Sustatainability report 2020 -1 1
ECONOMIC IMPACT The I.A Hedin Bil Group has grown
strongly in recent years, mainly through acquisitions, most recently of, among other things, additional facilities in Belgium and newly started facilities in Sweden. As the group grows, the steps towards a more environmentally friendly operation are taken by looking at energy consumption in the facilities, waste management, use of more environmentally friendly chemicals in the workshop operations that are both gentler on the environment but also for the staff who handle these chemicals. These measures have a positive effect on the environment, personnel and the financial outcome. Read more under the section Environmental impact. A SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYER The I.A. Hedin Bil Group currently has an average of 2,651 employees and, as of 2017, that includes outside of Sweden. As the group grows, we need to attract new competent employees but also develop and motivate the employees we have. To be an attractive employer, Hedin Bil in Sweden connected to a collective agreement. Being affiliated with a collective agreement means many benefits for the employee and extra security in the employment. This also has a positive effect on Hedin Bil as a more attractive employer. Collective agreements mean that Hedin Bil offers its employees old-age pensions, sickness pensions and family pensions in accordance with current agreements. See other personnel-related aspects under section Personnel impact. MARKET PRESENCE The company's operations were conducted exclusively in Sweden until the end of 2017 when the Group acquired Hedin Automotive AS, which is present in both Norway and Sweden. In 2018 and 2019, the Group also expanded its operations to Belgium. The industry as I.A. Hedin Bil operates in is exposed to competition in terms of staff and in order to retain staff, market salaries and conditions must apply. Hedin Bil always employs staff locally for facilities, everything from site managers to mechanics. Company managers have several facilities under their umbrella but are locally employed based on one of the facilities and thereby knows both the local area and the industry. In 2020, Hedin Bil received support from the state related to Covid-19. From the beginning of March, a number of cost-saving measures have been taken to reduce the economic effects of Covid-19, which together with previously taken measures has improved the result. Measures have included temporary and permanent reductions in staff, as well as stopping new recruitments, purchases and travel. Where possible, we have used government support packages to lay off employees in the short term. In Belgium, the Belgian state has accounted for a large part of the wage cost when the business has been closed, which has reduced staff costs by SEK 32 million. We have also used government support in Sweden and Norway, which has reduced personnel costs by SEK 20 million in Sweden and SEK 8 million in Norway." INDIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT "The I.A. Hedin Bil Group operates in an industry that does not have a large influence or impact on society's infrastructure or the public good. What the group works with is to contribute to the education of young people in various types of mechanics, such as for cars, trucks and to work sheet metal. The Group engages in dialogue with municipalities and lobbies for the profession, which today is much more technical and computerized than before. Promoting the development of the profession to get young people interested and apply for these educations is in Hedin Bil's interest." I.A. HEDIN BIL AB / SUSTAINABILITY REPORT / 2020 15 04. EKONOMISK PÅVERKAN