Frank Key Group

About Frank Key Group

Since 1907 Frank Key have been renowned for supplying market-leading building, plumbing and timber materials. Built on family values, we have grown to now stock interiors, landscaping, civils and drainage products, as well as providing high-quality plant and tool hire equipment, making Frank Key a true one-stop shop for all project requirements.

Our reputation is not only built on the wide range of products we sell but how we do business. Given our experience within the industry and with many of the Frank Key team being long-standing members of staff, we are in the best position to provide expert advice and service our customers need. As our motto states ‘what you need. when you need it’. We will order non-stocked items, we stick to our delivery dates and we honour our agreements.

As a business we understand we must invest year on year. Be this in training, new product ranges, new sites or upgrading existing ones. We have recently invested over £2.5 million into our flag ship depot based in Nottingham to ensure we offer high quality service to our customers and have great facilities for our staff.

Frank Key understands that convenience and getting the right product, at the right time and place are important to all our customers, as such we now cover a larger area across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire. Furthermore, for our customer’s convenience, our fleet of vehicles can deliver the products and plant tools customers need, when and where they need them.

Company culture

We are an independent business that pride itself on living our values. These values are embedded into how we trade with our customers and how we look after our employees.
Supportive:
We take care of our customers and each other.

Knowledge:
With over 100 years in business and long-standing expert staff, our customers have trust and confidence in us to meet their needs.

People:
We all work for Frank Key but with different roles and responsibilities, every colleague is important and valued.

Excellence:
Ordinary is not enough, we will constantly seek to create better ways of doing the things we do.

Integrity:
Our approach is honest and sincere, and we apply it consistently, fairly, and accurately.

Diversity:
We recognise that our differences make us stronger and so share in the responsibility to create a positive culture and to uphold equality, inclusion, dignity and respect for all.

Employee Wellbeing is one of our top priorities and we are currently in the process of introducing Wellbeing champions across our sites to support their colleagues in a number of ways.

As we cover three different divisions within Frank Key, we are also introducing our One Frank Key vision to help bring the three divisions closer together under one brand. This is supported through our newly created shop at our Daybrook Branch, where Building Supplies and Tool Hire work out of one shop, rather than having previously had two completely separate identities and spaces.

Employee benefits and perks

* We offer up to two paid volunteer days each year for our employees to offer help and support in their local community.
* We have a Cycle to Work Scheme in conjunction with Halfords for those looking to be more active
*Employees are able to buy or sell holidays so that they can ensure they have the right amount of time away from work to suit their individual needs
* Employees can join a Health Cash Plan to access discounts when they are receiving certain health related treatments such as opticians, physio etc
* We offer enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
* All of our employees and immediate family have access to an Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support in a number of areas including counselling.
* When our employees are not well, we offer Company Sick Pay so that they do not have to worry about being at a financial detriment
* Annual Holiday entitlement increases by one day each year for the first five years of service
* Our teams are able to get a generous discount on our products for when they are carrying out DIY Projects on their own homes
* If they refer a friend to come and work for us then they receive a bonus from us as a thank you
* We have an annual performance bonus in place for all of our teams
* Should the worse happen, then there is a Life Assurance in place for all of our employees

Career development and growth

* We have Staff Development Plans in place for any team member that is looking to progress or even diversify their skills. These are unique to the employee and are supported by their Line Manager.
* There is a comprehensive Training Calendar in place that is open for anyone in the Company to apply to attend any course to support their development. There is a Training Catalogue to support this that gives details about each of the courses, how long it is, if it is in person or online and who it is aimed at.
* For those that would like development outside of the Company, we would always look to cover any training costs if these were part of their structured development plan and there is a training budget in place specifically to cover this type of training
* Apprenticeships are supported for both current and new employees. Most vacancies are reviewed to see if they would be appropriate for an Apprenticeship prior to being advertised and we work with a number of training providers to support with the recruitment and ongoing training. Internally where development is sort, apprenticeships are also considered as part of this process.

EDI (equity, diversity & inclusion) initiatives

Diversity is one of our Company Values – we recognise that our differences make us stronger and so share in the responsibility to create a positive culture and to uphold equality, inclusion, dignity and respect for all.

Our EDI Policy confirms our commitment to the above and taking pride in having a workplace that celebrates equality, alongside our lack of tolerance and consequences when this is not being adhered to.

Where possible we offer flexible working hours and locations to support different needs and lifestyles.

We also ensure our we have up to date and clear policies for those with caring needs, no matter the reason.

Sustainability / environmental stewardship

Our ESG Policy covers our commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance issues that relate to how we operate as a Company and how we can ensure that everything we do has minimal impact on our environment.

Initiatives that we have introduced include:
* Solar panels at several sites to generate our own power
* A new Waste Management Policy to ensure we are recycling everything that we can and sending less to landfill
* A commitment to Net Zero operations by 2030
* Introduction of electric Fork Lifts when replacing older vehicles, with a full review of our fleet and a feasibility study to consider where other electric vehicles can be introduced.
* Ensuring we only work with suppliers who trade ethically.
* Setting up of the Frank Key Fix It Fund to support local good causes
* Introduction of EV Charging Points
* Working towards going paperless throughout the Company
* Introduction of a WEEE Policy

Our Health & Safety Team have also developed a Sustainability Plan to be worked on over the next five years.

School ambassador

Benjamin Sansom

ben.sansom@frank-key.co.uk