Business in the Community entrant – Holdcroft Heating and Gas Fitting Limited
Holdcroft Heating and Gas Fitting is committed to contributing to the communities it works with, including raising £30,000 for charity to mark its 30th year in business.
Founded in 1989 by Stephen and Tina Holdcroft, the business provides gas and renewable services to families across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
It has enjoyed regular growth since being set up at the family dining table in Sneyd Green and now employs 38 people working out of its premises in Moorland Road, Burslem.
Stephen and Tina include corporate social responsibility in all aspects of their business.
Tina said: “Our team, at all levels, are encouraged to develop and grow their skills. Additionally, we offer a range of volunteering opportunities including training to help local people develop their skills and confidence to obtain employment.
“We are proud to have always supported educational initiatives for students and apprentices from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.”
To date Holdcroft Heating has created opportunities for 63 apprentices from the local community as well as helping source funding for its young learners to have driving lessons to encourage autonomy, independence and freedom.
“We are committed to improving opportunities for groups who are under-represented in the workforce to help foster local involvement and enterprise in our community. We are believers in leading by example and hold ourselves to the high standards we expect from others.”
Holdcroft Heating shares its expertise, training and resources with partner organisations so they can support individuals with a wider range of issues. This includes open days for school leavers in its on-site Worcester-Bosch accredited training facility as well as training days for Unitas Stoke, Weaver Vale Housing Trust, Beat the Cold, Staffordshire Housing and their local volunteers on energy saving, understanding energy bills and boiler basic tips.
The business recognises its responsibility as an environmentally sustainable company and aims to minimise any potentially negative impact of the business on the environment.
This includes reducing waste and consumption. Currently 95% of installation waste is recycled. They are working towards 100% on every installation. Energy efficient vehicles are used and the team promotes public transport where possible by offering free, accessible, energy saving advice to all customers on every installation.
In 2020 Holdcroft Heating was awarded Worcester-Bosch Environment Green Contractor of the Year. The team is now working towards PAS 2060 carbon neutral certification.
In 2019 Holdcroft Heating celebrated its 30-year anniversary. To mark this achievement it organised and completed a series of fundraising events and successfully raised £30,000 for five local charities; Dougie Mac, Donna Louise, Realise Charity, Alice Charity and North Staffs Mind.
During lockdown Holdcroft Heating teamed up with local businesses to help to raise spirits and protect community mental health through a series of artistic projects.
Working with Stephen and Tina’s local supermarket, Nisa Local Brown Edge, Holdcroft Heating asked the children of Brown Edge to create their happy memories of lockdown using clay.
Fenton-based Valentines Clay provided the materials, local artist Emma Bailey painted the creations, PM Training designed and made the sculpture base and Graphix and Holdcroft Heating paid for the encasement of glass. The sculpture is positioned in a community garden and is continuing to make people smile.
Holdcroft Heating also worked with Our Burslem to engage neighbours to create a mural for its office shutters in Burslem.
Tina said: “This was done through the Our Burslem Facebook page where we asked the local community to share things that had made them smile during lockdown. The response was amazing.
“All these ideas were collated and turned into a beautiful work of art by the talented artists from We are Culla.”
In celebration of the first Remembrance Sunday following the end of social distancing restrictions, Tina teamed up with volunteers to raise funds for the Tri Services and Veterans Support Centre by organising a Bake Off fundraiser where they raised £595.
During lockdown Tina joined forces with Stoke-on-Trent City Councillor Lilian Dodd to set up a charity to support young people in the transition to independence after leaving the care system in North Staffordshire.
Symmetrical North Staffs was born and Lilian and Tina have been overwhelmed with the support of businesses to ensure young care leavers receive a Christmas gift box, cleaning hampers and first store cupboard shop hampers.