Friday 27 July 2007

News August 2007

Friendly formality and a smile as you dial please, say customers
We may not expect a hat to be raised, but a polite 'good morning' and a smile in the voice is how most of us like to be addressed by the businesses we contact, according to new research.
69 per cent prefer a more formal greeting such as Good Morning. 22 percent liked 'hello'. But the more casual 'hi!' was almost beyond the pale, with fewer than one in ten preferring that.
The survey was conducted by Standard Life Healthcare, which has been voted 'Best Customer Service Provider' at the annual Health Insurance Awards for six years running.
The study also revealed that:
* 53% prefer to be called by their title and surname - women (59%) more than men (47%).
* Only 36% like to be called by their first name, although the younger the person the more acceptable it is. 53% of 16-24 year olds and 43% of 25-34 year olds like it. People aged over 35 much prefer title and surname compared to any other age group.
* We like people to smile as they dial! 68% can tell if you are smiling when they talk to you on the phone. Younger people (16-34) are most intuitive as 77% of them can tell.
* More than half of people under the age of 35 would like to be able to text enquiries to suppliers and receive replies by text. (58% of 16-24 age group, 50% of 25-34 year olds)
'Customer care is part of what sets us apart,' said spokesman Mandy Blanks. 'We regularly ask our customers what they want, so that we can continue to improve our service to them - not simply in terms of our private medical insurance products, but also the important little things, like speaking to them in the way they like to be spoken to!'
Standard Life Healthcare is also well known for its annual Attitudes to Healthcare survey, which is an in-depth study into customer attitudes to healthcare issues at home and in the workplace and receives widespread publicity. The last one was published in November 2006 and is available at www.standardlifehealthcare.co.uk.

Enhancing the visitor experience at Tower Bridge
Digital Signage Specialist Saville Audio Visual has installed a new range of digital signage and presentation systems in the prestigious Tower Bridge exhibition.
Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of London’s busiest tourist attractions. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is home to the original steam engines that used to power the Bridge lifts, plus hands-on mechanisms, models and information panels.
The installation includes a bank of NEC LCD display screens providing up-to-the-minute information at the visitor reception desk, with a further 40” information display at the entrance to the exhibition. The information is delivered using Sedao digital signage software also supplied and installed by Saville. The programme content is designed for simple remote updating by Tower Bridge staff.
In the exhibition area Saville has also installed a powerful Sanyo widescreen projection system alongside the scale working model of the bridge, providing visitors with an added multimedia experience of the Bridge’s history and working mechanisms on a 3.5m wide screen. An induction loop audio system has also been installed for people with hearing difficulties. Visit www.saville-av.com.

Focusing on the 21st century workplace
New ways of working — and new threats to the health of employees — are the focus of a groundbreaking new course at The University of Nottingham.
The impact of teleworking, the ageing workforce, flexible working hours, work-life balance and major events such as flu pandemics and terrorism will all be part of a new postgraduate degree programme that looks at the changing face of workplace health in the 21st-century.
The MSc in Workplace Health is aimed at enhancing the knowledge of occupational health, safety and hygiene practitioners in the management of contemporary issues in the field.
To develop a course that addressed the industry’s main priorities, experts at the University’s Institute of Work, Health and Organisations (IWHO) carried out research with 30 national experts and 1,600 members of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
As a result, the new MSc will address a wide range of issues including common mental health problems, the management of stress and sickness absence, the changing workforce and particularly older, migrant and temporary workers, new ways of working such as teleworking and flexible working, rehabilitation, work-related driving, work-life balance and major events such as pandemics and terrorism.
The programme is supported by the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF). At the programme launch, Sayeed Khan, Chief Medical Advisor to the EEF and Special Professor in Occupational Health at the Institute, observed that practitioners are often equipped to address physical hazards in the workplace as well as the physical illnesses and injuries that may arise from exposure to such hazards. However, in the contemporary world of work, occupational health practitioners are increasingly confronted with psychosocial hazards arising out of the design, management and organisation of work and associated health issues – such as stress-related problems – that fall outside the traditional framework.
In recognition of the changing world of work and associated health implications, this unique programme sets out to support the Government’s Health, Work and Well-Being strategy by providing participants with the knowledge and skills to manage health in the contemporary workplace, using the latest developments in workplace health research, law and guidance and professional practice.
The MSc is recommended for professional development by IOSH and the British Occupational Hygiene Society. Applications are currently being accepted for entry in October 2007.
Details can be found at www.nottingham.ac.uk/iwho/workplacehealth.

1st Ever Atex certified ‘Metal Mickey’ installed in UK
Forward Vision CCTV is celebrating the successful installation of the fist ever ATEX certified (explosion-proof) ‘Metal Mickey’ cameras at a leading pan-European petrochemical operator on the south coast. The MIC1-440 series of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras (Mickeys as they are affectionately known) is specifically designed to provide effective surveillance at critical infrastructure sites.
The client was looking for a robust and reliable process management tool to help meet rigorous on-site health and safety regimes, and experts Eclipse Digital Solutions - an approved FVCCTV installer - was called in to evaluate the brief and make appropriate recommendations.
Eclipse Digital Solutions recommended 2 Forward Vision (FVCCTV) ‘Metal Mickeys’ – widely regarded as the most robust range of cameras on the market for hazardous and high-end specialist environments. Two new metal ‘Mickeys’ were installed (Mic1-440). These leading edge technology cameras are ATEX certified, meaning they are certified safe for use in explosive atmospheres, to EU Directive 94/9/EC IIC T6. This is the first installation anywhere in the UK of this ATEX certified Mic1-440 camera. Another member of the ‘Mickey’ range has already been used to great effect in several other high profile and hazardous situations.
The Metal Mickey, which comes in a range of different finishes and models for different specific environments, is precision engineered to the highest standards. At the UK client’s site, the pair of ‘Mickeys’ now provide virtual access to the processor plant, giving a 24/7 process management overview, displayed onto live screens and desktop PCs in multiple positions around the site. The FVCCTV Mickeys link into a Geutebruck DDR CCTV system utilising a BBV control protocol, which allows all on-site cameras to be controlled from one point if required – either in the UK or on the continent. The client said: “There is zero room for error in potentially explosive environments and we need to know that we are investing in the best health and safety technology that money can buy. The ATEX certified FVCCTV ‘Mickey’ not only fulfils that fundamental requirement, it also offers us enhanced functionality which delivers real business management benefits. The ‘Mickey’s’ physical size is also much smaller than other flameproof camera technologies, which is an added bonus.”
Alan Drinkwater of Eclipse Digital Solutions, said: “We are naturally delighted to be the first ever installer of an ATEX certified FVCCTV ‘Mickey’ in the UK. FVCCTV has yet again delivered a world class product to market and we are looking forward to many more enquiries about the Mickey from a range of specialist organisations and sectors.”
Find out more about our the best-in-class ‘Metal Mickey’, or for further information on FVCCTV, visit www.fvcctv.co.uk
Alternatively, call FVCCTV direct with your enquiry on 0870 0113131

Security is coming to stay
Having got the new look of the magazine well under way we have now commenced work on the next step in our development of Qube magazine.
Starting from the September issue, Qube Magazine will include a dedicated security section in every issue.
The new section will highlight security news and will showcase new products and services. We will take a closer look at some of the leading providers in the industry and bring you interesting case studies from installations and contracts across the country.
A new website will be launched by early October to support the security section and will host the latest news, information and useful links enabling you to find almost any service you require.
Links to the site will be made common throughout the existing qubeonline.co.uk site which will work together with the new site to offer comprehensive information and supplier lists.
This move represents the importance of security in the life of many facilities and building managers and is one of the many improvements that Qube will be making over the coming months.
Your comments are always welcome, especially your reaction to the changes we have and will be making - we aim to make Qube magazine and the websites a useful and informative set of tools.

