From humble origins as a supplier to the tissue industry, Northwood Hygiene Products has become one of the country’s top three manufacturers and suppliers of Away-from-Home paper hygiene and wiping products.
Its brands can be spotted across the UK, in organisations including five star hotels, premier league football clubs and the NHS.
Underpinning the company’s growth is an ambitious programme of acquisitions, resulting in its status as one of the industry’s very few vertically integrated groups, the activities of which take place at six operations across England and Wales as well as its Telford headquarters.
This integration enables Northwood to ensure excellence throughout, and this was recently recognised when the company was named Best Manufacturer in the 2019 Shropshire Business Awards.
Northwood’s ambition can be seen in its capital investment programme, with the purchase in 2018 of two new buildings on the Telford site. It invested in digital technologies to improve operations, employee and customer experiences. The launch of Training Academies last year supports distributors in the sale of Northwood products.
In 2018, Northwood expanded its Telford headcount alone by 55%. The company is proud of its strong staff retention rate, with a turnover of just 6.5% against a national average of 12%. This is attributable to several factors, including a continuous improvement programme, which encourages employees to achieve their full potential via ongoing training. In 2018, staff worked towards a range of qualifications and many undertook sponsored places on college courses.
Employees are proud to work for a sustainable organisation. The recently launched North Shore range of washroom dispensers and consumables became the latest Northwood brand to carry the EU Ecolabel Certificate. All paper waste product is recycled back in to the supply chain.
Northwood’s company-wide Corporate Social Responsibility strategy last year give Telford employees alone the opportunity to aid a hospice by entering a team in its dragon boat race; support the Wear Red for Zac campaign; sponsor a junior football club, Brakes’ Meals and More, the Safe Kids campaign and an academy school.
Plans are already well underway for further significant capital investment over the coming year, which will generate not only further efficiencies and improved competitiveness, but also result in significant employment opportunities.
For further details, please visit www.northwood.co.uk or call 01952 236 930.
