Flotec has all the correct credentials.
Updated: Aug 18, 2023
Loughborough-based Flotec, a trusted and leading supplier of reliable hose and engineering solutions to the rail market, has all the correct credentials and understands the importance of membership, accreditation, and certification.
Flotec is associated with numerous external stakeholder associations, and for good reason. Each one of them serves a valuable purpose and there is a story as to why Flotec Industrial Limited collaborates with its partners of choice.
In this article, member organisations are explained in greater detail.
Flotec supplies hydraulic, pneumatic and pipeline products to a wide variety of industries such as agriculture, water treatment, and plant hire.
In recent years, the organisation has found great success in the rail sector, providing hydrostatic and coolant hoses to the rolling stock overhaul market, and has also introduced variable pitch fan engine cooling innovations.
Quality is of paramount importance to rail clients, as is safety and legislation compliance.
It seems logical to begin this feature with Flotec’s rail market associations.
RISQS.
Flotec is a member of RISQS. Standing for the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme, RISQS exists to demonstrate the capabilities of its 4,000-member delegate list and give them visibility in the market.
RISQS provides buyers and suppliers with a comprehensive view of the rail supply chain and delivers independent industry verification with its assessments, ensuring members demonstrate compliance with both UK and EU procurement regulations, such as the fire safe EN 45545-2 directive.
Rail Forum.
Founded in 1993, the Rail Forum has grown in strength both in terms of its membership numbers and influence within the wider rail sector.
According to its website, the Rail Forum is based at the heart of one of the largest clusters of rail companies in the world with members spanning the whole industry, from global corporations to micro-SMEs, asset owners to manufacturers, digital solutions providers to passenger and freight operators.
The Rail Forum is a well known and trusted not-for-profit organisation that offers members many networking opportunities and hosts many relevant and topical industry events throughout the year.
Due to the Rail Forum’s presence and influence within rail, Flotec considers it very important to be a member.
RBD Community Member.
Rail Business Daily is a widely recognised and far-reaching media agency to the rail community, delivering diverse and informative stories every day.
RBD’s content reaches over 73,000 members and subscribers.
The RBD Community online prescience is a web-based platform, giving its membership access to a wide variety of resources, all in one convenient digital space.
The community also benefits from an individual micro-site, driving more traffic and engagement to their own official websites and social media platforms.
Women in Rail (WR) and the Railway Industry Association (RIA) EDI Charter.
In 2020, WR and RIA collaboratively launched a Charter to champion Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the UK rail industry.
According to the RIA website, the joint ‘Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter’ is a commitment to work together to build a more balanced, fair, and high performing sector.
Quality, safety, innovation, and technology are critical in progressing, evolving, and developing the UKs rail network However, important too, is ethical conduct and access to services and mobility.
With equality, diversity, and inclusion very much at the forefront of Flotec’s culture and way of being, Flotec signed the EDI Charter in 2022 and contributes frequently within its peer-to-peer networking sessions, demonstrating both the ethical and commercial benefits for adopting EDI strategies and best practices.
ISO 9001.
ISO 9001 is a globally recognised quality standard and Flotec is certified to the very latest 2015 credentials. To retain its certificate, Flotec undergoes stringent annual audits and inspections.
With quality being of paramount importance regarding product performance, reliability, and safety, it felt obvious for Flotec to ascertain such a widely recognised certification.
BFPA.
BFPA is short for the British Fluid Power Association of which, Flotec is an official Distributor Member.
According to its sources, the BFPA is the only UK trade association for all companies involved or associated with the fluid power industry.
‘Q’ Approved Hose Assembly Supplier.
Orchestrated by the BFPA, the ‘Q’ Approved scheme exists to ensure BFPA members are manufacturing and distributing hoses and their assemblies to the highest quality and safest of standards.
Gates Safe Hydraulics.
As an official Gates distributor, Flotec benefits from the Gates Safe Hydraulics training and deploys it to each new starter and provides on-going refresher top-ups.
Furthermore, Flotec also delivers this in-depth course to its self-assembly customers.
FSB Member.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is on a mission to help smaller companies achieve their ambitions. To do this, the membership-based organisation provides a mix of resources such as training, consultancy, and peer-to-peer support groups.
The advice and professional development provided is vast, including legal, financial, marketing, digital integration, operational, HR and more.
As an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise), Flotec feels it wise, useful, and cost-effective to be a member of the FSB, taking full advantage of the services this organisation has to offer.
Flotec regularly participates in awards ceremonies hosted by the FSB.
Disability Confident Employer.
Returning to the importance of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Flotec has worked hard to become an official Disability Confident Employer.
A government initiative, the Disability Confident employer scheme is focussed on creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.
Cyber Resilience Centre East Midlands.
With cyber crime continuously on the rise and evolving at an alarming pace, it is prudent for businesses of all sizes to mitigate the risk of an online attack as much as possible.
Flotec is aware of the need to build a cyber resilient defence system. To help the business do this, Flotec benefits from the support and services provided by the Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands.
This Police-led initiative supports SMEs in the East Midlands with free cyber risk assessments, regular information about the latest scams and fraudulent activities.
Further benefits include access to EMCRC events and cyber security guides for small businesses, complete with Government accredited materials.
Honesty is the Best Policy.
Flotec ensures to make all company certifications, policies, procedures, and ethical documentation fully visible and available from its online corporate site.
The Conclusion.
It is necessary and wise for SME organisations to be selective with stakeholder associations and not to stretch themselves too thin.
Upon analysing Flotec’s memberships, accreditations, and certifications, it is apparent how mutually beneficial each one is.
UPDATE: 18/08/2023:
As of this week, Flotec has signed the Railway Mental Health Charter.
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