Ardagh Glass Packaging-Doncaster Family Day celebrates people and progress

Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP)-Doncaster welcomed 300 colleagues and family members to its Family Day on 1 September, celebrating the people behind five years of continuous investment and transformation at the glass manufacturing site. A key milestone celebrated on the day was the development of the site’s print facility. Investment in the department began in 2021, culminating in five fully operating print lines, marking a significant achievement for the site. The event gave families an opportunity to learn more about the glass packaging produced in Doncaster and to see first-hand where their family members work. Around 170 guests took part in tours where they could see inside the factory and see the bottle printing facility in action.

Among those attending the celebrations was the Jacques family, representing three generations of the same family who have worked at the Doncaster site, reflecting the long-standing connections between the factory, its people and the local community. Former employees also returned for the occasion, including 86-year-old Tony Cowley, who worked in the Compressor House before the site officially opened in 1969. More than five decades later, Tony was impressed to see how the factory has developed to house the state-of-the-art print facility in what was a former warehouse.

Michael Hope, Plant Director at AGP-Doncaster, said: “This Family Day is really a celebration of our people and everything they have achieved together over the past five years. “It has been a challenging period for the glass container industry, but throughout that time our teams have shown exceptional resilience, commitment and dedication. They have delivered project after project while continuing to support our customers and maintain high standards of safety, quality and performance. I’m incredibly proud of what they have achieved and grateful to every colleague who has played a part in shaping the future of our Doncaster factory. It was especially rewarding to welcome their families to the site and celebrate that achievement together.”

The Family Day also raised more than £1,700 for local cancer support charity Firefly. Its volunteer-run Express Fleet provides free transport for cancer patients travelling to and from their treatment, helping people across the local community access vital care.

The achievements celebrated at Doncaster reflect the ambitions of Clearly Ardagh, AGP's transformation initiative, which is focused on strengthening operational excellence, investing in our facilities and building a high-performance, people-powered culture. The continued development at Doncaster, including its state-of-the-art print facility, demonstrates how investment in both our assets and our people is helping to shape a stronger future for the business.