Engineering firm sends out warning to CBI in wake of scandal
The boss of an engineering in Dorset has sent out a warning to the CBI following the scandal that has engulfed the organisation.
Simon Boyd, is managing director of REIDsteel which is a member of the CBI.
He is also a founder member of the CBI’S manufacturing council.
Boyd has condemned alleged behaviour at the organisation and threatened to cut all ties but will reserve judgement pending more developments.
He said: “There have been some incredibly serious allegations about completely unacceptable behaviour at the CBI.
“It is shocking and of deep concern to us that such misconduct appears to have been allowed to happen over a number of years.
“There is absolutely no excuse for this type of behaviour at any organisation or business, whether in the City of London or elsewhere.
“It is emphatically at odds with what REIDsteel stands for as a company where values of respect and inclusivity for everyone are non-negotiable.”
Boyd added: “Our initial reaction was to break all ties with the CBI, both in terms of our company membership and in my role as a founder member of its manufacturing council.
“However, we have been re-assured by the immediate and decisive action taken by the CBI’s president Brian McBride and its new director general Rain Newton-Smith. This has included a dismissal, suspension of employees and the launch of a root and branch review of its culture and governance.
“They have spoken to us and given us confidence that they are committed and able to tackle the very serious issues at hand. Had they not already taken firm action and given such assurances, we would have withdrawn our membership.
“For now we have been given enough encouragement to reserve judgement and see how the situation develops. I hope they are able to restore trust and confidence in the CBI while eliminating every trace of unacceptable behaviour and practices where it may exist within the organisation.”
REIDsteel employs 130 people from its head office and factory in Christchurch, Dorset. It designs, engineers, makes and constructs all kinds of steel structures and buildings worldwide. It recently won a Structural Steel Design Award and has won four Queen’s Awards during 104 years of trading with exports to more than 140 countries to date.
