. Getting this far validates the effort we have put in to making sure our impact on the environment is kept to an absolute minimum.

“Our fantastic FSP team have wholeheartedly bought into the vision we have for a greener future, and this nomination is a great reward for all their effort and commitment.”

Investments

The investments FSP has made to reduce its carbon footprint since 2016 include:

• Achieving ISO 14001 accreditation for our environmental management system
• Introducing Carbon Footprint Account Reporting (CFAR) to account for our emissions, even though this isn’t mandatory for companies of our size
• Generating more of the power we use onsite, using solar PV. We already generate more than half of the power we use, thanks to 180,000 kWp of solar PV panels installed on our roof – which has had the knock-on benefit of almost halving our energy bills even though the business has grown by 20 per cent
• A further 35 kWp of solar panels will be added to our new factory extension this summer. The extension will house our nitrogen generation system. We use a lot of nitrogen for precision laser cutting of steel and generating it ourselves will save the emissions created by buying it in and having it delivered to the site. We can also make nitrogen at weekends, when the solar energy we generate isn’t being used by the factory
• Replacing fleet vehicles and forklift trucks with electric alternatives. Our first electric FLT arrived this year, and will be recharged solely using our solar PV system
• Installed two new high speed charging points for staff and members of the community to power their electric vehicles thanks to funding from the Telford & Wrekin’s Climate Change Fund

Our commitment

Wayne added: “Our investment in sustainability amounts to about £500,000 but we are already reaping the benefits. I’m thrilled that the Made in the Midlands judges have recognised the value of what we are doing.”

Announcing the finalists, the category judges said: “One of the standouts of this year’s event is how seriously the vast majority of businesses applying – not just those shortlisted – take the issue of sustainability. Almost all had carbon reduction as a critical business aim, and many set out in clear, unambiguous terms what they had already achieved, and how they intend to carry on with the journey to Net Zero.”

The Business Insider Made in the Midlands Award winners will be announced at a black tie dinner at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on May 4. Before then, all the finalists have also been invited to a special drinks and canapés reception at the iconic 103 Colmore Row tower in Birmingham on April 20.