2022 has been described as one of the fastest years by many, and at ATC, we can vouch for that. Like any business, it’s good to pause and reflect on the outcomes of one year before moving into the next. With that intention, we sat down with the Directors to get their take on some of the key stand-out moments of 2022.
How would you describe 2022 in ATC?
“ Fun, challenging, and rewarding.”
Let’s elaborate on those three words…
Fun
New Brand:
It was a great joy working with our new brand and seeing it roll out across our buildings, livery and digital presence over this past year. It is a true reflection of who ATC are today – 43 years later.
Expanding the Team:
ATC undertook a recruitment drive this year and continues to do so. As a #proudlyeuropean business, it has been our privilege to welcome new colleagues in new regions like Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, and all across ATC. A highlight has been getting to know our new colleagues and being present for the camaraderie among the team that has evolved.
New Facilities:
2022 marked the opening of two new facilities to add to the ATC family, with more to come in 2023. We look forward to sharing more with you in due course.
Fun Fact:
Our drivers have travelled a total of 1.55m KM in 2022, the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back – twice! A big part of our mission in 2023 is to improve the sustainability of those kilometres.
Challenging
New HQ:
Like any building project, there will be days/weeks of pure despair while you try to keep the wheels of the business moving. Thankfully that time ended, and after two years of planning and construction, we finally opened our new HQ on October 14th – with just a little snagging remaining.
Recruitment:
On the flip side of welcoming our new colleagues into the business, the recruitment process has posed a significant challenge for ourselves and our industry generally.
It has been widely reported that there is a European driver shortage. To meet these challenges, ATC supports several apprenticeships, including the Commercial Driver Apprenticeship, to encourage our younger generations to get involved in the industry and realise the scope of opportunity.
We also recognise the importance of ensuring ATC is a happy workplace for our team. With that, we have put processes in place to ensure we understand our employee’s needs, reward them for their hard work and open up opportunities for career progression within the business.
Economic Climate:
Another challenge is on the macro level again and trying to navigate the costs and volatility of the world we live in.
Rewarding
Where there are challenges come many rewards, and for us, there are a few that particularly stand out.
New Brand:
Launching our new brand has been a massive highlight this year. We wanted the branding to reflect who we are now and our clients. We could not be more pleased with the feedback we have received from our team, clients and partners to date. The icing on the cake was winning the Livery Award recently at the Fleet Transport Awards in Dublin.
Team Building:
Our team building and social events throughout the year have been very successful, enabling everyone to get involved and connect with each other in more meaningful ways and offer support in our respective roles by working together to come up with solutions that will support all teams.
New HQ:
Without a doubt, a significant milestone for the business was finally being able to move into our new HQ in Dublin and consolidate our different departments from two Dublin locations into one. We’re still pinching ourselves that we’re in. Some key features of the building include:
- 1050m2 warehouse
- 410 m2 office
- Dock levellers and loading bays
- TAPA Certified
- And don’t forget our Bee Hives
Everything you could possibly need.
Trade Mission in Frankfurt:
In June, we were honoured to have been selected by Enterprise Ireland to showcase our Frankfurt-based Operations HQ as part of their German Trade Mission. This trade mission was arranged to boost further trade collaboration between Ireland and Germany and mark the contribution of Irish companies, like ourselves, operating in Germany.
AWS in Communities – St Michaels:
At ATC, it’s imperative to us that we can support selected charities and give back to our local communities. We have been involved in a couple of projects with AWSInCommunities, but our most recent project in St. Michaels was particularly poignant. We sponsored the installation of a much-needed new sensory room in the school, and we helped paint some common areas, including a stunning outdoor garden space that parents, teachers and students can enjoy. At the launch, everyone felt immense joy and pride for what we had created for this community as a team of businesses.
Sustainability Initiatives:
If you are regular readers of our blog, you will know that sustainability is important to us here at ATC. From introducing our first diesel-powered truck and vans into the business to our ongoing HVO trial, we’re on a busy but fascinating path to becoming a carbon-neutral business and giving our clients cleaner solutions for their supply chains.
Back in February, it was wonderful to receive the news that ATC had been acknowledged for our efforts in the EU Commission’s Report regarding the CSR uptake by European SMEs and start-ups under the areas of Decent Work, Consumer Issues, Environment, and Responsible Business Relations.
As we close off this year, we were delighted to recently receive a report that our new HQ has already achieved 62% energy independence!
Looking to the year ahead…
2023 will undoubtedly be another one to remember for ATC as we expand on many of the initiatives discussed above. For now, we want to take this opportunity to thank our team, partners and clients for their support in making these goals of ours a reality.
We wish you and yours a prosperous 2023.
Keith, Alan and Patricia Young
