Laidlaw Ltd. - Experts & Thought Leaders

Laidlaw has been supporting Fire Door Safety Week for a number of years. The campaign aims to engage and educate building owners and building users on how to fit, maintain and use fire doors properly. Fire Door Safety Week runs from 23rd to 29th September this year. The campaign brings to light not only the issues in specifying a compliant and certified fire door but also the importance of correctly maintaining them, these are not fit and forget products. They rely on fire doors to work correctly in the event of a fire and the only way to ensure that is to inspect them on a regular basis. Certified fire door hardware The Fire Door Safety Week website provides in-depth advice to different property owners in order to ensure the fire doors are fit for purpose in their building. As a provider of certified fire door hardware and fire-rated integrated doorsets, Laidlaw is passionate about the critical role of the fire door. They are often the first thing to be downgraded on a specification and mismanaged through their service life, propped open, damaged or badly maintained. Fire door controls All products within the range are fully tested and CE marked where applicable To make selecting certified hardware easier, Laidlaw launched a new product range – Firemongery™.  Firemongery™ is a fully certified range of ironmongery, fire door controls, integrated doorsets and automatic door controls. It provides a quick and foolproof way to select exactly what one needs for new fire doors or to maintain existing fire doors. All products within the range are fully tested and CE marked where applicable. In addition, many are also Certifire approved which is an internationally respected mark of fire safety. Through their knowledgeable team and the resources available on the website, Laidlaw encourages building owners and users to check the operation and condition of their fire doors and to report those that aren’t satisfactory. Laidlaw is proud to be supporting Fire Door Safety Week 2019.

The certifications are a testament to Laidlaw’s continuous improvement across the business, especially across health and safety, environmental management and quality management. Each certification involves rigorous assessments and external audits to ensure compliance with strict guidelines which provides customers with an assurance of Laidlaw’s safe and responsible practice. Laidlaw underwent a four-day audit in order to gain re-certification for three ISO standards. They are; ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management and finally OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety management. Supply chain management services The auditors, BMTRADA, reviewed many of Laidlaw’s business processes and policies to ensure strict compliance. This includes the investigation of management systems, operations, support, health and safety and legal compliance. At the end of the four days, Laidlaw gained re-certification of all three standards with SSIP membership and received positive feedback within all audited areas of the business. Laidlaw has successfully maintained its Gold Membership status with Constructionline for the third consecutive year. Constructionline is the UK’s most connected provider of procurement and supply chain management services. Health and safety standards Laidlaw was reassessed and gained an Acclaim Health & Safety Accreditation which is SSIP compliant Maintaining a Gold standard involves comprehensive assessments in areas such as health and safety, environmental management, diversity and equality, and quality management. In addition, there is increased scrutiny around third-party governance and risk management by extending the mandatory PQQ. In order to attain the Gold standard, Laidlaw was reassessed and gained an Acclaim Health & Safety Accreditation which is SSIP compliant. The Contractors of Health and Safety Assessment Scheme was created in 1997 to improve health and safety standards across the UK. CHAS is also a founder member of SSIP, making them a highly trusted advisor on health and safety compliance. Social and environmental practices Laidlaw has recently been awarded CHAS re-certification with SSIP for the third consecutive year. This certification demonstrates Laidlaw’s compliance and on-going management of current health and safety legislation. Laidlaw has gained FSC Chain of Custody re-certification for its Orbis Integrated Doorsets. This ensures that Laidlaw purchases and supplies integrated doorsets and frames from FSC approved manufacturers. Customers can be assured Laidlaw doorsets are manufactured with responsibly sourced timber and that forest owners and managers follow best social and environmental practices. Laidlaw was audited by BMTRADA and was deemed to meet the requirements of FSC-STD-40-004.

Having acquired the business in 2016 following the collapse of Leaderflush Shapland Limited part of LIG, the management team set the ambitious challenge to reorganize and grow the business. Building solid foundation Commenting on the further investment in Laidlaw, Chairman and CEO Steve Lee said: “When we acquired the business we knew that we had a terrific brand with a heritage of 140 years, however, it was evident that under-investment from the old group meant we needed to take a longer-term view.” “Having already invested in acquiring its Willenhall HQ and a specifiers showroom in London’s Business Design Centre, the company is now set to implement a world class ERP system, Cloud Suite Industrial (CSI). The further investment into the business will allow us to focus upon our core activities and build a solid foundation for the future.” IFC approved doorsets The latest investment will accelerate a rejuvenation of the Laidlaw brand over the coming months Finance Director, Andy Gratton commented on the implementation of the new ERP system: “Laidlaw needed to invest in a new system for some time and INFOR, the providers of CSI, demonstrated their credentials well ahead of their rivals, they share our vision of world-class customer service.” Furthermore, the latest investment will accelerate a rejuvenation of the Laidlaw brand over the coming months, including a new website together with a comprehensive product and price guide featuring an extensive range of access control, IFC approved doorsets, balustrades, structural glass and Laidlaw’s industry renowned range of Orbis ironmongery. First-Class business system Lee summarized the latest milestone in the new company’s history: “Laidlaw welcomes this investment as we build our company as a market leader. It is now in great shape moving forward at pace as we continue to execute our strategic plan.” “Our long-standing customers and suppliers have been loyal and continue to support us on our journey. We now have a first-class team, first-class products, supported by a first-class business system.”