Encon Achieves 5% Club Silver Membership

The Encon Group, the leading independent distributor of building materials, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded Silver membership of The 5% Club by the 2024/25 Employer Audit Scheme. The accreditation recognises that 4% of the Group’s workforce is now made up of employees on ‘earn and learn’ schemes such as apprenticeships.

Encon is currently the only building materials distributor listed as a member of the 5% Club. Achieving Silver follows the company’s award of Bronze membership last year and demonstrates its continual improvement and rapid progress since joining the scheme in February 2023.  

The 5% Club is a coalition of over 1100 forward-thinking employers who are dedicated to driving positive change, with the eventual goal of 5% of employees being enrolled on earn and learn schemes. By making workplace training more inclusive, diverse and accessible, companies like Encon help to proliferate learning and development opportunities as well as combat the growing skills gap in construction.

Employee development opportunities are an important facet of Encon’s ‘Employer of Choice’ ethos, supporting employees in furthering their skills and developing their roles. This not only allows employees to achieve their career goals, but also supports customers through their growing knowledge in specialist markets.

Apprenticeship schemes

Employees across the business benefit from a range of apprenticeship schemes within customer-facing, operations and office-based positions, for example, Customer Service, Warehouse, HGV Driver, Finance, HR, Team Leader, Thermal Insulation Technician and Health & Safety.

Deborah Gore, HSEQ & HR Director, comments: “We’re pleased our commitment to employee development has been recognised with Silver accreditation of The 5% Club, especially so soon after joining the scheme.

“The progress we have made in such a short time demonstrates our commitment and investment in our workforce and in earn and learn schemes.”

Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, adds: “We are incredibly proud of the outstanding employers, like The Encon Group, who have gone above and beyond to invest in the future of their workforce through a diverse range of earn and learn initiatives.

“Their dedication, especially during these challenging times, deserves to be celebrated. By achieving Silver membership, Encon has shown an exceptional commitment to shaping the skills of tomorrow, contributing not only to their business but to the wider economy.”

For more information visit www.encon.co.uk.