RS is the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we ship more than 44,000 parcels a day from our range of more than 500,000 products to over one million customers. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronic components, electrical, automation and control, test and measurement equipment, and engineering tools and consumables. We also have our own range – RS Pro – offering choice where a combination of quality, performance and price create exceptional value.
We hold our huge inventory in distribution centres around the world so that our customers can minimise their own stock, and our globally-connected freight network delivers a fast, reliable service.
Since 1937, RS has been dedicated to service excellence, providing a one-stop source for everything engineers need. Our customers include electronics design engineers, panel builders, maintenance engineers, and buyers. They choose us for our availability and broad range of products, the reliable service we provide, our knowledge and expertise, and because we’re easy to do business with.
Our multi-channel approach meets each of our customers’ needs: online, in person, by phone, fax or email. eCommerce is our largest channel and is revolutionising the way we do business.Our award-winning team of local customer service professionals is just a call or a Live Chat away, providing knowledgeable and friendly support 24/7.
DesignSpark
DesignSpark is our interactive community for design engineers and has nearly half a million members from around the world. Here you can download free 3D design software to help our customers boost productivity and save money. This includes our award winning DesignSpark PCB electronics software, used for schematic designs, DesignSpark Mechanical, used to quickly create and modify 3D designs and DesignSpark Electrical, for electrical system designs. These software solutions are an enabler for innovation design and rapid prototyping.
Corporate Responsibility
Through our offices and distribution centres around the world, we have strong links with our local communities. We encourage people to be involved with charitable activities to ensure maximum employee engagement. We donate products and we corporate match donations. During 2016, our global fundraising reached £100,000.
We have worked with international development charity Practical Action to use technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. The charity enables poor communities to build skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions to transform lives. During 2016, we have supported their proposal for UK Aid Match, a government initiative to provide grants to UK based NGO’s for poverty reduction projects in developing countries and raised awareness of their Pumpkins Against Poverty project in Bangladesh .
University Partner Programme and Formula Student
Helping develop and work with the future generation of engineers, a number of universities around the world have signed up to our programme where local RS teams work closely with department heads and educators, providing tailored and practical support as part of a long term commitment of co-operation. This includes training and support of our free DesignSpark software tools, an annual allowance to spend on RS product, grants for projects and scholarships, closer industry links and internship opportunities.
In addition to this partner programme, RS works with a number of universities in the UK, Australia and Germany as part of the formula student programme, run by The Institute of Mechanical Engineers that aims to inspire and develop enterprising and innovative young engineers. The challenge is to create a single-seat racing car and is typically part of the student’s engineer’s degree course and RS donates products to be used in the planning and construction of the cars.
In schools, we sponsor Land Rover 4x4, an international STEM technology challenge aimed at key stage 3, 4 and 5 students. Teams work together to design and build a radio controlled four wheel-drive that has to successfully negotiate a specially designed track.
Driving Procurement Efficiency
We continue to evolve our service offer to deliver innovation and inspiration to engineers worldwide so that they can do their business better.
Procurement decision makers in any business sector are challenged with a changing world, financial pressures and demanding stakeholders. They need suppliers with a partnership mentality who can help them strive for efficiency and effectiveness in supply management, which is a complicated topic but the route to a successful business.
RS shares a commitment to driving procurement excellence as an enabler for growth. We work with customers to help improve their supply management process to realise commercial success.
We are excited to be working with CIPS to share best practice and help achieve excellence in maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) procurement.
Industry Awards
2016
- ESM China Distributor Award - Top 10 Overseas Brand Distributor
- eCommerce Awards for Excellence – Best B2B eCommerce
- Customer Contact Innovation Awards – Innovation Award for Global Customer Focus and Forum Hero Award
2015
- The Masters of Marketing Awards – User Experience and Design
- B2B Awards – Best use of social media
- Digital Impact Awards – Best use of digital from the engineering & manufacturing sector
- National Data, Analytics & Insight Awards – Team of the Year for Data & Analytics
- ESM China Awards – Top 10 Distributor
- RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2016
- Internet Business Awards – Logistics Category