1. DO YOU WANT A JOB THAT DOES
SOMETHING POSITIVE?
How about saving the planet?!
2. “When I go to work in the morning I tell my kids I’m
going to save the planet because really that’s
what we’re doing”
John Sinfield, Managing Director, Knauf Insulation Northern Europe
Contents:
Who we are and what we do 4
Where we are 6
How you can help to save the planet 8
How we recruit 10
How we‘ll help you develop 12
Who succeeds here? 14
What is it like to work here? 16
3. Who we are and what we do
Part of the Knauf group, Knauf Insulation is the UK’s
leading insulation company. It represents one of the
most respected and progressive names in European
building products.
We are a trusted expert that sets the low energy
building agenda and delivers innovative market
solutions.
Knauf Insulation is active in more than 35 countries
with 40 manufacturing plants and over 5,500
employees across the globe. The company, which
is part of the German family-owned Knauf Group,
continues its strong and steady operational and
financial growth, having achieved a turnover well in
excess of € 1.4 billion in 2014.
Knauf Insulation is the only UK manufacturer of glass
mineral wool, rock mineral wool and extruded
polystyrene insulation products, giving an unrivalled
range for building, H&V, process and appliance
insulation, as well as fabrication applications.
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WE WILL BECOME WORLD LEADER IN
ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING SYSTEMS.
AND IT IS OUR PEOPLE THAT WILL HELP US GET THERE.
Our vision
4. Knauf Insulation Northern Europe
KNAUF INSULATION - MANUFACTURING
KNAUF INSULATION - OFFICE/WAREHOUSE
From our head office in St Helens we operate the
Northern Europe region which supplies 9 countries:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
We have 4 manufacturing facilities in the UK located
in St Helens (glass mineral wool), Cwmbran in South
Wales (glass mineral wool), Queensferry in North
Wales (rock mineral wool), and Hartlepool
(extruded polystyrene).
To support the Nordic business we have warehousing
in Gothenburg (Sweden), Oslo (Norway), Horsens
(Denmark) and a business office in Gothenburg.
Where we are
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St Helens Queensferry
Cwmbran Hartlepool
We are a global operation, managed across several regions, with the Northern Europe region being operated from the UK.
5. Industry 28%
Transport 32%
Buildings represent around 40% of the
worlds energy and carbon emissions
To tackle climate change we need to
reduce carbon emissions
Insulation alone is capable of cutting a
building’s energy use by a third
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How can you help save the planet?
Climate Change is a very real problem that we’re
facing right now. Every time we turn on heating
in our homes or air-conditioning in our hospitals,
offices and schools we instantly pump hard-
earned money straight out of our buildings into the
pockets of energy suppliers abroad. Buildings are
responsible for 40% of lost energy in Europe. If we
saved this energy rather than waste it, we would
unlock the biggest goldmine of opportunity in the
world. Imagine what we could do with that money,
the jobs that could be created, the possibilities for
improving society, the lives we could change for the
better with €500 billion every year.
“The pace of change in our industry continues to
accelerate. As a company that believes at its core
in the need to save energy, wherever this change is
taking place, it is key that Knauf Insulation plays a
role in helping to deliver a better outcome. Not only
developing better products and solutions that help
deliver low energy buildings but also organizing
ourselves in such a way that we are better able to
support all of our partners.
And as I look at what we are doing I am proud
of what I see; world-over we are getting stuck
into renovation projects, showing that it’s easy
and cost-effective to insulate. In the US and the
UK, we are piloting one-stop shops for energy
efficiency retrofits, where we are moving out of our
comfort zone to help keep our customers in theirs.
And beyond this we are developing new solutions to
help with these new challenges and pioneering new
tools to help our customers and ourselves to better
understand the environmental impact of our products
and solutions.
From governments who develop the regulations
to contractors that have to implement them on the
ground and through architects and others that have
to understand how to design buildings, we are here
to help“.
Tony Robson
CEO, Knauf Insulation
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6. Finding the golden needle in the haystack
Preparation
Some – but not all – of the information you need is
in this pack. But it’s always useful to research other
areas such as our competitors and any industry trends
related to the function or department relevant to the
role you have applied for.
You may be asked questions about the company
in an interview, but more importantly, this research
will help you understand more about whether Knauf
Insulation is right for you and to prepare your own
questions.
You will receive a role profile from our Human
Resources department or via the recruitment agency.
The HR team will be happy to answer any questions
you have about the role as they have in-depth
knowledge of each vacancy.
Our recruitment process
Logistics
You will be given the time, date, location and names
of people you will be meeting. If you require further
information, e.g., car parking, directions, etc. get in
touch with our Human Resources department or your
agency contact.
Assessment Activities
We tailor the selection and assessment process to
different roles – so expect one, all or a combination
of interviews, professional styles and aptitude
assessments, presentations, group exercises, and
commercial tasks.
Often we combine a number of these elements. Every
activity is aligned to our competency framework and
values.
It’s a two-way selection process. You will be given the
chance to ask questions at the end of any interview.
Use this time to find out about those aspects of our
business that matter most to you.
The Assessment Team
By meeting different people during the assessment
process, we hope to give you a rounded experience
of our business and what makes it tick. These
people may include the recruiting manager, a HR
representative, functional leaders or people who’ll be
your peers in a team.
Feedback
We do our utmost to provide feedback to candidates
as quickly as possible following the interview and
assessment process.
If you have any further questions or feedback points
after your interview or assessment, feel free to get
in touch with your Human Resources contact or
your recruitment agency – remember, it’s a two-way
process.
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7. Personal Development
Every employee at Knauf Insulation is part of our
development process. Every employee at Knauf
Insulation is part of our success.
