Corporate Social Responsibility Archives

CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility

Posted on 10th March 2017 at 4:35 pm.

Responsible Business Conduct for a Better World

As a successful business, employer and member of the wider community, we believe it is our Corporate Social Responsibility to help the people and businesses in our local community. We provide a mixture of practical and financial support across a range of areas.

Safety

The safety of our customers, employees and the general public is one of our top priorities. The very nature of our products help to bring safety to the UK’s road network, for events and emergency situations.

At the heart of our business operations, safety is a core foundation that our organisation is built upon. Principals of safety are felt at every level of our business, from our staff to our products and service. Perhaps one of the most socially responsible priorities, our emphasis on safety serves as the base point we that we judge all aspects of our business on.

Safety training plays a huge part in this, with the danger presented in many aspects of our line of work potentially being life threatening in on-site environments and in manufacturing roles.

Some of the training we either mandate or offer to our staff are:

Manual handling
Role related safety training
Fire Warden training
First Aid training
Near Miss training

Employees & Training

We encourage our staff to undertake as much training as possible, increasing the safety and job satisfaction of our team members. As a result, we boast of one of the industry’s best trained workforces and continue to support employees in training and qualifications with no limit to their advancement.

We also prioritise mental health, wellbeing and physical health in our approach to staff.

A few things we do to ensure this are:

All employees receive literature detailing the mental health first aid protocol ‘ALGEE’
We offer the services of 2 mental health first aiders to lean on when their mental health is suffering
Offering the use of services such as Peninsula’s EAP
We encourage staff to enjoy their downtime when possible, discouraging employees to take their work home with them and support staff in personal endeavours where applicable
Offering a wide range of free fruit each week for our employees, as well as free healthy lunch options for all employees if they want them
Employees are encouraged to take part in corporate fitness and sporting challenges throughout the year
Assisting an employee back to work after an extended illness we work with them on measures such as the reduction of hours or responsibilities if they feel they need them
We promote an open, inclusive and friendly company culture that rewards hard work and dedication
Offering a generous employee benefits package
We promote a culture of competitive pay in our organisation not only to reward our staff for their hard work, but also to keep them and help prevent poaching

Community Outreach & Charity

We take pride in our community outreach efforts, which have seen us offer our products, time and financial support to a range of community causes as and when they occur.

Some of our community activities include:

We regularly reach out to businesses affected by local emergencies such as flooding with the offer of our products to support with reopening, community information or security
We run an apprenticeship scheme to support the careers of local youngsters
Regularly provide work experience for students from Matlock’s Highfields School
We also take part in local volunteering activities that benefits the community as a whole. For example, we work closely with our local community school in the form of annual mock interviews and critical thinking challenges for the students
Taking place throughout the year, our charity initiatives reach their peak during Christmas time. Each year, as an organisation, we pick a homeless charity to raise money for from our Christmas jumper day, which staff bring funds to take part in. Throughout December, we also hold a food bank collection which is donated before Christmas to a local food bank.
We remain opportunistic in this with charity taking the form of attendance at charity events, responses to local emergencies (both in financial support and services) and even advice.
Supporting Ashgate Hospice, we raise money for the charity by running our in-house baking competition, The Great MVIS Bake Off. Along with taking part in their Treecycle, Sparkle Walk and sponsoring the High Peak Trail. At Christmas staff members volunteer to host a movie night for the team at Ashgate. More recently MVIS have sponsored a sky dive, done by our own Workshop Technician, Rob Hinchley in September 2024.
Taking pride in our surroundings and regularly cleaning our offices. We take part in a litter pick in and around our surrounding area to ensure that the offices and roads around us are clean and maintained.
We also support local sporting individuals. In recent years we have sponsored many athletes including Karl Johnston, a world champion Kickboxer, and the Matlock Town Football Team supplying them with a VMS in and around the ground.
We have also sponsored smaller local football teams including Cromford & Wirksworth Town Football Club. We have sponsored Jacob Spencer, who plays as a striker for the team.

At MVIS, Corporate Social Responsibility is central to how we operate. We believe responsible business means minimising our environmental impact while actively contributing to positive, long-term social change both locally and globally.

