The Rearo team in Glasgow, gathered to wish a happy retirement to James Sneddon (Wee Jimmy as he’s known here).
Jamie Campbell, Operations Manager, thanked Jimmy for his service at Rearo and the skills and experience he has passed on to the next generation in the factory. Jamie also stated on a personal note, “he has always been there for me, throughout my time at Rearo, offering advice and help whenever needed”.
Graham Mercer, MD, thanked Jimmy for his service at Rearo over the years and discussed the importance of learning and sharing skills. “We have three guys retiring this month. Today, we have two retirements, Gerry in Rosyth, who has been with the company 3 years, and wee Jimmy who’s been with us for an incredible 15 years.
Later this month Allistair will also be retiring from our Commercial department after 8 years with Rearo. With these retirements, we are losing an awful lot of experience. Jimmy always had the time and generosity to share not just what to do, but why we do it. He will be missed.”
Allistair has worked in our commercial department for the past 8 years, working as an Estimator and supporting many of our younger members of staff.
Graham Mercer thanked Allistair for his service, skills and experience he has passed on to the next generation within the commercial department.
Allistair spoke about the friendliness of the team in Glasgow and how he was made to feel welcome from his first day.
When Sam Speirs started work as a machine operator, he worried that being deaf would make it difficult for him to communicate with his colleagues.
So, he was delighted when the rest of the team at Glasgow-based Rearo joined together and agreed to learn British Sign Language (BSL).
Since then, dozens of workers at the Govan plant, which manufactures kitchen and bathroom surfaces, have attended weekly lessons that have equipped them with the skills and knowledge to be able to sign and communicate with Sam.
The project is part of the company’s commitment to inclusion, supporting employees with a range of different abilities. Paula Phoenix, a sign language interpreter, who facilitates the learning, said: “Nowhere, no company or organisation anywhere that I am aware of, does what Rearo does. Honestly, what they are doing is amazing
“Every single person in the company, from factory workers to office and showroom staff, has the opportunity to learn basic BSL. How amazing is that?
“A lot of businesses and organisations pay lip service to diversity, with the odd project or gesture. This commitment to ensuring every individual can learn BSL makes Rearo stand out as a unique example in fostering a culture of inclusivity.”
Sam, 28, began working at Rearo in 2017, after attending an interview with managing director Graham Mercer and Mark Gordon, then then production manager.
Since then, he has worked in several areas of the company, including the postforming area and operating various machines. He is currently learning the admin side, using the company’s React system to process orders as well as being involved in the recent solid surfacing training programme.
Being able to communicate with his colleagues has also enabled Sam to take part in the company’s social activities, including playing football and attending birthday parties.
He said he was delighted at the willingness of his colleagues to learn BSL, adding: “The way they rallied round was great. The plant is a big space, with lots of machines and vehicles all operating at the same time, and speed of communication is important.
“Being able to communicate quickly and to take directions at the right time is very important, and it is reassuring to know that everybody has my back. They were as keen as me to ensure that that I was able to work effectively.”
In addition to introducing the team to basic BSL Paula, who has 20 years of experience as an Interpreter, also shares deaf awareness information, helping Rearo staff to understand the cultural norms and nuances of the deaf community.
This approach aims to bridge the communication gap and create a more empathetic work environment.
She said: “While many companies might offer short-term sign language courses, Rearo’s commitment is exceptional. The staff’s willingness to invest time and effort in learning BSL demonstrates a top-down and bottom-up approach.
“If the guys hadn’t been willing to engage, then it wouldn’t have worked, but that was never the case. Everyone showed an eagerness to participate from the outset, which was really encouraging.”
She added: “I share the signs and jargon that are specific to the factory environment, so the content is relatable to the staff. It includes football and jokes and, of course, everyone wanted to know what the swear words were.”
Harry Hogan has got his confidence back after securing employment with Rearo, a Glasgow-based manufacturer specialising in bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
The 28-year-old, from Barrhead, had been struggling with his self-esteem after losing his job at a coffee shop during the Covid pandemic.
This caused him to become very anxious, which left him losing weight and fearing leaving the house even for a short walk.
Now Harry is finally feeling positive about his future after being selected as part of Rearo’s innovative inclusive apprenticeship programme.
He works in the Govan warehouse, where he has responsibilities for handling orders and quality control.