DTZ and Donaldsons combine
DTZ has acquired the business and assets of Donaldsons LLP, the privately owned, UK-based property consultancy, for an initial consideration of £39.8 million, plus deferred consideration of up to £8.8 million.
The transaction will significantly enhance DTZ’s comprehensive service offering in much of Europe, particularly in relation to retail property. Donaldsons clients will also benefit through access to the broader client-focused property services of DTZ’s pan-European and global platforms. The combined business will fully adopt the DTZ brand name from Autumn 2007.
Headquartered in London, Donaldsons employs 690 staff in the UK and 220 on continental Europe, a total of 910. It provides property advisory services across a broad range of clients in the UK and continental Europe. For the year ended 30 June 2006, Donaldsons reported turnover of £62.9 million (of which £52.2 million related to the UK) and profit before tax and distributions to partners of £12.6 million (partnership profit). As at 30 June 2006, Donaldsons reported gross assets of £27.3 million.
Key features:
· The combination of DTZ and Donaldsons will reinforce DTZ’s position as a top global property consultancy.
· The merger will create a pre-eminent retail property adviser and open up Donaldsons retail and development capabilities to DTZ’s capital markets
· The merged firm is believed to be UK market leaders in several key disciplines: Retail – capital markets, shopping centre leasing, development, set up advisory, management and valuation.
The businesses have relatively little overlap and, while there should be some cost savings, synergies are expected to arise principally through additional revenues.
With a strong cultural alignment, team-orientation and shared vision for the future, the combination will provide significant opportunities for staff in both businesses to benefit from the broader combined platform and reinforces DTZ’s stated mission of working with clients to create leading edge property investment and business solutions worldwide based upon local knowledge.
The transaction is expected to be broadly earnings neutral in the period to 30 April 2008, given the integration costs, and then strongly earnings enhancing for DTZ thereafter.
All 33 equity partners of Donaldsons will join DTZ, taking up positions as directors across the combined organisation.

Sodexho wins again with Leicester City Council contract
Adding to a rapidly growing portfolio in the Midlands area, Sodexho, an FM services provider, has announced the signing of a three-year fabric maintenance contract with Leicester City Council, looking after many of the Council’s public buildings.
In a contract worth over £850,000 per annum, Sodexho will provide maintenance services for a number of city-centre sites including leisure centres, libraries, care homes and council offices.
Sodexho will take over from previously outsourced deals with a number of smaller contractors. Vehicles operating satellite tracking technology are being used to help manage job allocation and scheduling in conjunction with 24 hour help desk facilities.
Sodexho have employed additional tradesmen from the local area enhancing the quality of the service and providing additional employment to the area.
Glynn Roberts, Sodexho’s site manager said: "New technology helps us to get the right operative to the right job on time. Freeing up more of my time to work closely with the council officers planning ahead and finding solutions to the wide variety of challenges we see every day."

Mackintosh’s masterpiece set for £8.7 million ‘facelift’
The largest and most ambitious conservation and refurbishment project ever conceived for Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece at The Glasgow School of Art kicked off in July to the tune of £8.7 million, following more than a decade of planning and fundraising. Less than £1 million remains to be sourced.
The Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project will restore the building to Mackintosh’s original design, returning a number of studio spaces to student use as administrative functions are relocated elsewhere. Annual visitor numbers are set to rise to 33,000, an increase of 30% from the current 23,000 and the Art School’s priceless and, until now, largely unseen archives and collections will be made available to the public in new museum and exhibition spaces. Throughout the work, classes and visitor tours will continue as normal.
Work will be carried out over three consecutive periods - July to December 2007 (Phase I, Mackintosh building interior), July to September 2008 (Phase II, East Side) and July to September 2009 (Phase III, West Side). 2009 is the centenary of the completion of the Mackintosh building, which was built in two phases from 1896 to 1909.
A fourth and final phase is planned which will see the creation of a new visitor reception and interpretation centre opposite the Mackintosh building, providing a ’window on the Mac’.
Professor Seona Reid, Director of the Glasgow School of Art said:
“The Mackintosh building is not only home to one of the UK’s leading international art schools; it is also a jewel in Scotland’s cultural crown. We are delighted that we are now able to start work on the conservation of the building and our extensive collection and archive, making them more accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
“A recent estates audit conducted by the School highlighted the Mackintosh Building as still being “fit for purpose” more than a hundred years since it was built, and this project will ensure its continuing legacy as a world-class art school building”.

Young superstar nets corporate backing
Nine year-old golfing phenomenon Maxwell Martin has secured a three-year support grant from British property services company OCS which will help him compete at the US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina on 2 August and US Kids Golf World Cup on 5 August.
Maxwell had already sunk three holes-in-one when he won the Young Star Award at the OCS Young Sports Person Awards in 2004, including one on a 131 yard hole at the HSBC Weewonders Open Golf Championship. But despite his precocious talent, it hasn't been plain sailing for the Birmingham lad. He's still too young for any sports funding, and all Max's training and competitions are being supported by his parents Ryan and Ann. So OCS has stepped in and offered Max a package that will carry him through until he is 12, and old enough to benefit from existing funding schemes.
The grant for Max amounts to £15,000 over three years, vital support if he is to realise his outstanding potential, as his father Ryan explains: "The funding will help dramatically towards Max's development as a great young golfer. Most of the world competitions at his level are held in the United States. Max has achieved three top ten places in the last eighteen months, and is looking forward to the US Kids Golf World Championships and World Cup at the US Open course at Pinehurst in August. The experience he gets from participating in the world competitions is priceless - it's where he learns his trade. It allows him to test himself against the best in the world, and it teaches him that, no matter what he faces, he must never give up. Every year he can't wait to get back."

UBS grants a 250 year ground lease to Oxford Properties
at its 530,000 sq ft riverside development, Watermark Place, London EC4
UBS Global Asset Management announced that its UBS South East Recovery Fund (SERF) has granted a 250 year ground lease to subsidiary of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (“OMERS”), Canada, to develop the landmark 530,000 sq ft, Watermark Place, London, situated on the River Thames EC4.
OMERS is Canada’s third largest pension fund with its real estate investments managed through Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”). Oxford owns and manages a diversified global portfolio, exceeding 40 million square feet with a strong mandate from OMERS to build a global real estate platform. Christopher Voutsinas, Executive Vice President of Global Investment, Oxford said: “we are excited about our relationship with UBS and the exceptional development team that has been assembled to deliver an exceptional property to the marketplace”. Andrew Trickett, Vice President of Investment, added “this development represents a unique investment opportunity for Oxford and an outstanding space offering to City occupiers.”
Alex O’Connell, Executive Director, UBS Global Real Estate said, “We are delighted to have Oxford on board as developer/leaseholder. This is a very exciting project as it will provide one of the largest buildings in the city in the early part of this cycle”.
Oxford Properties will pay 50% of the rentals of the completed building to UBS SERF. Oxford and City Offices LLP, the development manager, have appointed Sir Robert McAlpine as contractor for the c. £200m reconstruction and they started on site in July. The development will provide 530,000 sq ft over basement, ground and 11 upper floors and with a 20,000 sq ft landscaped roof terrace at level six over looking the Thames. Watermark Place will be finished to shell and core by Q1 2009 and is due for practical completion at the end of September 2009.
CBRE represented both UBS and Oxford. CBRE and Knight Frank are letting agents for the scheme. The architect for Watermark Place is Fletcher Priest.

