We are open, and here to support you.
As we kick off 2021 in lockdown, the message from the UK government and the wider industry remains unchanged. Construction is an integral part of the UK economy and plays a significant role in ensuring transport, healthcare and many other aspects of the economy run smoothly. With this in mind, we want to reassure our customers that we remain open for business, and here to support you.
Our production facilities are fully open and are operating under Covid-19 health and safety measures that meet or exceed the guidance from Public Health England whilst our office and field-based colleagues are continuing to work digitally.
We recognise that obtaining supplies on time and in full has been a challenge for our customers as demand has exceeded supply. So we continue to work hard to minimise delays on the provision of domestic products, and to keep you informed.
We want all our customers and suppliers to know that we are 100% behind them. Whether that’s ordering from our range of thousands of roof, brick, paver and façade products, video consultations, advice for architects completing specifications, or planning support, we are here to help.
Implementing our Brexit action plan
On 31st December 2020, the UK officially left the EU with a deal which outlines new rules for how both parties will live, work and trade together.
Whilst coronavirus has certainly dominated the headlines over the past 9 months and has presented significant commercial and personal challenges, we have maintained the pace of our preparations for Brexit. Working tirelessly to prepare for numerous scenarios, we reviewed the commercial and operational risks, and identified and implemented the actions necessary to ensure these risks do not impair our ability to offer our customers the best possible service.
With 13 manufacturing sites in the UK, the majority of our products sold in the UK are made here, using local materials. However, to meet customer demand for Wienerberger products we also import and export finished goods and raw materials to the EU, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland – all affected under the new rules.
After extensive planning and scenario testing, we have taken important steps to mitigate the risks posed by the new deal, some of which include:
- Securing stock levels. By using optimum port capacity, and moving shipments away from the more vulnerable routes like Dover-Calais, we have secured additional stocks of imported finished goods and raw materials to mitigate any import delays.
- Keeping Plant Machinery running. Through increased planning and forecasting we have increased our inventory of spare parts for manufacturing equipment to avoid delays in repair and maintenance.
- Being prepared for increased documentation. We have minimised the risk of delays in the transport of goods between the UK and Northern Ireland having established trading accounts with the Customs Declaration Service
- Working with our logistics and freight forwarding partners, we are prepared for changes to palletisation and labelling and have taken steps to reduce delays at the border.
- A stable workforce. We have completed the necessary documentation for those EU colleagues with pre-settled status or indefinite leave to remain.
Whilst these new ways of working are relatively new and details continue to unfold, we are confident we have prepared well for the UK’s new status and can continue to serve our customers with minimal interruption.