As the UKs largest Independent steel stockholder, Barrett Steel have always used three terms to describe ourselves: Innovative, Creative and Technical mastery. These translate outwardly in the quality of our Steel processing and our employees, but it also means that we pride ourselves on being forward thinking to provide the best service for our customers.

Barrett Steel Limited are incredibly excited to launch their paperless account forms for customers. This project has been months in development with our Credit, IT and Marketing teams working hard to bring this new and exciting development to our customers.

Lucy Barrett, Digital Business Development Strategist commented on the move “I am very excited to be at the forefront of pushing the steel industry into the 21^st Century- not solely because of the environmental impacts but also for efficiency in the workplace and most importantly the benefits it gives our customers. Credit is not the only area we intend to turn paperless. Ongoing we hope to encourage more departments to do the same and already we are seeing positive results.”

We already provide a paperless service, Steel Account, for all of our test certificates, invoices, statements and POD’s which our customers can access online 24/7 at their convenience.

Barrett Steel have always prided themselves on customer service. This starts from setting up a new account to delivering the steel and in after care. We believe going paperless for credit application forms makes the first steps easier for our customers no matter where they are in the UK and overseas. In 10 minutes, they can have an application form filled in and an account set up with any of our Barrett Group depots. Where ever the customer is located, Barrett Steel’s new credit application process makes them even more local than before.

Neil Atkins, Director of Group Credit and risk comments, “Feedback from new customers has shown the process to be incredibly efficient and easy. We have already noticed a difference in the speed of customers receiving a credit application form to a credit account being created, the process couldn’t be quicker or easier."

Aside from the usability benefits of the new paperless system above as a business we are also aware of our impact on the environment more now than ever before.  In line with our Environmental Policy and ISO 14001 accreditations we are committed to reducing our business impact on the environment across all areas.  
The paper industry is the fifth largest consumer of energy in the world and this over-use of paper has a huge impact on a company’s carbon footprint – not just from the destruction of trees to make the paper, but also on the fossil fuel power used for printing, and the chemicals involved, too.

To produce just one ton of paper, it is estimated that 253 gallons of petrol is used. In turn, to make just one piece of A4 paper requires 10 litres of water.


Some of the key benefits of paperless systems are:
1. Protects trees
Worldwide, use of paper has risen by 400% in the last 40 years. This increased usage takes a huge toll on trees. Rapid deforestation – much of it to produce paper products – is a huge concern for our environment. Trees play a critical role in absorbing CO2 from our atmosphere and producing oxygen to support life on our planet.

2. Reduction of pollution
Did you know that paper manufacturing is one of the worst offenders when it comes to pollution? Making one tonne of paper emits more than 1.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Using less of the stuff will help to reduce the number of pollutants in our atmosphere.

3. Reduce transport emissions
Every document that is transported across town or across the world uses up fuel. And the burning of fuel releases greenhouse gases. By switching to a digital document signing where a signed and secure document is sent with the click of a button – a lot of fuel can be saved.

4. Saving water
It takes 1.5 cups of water to make 1 sheet of paper. In a world in which fresh drinking water is a growing concern, this is certainly food for thought.

5. Not just the paper we are saving
It’s not just the use of paper that’s bad for the environment. There are the other consumables that go along with it – like ink. Production of ink uses fossil fuels; most inks contain chemicals and other substances that are harmful to our environment.

For more informtation about setting up a paperless credit account please visit the website and our live team will be on hand to assist.