Ex-Or Acquired By Honeywell
Ex-Or has announced its acquisition by Honeywell. The company, which develops, manufactures and distributes intelligent, energy-saving lighting controls, will become part of Honeywell's Environmental Controls and Combustion (ECC) business unit, itself a division of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions (ACS). Ex-Or will, however, retain its brand and continue to trade as Ex-Or.

Johnson Controls appoints new Vice President to lead project management business
Mark Johnson appointed Vice President, Design and Project Management, EMEA
Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions has appointed Mark Johnson as Vice President, Design and Project Management to drive the growth of its project management business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Mark joins Johnson Controls after 18 years with InteriorExterior where he was involved with some of the most innovative construction, refurbishment and fit out projects across Europe. Mark successfully held a number of senior positions with the company, and in his most recent role as Projects Director completed over 186,000m 2 of projects in Europe for global 1,000 corporations.

MITIE makes the Skills Pledge
MITIE is delighted to announce that on the 14th June 2007, it became one of the first employers to make the Skills Pledge to its 45,000 employees across the UK.
The Skills Pledge is a specific promise, made by an employer to its workforce, that every eligible employee will be helped to gain basic skills (functional literacy and numeracy) and a full Level 2 qualification (equal to 5 GCSEs at A*-C or vocational equivalent). The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the company.

HKR receive planning permission for Dublin’s ¤750m Northern Quarter Development
HKR Architects (HKR), has announced that the firm’s design for the regeneration of Dublin’s Northern Quarter has received planning permission from Dublin City County Council.
The Northern Quarter incorporates the area of Dublin City Centre bounded by Henry Street, O’Connell Street, Abbey Street and Liffey Street. The development represents a ¤750m investment and will see Dublin’s north inner city become a prime retail location.
The project is a mixed-use urban development that will integrate retail, residential, leisure and hotel & spa facilities. The plan, which is being led by Arnotts Department Store, includes the transformation of the Northern Quarter of Dublin and the re-creation of Prince’s Street to a fully engaged urban street and pedestrian thoroughfare. This will become Dublin’s premier shopping street incorporating a new public square at the centre.

Energy Management

It pays for smaller firms to go green
How many times a week do you leave the office knowing your computer screen is switched to stand-by for the night? If you’re first in the building in the morning, do you regularly find that the lights are still on? Would it be a big inconvenience for the staff in your company to start thinking about saving energy? The answer’s probably a resounding “no”. The problem is that, for many of us, habit dictates and we really just don’t think about it.But with the recent media furore about energy efficiency, it’s clear a change is on the horizon. Projects to promote energy saving can no longer be viewed as just a public relations stunt. It is widely acknowledged that businesses are the biggest villains when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. And it’s not just the large multinationals that are being called to account, small businesses need to be open about their emissions as well as actively pursuing a plan to cut their output.Most energy in the UK comes from non-renewable fossil fuel. Burning this leads to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.But small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are in danger of missing emissions targets for one simple reason: there’s not enough money floating around to be able to implement the kind of initiatives needed to make a difference. Well, that’s where things could be about to change. In this year’s Budget, the government made a pledge to send an extra £100m in the direction of business service providers to enable SMEs to find advice and help about energy efficiency.The move has been applauded by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), which has long recognised that this is the area that would benefit most from help. “We welcome this extra funding to assist small businesses to go green,” says Natalie Evans, head of policy at the BCC. “However, it is important that this money will be effective in meeting this aim. “SMEs are keen to become more energy efficient, as a greener workplace creates a more efficient and profitable business. The current system of environmental audits has been ineffective, with 62 per cent of respondents in a recent survey undertaken by BCC saying they felt current government initiatives to promote energy efficiency were unsatisfactory.”Also in that survey, 81 per cent of BCC members thought that a reduction in their energy bills would be the biggest incentive for them to become more energy efficient.So this significant governmental cash injection should help boost the information and resources already available to smaller firms. But many are warning that even this may not be enough. As yet, improving energy efficiency is not a legal requirement for small businesses and many companies still don’t view their operations as major offenders in the fight to improve the environment. So why bother?According to the government, there are quite a few compelling reasons to get enterprises to commit, including the one big incentive already recognised – it saves money. Firms will be able offset their escalating fuel costs and environmental taxation. And in a bid to make energy efficiency more desirable, the government has raised a surcharge on business energy consumption. Introduced in 2001, it’s known as the Climate Change Levy. A percentage of the revenue from the levy is recycled via a rebate in employers’ National Insurance contributions. The government also uses cash to fund financial and advisory services designed to help firms become more energy efficient.Only time and monitoring will see if there are any real changes brought about by the extra cash. As Evans points out: “If the government wants to meet the challenge of climate change, it is important that this extra funding is not wasted, but is properly targeted and made easy for business to access, so SMEs see a real positive change in the support provided.”For more information about how small businesses can save energy, the Carbon Trust acts as the government’s main provider for helping businesses improve their energy efficiency. The trust offers a wide range of advice-packed free publications as well as a UK wide telephone advisory service on 0800 085 2005.

Equipment Hire

Solutions for hire
Chris Davies explains why hiring increasingly beats buying for facilities managers who need access to specialist tools, plant and equipment.Most FMs work under considerable pressure these days. The remit of the job – which has always been to provide crucial support for organisational success – just seems to grow and grow as demands and expectations mount up. It is not much of an over-statement to say that facilities managers are generally deemed responsible for delivering a comfortable and efficient workplace ready to meet all current and future needs….and doing so at a modest cost and in full compliance with all relevant legislation.With their role at the centre of organisational operations in this way, it is no surprise that FMs are making more and more complex demands on their supply chains. They have to, in order to meet their objectives and fulfil their customers’ requirements, whether those customers are in-house colleagues or the employees of a client organisation.Extensive research carried out last year revealed that FMs' top priorities are:4Reducing operational costs4Creating savings through greater efficiencies4Improving service levels4Enhancing risk management, and4Improving health & safety.With those sorts of objectives in mind, facilities managers are looking for opportunities to maximise the value of their own resources while minimising new investment and risk. This principle extends to every aspect of asset management – and this is where the concept of hiring rather than buying can offer big benefits.
A better buying decisionMany of the benefits of hiring over buying are clear: you have ready access to tools, plant and equipment that may be required only periodically, for a specific term or for special applications, with no need to buy and maintain them and no need to find the space to store them. Moreover, FMs are increasingly moving to an outsourced model of managing all their tools and equipment – however often required - for many of the same reasons that organisations outsource their workplace management to FM companies themselves. These include:> Operational cost savings> Transfer of risk> Access to specialist product knowledge, expertise and training> Assurance that crucial health and safety and compliance regulations are being adhered to> One point of contact and control> Single invoicing and management reports for all hire needs.Indeed, hiring is often the best 'buying' decision. Doing business with a reputable company who will ensure that all equipment is of the highest standard and fully tested every time it is required, and all users are fully briefed on operation, can deliver the necessary results with all the usual benefits of an outsourced solution.Market research also tells us what key selection criteria FMs use when seeking a business services partner. These include:> Competitive price> Fit to organisational culture> Service tailored to needs> Quality of personnel> Reputation of firm> Understanding of the industry.In the face of expectations like these, the most responsive hire firms have moved beyond the traditional 'turn up and hire it for the day' contract. Increasingly, customers are looking for a logistical and technical partner who understands that the provision of safe and effective equipment on time is critical to both success and their profit. For the largest customers, a managed service – where the hire company owns specialist equipment, provides planned maintenance programmes and trains operators – can be the best solution.The most forward-looking firms no longer see themselves just as a hirer of plant, tools and equipment but as a critical business partner, helping to meet needs and solve problems. Of course they still offer everything that might be required, but increasingly it's packaged as a complete service that removes the capital cost and provides better, safer, more accessible kit.
Selection checklist
So what should a facilities manager look for in a hire partner? There are a number of basic considerations: Reliable availability – appropriate stock of clean, well-maintained, premium quality products, including any specialist tools and equipment used in the particular industry. In other words: right tool, right place, right time.Mission critical delivery – assurance provided via an integrated computer network, an extensive distribution fleet and logistics software that offers narrow time windows, coupled with premier branch locations that act as centres of excellence. Understanding of business needs - plus a willingness and ability to respond to them in ways that support the FM's objectives. Commitment to compliance – meeting all legislative requirements (eg health & safety law) is essential, as is compliance with manufacturers' guidelines (eg for storage and maintenance of equipment).Commitment to training – both the hirer's own staff, in customer service, equipment operation, health & safety etc, as well as the ability to train FM staff in safe operation, advise on PPE etcKnowledge and experience – to advise on the correct products, conditions for use and any training requirements. Some firms also support users with the provision of any consumables.Efficient systems - for sourcing, delivery and collection, as well as managing individual accounts. The bigger specialists can offer round-the-clock services to cope with 24-hour operation, non-standard work hours or emergencies.Local, regional, national coverage – an extensive branch network means the company will have the resources to meet needs wherever they are and always at competitive rates.
Headache cureFacilities managers have always known that their organisation's time and effort is best spent on core activities and key major areas of expenditure. There is a role for the hire of tools, plant and equipment in every corporate strategy that aims to minimise unnecessary cost and distraction, and maximise focus on core business. Choosing the right hire partner removes all the headaches of getting even the most complex job done. The right partner will listen to requirements and then tailor a solution that fits the bill, ensuring that the facilities manager can get on with the bigger challenges of keeping the business working.Chris Davies is CEO of HSS Hire. http://www.hss.com/

