Meet the CGEA Winners – FAMILY

The winners of the Chairman’s Global Excellence Awards 2022 have been revealed, and this week, we take a look at the outstanding people and projects in the FAMILY category.

What does Family mean?

One of GFG’s core values, FAMILY relates to being more than a team – we are a family. We have an intergenerational outlook, which means we make decisions for the welfare of our future generations. Our winners in this category all embody the spirit of this core value.

• Family – Safety: Proactive engagement to improve Health & Safety, LIBERTY Engineering Bar
• Family – Partnerships: LIBERTY’s Support For Ukrainian Refugees, LIBERTY Steel Group Europe
• Family – Mentoring: Student Programme Mentoring, GFG Foundation UK

LIBERTY Steel Group Europe – Support For Ukrainian Refugees

​Employees involved – Mirela Stanciu (Galati), Jacek Noszczyk (Czestochowa), Radim Raszka (Ostrava),

  Lino Iallorenzi (Magona).

Thier story – The LIBERTY team shared the award with colleagues from across Europe, as between them they supported thousands of refugees escaping from the war in Ukraine. The LIBERTY plants at LIBERTY Ostrava (Czech Republic), LIBERTY Galati (Romania) and LIBERTY Czestochowa (Poland) were in the front line of receiving refugees due to their proximity to Ukraine, while LIBERTY Magona (Italy) also welcomed many refugee families to their town.

LIBERTY Ostrava made its Kovák accommodation facility available to up to 90 refugees as well as making huge donations of clothing, food, hygiene products, phone cards and toys which might be needed by those using the facility. Ostrava also sent 48 axles to the Tatra Jug tram factory in Ukraine, along with a load of aid in the form of clothing and hygiene items for those working at the plant. Ostrava also initiated a hiring programme for refugees which saw a number of them start working at the plant.

Supported by the company’s management team, LIBERTY Galati volunteers rallied at the border to provide transportation for refugees and purchase blankets, food, clothing, and necessary items for the people staying or transiting Galati. LIBERTY Galati also initiated a hiring programme for refugees, in partnership with the local labour authority.

LIBERTY Częstochowa donated an old office building to the city to help the authorities provide safe and clean accommodation and shelter to around 250 Ukrainian refugees. The team also made the office suitable for the new inhabitants and then provided the various services (electricity/heating) for free for 6 months. The Mayor of Czestochowa City said about its support: “The willingness of LIBERTY Czestochowa to help refugees and to support the city’s and its residents’ efforts in this area, proves that LIBERTY Czestochowa knows what true corporate social responsibility means.”

The team at LIBERTY Magona raised €10,000 for Ukrainian refugees through employees donating an hour of their wages, which was then matched by the company. The Mayor of Piombino publicly thanked the Magona team for their contribution and for the importance of their gesture of solidarity.

Teams at each of the plants took it upon themselves to volunteer their time, resources and accommodation to ensure that refugees were welcomed and protected in the time they spent in the local communities. In each instance the teams partnered with their local authorities/charities to ensure that the support they provided was tailored to the needs of the refugees and the families which passed through their communities. This led to each of the businesses receiving thanks from both official and unofficial sources – not least in the letters and cards the team received from those refugees they have helped.

LIBERTY Engineering Bar (LSUK) – Proactive engagement to improve Health & Safety

The Engineering Bar team at LIBERTY Steel UK lifted the Safety award with their submission ‘Proactive Engagement to Improve Health and Safety’, for their dedication to creating a secure and hazard-free environment. 

Employees involved – Dave Felvus, Jon Reed – this is a team effort and involved all the leaders within Engineering Bar

Well done to all at Engineering Bar for improving our communications, engagement, and proactive auditing. Continued efforts and teamworking have resulted in an excellent performance over the past 18 months.

Mike Clarke, Plant Manager

Their story – The proactive measures and engagement the team have put in place, have had a direct impact on improving Safety. Leadership engagement and communications have improved throughout 21-22 in very difficult circumstances, from Covid to a reduction in workload. Several measures were taken to keep employees engaged and motivated during great difficulties due to irregular working hours or weeks. Communicating and engaging in these difficult times helped keep the team focused when they are at work. Positive upbeat leadership outlook helped towards this. What was particularly noteworthy, was the agility of shopfloor workers. When they are at work, they have been safe and looked after each other.

Student Programme Mentoring, GFG Foundation UK

Employees involved – Andy Turton, Toby Sherwood, Rob Reiss, Jake Hagyard

The GFG Foundation Student Programme is all about family, as it’s about helping young people in the communities in which GFG Alliance has a significant presence. Volunteer mentors have demonstrated their commitment to nurturing future scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs through their commitment and diligence.

Thank you for the recognition for the work we put into the schools and projects, but also it was great to see the engagement & enthusiasm from the students, and the next generation of forward thinkers getting that spark of interest to carry them forward.

Andy Turton, Quality Lead (Rotherham Steel & Bar) / Mentor

Our mentors have been another guide in the lives of these young people, someone independent who has helped them to understand the world of work, how to be responsible adults and how to believe in themselves. If we are to succeed in attracting young talent into GFG businesses, we need to change how we promote the opportunities. We need to dispel the myths of the old, dying industries and showcase new technologies and the opportunities for ‘green’ jobs as we strive towards carbon neutrality.

The Foundation has successfully achieved this with their own ambassadors, our employees that have a passion for engaging with and inspiring young people. Thier aim was to create a sustainable programme that can be repeated in the same location but also expanded into other areas where the business has a significant presence. Read more about how the programme has grown and developed here.

CONGRATULATIONS!! Thanks again for your hard work and perseverance in making the pilot programme such a huge success. As you know, we have built upon these solid foundations and expanded the programme this academic year, which has again gone from strength to strength. I’m delighted that your commitment to supporting our future generations has been recognised by Sanjeev and we are all very excited to run the programme again next year.

Dr. Claire Neilson – Manager, GFG Foundation