When a business has been around as long as Arco, it’s safe to assume it will have seen plenty of change.
Throughout its 140-year history, the Hull-based safety specialist’s ability to adapt has been key to its enduring success, and the past few years have been no exception.
In 2022, as the world emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, Guy Bruce took the helm as Arco’s new chief executive, setting about an ambitious transformation programme to drive the company’s long-term sustainable growth.
That transformation plan included several key appointments at executive level, with Simon Allan-Brooks, who joined as chief commercial officer in April this year, the last piece to fall into place in Arco’s new-look exec team.
We caught up with Simon to get his first impressions of working for the UK’s leading safety company, and hear what Arco has in the pipeline over the next 12 months.
Tell us about your professional background
Like many youngsters, I wanted to be a footballer growing up, and I was actually on the books at Peterborough United until I was released at 18 and decided that I would use my leadership skills in the professional world, starting as back shift foreman and then quickly moving into sales.
From there, I decided to work across a variety of sectors to ensure I was well balanced to achieve the career goals I set myself. Over the course of my working life, I’ve worked in banking and finance, recruitment, supply chain, product resellers and parcel distribution. I have held several board director roles across Europe, including managing director, supply chain director and business director.
Why did you decide to join Arco?
As leaders in business, we all have a responsibility to ensure that our colleagues return home from work safe every day. So, when the opportunity came along to work for Arco, the Experts in Safety, and play my part in making that responsibility a reality on a much bigger scale, I jumped at the chance. The company has an incredible 140-year heritage, and I’m really excited to be part of driving its future.
For those who don’t know, what does Arco do?
Probably more than many people realise. We’re known as a leading provider of PPE, workwear and safety equipment, but did you know we have one of the largest ranges on the market? This is how we’re able to offer our customers the best possible choice of own-label safety products and industry-leading brands.
Our safety services division is also a big part of the business, providing expert consultancy, training, services and equipment to help manage complex and high-risk work situations, such as working at height and in confined spaces, and respiratory management. Arco Professional Safety Services has just enjoyed its third successive year of growth, and we have plans to build on this over the next 12 months.
What were your priorities when you joined the business?
Firstly, I wanted to really understand what makes Arco who they are, and what we need to do to maintain our place as the number one in our field. Then it was about starting to put a plan together to make it happen.
And, of course, I wanted to meet as many people as I could. It’s the people in a business that make everything happen, and we have really great people at Arco.
What have you learnt about the business and its place in the safety industry?
Arco stands out as an exceptional business, renowned for its expertise and deeply personal commitment to safety. Across all departments – whether in sales, warehousing, or category management – our teams are dedicated to ensuring people return home safe from work every day.
Arco not only leads the industry, but has also set the standard for others to follow. Our suppliers, vendors, and even competitors have benefited from the expertise and experience Arco provides. You could say we have trained the industry.
Arco has been undergoing an exciting transformation from a family-run business to a family-owned and corporate-managed structure. This evolution will propel us to new heights, building on the heritage, brand equity and quality the business has cultivated over 140 years of trading.
What makes Arco different from its competitors?
Number one: we are the true Experts in Safety. Being in the safety business is not just about selling products – it’s about creating a world where everyone comes home safe from work every day. With 140 years of experience, Arco has an unrivalled mix of specialist expertise and real-life industry knowledge to make this a reality.
In the world of safety, you simply can’t compromise on quality. Our own state-of-the-art product assurance laboratory, based in Hull, ensures our customers have access to products that have been tested to the highest standards of compliance through quality.
We’re also the UK’s only integrated services and safety products business, which means we can offer full end-to-end safety solutions for businesses. We call this “Joined-up Safety”, the unique way that Arco manages safety through a combination of advice, expertise, products and services.
What does Arco have planned over the next 12 months?
When Guy joined as chief executive, his transformation plan had two phases: “Fix the Foundations”, and “Build for Growth”. There is still a bit of work to do on fixing the foundations, but the business is now in a strong position to build for growth.
Over the next 12 months, we plan to invest £17m in building growth. There are a few big things in the pipeline that I can’t talk about just yet, but there are a few key areas where we are focusing this investment.
We’re investing to innovate in new products and services, expanding our own brand ranges with more than 300 new products, with sustainability continuing to be a big focus. We also plan to continue the growth of safety services, including building on our training offer, as well as looking at expanding our equipment hire.
We’re investing in digital, both externally and internally. An improved website is on the way that will enhance our customers’ experience, and we’re also improving the internal digital experience for our colleagues.
Speaking of colleagues, we are a people business, and we’re also investing in the things that important to our staff right across the business, such as leadership and learning opportunities, as well as creating social value in the communities we work in.
Arco is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. What is a fact people might not know about the company?
Did you know the company started life as a rubber manufacturer in Victorian London? In its very early days, the business used to supply rubber tennis balls to Wimbledon.
And 140 years on, we are working with Wimbledon in a very different way. Since 2019, Arco Professional Safety Services has been providing fall protection services and working at height training for the Wimbledon Championships, helping to ensure the safety of their maintenance and cleaning staff, camera and lighting crews, and anyone working in areas where there’s a risk of falling.
It’s a perfect example of how Arco has continually adapted in order to thrive over the past 140 years, combining all of its incredible history and experience with industry-leading innovation and forward-thinking. That’s what makes Arco great – we really are the best of both.
Find out more at arco.co.uk