A-Plant supplies Sodexho with handling equipment and accommodation for Royal Ascot
A-Plant has supplied Sodexho Prestige, the UK's largest event caterer and provider of corporate hospitality packages, with material handling equipment and temporary accommodation units for the set up and management of catering and logistics services for the spectacular 2007 Royal Ascot race meeting. The sole catering contractor for Ascot since 1998, Sodexho Prestige, hired a fleet of equipment from A-Plant, including a rough terrain fork lift, a telehandler and anti-vandal, secure office and storage units. Ascot Racecourse, founded in 1711, is the world’s most famous racecourse. The very best horse racing on the Flat takes place at Ascot between March and October, with the main highlight undoubtedly being the internationally renowned Royal Ascot in June. Royal Ascot is regarded as one of the biggest flat race meetings in the calendar and Ascot Hospitality managed by Sodexho Prestige, has prepared carefully to ensure the best catering service for over 80,000 visitors to every part of the racecourse, including the new multi-million pound stand opened last year. The fork lift and telehandler from A-Plant have featured heavily in load and carry work and the installation of large marquees and other structures in the Village area in the centre of the racecourse. Food and drink consumption during Royal Ascot is one of the biggest catering days in horseracing. Last year, a massive total of 170,000 bottles of champagne, along with 160,000 pints of beer, 14,000 bottles of red, white and rose wine and 14,000 bottles of Pimms were consumed every day and over 172 tonne of ice was used! Food sales soared as diners enjoyed the delights of 10,000 lobsters, 18,000 salmon steaks, four tonne of beef and 20,000 scones per day! Sodexho Prestige is part of A-Plant Key Account customer, London-based Sodexho UK & Ireland, a leading integrated facilities management provider in the UK and Ireland with clients in business and industry; education; healthcare; defence and leisure sectors. As well as Ascot, Sodexho Prestige looks after public catering at over 25 museums, attractions, racecourses and stadia such as the Chelsea Flower Show, Blenheim Palace, Knebworth House and Epsom Downs Racecourse, as well as providing sales and marketing and operational services for conference and banqueting at these sites. As a Key Account customer, Sodexho can call on equipment fleets held at over 200 different A-Plant locations across Great Britain. The company benefits from specially developed IT systems at A-Plant, including an expanding range of on-line services available through the industry-leading Extranet system at A-Plant. As well as over 200 locations throughout Great Britain, A-Plant has more than 2,500 employees, over 30,000 customers in the construction, civil engineering and DIY markets. “in excess of 110,000 items of plant and equipment”A-Plant has a programme of continuous investment in brand new state-of-the-art equipment from world-leading manufacturers to meet the needs, not only of its Key Account customers, but also the local business served by A-Plant depots nationwide. A-Plant offers the complete one-stop shop from a broad product offering.As part of FTSE-250 company Ashtead Group plc, the leading UK and US equipment outsourcer, A-Plant is committed to providing the best hire service in the world and this is reinforced by the company’s website at www.aplant.com, which provides a definitive on-line guide for the equipment hire industry.

Washrooms

Eau naturel

Now that the Intergovernmental Report on Climate Change has removed any lingering doubts there may have been on the subject of man’s impact on the environment, the 21st Century will see an increasing focus on the practical steps we can all take to deal with the issue. This will present a particularly important challenge for those who design and manage buildings. While energy use is an important factor in this (it’s certainly the most talked about), the efficient use of water also plays a key role and one that will grow in relevance as the impact of climate change grows. Statistics from Envirowise have shown that offices alone waste around 310 million litres of water every working day and has estimated that a very few, simple and inexpensive measures could save industry as much as £304 million a year. There are a number of such steps that building managers can take, both at the initial installation of washroom facilities and at retrofit, to ensure that water is used as efficiently as possible to both save money and also help the environment. These can range from the straightforward to the more sophisticated.At the most simple level, one of the most effective is a product such as PHS Washrooms’ Save-a-Flush, an innovative, inexpensive water saving device which can save as much as a fifth of the water used by toilets when placed into a cistern. When you consider that around 86 per cent of the 35 litres each office worker in the UK uses each day is simply flushed away, this can represent an enormous saving for such a simple device.Carelessly or maliciously left-on taps can also be a serious source of water wastage as well as causing floods, so it can be important to use push action taps that deliver a set amount of water for hand washing. A tap left on while brushing your teeth can use as much as ten litres of water, so imagine the impact of a tap left running indefinitely. It’s obviously better to consider this during an installation, but PHS Washrooms also offers a system called Adapta Tap that can be retrofitted to a wide range of tap types. Automatic flushing urinals are extremely useful as a way of maintaining hygiene and are usually designed to be as efficient as possible in terms of the amount of water they use. Nevertheless they can also be extremely wasteful of water when the number of flushes is out of sync with the number of people using the facility. To help counter this, PHS Washrooms has introduced an innovative technology, the intelligent PHS Water Management System which regulates the flushing of the urinal to match the number of people using the washroom.The Water Management System works by using an infra-red sensor to count the numbers of people using a facility and adjusts the flush rate to once every 10 or 30 minutes accordingly. In sleep mode, the system maintains hygiene standards by flushing once every 8 hours. As well as addressing environmental concerns, the system also helps to save money; an average of around 70 per cent when compared against an uncontrolled cistern and up to 30 per cent against an unintelligent system. The Water Management System has now been accepted on to Defra’s Water Technology List which aims to encourage organisations to use water more efficiently by highlighting the financial benefits to them.Buyers should also look for products designed to have a minimal impact on the environment even when their main function is not environmental protection. For example, the PHS Sani-sleeve is an environmentally sound means of dealing with the dual problems of urinal smells and blockages without the need for harmful chemicals, urinal blocks and constant flushing. It has a four-way positive impact on the environment: its plastic inner sleeve is recyclable; it reduces water use; it has a biodegradable 'enviro block' and it minimises the need for the use of harmful chemicals. In common with the other products, it also offers cost savings from reduced blockages, lower chemical use, lower water use and easier cleaning and maintenance.Such systems are likely to become more and more commonplace as we begin to address the wide number of issues linked to our new and emerging concerns about the environment. They also demonstrate what will become one of the most important new objectives for organisations as the century unfolds; how to save the world and save money at the same time.


