Author: Jay Smith

Demonstrating our commitment to building a more sustainable future

We are delighted to announce that Sertec has achieved an 88% score in the latest NQC Carbon Footprint Assessment, a significant milestone that reflects the progress being made across the business to embed sustainability into our operations, culture and day-to-day decision-making.

This achievement provides independent recognition of the work taking place across our sites and reinforces our commitment to responsible business practices, continuous improvement and long-term sustainability.

What is the NQC Carbon Footprint Assessment ?

NQC is a widely recognised supplier assurance and compliance platform used by major organisations and OEMs to assess suppliers against key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements.

The assessment reviews a broad range of sustainability-related topics, including:

• Environmental management and carbon reduction
• Energy and resource efficiency
• Sustainable procurement practices
• Social responsibility and employee wellbeing
• Governance, ethics and compliance
• Sustainability objectives, reporting and continuous improvement

The audit enables organisations to demonstrate their sustainability credentials while providing customers and stakeholders with confidence that robust policies, processes and controls are in place.

Achieving an 88% score is a strong result and reflects the collective effort being made across Sertec to strengthen our sustainability performance.

The outcome demonstrates that we have established effective processes, clear objectives and tangible evidence of activity across multiple areas of the business. It also provides valuable external validation that Sertec is making meaningful progress on its sustainability journey.

As customer expectations, industry standards and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, maintaining strong sustainability performance is increasingly important to remaining competitive within the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

A Team Effort

This achievement has been made possible through the dedication and collaboration of teams across the business. From energy reduction initiatives and environmental management activities to governance improvements and employee engagement programmes, every contribution has helped strengthen our overall performance.

Ausblick

While we are proud of this result, we recognise that sustainability is an ongoing journey rather than a destination.

The audit has highlighted opportunities for further development, helping us identify where we can continue to strengthen our approach and deliver even greater impact in the future.

As we move forward, Sertec remains committed to reducing our environmental footprint, supporting our people and communities, and ensuring sustainability remains a key part of how we operate and grow.

Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable future for our business, our customers and the communities in which we operate.

 

Sertec was proud to welcome industry leaders, manufacturers and suppliers to its Coleshill facility for the recent CBM Members Day, showcasing the innovation, capability and people that drive the business forward. The event marked a significant milestone, being the first time the CBM had selected a supplier to host its bi-annual Members Day.

The day featured insightful talks on People & Skills, where Sertec shared its culture-led approach to developing capability, engagement and future talent through its PROUD strategy. Visitors also took part in Gemba Walks across the facility, seeing first-hand the teamwork, operational excellence and continuous improvement mindset embedded throughout the business.

A highlight of the event was the showcase of Sertec’s latest Body-in-White and EV programmes, demonstrating the engineering expertise and manufacturing capability supporting the next generation of vehicles. Behind every product on display were the talented teams whose commitment, knowledge and innovation continue to drive Sertec forward.

The success of the event was a true team effort, with Operations, HR, Learning & Development, HSE and support teams all playing a vital role. Sertec’s Early Careers Talent (ECT) team were instrumental in delivering a seamless visitor experience, proudly showcasing the future talent pipeline that continues to strengthen the organisation.

It was also an honour to welcome back Steve Morley, CBM President, to Wincaster House. Having spent 23 years with Sertec, his reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing sector provided valuable insight for attendees. The business was equally delighted to host Geraldine, CBM Chief Executive, whose leadership and facilitation helped bring the day to life and foster meaningful discussion across the industry.

The event reflected what makes Sertec unique – a culture built on pride, teamwork and continuous development, where world-class products are delivered by world-class people.

Across all UK sites, our Early Careers colleagues led the way in a week filled with learning, pride and meaningful connections. From representing Sertec at Parliament to returning to their former schools for career days, our apprentices demonstrated confidence, professionalism and passion for engineering. They inspired hundreds of young people, proving that opportunity is real, accessible and thriving within our industry.

Throughout the week, apprentices shared “Day in the Life” stories that highlighted the breadth of their work. Our Apprentice Celebration Day brought teams together with senior leaders for networking, recognition and growth experiences, including our own  1% Club  and an energising Dragons’ Den challenge where apprentices pitched innovative ideas directly to senior decision-makers. We also welcomed T Level students for immersive factory tours, giving future talent their first look into life inside a Tier 1 automotive supplier.

