Meet The Team- Abbie Johnson, Operations and Compliance Support
At Westcotec, we’re proud of the people who make our business what it is. Each team member brings unique skills and passion to help us innovate and deliver on our commitment to safer roads and a greener future. In this edition of our Meet the Team series, we caught up with Abbie Johnson- the newest addition to our operations and compliance support team- to learn more about her role, what attracted her to Westcotec, and how she’s helping us on our journey towards net zero.
Q&A with Abbie
What attracted you to Westcotec, Abbie?
“I worked with Westcotec in my previous role on a project to help identify ways to reduce emissions towards net zero. Working with the Operations Director (Richard) and the team, I could tell the work environment was different from anywhere else I’d worked for previously- in a good way!
When a job opportunity came up to support the operations side of the business and to help with environmental certifications, I couldn’t really say no! Two months in, I’ve (almost!) adjusted to the earlier starts and the constant daily ‘banter’, but I genuinely enjoy coming into work every day. The people are a really friendly bunch and will always go out of their way to help, which makes it a great place to work and an exciting business to be part of.”
Explain your role in operations and compliance support?
“I work alongside Richard to help keep day-to-day operations running smoothly and to support Westcotec in achieving environmental certifications. At the moment, I’m focused on learning how the business works across all departments, so that over time I can take on more of Richard’s responsibilities and help drive our operational and sustainability goals.”
The company recently installed solar panels covering much of its roof. Tell us more about what inspired this project and the difference it’s making both for the company and the environment?
“The solar panels were installed as part of Westcotec’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and cutting reliance on mains grid electricity. By generating clean power on site, we’re able to lower our emissions and use that energy to help run the business, including charging our company hybrid vehicles with the four charging stations we have on site, and a further four to be installed soon.
As well as the environmental benefits, the panels also help to make our energy use more efficient and resilient and they’re a visible reminder to staff, customers and suppliers that we’re serious about investing in sustainable ways of working.”
The company has long had a tree-planting initiative. Can you give an update on why this is done; how many have now been planted and how your species and locations are selected?
“Westcotec’s tree-planting initiative is all about reducing our carbon footprint and putting something positive back into the environment. For every sign we sell, a tree is planted in our company-owned woodland and we’ve now planted over 10,000 trees through this programme.
We focus on native species that are well suited to the local landscape and support biodiversity. Trees are planted in carefully-chosen areas of our woodland so they can thrive long term, support local wildlife habitats and contribute to natural carbon sequestration; absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it as they grow.”
“We’ve now planted over 10,000 trees through our tree-planting programme – a tangible step towards reducing our carbon footprint.”
What other initiatives are helping the company’s journey towards net zero?
“We’re currently working towards ISO 14001 environmental management certification, which is helping us put more structure around how we measure, manage and continually improve our environmental impact. We’re also investing in our people, with staff completing sustainability and environmental training through the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, to build stronger in-house expertise.
Alongside this, we’ve worked with local energy consultancy NRG Solutions to create a detailed carbon reduction plan for the business, covering everything from smarter energy use on site to our hybrid company vehicles and future opportunities to cut emissions even further.”
Driving Westcotec Sustainability Forward with Our Carbon Reduction Plan
Abbie’s passion for sustainability and operational excellence reflects the values that drive Westcotec forward. From installing solar panels to planting thousands of trees and working towards ISO 14001 certification, we’re committed to making a positive impact on the environment while delivering industry-leading solutions.