Case study - Loch, stock and barrel

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. And for facilities managers, their chance to make a first impression starts the moment somebody walks through the doors for the first time. Yet while the front of house areas, receptions, meeting areas in offices, restaurants, cafes and shop floors are often seen as the battlegrounds for the hearts and minds of customers, there is one other area that customers and visitors see as incredibly important; the washroom. ‘It has always been important but changing attitudes mean that providing superb washroom facilities has never been more crucial for both staff and visitors, says Ian Osborne, MD of PHS Washrooms. ‘That is why so many business owners and facilities managers already invest so much time and energy in making sure that their washroom facilities are designed and specified to an exceptional standard. They know they will be judged on these facilities and they also know that it can be business critical in terms of attracting and retaining staff as well as projecting the right image to customers and other visitors. That means not just providing facilities that are well designed and specified but also well maintained, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.’ It’s certainly an issue close to the heart of Rory Cameron, owner of the Clansman Hotel, the only hotel on the banks of Loch Ness in the heart of the Great Glen. ‘Because of our location, we’re closely tied to the tourist industry around the Loch,’ he says. ‘So we have to see ourselves as ambassadors for the region as well as for ourselves as a business. We know that people will judge us on certain important parts of the facilities we offer and we pride ourselves on the total experience they have here and know that the washrooms are an important part of this.’So important, in fact, that the hotel won Loo of the Year Award last year in the national hospitality category. ‘We’re very proud of the award,’ says Rory. ‘It’s prominent on our website because we know how much this matters to everybody and especially to new visitors to the Hotel. It’s testament to the hard work we’ve put into developing the Hotel and also to the services offered by the suppliers with whom we work, including PHS. We’re delighted that they are able to offer us the back-up we need, especially given that we are in such a seemingly remote location. Their ability to deliver on a genuinely national basis is incredibly important to us.’PHS supply the Loch Ness Clansman Hotel with a range of products from its exclusive Platinum range including hand dryers, soap dispensers and vending machines all backed up by the PHS 24-7 Priority service package. The new service is ideal for the Hotel because it offers a helpline connected to PHS’s nationwide network of depots which allow the firm to promise to carry out a free emergency service or repair by the next working day (Monday to Saturday) on all non-electrical items. For electrical items PHS promises to be onsite to deal with the problem within two working days. ‘It’s increasingly essential for firms to be able to offer this kind of service,’ explains PHS Washrooms MD Ian Osborne. ‘We understand that our clients need to ensure that the facilities they provide to their own customers and employees are always in perfect working order. We’re delighted that we can now offer them the kind of added value service that will help their own businesses to thrive. We are the only washroom company in the UK able to offer this scope of service based on our nationwide coverage, superb logistics, qualified personnel and, above all, our can-do attitude.’

Fire Safety

Caterers have Compliance Responsibility under the Fire Safety Order
The Fire Safety Order has been law for more than six months but there is still a worrying lack of awareness of the legally enforceable demands it places on those responsible for the ownership and management of workplaces. A primary change in The Order is to shift the onus for inspecting and checking fire safety precautions from the Fire Authorities onto the shoulders of those responsible for the safety of building occupants. Fire Certificates have been abolished and it is now incumbent upon businesses and organisations to appoint a “responsible person or persons” to carry out Fire Risk Assessments and to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to eliminate, or, at the very least, to minimise any identified fire risks. Often overlooked in the past because ducting runs behind ceilings and walls, grease extract systems have now been identified as high fire risk installations. A recent survey of Fire Authorities concluded that they are probably the greatest risk to building occupants in the majority of commercial buildings with catering operations. As grease from the cooking operation is extracted from the kitchen it is deposited on the internal ducting surfaces to provide a source of combustion requiring only a spark or flame from cookers or fryers for ignition to take place. But just who should be responsible for complying with the Fire Safety Order? The legislation clearly states it can be the employer, if the workplace is under his control, or the person who has control of the premises in connection with carrying on a business or trade. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now the Communities and Local Government) who were responsible for introducing the legislation have stated:This clearly makes sense, as the kitchen is a workplace. It is therefore essential that the Catering Manager (often a contractor) recognises the legal responsibility by ensuring that the kitchen and the extract ducting system is included in the Fire Risk Assessments.Under the Fire Safety Order, the Fire Authorities have the role of policemen. They can demand to see the Fire Risk Assessments and to check that all appropriate measures have been taken to address risks and safeguard building occupants. They are empowered to issue warning notices, and if necessary prohibition notices. In a recent court case, an Essex restaurateur was fined £10,000 with £15,000 costs for failing to comply. As was pointed out during the trial, had a fire occurred as a result of his failures building occupants would have been put at risk, and in the event of death or injury he could have faced criminal prosecution. The warning for managers of catering operations is clear. Ensure the kitchen, and its grease extract system, are included in the premises Fire Risk Assessments. If fire risk conditions are identified, ensure action is taken to have them eliminated. Do not pass the responsibility for action to others. In the event of a fire the person responsible for catering would be implicated, and it will be no excuse to protest that someone else was given the responsibility to take action.Richard Norman, Managing Director of Indepth Hygiene Services comments “There is no doubt that many Catering Managers, are unaware of their legal responsibilities. More than 80% of the catering operations we surveyed in the last six months were shown to have potential fire risk grease deposits in the extract system, but fewer than 30% have taken action to eliminate the risks. That’s living dangerously for the Catering Manager and the building occupants. To assist caterers to meet their legal obligations my company will carry out surveys of grease extract systems and provide fire status reports quite free of charge. These will show quite clearly what action needs to be taken to eliminate any identified risks to building occupants.To make an appointment for a free survey to be carried out please contact:-Richard Norman, Managing Director, Indepth Hygiene Services LimitedTel: 020 8661 7888 Fax: 020 8661 7506 ductclean@indepthhygiene.co.ukhttp://www.indepthhygiene.co.uk/

