Arco supports Forge and Equip
Arco is the UK and Ireland’s leading safety expert, dedicated to keeping people safe at work. They provide high-quality PPE, workwear, safety equipment, and expert services to help businesses stay compliant and protect their workforce.
As part of their supply contract with the University of Edinburgh, Arco was asked to engage with the ESES Community Impact Team to explore opportunities for social value investment in Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland.
Through this contact, Arco was introduced to Forge and Equip, a creative social enterprise listed on the ESES Community Benefits Portal, which was seeking PPE donations.
Forge and Equip is a creative social enterprise dedicated to providing sustainable training opportunities that are meaningful to individuals who have faced barriers to learning and employment.
Their long-term aim is to develop their commercial services in welding and fabrication so that the surplus is entirely reinvested in our 'Route to Employment' training programmes.
Arco donated a selection of PPE, including work overalls, welding gloves, safety glasses, high-vis vests, and welding masks, which will help enable 30 individuals to train safely with Forge and Equip.
Linsey from Forge & Equip said; "This equipment will enable our trainees to be fully equipped and ready to participate in practical training, which is vital for our beneficiaries who derive significantly more benefit from practical skills learning than from desk-based opportunities. By engaging those individuals with something valuable from day one, we find they are likely to last the course and operating safely is clearly essential practically, but also ensures our team look and feel the part!"
We are very grateful to Arco for generously supporting our employability training in this really practical way. Our learners know they are entering a professional environment and are able to learn skills safely. Thank you
Arco is the largest PPE supplier in the UK, and we are 'Experts in Safety'. As a business, our culture and ethos are built on integrity and driven by our core goal of keeping people safe. Our organisation aims to have a positive impact on people, so Forge & Equip were an obvious choice for us.