People
Management approach.
At the heart of our business purpose is a concern for the safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and the communities that surround our manufacturing sites; something on which we will never compromise.
Through their unique skillsets, knowledge and commitment, they form the foundation for what we do and the way that we do it.
Health & safety and employee wellbeing.
Employee wellbeing is critical to a productive and engaged workforce and to social gain. As part of our strategy to improve health and safety and employee wellbeing, we conduct internal surveys including a biannual Health and Safety Climate Survey and our Pulse Employee Engagement Survey.
We are very proud to have achieved Leather Working Group and RoSPA Gold standard status and successfully completed SMETA audit in 2022, in accordance with globally recognised good practice. These audits have confirmed high standards of labour, health and safety, environmental performance, and ethics across all of our business and operations. We are now a Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework employer. SCQF helps employers understand different types of qualifications and supports effective recruitment and workforce development.
"We take pride in employee wellbeing"
Inclusion & diversity.
We continue to increase our efforts to retain and attract diverse talent at all levels and raise awareness of the many career opportunities that exist at Scottish Leather Group. As a result of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) audit in 2023, a number of key actions have been undertaken, including EDI training for all employees, launching stay interviews and hosting webinars on subjects that have affected employees personally, such as the menopause and transgender awareness.
We actively encourage a diverse applicant base and progression within the Company. In 2023, we recruited a female non-executive chair and the promotion of two females, one to the Senior Leadership team and the other to the Executive Board.
Our commitment to EDI translates to the products we produce, with one of our creative designers championing sensory-friendly products for our aircraft customers. Products made from our leather can be used to support neurodivergent passengers during their flight.
Talent, lifelong learning & craftmanship.
We are very proud of our Academy, which was launched in 2012 to develop apprentices across Manufacturing, Production and Maintenance Engineering.
We continue to pioneer the leather industry’s first recognised vocational qualifications, certified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which are building skills that benefit the whole manufacturing sector.
We are delighted that our apprenticeship now supports the development of employees in lifelong learning, including Graduate Apprenticeships, and since November 2023, we have enrolled 81 apprentices.
Further recognition of the importance of our Apprenticeship programmes was demonstrated by an award presented to two of our graduate apprentices in 2024 by The Trades House of Glasgow Cordiners for an innovation project which will see a further reduction in our waste streams.
Community investment.
The Group’s charitable and community engagement aims to make a lasting impact in the communities local to our manufacturing sites. Our presence within the local communities in which we operate demonstrates the difference we can make beyond the workplace.
Community engagement is at the core of our Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and at the heart of our ethos as a company. Many of our employees continue to be involved in a diverse range of local charitable causes, demonstrating their passion and commitment towards sustainable social change. Inputs vary from those giving their time or raising funds, to others who give professional knowledge or skills. This giving, in various forms, is part of our corporate culture.
ESG Report.
Our annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report summarises our activities, commitments and innovation agenda. All supporting and driving us towards a more sustainable future.