Harry said: “In the warehouse I have learned to deal with the customers and what they want. I learned how to check on the order forms and find the names of the panels.
“In the office, I have learned to put the labels on samples and also to read out the names of the labels and to say what colour it is.
“I enjoy doing both jobs equally – in the warehouse and the office. The rest of the team are great fun and we all get on really well. I enjoy the banter more than anything and I’m always winding people up.
“For me, it’s more than a job. It’s also about socialising, which I love, and it has given me back my self-confidence.”
Rearo has teamed up with Bridgeton-based employment charity First Steps Future Training to create work opportunities for underprivileged young people.
The partnership aims to equip youngsters, aged 12 to 25, with the skills, experience and confidence needed for future employment.
First Steps Future Training provides people with construction training and qualifications. Its training programme covers a range of trades, including bricklaying, joinery, painting, decorating, and scaffolding. The charity has helped hundreds of youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds to find work since being formed in 2013.
Jamie Campbell, Rearo’s operations excellence manager, said, “The programme that First Steps has set up is remarkable. It provides a valuable training ground for these young individuals who might not have had the best start in life.”
As part of the collaboration, Rearo has contributed to the charity’s facilities, providing toilet cubicles and wall panels to enhance the infrastructure at First Steps’ HQ at Broad Street in Bridgeton.
Jamie Campbell added, “When First Steps reached out to us, we saw an opportunity not just to offer employment but also to contribute to the community. We decided to provide toilet cubicles and wall panels to support the charity in creating a conducive learning environment.”
As well as potential job placements, Rearo is also offering a six-week trial period for graduates of First Steps’ training programme, described as essentially providing a pre-apprenticeship experience. This allows both the company and the individual to assess compatibility before committing to a formal apprenticeship.
Potential apprentices will help to install the Rearo toilet cubicles and Selkie wet wall panels at the charity’s premises.
“It’s like a win-win situation,” Campbell explained. “The trial period helps us identify if the individual is a good fit for our company, and it gives the young person a chance to experience the workplace before committing to a long-term apprenticeship.”
Rearo is actively involved in promoting the programme to local schools. The company is reaching out to high schools to encourage pupils to consider apprenticeships. The firm also intends to diversify its workforce by potentially hiring older individuals.
George Bruce, operations manager of First Steps Future Training, commented, “To say that we’re grateful is an understatement. Rearo has not only provided potential employment opportunities for our graduates but has also enhanced our facilities with their generous donation. This collaboration goes beyond a transaction; it’s about investing in the future of these young individuals.”
The success stories emerging from First Steps are a testament to the positive impact of such collaborations. The charity maintains a ‘Wall of Success’ featuring individuals who have successfully transitioned into employment or apprenticeships after completing the programme.
Rearo is Hiring a Commercial Estimator in the Glasgow Branch
About Rearo
You will be joining a leading UK specialist in supply and manufacture of Commercial Washrooms and kitchen/bathroom surfaces, Rearo is a family-run business operating in the market for 31 years. Hand-crafted at the Govan manufacturing premises by our team of expert operators, every product is produced to high standards. Our ranges are specified on major development projects across the UK and the company has branches in Glasgow, Northampton, Rosyth, Skelmersdale and Washington.
In order to deliver our vision, it is imperative that we continually improve our operations to ensure we continually deliver a first class customer experience and drive efficiencies
We currently have an excellent opportunity for an Estimator/Order processor with a proven track record, preferably gained within the manufacturing sector, to work in a busy office in Govan Glasgow
Reporting to our Commercial Manager, you will work closely with our Commercial team to help deliver a first-class service.
Why might you apply? Because you…
- Preferably have experience in the commercial washrooms and construction sector
- Are educated to HND Level or above.
- Have a good knowledge of building materials as well to be able to read drawings to do take offs, Understand Bill of Quantities, and Specification Documents.
- Are adaptable with a real customer focus and have excellent communication skills.
- Are assertive and passionate about the role and demonstrate a desire to go that ‘extra mile’.
- Enjoy building relationships with a wide variety of people, see a complex high-volume workload as a real challenge and above all, have what it takes to deliver accurate quotations and order processing to tight deadlines.
- Will engage in development training to support and enhance your competency and capability.
- Have experience working at pace in a fast growth, dynamic business environment, ideally within a manufacturing industry.
- Have UK Drivers licence and us of car as site visits to take site measurements and carry out surveys would be required occasionally.
