Interface

08 Summer 2021 MEMBERSHIP NEWS T ravis Perkins plc has formally announced its commitment to disability inclusion, setting out three key targets within its overall strategy to build a fully inclusive workplace. As well as its 20,000 working colleagues, this will extend to customers and suppliers. Last year the company joined The Valuable 500, a global initiative aiming at explicitly putting the inclusion of people with disabilities and the unlocking of their potential on the agenda of multinational companies. The latest announcement follows on from this and includes the following targets: 1. Building its partnership with the Business Disability Forum to become disability confident and ensuring colleagues, especially leaders, have the skills and knowledge they need to be inclusive of people with disabilities. 2. Establishing a colleague Ability network which brings together colleagues from across the business to give those with disabilities a stronger voice in shaping an inclusive working environment and ways of working for themselves and customers. 3. Working together across the business to develop a consistent process for making adjustments for colleagues with disabilities and to enable them to thrive. James Mackenzie, who is Managing Director for Toolstation and Ability sponsor for Travis Perkins plc, said: “We acknowledge that creating a more inclusive environment which celebrates and nurtures diversity will be crucial to our future success as a business and as an industry. Signing up to The Valuable 500 initiative was an important first step for us in articulating our aspirations and putting disability on our leadership agenda. “Today’s formal commitment will help us realise our ambition through some practical steps, so we continue to change mindsets and make our business fully accessible to colleagues with disabilities, both seen and unseen, over time.” Travis Perkins plc is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials and owner of the Travis Perkins builders’ merchants, Toolstation and many specialist trade businesses. FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF DISABILITY INCLUSION STRONG PERFORMANCE CONTINUES THROUGH SECOND QUARTER T ravis Perkins’ latest trading figures show strong performance continuing through the second quarter with full year earnings expected to be materially ahead of current market expectations and operating profit likely to be at least £300m by the end of the year. Following a robust start to 2021, the high levels of growth have been driven by the strength of domestic and commercial repairs, maintenance and improvement (RMI) markets, according to latest figures. The merchanting segment saw total sales growth of 6.3%* vs 2019 during April and May. Toolstation UK total sales YTD are up 70.2% vs 2019 while Toolstation Europe growth performance is also ahead of management expectations. There have been challenges on both inflation and materials supply on a number of core products ranges. Chief Executive Nick Roberts said: “Our merchanting businesses have recovered strongly while Toolstation’s performance continues to be ahead of expectations. Whilst we are experiencing inflationary pressures across a number of product ranges, due to high demand and supply constraints, we are focused on working with both our suppliers and customers to ensure consistency of supply and fair outcomes for all.” James MacKenzie, Managing Director Toolstation, Travis Perkins PLC