Catering

Qube Magazine Facilities Management Journal
Putting the ‘kit’ into kitchensThe benefits of outsourcing your drinks vending machine
By Richard Marris, UK Market Director, KLIX
No amount of signs, meetings or rotas can ever make the office kitchen perfect, or sometimes even just pleasant. However, when you get it right, vending machines remove arguments, hassle, disruption and even cost. In fact, the benefits that can be enjoyed from outsourcing your drinks vending machine may come as somewhat of a surprise.Work environment benefits Firstly, consider the environment in which you work. If you work in a busy office, it doesn’t take long before the dirty coffee cups start stacking up in the kitchen and the spilt sugar, milk and water start to cover the work surfaces. No-one wants to work in an unclean space, in fact some people may even be put off using the facilities altogether. A messy kitchen is not exactly professional looking for visitors and clients either. Modern drinks vending machines will not only provide a cleaner, more pleasant working environment, but also reduce the time and cost of cleaning up the mess at the end of the day. Less mess also means less risk. Health and safety in the workplace should be of paramount concern to employers. Do yourself and your staff a favour, de-clutter your workspace and offer your staff a better choice and quality of drink. This can only lead to a reduction in complaints about the facilities available and the state of the kitchen!Staff benefits Of course outsourcing your vending machine will not only benefit the space in which you work, but most importantly the people who work in it. Vending machines offer a wide range and choice of hot or cold drinks and soups, and stock all the major brands that most people would choose to drink at home. There is also the option to vary the product offering depending on the season or the general requirement from the workforce. Vending machines now offer an alternative range of healthier drinks, which makes for brighter and more productive staff. A major benefit of outsourcing drinks vending facilities is the reliability and consistency of the drinks supplied. Vending machines consistently supply that perfect drink, guaranteeing consumer satisfaction even for the most discerning tea or coffee drinker. You’ll also get your drink at the perfect temperature – never too hot or too cold. There are many different types of vending machines available, all are simple and easy to use and are often operated by pressing a single button. You can also opt for other options such as key or coin operated machines, depending on whether you will require your staff to pay for the drinks or not.You may find that your supplier will run occasional competitions or offer prizes to promote new products or services – this is of course at no extra cost to the customer, but of great value to the user. Financial benefits You may not have considered the financial benefits of using vending facilities, but the potential savings could be substantial. If an average member of staff drinks between five and ten hot or cold drinks every day, this can equate to anything up to an hour spent just making drinks! Vending machines are quick and easy to use, saving precious time wasted in the kitchen. This downtime has serious impacts on the productivity of your workforce, and lets face it, we all have better things to do with our time.Vending machines can also replace the need for water coolers, which will save you the extra expenditure of separate purchase, hire or operating costs. You will also reap the financial benefits of not having to provide the coffee, tea, milk, sugar, etc.Drinks from vending machines are an affordable option for most companies with many providers offering a variety of purchase or rental solutions. You may even be able to negotiate the use of a drinks vending machine free of charge, depending on the volume and type of usage.Operational efficiencyOnce your machine is installed you can normally chose from a variety of service options. You could opt for a fully managed service where everything is done for you. Alternatively, if you are happy for a member of staff to clean, empty and restock your machine, then all you’ll need to do is re-order the stock, or request technical support as and when required.As you would expect, drinks vending machines are fairly maintenance and hassle free. Of course any standard maintenance that does need to be done, will be done onsite and with minimal disruption. If there is a problem with a machine, this can normally be quickly resolved over the phone with the support of a technical help desk. Some companies also offer a guaranteed rapid response time, so any problems you do have can be quickly resolved with minimal disruption. However, modern vending machines are extremely reliable so you shouldn’t experience any problemsEnvironmentally-friendly / sustainability in drinks vending When choosing your drinks vending machine, you should be aware of their environmental impact and opt for a system that offers recyclable raw materials and packaging. In addition to the physical environment, more and more people are becoming aware of and supportive of ‘Fairtrade’ issues. Try and source a company that has a genuine ethical approach to its producers, suppliers, customers, employees and the environment.

Cuisine with a conscience
Defence, aerospace and electronics company Thales Research & Technology (UK) Ltd have awarded a contract for the provision of a comprehensive range of quality catering services. Thales delivers high technology solutions in areas from flight simulation to integrated communications for military and civil applications. 70% of its 9,000 UK staff are in engineering and the business has 60 sites across the UK.The catering contract includes the highly successful ‘Foodhouse’ food service concept which embraces contemporary cuisine, flexibly provided, passionately prepared and ethically sourced whenever possible. The service includes main meals and desserts, hot and cold snacks, grab-and-go salads, sandwiches and premium coffee for around 250 Thales employees at the prestigious site. Quality catering services will also be provided for meetings at the site, which welcomes visitors from around the world.Employees will also benefit from a traditional trolley service bringing quality food direct to their offices as well as a continuous vending installation for confectionery and hot and cold drinks. The contract was awarded through Faceo – the Thales facilities management company. It required a total transition from the previous supplier to the new foodhouse concept to be developed and installed in only two weeks, including signage, graphics and catering equipment. This task was achieved on time by the mobile Relief Team, which is used to provide back-up support to operations across the region.Mick Wray, fm manager for Faceo said, “This was a remarkable achievement given the very short timescales which we had to impose but which were outside our control. We had heard excellent reports of the ‘Foodhouse’ formula from another Thales site in the UK but by any yardstick this was a tough challenge. The benefits in food style and quality as well as the improved standards of service were obvious and immediate.”

Heading for the Highlands
Scotland’s largest – and the UK’s fastest growing – outsourcing business has taken steps to give its 2,600 employees the best quality and widest choice of contemporary food at work.Response, which is part of Murray International Holdings, has awarded a major contract to ‘Just Deli’ and ‘Foodhouse’ restaurant brands across its four sites in Glasgow and Clydebank. Although these catering formats are highly successful throughout the rest of the UK, this is the first time that they will have crossed the border into Scotland.The Just Deli format provides contemporary food options with influences from modern international cuisine, ranging from light snacks to freshly prepared meals served in a spacious, clean and comfortable environment. The brand reflects the tastes and standards set by many leading restaurants and deli bars across the UK and Europe.Foodhouse is an innovative restaurant format, which fits within any commercial or office premises. It makes available constantly changing menus of nutritious and tasty meals using fresh ingredients, freshly prepared and includes the Costa Coffee range.Response chief executive, David Wallace, said: “As a progressive company, we are always looking for opportunities to provide value-added benefits for our employees. Response is committed to ensuring that staff enjoy a comfortable working environment, and the partnership we now have will offer an extensive choice of quality, freshly prepared food on a daily basis.”

Wednesday 20 December 2006

Qube News December 2006

New BS8470 Standard For PHS Datashred Recognises Best Practice In Secure Data Destruction
In recognition of its ongoing commitment to promoting industry best practice, secure destruction specialist PHS Datashred has become one of the first UK shredding companies to achieve the new security shredding standard BS8470.BS8470 is the first British Standard to be introduced for security shredding and was launched in June in response to both industry and customer concerns. In particular, the BSIA (British Security Industry Association), which is the professional trade association for the secure destruction industry, played a leading role in introducing this formally recognised standard and was heavily involved in its development. And, as a founder member of the BSIA, PHS Datashred was influential in ensuring that the standard represented the very highest standards and practices attainable in industry best practice.Anthony Pearlgood, Commercial Director of PHS Datashred and Chair of the BSIA’s Information Destruction Division, welcomed the achievement and took the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in gaining the accreditation: “I am delighted that the commitment of PHS Datashred and all of our staff to maintaining the highest security standards has been formally recognised. Not only is this an achievement for PHS, it is also a major step forward for the industry. Essentially, it means that customers can now make an informed and reliable judgement about the shredding company they use to dispose of their confidential waste.”The new standard covers a range of management processes and security features that shredding companies must comply with including premises security, staff vetting, collection-vehicle specification and shred sizes. This focus on providing a secure transit and disposal loop, alongside the commitment to maintaining a robust and accurate audit trail, means that customers of BS8470 firms can rest assured that their confidential information is will be rendered beyond use and dealt with securely from “cradle to grave”.Enquiries: KellyAnne Ralph, PHS Group plc, tel: 029 2080 9090, email: kellyanneralph@phs.co.uk.