PERFORMANCE
Individual performance objectives form the foundation
of what our employees focus on and are measured
against throughout the year.
They are reviewed at mid-year and year-end and are
linked to departmental objectives and in turn drive the
overall business objectives.
A rigorous, honest and objective look at performance,
openly communicated, is part of our culture which
leads into our rewards philosophy.
LEARNING
We operate a blend of structured learning, coaching,
and on the job training, so that our employees have
all the skills they need to do their jobs, service our
customers better and meet career goals.
CAREER
At Knauf Insulation your career is a journey through
one or multiple roles that you hold within the
company. Progression is not just about promotion, it
is about building capability and experience. There
are several different ways to progress within Knauf
Insulation and we are proud to see a high number
of our employees who have moved between teams,
departments and even countries. Working for a
global market leading organisation, the limits really
are endless.
HOW WE’LL REWARD YOU
We demand hard work and commitment but we are
dedicated to reward that hard work and commitment.
Our rewards structure can include a variety of
categories including basic salary, bonus , pension,
car or car allowance – alongside a range of flexible
benefits.
Your Human Resources contact will be able to give
you more precise information about the rewards
package for the position you are applying for, and
how it relates to your current earnings and benefits.
You can be certain of one thing – if you have the
dedication and commitment to hard work, share
our values, and demand for excellence you’ll be
rewarded.
We’re passionate about developing our people
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8. www.iamknauf.com
Will you succeed?
There’s a lot of Knauf in me. Then again, there’s a lot of me in Knauf, too.
At Knauf Insulation we have employees located
across the globe. We are all different and we are all
alike. Everyone has ideas. Everyone has perspective
and experiences. Everyone has principles. But what
makes our people stand out from the crowd? What is
that magic formula that makes us succeed?
It is the essence of the core Knauf values that makes
us unique. They are a part of every single Knauf
employee. Every single decision. Every action. All
around the world. Our blue thumbprint symbolises
these values. Values not only of the individual, but
of the company as a whole. 24 hours a day. 7
days a week. 365 days a year. They represent our
commitment to our customers and to our communities.
They are the key to our success: every moment of
every day. Unique to Knauf, our values have been the
foundation of our success over the last 80 years, and
they will continue to drive our success in the future.
MENSCHLICHKEIT
Menschlichkeit is accepting that differences do make
the difference.
• Act with social responsibility
• Play an active role in Knauf
• Build an inclusive Knauf community
• Treat each other with fairness and respect
PARTNERSHIP
Real partnership doesn’t know the difference
between ‘our way’ and ‘my way’.
• Take on individual responsibilities and make
decisions
• Encourage new ideas
• Establish and retain mutual trust and loyalty
• Act as one team
Our Values
COMMITMENT
When the world says “Give up”, commitment says
“Try one more time”.
• Enjoy striving to be the best
• Grow and develop our people
• Go the “extra mile”
• Encourage people to take ownership and
responsibility
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
An entrepreneur knows there are worse things than
failure. Like not even trying.
• Think and act “outside the box”
• Drive change and innovation
• Be pragmatic and take calculated risks
• Take initiatives and be results-oriented
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Do you share our values?
9. What is it like to work here? Ask some of our current employees
“When I was contacted for an assessment day at
Knauf Insulation, I hadn’t heard of the company,
as I am sure many of you haven’t. It was only
upon attending, what was an enjoyable and
educational day, that I was exposed to the vast
opportunities that were on offer. We were shown a promotional
video which underlined the values that are at the very core of
the way Knauf Insulation operates, and it really inspired me to
want to work for the company. We were also given a tour of the
plant in St Helens which helped me to understand the different
processes that are involved in the making of the products.
If you are looking for a challenge, you will find it here! I was
given responsibility from day one and was thrown in at the deep
end, taking over the compiling and distribution of daily financial
reports sent to directors and managers, as part of the Commercial
Finance Team.
I’ve also started a CIMA qualification; something Knauf Insulation
have fully supported me with through tuition fees, study leave
and learning resources. Knauf Insulation are committed to their
employees and encourage self-development and improvement.
Where is my career going within Knauf Insulation? The answer
to that question is anywhere I want it to! With the correct attitude
and dedication, I truly believe there is no limit to what can be
achieved here.”
“My name is Vanessa and I am a Process Engineer
working at our manufacturing plant in Queensferry.
I joined as a Graduate Engineer after completing a
MEng Mechanical Engineering degree. I work with
both the Technical and Maintenance teams.
I applied for a position at Knauf Insulation because I wanted to
start my career with a reputable company, which displayed a
passion for developing their products and processes. I was quite
apprehensive at the start of the recruitment process, but my nerves
soon passed as everyone made me feel very comfortable and
welcome.
During my time, I have been involved with many different aspects
of the company including; project management, environmental
management, design, and control engineering.
At first I was given a design project to improve the operation of
a safety gate; I then joined a team which was developing larger
machinery projects, and was accountable for parts of the design.
I have now become an integral part of the team for projects
such as design of factory layout and the implementation of new
equipment. This has also given me the opportunity to be the site
champion for our process monitoring software; an application that
collects data in real time.
Throughout all of the projects, I have had support from my team
members and assigned mentor. This guidance has been vital as I
have gained experience and achieved a great deal already.
I look forward to advancing my career as an Engineer within
Knauf Insulation. If you’re looking to start your profession in
a company that will widen your experiences, with a variety
of projects and looks after their employees, I would highly
recommend a career with Knauf Insulation!”
James Stockton, Finance Graduate (St. Helens)
Vanessa Vooght, Process Engineer (Queensferry)
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