- Be adaptable and willing to take on other roles if required.
Personal Attributes;
- Good organisational skills
- Be computer literate.
- Apply high quality standards to all tasks in hand, no matter how small
- Good attention to detail is vital.
- Great communication skills
- A high level of motivation
- Enjoy working under pressure and dealing with multiple tasks at once, prioritising customers always.
- Have current UK Driving Licence and own Car.
Working Hours
Monday to Thursday (8.00am-4.30pm) Friday (8.00am-3.30pm)
Job Type
Permanent Full-time
Salary
£28k per year
Benefits
- Company pension
- 30 Days Holidays per annum
Experience
Estimating experience within the building industry
Glasgow, September 15, 2023
Rearo issues warning to businesses following cyber attack
Rearo has warned businesses to be aware of a new online scam, after it was targeted in a significant cyber-attack. Criminals, posing as online customers, attempted to make thousands of fictional orders in an attempt to validate stolen credit and debit card numbers.
The successful combinations would then have been used by fraudsters to purchase goods and services elsewhere.
Rearo has alerted police to the scam and is now urging companies to tighten their online systems to avoid being targeted in the same way.
While the attack didn’t inflict any cost or damage on Rearo directly – it was identified before any of the orders were shipped – its systems were used as a ‘Trojan horse’ to verify the legitimacy of credit card numbers for future illicit use.
Stuart Hutcheson, Rearo’s IT implementation manager, said the company only learned about the scam after noticing a pattern of thousands of unsuccessful online purchases over the course of a weekend.
He said: “We had processed around 180 orders through our website and ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, but the cyber attackers had attempted a staggering 4,800 transactions, which shows you the scale of their operation.
“They were clearly attempting to validate credit card number combinations, for use elsewhere. Although their success rate was a mere 8-9%, it underscores the gravity of the situation.”
The nature of the attack highlights a growing trend in cybercrime, where criminals target legitimate, online platforms to validate stolen financial information, facilitating subsequent fraudulent transactions, according to Rearo.
Hutcheson said: “They buy data from illegitimate sources and then feed these credit card numbers into an algorithm, attempting to match the correct combinations.
“While the attack did not cause significant financial losses to us, it led to considerable disruption and a time-consuming manual recovery process for the affected transactions.
“This phenomenon is gaining traction. We know of two other businesses which manage online sales, which have been affected recently. It’s becoming a more mainstream threat.”
The Govan-based company – which also has outlets in Tyneside and Northampton – believes its experience should serve as a wake-up call to all businesses to shore-up their cyber defences.
It has gained Cyber Essentials accreditation—a standard endorsed by the UK Government – that will require audits of its network security, access controls, policies, and hardware configurations to ensure the safeguarding of critical data.
Hutcheson also underscores the need for businesses to educate their staff on cyber security, not only in the workplace, but extending to their own, personal online activities, such as home banking.
Rearo has implemented a range of new measures, including multi-factor authentication and heightened password policies, as the company pivots toward the kind of comprehensive, cybersecurity practices it believes are essential for survival in the digital age.
Hutcheson said: “After the pandemic, remote work became a norm and, with it, the landscape of IT security evolved. A renewed emphasis on data security is crucial.
“The skills required in this field are constantly evolving and organisations, especially SMEs, must invest in staying ahead of cyber threats.”
He added: “It’s also important for businesses to raise awareness about cyber security issues among their employees and customers.
“We are planning to provide cyber security training to staff, educating them about data protection, safe online practices, and the importance of securing their own digital lives.”
For his management development project, Dariusz concentrated on revitalising the backyard area of the factory due to its uneven surface, he wanted to make it easier for forklift drivers to access the dust bags at the rear of the yard.
Dariusz rented a small digger from Jewson for a few days, and Tam scraped away the topsoil to create a level surface.
Dariusz managed this project using the 5S System, a workplace organisation method that originated in Japan in the 1970s. This system gained prominence through its implementation in the Toyota Production line. It has become an industry standard for creating an organised and productive workspace.
The 5S stands for:
- Sort– Darius removed all unnecessary debris from the backyard, clearing the area in preparation for the digger.
- Set – Darius arranged the pallets into designated signposted areas based on size to provide quicker access and safer storage.
- Shine – Darius and Tam flattened the backyard ground by excavating topsoil and levelling divots.
- Standardise – Darius finished the project by creating an auditing system allowing the factory team to check the backyard area.
