EDI Archives - Transfire

EDI Case Study: Launching Member Networks at IOM3

EDI Case Study: Launching Member Networks at IOM3

Launched by its Chief Executive in response to member demand, in 2021 the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) introduced three new member networks, to bring together and support people who may be in an under-represented group in their profession. Company Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Industry Membership organisation for Materials, Minerals and Mining Location London and Grantham, with members UK-wide and internationally Company Size 45 employees, 15,000 members Intervention Introduction of new community groups for members Specific challenges Making materials, minerals and mining topics accessible to everyone, against a background of declining uptake of qualifications in these areas and specific challenges for those in under-represented groups in their profession Outcomes Created a safe space for discussion, leading to new ideas and events being held. Next steps are to build up the groups, and adopt additional data collection to quantify the impacts. Photo Credit: IOM3. WIM3 [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-09-26T10:19:50+00:00September 26th, 2023|

EDI Case Study: Constellium UK Ltd

EDI Case Study: Constellium UK Ltd

Constellium is a global leader in the Aluminium industry, they design and manufacture advanced alloys and engineered solutions for a range of applications, such as beverage cans, cars, airplanes, and more. The UK entity is focused on research & development, manufacturing, and recycling of aluminium products and solutions. Their mission is ‘to create game-changing aluminium solutions for a circular and sustainable economy and a brilliant new day’. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION The company strives to foster an inclusive environment where people from a multitude of backgrounds, with a wide range of ideas and experiences, can contribute and succeed. Constellium global have a target that by 2025, 25% of all managerial and all professional roles to be held by women. The UK entity has a 32.5% female representation, but no women in leadership or technical roles, and it had a distinct lack of females in engineering roles in the workforce, hence [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-12-08T10:32:12+00:00September 5th, 2023|

Inclusive Innovation in the Foundation Industries

Inclusive Innovation in the Foundation Industries

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to meet Karen Souza, D&I Partner at Innovate UK KTN. I was excited to hear about their focus on Inclusive Innovation, and immediately asked her to join us for our next TransFIRe EDI Working Group Session. Our EDI Working Group brings together people who are advocating and leading change for EDI in their businesses and industries, from the TransFIRe research community and our industry partners. Our industry participants represent production, research and development, and HR roles, and I was excited to bring the Inclusive Innovation discussion into this forum. Karen Souza Roll forwards a few weeks, and our session did not disappoint. Karen explained how UKRI’s vision is to work with partners to shape a dynamic, diverse and inclusive system of research and innovation in the UK. While the UK has incredible diverse talent, it is recognised that there [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-07-25T08:08:06+00:00July 24th, 2023|

Foundation Industries 4.0 – Workshop and Networking event

Foundation Industries 4.0 – Workshop and Networking event

Last month, I had the pleasure to join the Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) workshop and networking event. Held in London at IOM3, the event brought together people from across the foundation industries to learn about Foundation Industry 4.0 solutions being led by women innovators. Digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence of course featured prominently, with innovations tackling topics including: The work of DigitLab, research to accelerate the adoption of digital technology, clean growth, and impacts on environment and society - Professor Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen Data-led solutions to cut costs and emissions in energy-intensive manufacturing, such as cement and steel manufacture – Buffy Price, Carbon Re Process control and automation, and benefits of digitisation – Lani Scholtz, Promteck Ltd. Also great to hear they are working on new ideas around inclusion Sensors and AI monitoring of concrete quality during transportation – Emeso Ojo, Cloud Cycle Ltd AI waste monitoring to [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-05-26T12:28:31+00:00May 26th, 2023|

EDI Case Study: Glass Technologies

EDI Case Study: Glass Technologies

Glass Technology Services (GTS) has 53 employees, with some employees contracted by British Glass. Chris Holcroft, Principal Technologist, took us on a tour of the laboratory / research and development area, where we observed how the company conducts routine analysis, tests, assesses quality, and glass product innovation. GTS provides independent advice and support to the global glass manufacturing supply chain, from raw material suppliers to end users. They work with, amongst others, the pharmaceutical industry and glass, homeware and food and drink retailers, for instance on beverage glass failure analysis. GTS also carry out research and development, new product development, technical and environmental consultancy, assessment training and quality assessment. Additionally, the company also does analysis and analytical support for the glass supply chain, from batch to end users, from properties analysis, melting, defects trouble shooting to end-user complaints and failures. Testing includes quality assessment, environmental calculations and analysis, verification [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-05-23T12:46:10+00:00May 23rd, 2023|

