Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute signs up to Good Business Charter

08/02/2022

The Materials Processing Institute has signed up to the Good Business Charter (GBC) which recognises responsible business practices.

The Teesside-based research centre is committed to being assessed across ten key standards, including employee well-being, staff representation, diversity and inclusion, environmental responsibility and paying the real living wage.

Available to all companies, charities and public sector organisations, the GBC works through a simple online self-certification process. At a time when people care more about who they work for and who they buy from, it offers straightforward accreditation recognising those organisations seeking to raise the bar when it comes to values and standards.

The GBC has the support of both the CBI and TUC, which both have trustee representation on its board. Other partners include the Living Wage Foundation and the Prompt Payment Code.

Simon Fox, Chairman of the GBC board, said: “The Good Business Charter brings together 10 standards, most of which already exist, but in separate places. We have brought them together to give a coherent overall position for businesses to aspire to. We believe that the GBC has enormous potential to change business practice for good. We hope that because of its simplicity and cost effectiveness, it will quickly gain support.”

Chris McDonald, Chief Executive of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “As the national centre for innovation in the steel and metals sector, the Institute is leading the way in the decarbonisation of the steel, metals and foundation industries.

“As well as setting new standards for industry, the Institute is firmly committed to meeting and exceeding its own high standards as an organisation, prioritising a range of important issues from caring for its employees, suppliers, and stakeholders, to being environmentally responsible.

“The Institute hopes that by signing up to the GBC it will inspire others to follow suit.”

Last year the Institute signed up to Race to Zero, an international campaign led by the United Nations Champions for Climate Action, and it is an accredited Living Wage employer.

ENDS

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas 01325 363 436

Photo caption: Melissa Bevington, the Institute’s Human Resources Manager with Chief Executive Office, Chris McDonald, after signing up to the Good Business Charter.

Notes to editors:

Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving global steel and materials organisations that work in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy, and digital technologies.

The Institute has served as the UK’s national steel innovation centre since 1944 having been set up by Sir Winston Churchill’s wartime government just before D-Day to equip the British steel industry for post-war reconstruction. It celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2019.

Through collaboration with its customers, the Institute provides a range of technology and R&D based services and consultancy. It also has pilot and demonstration facilities and an SME Technology Centre to support supply chain businesses with the development of new technologies and products.

Works with: steel, metals and alloys, chemical processes, aerospace and defence, energy, mining and quarrying, construction, rail, transport, and infrastructure, offshore, subsea, and nuclear.

The Materials Processing Institute includes developments funded through Tees Valley Combined Authority, through the Local Growth Fund (Growth Deal).

For more information: https://www.mpiuk.com/

Good Business Charter

The Good Business Charter (GBC) is run by a charity called the Good Business Foundation with a team of trustees, including representatives from the CBI and the TUC.

They believe it encourages responsible management behaviour. There are 10 components to the Good Business Charter which are: Real Living Wage, fairer hours and contracts, no penalties for sickness, employee representation, diversity and fair pay, environmental responsibility, commitment to customers, ethical sourcing, paying fairer tax and prompt payment.

For information contact CEO Jennifer Herrera jherrera@goodbusinesscharter.com

www.goodbusinesscharter.com

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Melissa Bevington, the Institute’s Human Resources Manager with Chief Executive Office, Chris McDonald, after signing up to the Good Business Charter.
Melissa Bevington, the Institute’s Human Resources Manager with Chief Executive Office, Chris McDonald, after signing up to the Good Business Charter.
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