The week concluded with the Sertec Apprenticeship Awards, where we proudly celebrated our 12 Apprentice Graduates and recognised excellence across categories including Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, Rising Star, Innovation, Technical Excellence, Team Player & many more. Each winner represented dedication, capability and our Sertec values in action.

Reflecting on the celebrations, Carl Milbourne shared, “We empower young people through trust—trust to contribute, to try, to learn quickly, and to make a real difference. When supported with strong mentorship and opportunities that matter, our ECT colleagues don’t just build skills, they build belief.” Richard added, “Our future competitiveness depends on the skills we invest in today. Apprentices bring energy, curiosity and fresh thinking that push us to keep improving.”

Sertec’s heritage in apprenticeships continues to be one of our greatest strengths, with one in five group staff employees progressing through our “grow our own” pipeline, Gold Kite Mark accreditation for engineering excellence and an outstanding 89% engagement score from our ECT community. Our people, our programmes and our partnerships with schools, colleges and industry forums such as the SMMT Automotive Skills Council reflect our long-term commitment to strengthening the UK’s manufacturing skills pipeline.

NAW 2026 reinforced what we know to be true: our Early Careers Talent are not just preparing for the future—they are already shaping it. Their contribution, confidence and creativity are driving our progress today and building the foundations of tomorrow. At Sertec, the future is built by investing in people, and this year’s celebrations proved exactly why that investment matters.

Leaders opened by highlighting that a resilient and responsive supply base is vital to maintaining speed, quality and competitiveness. Sertec reiterated that its success is intrinsically tied to the strength of its supply chain—and to its commitment to being a customer of choice for both long‑established partners and new suppliers supporting the group’s continued growth.

Suppliers heard updates from CEO Ben Higgins on new business wins and Sertec’s forward strategy, followed by a commercial outlook from Commercial Director and Board Member Dave Steggles, who spoke about the opportunities ahead and the shared responsibility required to deliver them.

“Our suppliers sit at the heart of our commercial strength,” said Dave Steggles. “In a market defined by rapid change, volatility and rising expectations, we need partnerships built on trust, pace and mutual ambition. Our commitment is simple: we will be a customer of choice—fair, transparent and forward‑looking—so that together we can deliver value, outperform the market and create long‑term stability for our entire supply chain.”

Head of Procurement Martin O’Gorman outlined procurement priorities for the year ahead, with sustainability reinforced as an increasingly essential requirement. Group Industrial Operations Manager Tom Bailey provided insights into supplier performance and year‑on‑year improvements, while Scott Foxall offered a perspective on cyber awareness and the growing role of AI within Sertec. The day concluded with Operations Director Carl Milbourne updating suppliers on Sertec’s ongoing journey toward operational excellence across its global operations.

The event also celebrated supplier excellence, recognising partners who demonstrated exceptional reliability, quality and operational support.

William King Ltd was named Raw Materials Supplier of the Year

Olympus Global received Bought‑Out‑Part Supplier of the Year

Malcolms earned Outside Process Supplier of the Year

Sertec highlighted strong improvements across the supply base following the introduction of its enhanced supplier monitoring approach in early 2025. Performance gains included notable increases in delivery and significant improvements in quality across all commodities—clear evidence of the resilience, agility and continuous improvement demonstrated by suppliers during a challenging economic period.

Looking ahead, Sertec confirmed its intention to continue building Supplier Day into a core annual event. Future sessions will place greater focus on innovation, sustainability and shared best practice, strengthening relationships and enabling even deeper collaboration across the supply chain.

Closing the event, Sertec emphasised the lasting importance of partnership: “Our suppliers are an extension of our business. By investing in strong, transparent relationships, we build a more resilient supply chain and create shared success for the future.” Tom Bailey Group Industrial Operations Manager

The 2026 Supplier Day showcased not only the achievements of Sertec’s supply partners but also the company’s long‑term commitment to collaboration, growth and being a trusted, preferred customer within the industry.