Tullis Russell Reflects on the Past Year as It Looks Ahead to 2026

18th December 2025 by Hannah Marsden

As another year comes to an end, we thought we would dedicate this blog to reflecting on all the hard work that’s gone on this year, here at Tullis Russell.

This year has been another busy one at our Bollington site. As always, our NPD team has been working hard behind the scenes, creating and developing new initiatives that help maintain our position as one of the leading coating companies in the industry.

Events and conferences

As a company we believe it’s important to attend as many events and conferences as possible. They help us grow as a business by allowing us the opportunity to network with others, learn from industry experts, and share our own knowledge in the hope that it will help and inspire others. These events also give us vital visibility within our sector and help us stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies.

We have been fortunate enough to attend many this year. In April we were proud to be named runners-up at the British Business Awards, a recognition that highlighted our continued commitment to innovation and service excellence. In June, Ann (Head of Customer Service) and Kylie (Key Account Manager for TRSecurity) attended Security Document World, where they explored the latest advancements in document authentication and strengthened relationships with key partners.

September was a big month for us as we exhibited at Label Expo, giving us the opportunity to showcase our capabilities to a global audience and connect with prospective clients. Shortly after, we attended Making Vinyl, an important event for staying current with developments in vinyl production and understanding the evolving needs of the industry. In addition to this, we attended London Packaging Week and Sustpack, both of which allowed us to explore new packaging innovations and gather insights that will inform our future product development.

Our final event of the year was the Vinyl Alliance Annual Meeting, where we engaged in strategic discussions with industry leaders and contributed to shaping the direction of the vinyl sector going into next year.

Certificates/ accreditation

One of the highlights of 2025 for Tullis Russell was being awarded an improved AA+ rating in our BRCGS Global Standard Packaging Materials Certification, the highest accolade in food packaging safety and quality standards. This follows a successful unannounced audit and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering the highest levels of product safety and quality for our customers.

In addition to this, we also increased the proportion of FSC® certified paper in our supply chain, meaning more of the materials we coat are sourced from responsibly managed forests. By taking this step, we are helping to protect forests and reduce climate impact, while encouraging our customers and suppliers to share in this responsibility through their own commitment to FSC certification.

Sustainability              

2025 marks our third year of working towards our sustainability goals. We are encouraged by the progress outlined in our latest sustainability report, which shows that we remain on track and continue to make meaningful improvements year on year.

This year, we have also invested in several on-site sustainability projects. At the start of the year, we planted eight acres of trees our Bollington site, creating 3.35 hectares of new woodland within our local area. This initiative was undertaken not only to support reductions in our carbon footprint, but also to strengthen our commitment to social responsibility. We recognise our privileged position and are committed to using it to create positive environmental and community impact. In addition, we have invested in rainwater storage tanks with a total capacity of up to 100,000 litres. These tanks allow us to collect, store and maintain water supplies around the clock, enabling their use within our manufacturing processes. As our industry is water-intensive, this investment helps us operate more efficiently while reducing our reliance on mains water and supporting more sustainable production practices.

New additions to the team

At our company, we are always on the lookout for fresh talent that can bring new ideas and help drive our growth and innovation. This year, we have welcomed new team members across multiple sectors, including Marketing and HR, as well as NPD, technical and more. These new team members bring a range of skills and experience; we are confident that their knowledge and expertise will help take our company to the next level.

We are also proud to have welcomed apprentices to our team. This initiative not only modernises our workforce but also injects youthful energy and fresh perspectives. By providing opportunities to young people, we are investing in the future of our industry while taking advantage of our resources and facilities to support the next generation of talent.

Charity/ Local events

As a company, we believe it’s important to stay actively involved in our local community and support charitable projects whenever we can. At the start of the year, we donated £2,000 to East Cheshire Hospice to help fund the incredible care they provide. As the year draws to a close, we’ve continued to strengthen our relationship with the hospice by taking part in Christmas Jumper Day in their honour and several of our employees have also volunteered to distribute Christmas Tree collection leaflets around Bollington.

We’ve also supported local sports clubs and community groups, including donations to Broughton Rugby Club and the Jumpers for Goalposts Charity Football initiative. In addition, we proudly sponsored Castle Sports and Social Club, who went on to win the Brunner Cup for the fourth year in a row!

Beyond our local contributions, we’ve donated to the Rotherham Hospice Trust, The Christie Charity and contributed £200 to support Isobell Moss, daughter of our Supply Chain Manager Steve, who completed a skydive this year in aid of Breast Cancer Support charities.

With new projects already lined up and many opportunities on the horizon, we’re looking ahead with real optimism. Here’s to another year of growth, innovation and continued success for everyone at Tullis Russell.