- Sustain – The team has now scheduled their time to audit the backyard area and confirm that items are in the right place and the ground is smooth.
Well Done, Dariusz and Tam, Thank you for looking after our workplace.
In April, Rearo to joined the Made in Britain network.
Membership Benefits
The Made in Britain membership is one way to make clear that we are
committed to manufacturing at the highest standards here in Great Britain.
For the company, the main benefit is that we can now use the Made in Britain mark on our UK-manufactured products including the Selkie and Nuova shower wall panel ranges, Senses worktops and commercial RapidFit toilet cubicles. Over the coming months, you will see the Made in Britain mark on Rearo catalogues and promotional materials. Rearo is now listed with a company profile on the Made in Britain website. We can publish news and product information to the Made in Britain network community. Our staff can participate in training, workshops and other promotional activities..
As a Made in Britain member, Rearo can also participate in the Green Growth Programme to help us reach the UK government-mandated target of net zero by 2050 or before.
Please note that most Rearo products manufactured at our Glasgow-based manufacturing facility. However, some products are not produced in Britain. The mark does not apply to these. We also work with suppliers to provide additional premium products and accessories from brands such as Unika and Fenix. You will only ever see the Made in Britain mark on Rearo’s brand ranges, made here in the UK.
Modernising our legacy ERP system and improving UX
Rearo began working with PDMS because we needed a local technology partner who could provide technical support for our existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) application and advise on options for modernisation or replacement. With PDMS’s support, we converted our outdated application to C# code and added additional customer-centric features into our website, such as a click-and-collect option.
Our IT Manager, Stuart Hutcheson stated;
“PDMS really stepped up to support REARO LAMINATES LIMITED in our hour of need. Our outdated bespoke Azure ERP application – that drives both the manufacturing and sales processes – remains critical to all aspects of our business. However, when we first engaged with PDMS, our previous third-party support agreement had expired and we were truly exposed, should the application encounter issue or outage.
PDMS quickly mitigated any pending risk by ensuring we could recover should disaster hit. They then provided various options to future proof the platform, including the eventual code conversion to C# option. This project was a resounding success and achieved all key metrics of on time, on budget with zero disruption to the business. This allowed Rearo to gain back confidence in the application, maintain BAU and ultimately advance the platform.
Thanks to the PDMS team we now have an up to date and supported app, that conforms to current industry development trends. As a result, we are now at the continuous improvement stage, adding further functionality aligned to business requirements. We will continue to consult, value and trust the PDMS technical recommendations, as the application evolves and the business partnerships grows.”
Read the case study here:
https://www.pdms.com/case-studies/modernising-legacy-erp-system-and-improving-ux/
Thank you for the support, Derek Rae, Richard Graham and the PDMS team and well done, Stuart for successfully delivering this project.
Rearo Staff Complete Management Development Programme
From January to June 2023, members of the Rearo management team completed a Gary Bedingfield Training Management Development Programme.
Over the course of six monthly sessions at Rearo, Glasgow, and simultaneously via Teams, Gary Bedingfield covered modules in project management, communication, feedback & difficult conversations, leadership & motivation, time management, team development & managing change.
The team also worked on a personal management project of their choice alongside the training and presented their projects (completed or proposals) to Graham Mercer, Managing Director, Michelle Lamont, HR Manager and Gary in a final session on June 14th.
Project topics included reducing waste, optimising workflows and procedures, marketing and investment opportunities, the Selkie product launch, cyber security and a showroom upgrade.
You can read more about Stuart’s Cyber Essentials project, Darius’s Back Yard Project and Daniel’s Edgebander project in the Rearo Newsroom now.
You can read more about Stuart’s Cyber Essentials project, Darius’s Back Yard Project and Daniel’s Edgebander project in the Rearo Newsroom now.
Congratulations to the following staff on the successful completion of the programme.
- Bianca McAuley
- Chloe Batey
- Chris Douglas
- Daniel Danso
- Darius Kurowski
- Jamie Campbell
- Louise Spokes
- Neil Munro
- Robert Lis
- Sean Reidford
- Stuart Hutcheson
- Sophie Neath
Due to the success of this programme, Rearo is now looking at further ways to invest in the professional development of our staff. This includes working with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS). A company which provides manufacturing firms of all sizes throughout Scotland with expert advice, one-to-one support, training and events.
