Sustainable case study : Simkiss Group

Posted by on 3 Jul 2024

Stakehill Industrial Estate is undergoing a transformative journey towards sustainability, driven by a consortium of stakeholders including Rochdale Development Agency, Stakehill Business Improvement District (BID), SSE Energy Solution, the Energy Innovation Agency, Rochdale Borough Council, the University of Manchester, and asset owners UBS.

Together, the group are developing a Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan (LIDP) aimed at enhancing the strategic longevity and competitiveness of businesses within the estate.

This initiative presents a remarkable opportunity for Stakehill businesses to engage in collaborative learning, leverage diverse expertise, and contribute to sustainable practices.

Recently recognised by Siemens as part of the top cohort in their sustainability programme, this case study highlights Simkiss Group’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, focusing on significant environmental impacts and achieving clear targets for 2030.

Simkiss Group

Simkiss Group has been a reliable provider of high-quality technical services since 1999, specialising in the following sectors:

• Gas: Operating within the National Gas Framework, for Cadent, National Gas and National Gas Network. Simkiss service the needs of this utility sector through the design, testing and installation of control panels.
• Home Solutions: Simkiss provides innovative solutions to automate home and business properties by designing, testing and installing automation products.
• Production: Working within a range of industries, Simkiss provide building, testing, and packaging of control systems.

Working alongside Rochdale Development Agency, in 2023 Simkiss recognised the importance of structuring their sustainability approach and developed an Environmental Footprint initiative. 
Including measurable targets, this is based on three key areas:

1. Climate and Carbon – Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30%. Strategies include:
• Reducing emissions throughout operations, including manufacturing, sourcing, transportation, and product use.
• Introducing electric and hybrid vehicles to the fleet.
• Deploying on-site solar power and other renewable energy sources.

• Simkiss have implemented new cloud-based software to enhance the tracking and reporting of sustainability measures, streamlining the analysis of GHG emissions.

2. Energy Efficiency – Increase renewable energy usage to 50% of total electricity and improve operational efficiency by 20%. Initiatives include:
• Installation of solar panels on all roofs.
• Pursue on-site renewable energy generation projects.
• Explore opportunities to lower fossil fuel dependency.

3. Waste Reduction – Decrease waste disposal intensity by 25% using the following methods:
• Managing raw materials efficiently.
• Observing quality control best practices.
• Reducing quality errors and managing finished product inventory.
• Enhanced recycling programmes which divert materials such as cardboard, paper, plastic, and metal from waste streams.

Ensuring accountability Simkiss’s ESG Council oversees the development, implementation, and monitoring of the company’s metrics, targets, and strategies.

“Since our founding in 1999, Simkiss Control Systems Ltd has been committed to doing what is right for our employees, customers, communities, shareholders, and other
stakeholders. It is this enduring commitment that guides us on our ESG and sustainability journey.

We believe being good stewards of the environment requires a comprehensive approach to measuring and managing our Environmental Footprint to achieve our
2030 goals.” Paul Simkiss, Managing Director, Simkiss Group

Get involved

By participating in the LIDP, businesses can access valuable resources, forge partnerships, share best practice, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

To learn more about how your involvement can benefit your business and contribute to the collective sustainability efforts of Stakehill Industrial Estate click here.