Tullis Russell Welcomes New Apprentices as It Invests in the Future of Its Workforce

5th November 2025 by Hannah Marsden

At Tullis Russell, our goal is to be the world’s leading creative and environmentally responsible coating company. To achieve this, we are investing in the future and that starts with people.

In September we had four new apprentices join our team: Hannah in our marketing department, Ebbie joining our NPD team, as well as Ted and Harvey on the shop floor working as Lean Manufacturing Operative apprentices.

Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for people looking to gain both a qualification and hands-on experience. We believe in investing in our staff and creating an environment that benefits everyone. Through creating these opportunities, we are giving new, young talent the chance to learn and grow, equipping them with skills they can develop and use in their future careers.

By offering these opportunities, we are not only investing in our new trainees but also in the future of our company. Our aim is that by employing a younger team, we invite fresh ideas and new initiatives that will contribute to innovation and support long-term workforce development here at Tullis Russell.

Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprentices

This apprenticeship will train our new recruits to conduct their work safely and to a high standard in a fast-paced environment, as well as helping them gain an understanding of lean manufacturing processes and principles.

Ted and Harvey will spend approximately 6 weeks in different departments throughout production here at Tullis Russell. Initially starting in the colour shop, they will work their way through to the final department where they will be involved in the packing and despatching of the finished product.

Throughout their journey they will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• Mixing chemicals
• Coating paper/board
• Laminating paper/film
• Converting the finished product into rolls, coils, or sheets.

Multi Channel Marketing Apprentice

The marketing apprenticeship will provide Hannah with a number of skills in order to kickstart her career within this field. Topics covered will include digital marketing, event planning, content writing, data analysis plus much more. At Tullis Russell, we understand the value that apprenticeships bring not only to us as a business, but also to young people, as they provide valuable skills to help them enter today’s competitive job market.

NPD Lab Technician Apprentice

Here is what Ebbie, our new NPD lab technician apprentice had to say about her new role:

“My role is an apprentice NPD Lab Technician, and this includes assisting with new product development in support of strategic growth plans. I’ll be performing supporting lab tests and reporting trials. In addition to this I’ll conduct various lab tests and collect data as well as supporting pilot coater trials too.”

“What things are you currently working on and how have you found your time here so far?”

“Initially, I mainly shadowed colleagues while they overlooked trials going on in the lab. However, last week I started to work on some of the lab tests and participated in basic practises within the lab. I’ve enjoyed it here so far, the staff are very friendly, everyone is so welcoming and easy to get along with. I’ve found it so intriguing to see how much work goes on behind the scenes to make the end product.”

“What are you looking forward to over the next few years at Tullis Russell?”

“I’m looking forward to gaining valuable experience in the workplace which will benefit my degree. I’m also looking forward to assisting with the development of various new products all whilst learning lots about all the work that goes into making them along the way.”

At Tullis Russell, we feel privileged to be in a position to offer opportunities that will help shape the future of our industry as well as other individuals. We’re incredibly excited to see how our new apprentice’s progress. Watch this space!

Tailored Innovation with Tullis Russell’s Bespoke Coating Solutions

6th October 2025 by Tullis Russell

At Tullis Russell, we understand that every challenge is unique and therefore an off the shelf solution won’t always work for our customers. We are dedicated to differentiating, innovating and meeting evolving expectations and that’s why our bespoke solution service exists.

Why Bespoke Matters

From enhancing functionality and performance, our bespoke solutions offering aims to deliver improvement for our customers, tailoring outcomes that support their goals. Whether that be in driving efficiencies, addressing new market forces or contributing towards a more circular economy.

Similarly, this service recognises how no two industries or supply chains are the same therefore we have built our capabilities around flexibility and customisation, enabling us to address specific needs and giving partners access to a wide platform of advanced coating technologies.

Technology and Expertise That Works for You

Our bespoke approach is powered by our diverse suite of coating techniques, which we have heavily invested in over the past few years. This, coupled with the expertise of our in-house research chemists and R&D experts, collaborate closely with customers to design and trial solutions. Our partnership-first approach means you’re not just accessing our equipment you’re benefiting from decades of specialist knowledge in coatings and converting science.

Our bespoke service encourages customers to come to us with a challenge, a question, or even just a concept. Together, we translate that into a working solution which is rigorously tested, validated, and ready to make an impact.

Your Challenge, Our Solution

Whether you need a unique barrier, a specialist release coating, or a completely new material construction, our bespoke service is built to make it happen. We thrive on tackling the “difficult-to-do” and delivering solutions that others can’t.

At Tullis Russell, we don’t believe in one size fits all. We believe in your size, your challenge, your solution.