Tyco Electronics Introduces New Enhancements To AMPTRAC Connectivity Management System
Tyco Electronics has introduced a number of enhancements to the AMPTRAC connectivity management system from its AMP NETCONNECT Business Unit, including a new generation of analysers, added features and innovative software.The AMPTRAC connectivity management system consists of port sensors, patch cords, patch panels, I/O cables, link cables, software and analysers, which together turn a network cabling system and its connected devices into an intelligent network. By revolutionising the way in which networks are controlled and documented, such intelligent networks reduce downtime, increase productivity, and improve asset utilisation.The enhanced AMPTRAC system is a result of continued development efforts by Tyco Electronics to provide a state-of-the-art intelligent management system that offers reduced cost, easy implementation, and overall increased functionality.The new AMPTRAC analysers feature major improvements in thermal efficiency: something that is vital in today's high-density and heat-generating data centres where excess heat can be a major contributor to downtime. The power consumption and heat generation of the analysers are at such low levels that no special precautions for heat management and dissipation are necessary.Three Ethernet ports on each analyser operate as a 10/100 switch and support auto-negotiation and auto MDI/MDIx for higher data rates and better integration with the network. The larger 40-character/4-line display, added pushbuttons and full alphanumeric keypad make configuration simple, while built-in fault resilience increases the overall reliability of the system."The new AMPTRAC analysers can be configured as either 'master' or 'slave' and connected with a standard Ethernet connection for simple, cost-effective installation", explains Eddie Boyce, Technical Support Manager, UK & Ireland for Tyco Electronics AMP NETCONNECT Solutions Division: "The addition of DB25 input/output connectors also improves system dependability by providing a more secure connection."The new AMPTRAC analysers are available in 336-port and 168-port versions, and are supplied complete with FREE iTRACS Infrastructure Management (IM) software. The system currently supports up to 195 analysers, or 65,520 ports, with opportunity for future expansion.Tyco Electronics has added several other enhanced features and components.For further information visit www.ampnetconnect.com, www.tycoelectronics.com or please contact: Amaechi Oduah, Marcoms Manager, Tel: +44-208 420 8335, e-mail: amaechi.oduah@tycoelectronics.com

Jacksons Fencing Installing Security With Confidence
Jacksons’ security fencing has just completed a contract to manufacture and supply a secure vehicle compound in Africa. Jacksons won the contract based on its products, experience, manufacturing capabilities and reputation for confidentiality. Jacksons has a strong portfolio of automated and high security metal fencing products which meet the requirements of the most taxing installation. The job entailed providing secure fencing and gates to enclose a large vehicle processing unit. A project survey revealed that the site would require 400m of 2.7m high Securimesh fencing, which would be set on 80x60mm steel RHS posts. To increase the security for the site Jacksons installed 950mm diameter concertina barbed tape. A single leaf pedestrian swing gate and a manual sliding gate were also installed to enable the company to monitor entry and exit to the site. Securimesh fencing was the client’s choice to ensure that integrity at the complex could not be breached. This form of fencing is ideal in areas where high visibility is essential without compromising security. With its record of strength and quality manufacture, Jacksons’ security fencing is often installed in areas that require a high level of defence. Jacksons have worked on a variety of major security related projects around the world, including Government security fencing contracts. The security that a client receives from using Jacksons’ products speaks volumes about the position of trust Jacksons has in the security fencing market. Enquiries: Tammy Jackson, Business Development Executive, H S Jackson & Son (Fencing) Ltd, tel: 01233 750393 or e-mail: tammy.jackson@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

Construction Industry Target Set - Halve Construction Waste By 2012
The Sustainability Forum, together with WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme), are calling on the construction industry to achieve a 50% cut in materials waste going to landfill by the year 2012.Responding to the Strategic Forum for Construction’s decision to focus on waste reduction as a key component of sustainability, the two organisations believe this is a measurable and achievable industry-wide target for reducing material waste in construction. The Forum and WRAP are working jointly on how best to help the industry to achieve this target.The UK construction industry consumes more than 400 million tonnes of materials each year and generates over 100 million tonnes of waste. Around 30 million tonnes each year ends up as construction waste going straight to landfill.Ian Coull, Chair of the Sustainability Forum, said: “In order for the industry to improve its sustainability, we must set targets and goals for reducing waste and improving the use of resources. This goal to halve waste by 2012 is an excellent place to start, and it’s now up to the entire industry supply chain to take action, not only for the environment, but also to deliver cost and efficiency savings.”By adopting best practices in waste management and minimisation, including the target to halve waste, the Sustainability Forum believes major construction projects like the 2012 Olympics and the Thames Gateway regeneration can act as models for the industry.

Robertson FM Has Landed A Prestigious BIFM Excellence Award
The company was recognised in the Best Practice in a PFI/PPP Contract category for its service delivery at Chester-Le-Street Hospital in County Durham.The BIFM awards, hosted by broadcasting journalist Adrienne Lawler, were held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on October 16. The glittering event is widely regarded as the biggest and most prestigious FM awards event in the UK.The award is the latest chapter in the phenomenal success story of the business that was established just over six years ago.Now operating from 25 sites that span from Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands to Stockton on Tees in the north-east of England, the company will this year post an annual turnover of £7million and now directly employs 250 people.As part of the Aura consortium that includes Robertson Capital Projects, Sir Robert McAlpine and Parsons Brinkerhoff, Robertson FM has also been appointed preferred bidder to provide FM services in the £200million Newcastle Building Schools for the Future project. Speaking after the event, Managing Director, Steve Barron, paid tribute to the dedicated staff who have driven forward his vision for success.He said: “This recognition is a credit to our staff who have been core to the success of Robertson FM.“Any company is only as good as the people who work for them and our staff at Chester le Street have produced superb results under the leadership of Regional Contract Manager Allan Dryden.“We look for people who buy into our values, those who believe in going that extra mile for the client and this award is further evidence that we are continually developing a first-class service delivery. “We plan to build on this award to accelerate our growth plans which will see the company use this successful service model across the UK.”Cap – Robertson FM Managing Director, Steve Barron, Adrienne Lawler, Operations Director Martin Igoe, Regional Contract Manager, Allan Dryden, Sponsor John Davis of FRL and BIFM Chairman, Peter Cordy.For further information please contact Neil McDonald on 01698 787855 or Geraldine Strawbridge on 01698 787857.

Window Cleaners Brought Down To Earth By Reach & Wash
The sight of window cleaners up ladders brandishing buckets and squeegee could soon be a thing of the past thanks to The Reach & Wash System.Hygiene Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of hygiene management services to the food sector, believes this ladder-less method is the answer to risks associated with traditional window cleaning.It is environmentally friendly too, and can be used to reach low-level, difficult-to-access windows.The Reach & Wash system has five advantages:* Health and safety - eliminates working at height risk* Cost – no access equipment hire, quicker therefore cheaper.* Less damage – cuts ladder-damage to sills, gutters and slates.* Quality – most effective window cleaning available, eliminating squeegee marks and lines.* Frames and sills – cleaned thoroughly as well as windows.Hygiene Group managing director Steve Bailey said: “Reach & Wash pushes dirt away aggressively using almost 100% pure water, leaving glass, window frames, cladding and signs clean without the need for chemicals and detergents..“And it signals the beginning of the end for old-school window cleaners who rely on dangerous ladders and expensive hydraulic platforms.”For further information, please contact Chris Reynolds on 01753 820991.