Environmental Responsibility

The very nature of the majority of our products has a strong environmental focus. Our specialism in solar-powered technology enables us to offer environmentally friendly solutions to organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Understanding the carbon footprint of our services, we continually strive to minimise emissions wherever possible. Key initiatives include:

Efficient delivery models
Our delivery strategy focuses on transporting multiple units in a single journey where possible. We can offload up to three VMS A units, two VMS C units, or two Solar IP units per delivery, significantly reducing vehicle movements and associated emissions.
Modern, lower-impact fleet
At the start of 2025, we introduced two new 7.5-ton delivery vehicles, enabling us to deliver more units per trip. This reduces fuel consumption and the total number of journeys required.
Recycling and waste reduction
We aim to recycle as much as possible throughout the year, extending beyond everyday waste. In 2024 alone, around 20 batteries were collected and recycled from our Midlands Hub, ensuring responsible disposal while lowering our environmental impact.
Energy efficiency improvements
We continue to reduce energy consumption through ongoing innovation. Movement sensors, timers, energy-efficient lighting, hand dryers, and eco-friendly heating solutions have been installed at our head office to minimise unnecessary energy use.
Responsible water use
In May 2026, we partnered with a new water cooler supplier as part of our continued commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management.
Local wildlife support
We actively support wildlife preservation in our local area. Initiatives include a bee hotel and a hedgehog home maintained by our staff. Bees play a vital role in global ecosystems, and hedgehogs are particularly close to our industry, with an estimated one quarter of the UK hedgehog population killed on roads each year.
Enhancing natural spaces
We also maintain an on-site flower bed, monitored by our team, to support biodiversity while bringing natural beauty to our local environment.

Social Responsibility and Global Impact

Alongside our environmental commitments, MVIS is proud to support initiatives that deliver lasting social impact. Through our partnership with The Africa Trust, we contribute to sustainable solutions that tackle the root causes of poverty rather than offering short-term aid.

The Africa Trust focuses on combining access to clean water, education, and entrepreneurship to create long-term, self-sustaining change. Projects include income-generating agriculture that enables children to pay school fees year after year, ensuring ongoing access to education for future generations. Entrepreneurship programmes further support communities by creating new businesses, jobs, and economic resilience at a remarkably low cost.

This approach aligns strongly with MVIS values by:

Creating permanent, measurable social impact
Empowering communities rather than creating dependency
Supporting education, clean water access, and economic opportunity
Contributing to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals

By integrating environmental responsibility with meaningful social investment, MVIS aims to operate as a business that not only reduces its footprint but leaves a positive and lasting legacy.

MVIS achieves quality and environmental milestones

Posted on 28th February 2017 at 12:43 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

MVIS is thrilled to announce that it has been assessed and registered by the NQA against the provisions of BS EN ISO 14001: 2015 and BS EN ISO 9001: 2015 standards.

The BS EN ISO 9001: 2015 and National Highway Sector Scheme 8 recognition demonstrates MVIS’ ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory UK highway requirements. Being registered under the National Highway Sector Scheme 8 also provides MVIS with an industry benchmark, giving assurance to their customers that standards are being consistently applied.

As one of the world’s most popular standards for environmental management, ISO 14001:2015 helps organisations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders.

The ISO 14001:2015 registration also demonstrates MVIS’ compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory environmental requirements. Achieving this registration also provides assurance to employees with MVIS as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being continuously being measured and improved.

MVIS were accredited the ISO 14001 and 9001 on the 24^th February 2017 and hold both certificates until 2020.

For more information on MVIS or the ISO accreditations please get in touch on 01629 580 570.

How to lower pollution with MVIS’s Auto Detect

Posted on 11th January 2017 at 12:33 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

It was reported recently that London reached its annual limit for air pollution just five days into the new year.

And with the RAC Foundation estimating more than 43 million drivers on the roads by 2034, it can only mean bigger traffic jams, longer journey times and even more air pollution.

So how can we prevent this?

Motorists themselves can adopt certain habits when driving to help reduce emissions, such as keeping the vehicle in tip-top shape, removing excess cargo and avoiding unnecessary idling. If you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, it’s much more environment tally friendly to stop and restart your engine than to keep the vehicle running.

But what can we do to help reduce emissions in locations which we know will have a high volume of slow-moving traffic? Circumstances such as heavy road works, large sporting events or concerts can have a large amount of stop-start traffic, and so are in need of an effective solution to communicate with motorists to educate them on more environmentally friendly driving practices – the Auto Detect.

The Auto Detect is an innovative integrated solution available to hire from MVIS and combines variable message signs (VMS) with contactless sensor technology which can help make drivers more aware of their carbon footprint and drive more responsibly, therefore becoming more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

The system pairs a series of VMS units with a master Intellicone Traffic Management Unit with a set of traffic lights. When the lights turn red, the VMS is wirelessly activated and instantly displays messages – pre-programmed by the user using our innovative Web Studio™ – to communicate with the stationary motorists. These messages can include facts about the levels of air pollution caused on UK roads as well as advice on how motorists can effectively lower their own emissions, such as turning off their engines when in stationary traffic queues.

