The UK and Ireland arm of a global building materials group, behind British Gypsum, Isover, Weber and other brands, based in East Leake, Leicestershire.
Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland brings together a group of building product brands. Its 2024 company brochure lists British Gypsum and Gyproc (plasterboard and plaster), Isover (insulation), Saint-Gobain Weber (mortars, renders, tile fixing and floor screeds), Saint-Gobain Glass, Saint-Gobain PAM (pipes), Ecophon (acoustic ceilings), K Rend, K Systems, Scotframe (timber frame) and others, 19 brands in all. Over 90% of the business serves the construction market, and it also runs training academies for customers.
The group's purpose, in its words, is "to make the world a better home", and its vision is "to be the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction". Its conduct principles are professional commitment, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and solidarity. British Gypsum's own history page dates the British Plaster Board Company to 1917, with gypsum mining at Robertsbridge in East Sussex from 1876, at Kirkby Thore in Cumbria from 1890 and at East Leake from 1914. Weber began in France in 1900 and joined Saint-Gobain in 1996.
The brochure says Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland has about 5,600 employees and 40 manufacturing and distribution sites, with its UK headquarters at Saint-Gobain House in East Leake, Loughborough. It mentions Scotframe's timber frame factories in Scotland and the Energy House 2.0 research facility at the University of Salford. Gypsum is also processed at Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Selby, where British Gypsum opened a plasterboard plant in 1969. Another Weber page says the UK and Ireland business has more than 5,000 employees. The brochure does not list every site.
On culture, the group says its action principles cover respect for the law, care for the environment, worker health and safety, and employee rights, and that following them is required to be part of the group. It says 75% of its sales come from sustainable solutions and aims for net zero carbon by 2050. It has a foundation that has supported social value projects since 2008, and it says it has 8 training academies and links with 56 construction technical colleges. These are the group's own statements.
With sites that mine, make, distribute and sell, the company needs engineers and plant technicians, geologists and miners, technical specialists who advise builders and architects, researchers who work on lighter, more sustainable products, customer service and sales teams, and finance and human resources staff. Weber says its teams cover customer services, technical specialists, sales, and research and development. Anyone interested in how a wall, floor or ceiling keeps people warm, quiet and safe in a fire may find the products here worth a closer look.
Website: www.saint-gobain.co.uk
PURPOSE helps school and university students explore 62 sectors and over 1,000 entry-level careers in the UK, then connects them directly with employers.
Explore PURPOSE