RSS confirms £1M plus investment

At the latest managers’ meeting in Swansea, Wales, Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd (RSS) confirmed plans to invest more than £1million over the next two years.

On 11 January, lifting and rigging equipment supplier, RSS, welcomed over 25 branch managers, directors and staff from head office to the in-person event. The agenda was wide-ranging, and included presentations from senior managers.

Steve Hutin, managing director said, “The overarching theme was the future of the business. It’s important to get together periodically, face-to-face, to regroup and align our thinking across our [10] national depots. We followed an agenda, but managers got an opportunity to feedback and discuss the challenges and opportunities, many of which are shared across the breadth of the UK.”

Hutin confirmed plans to invest over £1million over the next two years in opening three new locations in Glasgow, Bristol, and the West Midlands this year; and two more, likely in the north and southeast respectively, in 2025. Steve Simpson, engineering services business development, at Gemmak Engineering Ltd (RSS’ fabrication facility) was given an opportunity at the managers’ meeting to explain how Gemmak’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities will be further equipped to serve all sites.

Angela Holmes, RSS financial director, explained that the business is prepared for rising short-term costs and a long-term commitment to attracting and retaining talent. A new fiscal year that runs January to December will facilitate projected budget planning, as the company enters another phase of growth and expansion, in alignment with crane hire firms and major infrastructure projects, including some of the country’s most notable developments, such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel and HS2.

Hutin added, “It’s never about creating a C-suite culture where the doors are closed to other members of staff, but it’s necessary to bring together our leadership team so they can each disseminate the plan to their respective depots and places of work. The company is now significant in size, but we must have consistency of message and service, for which we have become renowned.

“Leveraging Gemmak is one example of how we need to be cohesive from Grangemouth [Scotland] to Plymouth, and everywhere between; Steve gave a good overview of what the division is capable of doing, using current projects to demonstrate how it fits with our core offerings.”

RSS will hold its next managers’ meeting in the Summer.