If you would like to contact us regarding your road work project, please call 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS taking up 100m charity challenge

Posted on 28th November 2016 at 3:26 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

Two members of the MVIS team are raising money to support those affected by stillbirth and neonatal death.

Following the tragic stillbirth of his own son, Caleb George, earlier this year, MVIS’ warehouse & manufacturing supervisor Tom Hooton discussed with general manager Anne Ashman doing something to help raise money for Sands, which is helping Tom and his partner Ciara during this period.

The charity works in partnership with health professionals to care for bereaved families, also funding research.

The 100km in ten months project was devised, as the pair – along with friends and family – committed to each run a 10km event every month for 10 months. All the runs except the last will be in the Midlands, with a final event in London on the weekend of Caleb’s first birthday in July.

Said Tom:

“Stillbirths happen more you think, and there is very little after-care for the bereaved. We’re lucky to be receiving wonderful support from Sands, and want to help it to be able to give this to others too, and to undertake its vital research.”

The team completed their second run on Sunday, November 27^th.

Said Anne:

“We had a very early start to get to East Midlands Airport and it was freezing. However we both did well, Tom ran the 10k in 52.19 (he left me standing) and I ran it in my anticipated hour at 1.054.”

She added:

“Thank you to everyone for supporting us in these charity runs – we really do appreciate it. When you are running and getting near to the end of the 10k, you really do think about the people that have sponsored you and it keeps you going as you don’t want to let them down.”

Together, the team hopes to raise a total of £5000. If you would like to help them to achieve their target, please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Anne-Ashman2 or www.justgiving.com/Tom-Hooton

Go Green with MVIS

Posted on 27th June 2016 at 12:17 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

Here at MVIS, we’re keen to be as environmentally friendly as we can – and we’re not the only ones.

Many businesses are now initiating new processes to try and reduce their company’s carbon footprint. From park & ride systems, car sharing and recycling initiatives, there are many different ways to live a greener life, and whilst you may not expect traffic management equipment to fit within this ethos, you may be surprised at just how environmentally friendly MVIS’ portfolio is.

Reuse & Recycle

Because our range of variable message signs are portable, they can be re-positioned around your project’s location with ease. Not only is this quick and easy to do, it also negates the need for any large vehicular transportation needed to move the units over short distances.

Made in the UK

Because all of MVIS’ portfolio is manufactured by Bartco UK in the heart of the Peak District, it reduces the transportation time considerably, meaning there are no emission-heavy long-haul journeys from continent to continent to deliver the equipment.

Light Up

MVIS VMS units are solar powered, so they require no costly mains electricity. With a non-glare screen, you can be sure that they’re visible at all times too.

Over 20 UK Depots

With over 20 depots across the UK, you can rest assured that no matter where in the country you are, we have traffic management equipment nearby that can be with you in no time. This means that the transportation time from us to you is kept to a minimum and that your project doesn’t suffer from any unnecessary downtime.

Reliable

Because our VMS units are secure and tamper-proof, and will stand up to the most extreme weather conditions, you can trust MVIS to make sure your equipment doesn’t let you down. Should you require any assistance, MVIS also offers 24/7 support to all customers so we’re always on hand to help.

Call us on 01629 580570 if you would like to talk to us about how MVIS can help keep your project green…or red, white, blue or amber. MVIS’ versatile VMS offers five eye-catching colours to create a striking visual display.

Forest Support Services call on MVIS to help with UK flooding

Posted on 25th February 2014 at 9:48 am.

Written by Ben Kettell

Earlier this month, the south of the UK was hit by torrential downpours resulting in mass flooding on a scale not witnessed in the country for many years. So many years, in fact, that this winter is officially the wettest since records began.

As the UK’s leading supplier of temporary solutions to the traffic sector, MVIS was called upon by Forest Support Services to implement two colour mobile VMS signs on the A22 near Croydon to help effectively manage the flow of traffic and warn motorists of changes to the road network.

The team at MVIS was able to respond quickly to the need for VMS on the A22, delivering and installing the solutions on the very night that the call came through to the head office.

General Manager at MVIS, Anne Ashman, comments: “In situations such as this, speed is of the upmost importance and a delay in response can play absolute havoc with roads and the motorists that need to use them.

“Because we have depots all over the country, our team were able to swiftly deliver two VMS signs to Forest Support Services and these were installed exactly where they needed them, and most importantly, where they needed them. As a result, motorists were warned of driving conditions and the flow of traffic was managed safely.”

The two VMS signs on the A22 will be in place for a total of three weeks until conditions settle in the area. If you would like more information on how VMS can help you with your requirements, call MVIS on 01629 580 570 or click here to send us an email and we’ll get right back to you.