EDI Case Study: Sheffield Forgemasters

EDI Case Study: Sheffield Forgemasters

For our latest site visit, the EDI team toured the foundry and heat house of the 66-acre Sheffield Forgemasters site, in Sheffield. Sheffield Forgemasters has 700 employees, and specialises in integrated steel production, from preliminary design and R&D through to melting, casting, forging, finish machining, testing and delivery. Their steel processing produces some of the most complex steel forgings and castings in the world, which are used in the most extreme environments. These include defence & marine, civil nuclear, offshore oil & gas, high pressure reactors, nuclear reactors, power generation, petrochemicals, renewables, construction, ingot & bar sectors. Sheffield Forgemasters was privately owned from inception in the 1800s until 2021, when it was purchased by the Ministry of Defence. The £400M acquisition is being utilised towards a recapitalisation programme, which will see significant investment in defence critical assets. EDI is overseen by the non-executive board that is linked to the [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-05-23T12:34:16+00:00May 23rd, 2023|

EDI Case Study: Elevating Wellbeing and Mental Health Awareness at Hanson

EDI Case Study: Elevating Wellbeing and Mental Health Awareness at Hanson

In Brief Company Hanson Industry Cement and quarry products Location Nationwide Company Size 3,500 employees Intervention Introduction of a comprehensive Wellbeing and Mental Health programme Specific challenges Mental health became an increasing issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, but had previously been little discussed. Reaching all employees posed a challenge, as Hanson has many sites nationwide and many employees who do not have email access at work. Outcomes Over 220 Mental Health First Aiders, and a culture of support in place for all colleagues Photo credit: Hanson About Hanson Hanson UK is a British-based building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. The company has been a subsidiary of the German company Heidelberg Materials since August 2007. Hanson UK is a leading supplier of low carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry. Hanson’s principal markets are the major conurbations in England and Wales and the central belt of Scotland. [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-05-16T08:44:59+00:00May 2nd, 2023|

EDI case study: The Materials Processing Institute

EDI case study: The Materials Processing Institute

This case study highlights proactive leadership, the importance of incorporating the lived experiences and voices of employees in transforming workplace culture and how policies, aligned to corporate values embeds diversity and inclusion as a strategic imperative. ABOUT THE MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE The Materials Processing Institute is the UK’s national innovation centre for metals and is a globally recognised centre for the innovation, development, and commercialisation of technology for advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, digital technologies, and the circular economy. These innovations are delivered by scientists, engineers, and project teams with expertise in materials science and advanced processing, utilising state-of-the-art equipment, laboratories, workshops, demonstration, scale-up and production facilities to develop technology, enhance materials and improve processes. The Institute is a not-for-profit organisation, with an 80-year track record and a strong societal and ethical mission. The core value of the Materials Processing Institute is ’Integrity’ and its message, “come as you [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-09-12T12:59:48+00:00April 21st, 2023|

Spotlight Interview with Professor Mark Jolly

Spotlight Interview with Professor Mark Jolly

Can you introduce yourself and tell me a bit about your role within TransFIRe? I'm Mark Jolly, Professor and Director of Manufacturing and Materials at Cranfield University and I've been in post for about three and a half years. I'm actually a metallurgist by background and worked in industry for many years before moving into academia. After spending some time at Birmingham University, I moved to Cranfield about 10 years ago and became more and more interested in energy and sustainability. This led me to co-write and co-create the idea for the Transforming Foundation Industries Research and Innovation Hub, or TransFIRe. My role in TransFIRe is really to get foundation industries and academics together, to get them to work in the same direction and think in the same way, to help reduce carbon emissions and get to the Government targets of net zero by 2050. The programme is [...]

David Fryer2023-02-13T13:58:17+00:00February 13th, 2023|

Materials Processing Institute (MPI) EDI Focus Group

Materials Processing Institute (MPI) EDI Focus Group

30 January 2023 Following a tour of the Teesworks Industrial Zone conducted by Project Manager Simon Bailey, the TransFIRe EDI team visited the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) in Middlesbrough, where we were hosted by the HR Director & EDI lead Melissa Bevington and Jon Bolton the Executive Chairman. We were given insights on MPI’s vision, mission and EDI policy as well as a number of policies linking directly to the Equality Act 2010 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 including policies on menopause, working from home, flexible working, mental health and wellbeing, assistance animals, grievances, anti-bullying and harassment. Around 30%-40% of the eighty five staff at MPI work to a hybrid work pattern, with 3 WFH permanently. Employees are encouraged ‘to flourish wherever they are’, thus being inclusive of those who may have parental or carer responsibilities, and to support to those who may have mental [...]

Joanna Johnson2023-02-09T14:30:58+00:00February 9th, 2023|