PHS Teacrate To Invest £750,000 To Streamline New Packaging Service
Crate rental specialist PHS Teacrate has announced it is to invest £750,000 in its new packaging service for the removals industry. Orders have been placed with Midland Vehicle Contracts Ltd for a fleet of new Iveco curtain sided vehicles which have been specially adapted to allow rapid loading and unloading of palletised materials. The company is also recruiting additional drivers to operate the new vehicles, which will be deployed across the United Kingdom and provide a nationwide daily delivery service for both commercial and private movers.Further investment has been made in the development of new computer software to enable customers to order on-line through the Teacrate website. The on-line store, with over 150 packaging products in stock, will be available before the end of 2006.Teacrate’s managing director David Wicks said: “We know that the packaging industry is very tough and that only the most efficient companies can win a share of the market. That’s why we’ve invested so heavily in new equipment and people; we’re determined to be the best.” For further information contact the PHS Teacrate sales team on 0800 980 7000 or by email at packaging@teacrate.com.

Paving The Future For Environmentally-Friendly Roads
Researchers at the University of Sheffield are working to develop long lasting road surfaces that would be cheaper to construct and more environmentally friendly. The three-year collaborative project aims to significantly cut energy consumption and construction costs and time, as well as use waste materials in road construction and make tyre recycling more economically attractive.Funded by the European Union’s Framework Programme 6, the project involves nine European partners from six countries and is coordinated by the University of Sheffield. Universities, industrial partners, consumers and the European Tyre Recycling Association will come together to develop, test and validate steel-fibre-reinforced-concrete (SFRC) pavements in order to make road pavements more cost effective and sustainable. The project aims to reduce construction costs in the range of 10-20%, construction time by 15% and energy consumption by up to 40%. It will also work to improving the environmental impact of road pavements with regard to emissions and noise and improving the safety of the road’s surface. As part of the research the roads of new EU member state Cyprus and candidate countries, Romania and Turkey will be targeted – countries with probably the greatest need and potential for new surface infrastructure. One of the expected results of the research is the development of fibre reinforcement obtained from waste tyres. This will have a positive effect on the European tyre recycling industry, which currently does not have a sustainable solution for the use of the steel cord extracted from tyres. Techniques and equipment will also be developed for mixing steel fibres into wet and dry concrete mixes. These will minimise the need for using conventional materials and will therefore reduce construction costs of concrete pavements Professor Kypros Pilakoutas, of the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield and coordinator of the project, said: “Given the rise in energy prices and the need to reduce CO2 emissions drastically, this is a major step forward for the future of road construction, both here in the UK and overseas. It is particularly imperative for countries that are currently developing their surface infrastructures, as this new research will allow these countries to build and maintain roads much more cost effectively and at the benefit of the environment.” Demonstration roads will be constructed in four European countries to validate the results of the three-year project.For more information please visit http://ecolanes.shef.ac.uk

MITIE has recently been appointed as the security partner to The Roman Baths, Bath.
The contract, which commenced on 1 October 2006, will see MITIE managing the provision of manned security and CCTV monitoring, further enhancing the company’s position as a leader in the provision of security services to the museum and galleries sector.The Roman Baths, run by Bath & North East Somerset Council, is one of the world’s best preserved Roman religious spas and is visited by over 800,000 people each year. Its popularity helps to make Bath one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations.

MoreySmith has been appointed to provide architectural and interior design services for Nokia Design’s new offices in London; Espoo, Finland and Copenhagen, Denmark.
In the UK Nokia Design will be moving from the Southwood Campus in Farnborough, Hampshire to offices in central London. In Finland, Nokia will be moving from Ruoholahti, Helsinki, to the Nokia Head Office building in Espoo, and in Copenhagen MoreySmith will design a new collaborative design studio within the existing Nokia site.

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has been awarded a government contract to operate an insurance-based tenancy deposit protection scheme.
The Housing Act 2004 requires the Government to introduce mandatory tenancy deposit protection. With effect from 6 April 2007 any landlord taking and holding a deposit on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy in England and Wales will by law be required to be a member of such a scheme.The scheme will safeguard tenants’ deposits, ensure that they get part or all of their deposit back at the end of the tenancy if they are entitled to, and offer an alternative way of resolving disputes.

A £6.3 million bid to establish the UK’s first advanced construction technology and training centre in Coventry has been approved by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
Building work on the ground breaking ACT-UK National Centre for Advanced Construction Technologies, at the Coventry University Technology Park, in Puma Way, is expected to start in spring 2007. The scheme is to be officially launched in the New Year at an event whose keynote speakers will be Sir John Egan, the former boss of Jaguar, and Sir Michael Latham, whose Government-commissioned reports on improving efficiency, quality and working practices within construction have changed the face of the industry.The centre aims to address skills shortages, improve the quality and quantity of training and sustain a life-long learning culture within the industry.

Relocity win new Amey contract Corporate interiors to IT infrastructure contractor
Relocity Ltd has won a major dilapidations contract with leading support services provider, Amey. The project is for the Forum One building in Fareham, Hampshire and will enable a faster re-let of the property which has become surplus to requirements.The project will require a substantial re-working of the building interior including electrical, air conditioning, lighting and power re-modelling to suit the revised partitioning and ceiling lay-out.

PHS Quarterly FM Survey
A green revolution in British organisations as the health benefits of plants hit home, says PHS Survey.A growing awareness of the health benefits of introducing plants at work is supporting widespread uptake in British organisations, according to the 13th PHS Quarterly Facilities Management Survey, published in October.While the majority of companies use plants to make their premises look better (and more affluent) the Survey, in which 200 UK facilities management professionals were interviewed in July and August this year, showed that nearly a quarter of interviewed FMs knew that plants could also help improve staff health and wellbeing - alleviating some of the headachy, lethargic symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome, for example. A ‘top tips’ section at the back of PHS’s survey report explained that staff working amongst plants tend to be better motivated, more productive and take fewer days off sick than those in offices without plants*. This is because plants are natural ‘air cleaners’, who’s leaves, stems and roots actively remove airborne impurities emanating from photocopiers, computer screens and air conditioning units. They also remove carbon dioxide from the air, which makes us feel drowsy and lacking in concentration, and replace it with oxygen. Overall, plants have a positive psychological effect on us, too, making us feel happier and calmer.PHS’s report stressed that just a few plants positioned here and there would give staff ample opportunity to enjoy the effects of these natural clean air machines.Other key findings of PHS’ survey were as follows:The British love plants at work. Every company interviewed had plants of some sort inside or outside their buildings.Greenery accounts for 3.5% of the facilities budget, but less than 49% of FMs got involved in decision-making, preferring to leave the choice of plants to others including architects during the planning process. Employee opinion counts. 13% of FMs said their plants were installed following pressure from staff.Only half the companies interviewed employ a specialist company to supply and maintain their plants. Of those that do, 41% use the same supplier for their interior and exterior planting, believing that there are benefits in doing so. When choosing plant suppliers, reputation and horticultural expertise influence private sector buyers, while public sector buyers are more interested in price.One in 10 FMs also use their plant contractor for Christmas trees and decor, with most popular reasons including relieving staff of the time and trouble and to get more professional looking displays.Peter Cohen, chief executive of the PHS Group plc, comments, “The PHS Quarterly FM Survey was launched for the benefit of our customers, to reveal interesting and relevant facts for Facilities Managers about their industry and about the practices and opinions of their peers. We hope the results of this survey will both inform and support the business community in reviewing and improving plants provision in the workplace.”Enquiries: KellyAnne Ralph, PHS Group plc, tel: 029 2080 9090, email: kellyanneralph@phs.co.uk.