A Global Vision With A Local Commitment
HMG Paints Ltd is a family-owned business that, while the UK’s largest independent Paint Manufacturer, with 189 employees and a turnover of circa £23 million, remains a commitment to local people across Manchester and its communities as much as when it first started in 1930.
The company’s vision is global, but its commitment remains local. Community is at the heart of HMG and has been since its inception in 1930. Many of HMG’s current employees live within a five-mile radius of the head office the company is known for welcoming many generations of the same family who have worked throughout HMG. Meanwhile, HMG’s purpose is firmly rooted in “its people, the people who work within HMG and those in our local and extended communities, without them HMG is just bricks and machinery.”
Collyhurst, where the HMG factory is located, is one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK, and HMG has taken on the role keen to help create a thriving community. Several HMG staff are members of local school governors, whilst HMG Chairman John Falder is also a board member of the Greater Manchester Academies trust to ensure the company’s ethos remains firmly rooted in the community.
Supporting the local community during the pandemic
Throughout the pandemic, HMG showed its best traits of flexibility and agility, along with looking out for the local community.
During the very early stages of the pandemic, HMG utilised its manufacturing knowledge and existing alcohol stocks to produce hand sanitiser for local front-line workers, care providers and charities. The company developed the First Thing Sanitiser, which contains over 70 per cent alcohol, after staff and their families reported being unable to find stocks at other locations. The First Thing name derives from internal communication messages urging staff to make washing their hands the first thing on their mind whether at work or at home.
The First Thing Sanitiser saw donations made to Greater Manchester Police, along with local care homes and frontline workers. For our work, during the pandemic, HMG was recognised by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham as “another great GM company stepping forward and helping our public services at this time”.
Additionally, the company received recognition from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce as a UK Business Hero. Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) commented: “The national UK Business Hero Awards were established this year to recognise businesses that have gone above and beyond for their local community during the covid-19 pandemic. The awards pay tribute to businesses and their contributions by giving them a UK Business Hero stamp, which demonstrates that they have gone the extra mile to support their local community during the Coronavirus outbreak.”
Community engagement HMG is planning to invest over £2million in its Riverside Works which will promote new coatings technology and create more local opportunities.
The ethos of Family Business, Herbert wrote down back in 1930, flows throughout and is transmitted across the business this ensures all staff know where the company stands and allows it to influence their own decisions on a daily basis in work. This motto is as true today as it was then.
HMG Paints Ltd stand as an outstanding example of the good that family businesses can contribute to their local communities, and we’re proud to be working with them for Family Business Week. For more information about HMG Paints Ltd, please visit https://www.hmgpaint.com