Flowcrete To Deliver Get More From Floors Message At The Facilities Show
Leading industrial and commercial flooring manufacturer Flowcrete UK will be demonstrating its pioneering flooring systems, built on 30 years' experience, at The Facilities Show.
From stand number E12 the Flowcrete team will show how the company's resin flooring offers Facilities Managers tasked with the selection of a suitable floor finish a time-proven solution to meet all of their requirements - both functional and aesthetic.
Innovations include Flowfast, the speedy floor finish ready for use just two hours after application, which uses 'Methylmethacrylate' (MMA) technology to put flooring projects on the fast track. Energy-saving Isowarm Underfloor Heating, designed for use with the company's Isocrete Floor Screeds, will also be on show.
Commercial flooring from Flowcrete includes super-smooth resin floor toppings, slip resistant quartz floor finishes and sparkling flake flooring systems - all designed to stand out at ground level.
External floor surfaces are also available, including exterior resin bound gravel landscaping systems and car park coatings.
However, the systems are not just about aesthetics - they are also built to last.
For example, Flowcrete's contemporary seamless terrazzo Mondeco offers a life expectancy of up to 25 years, while the company's self levelling resins are in place for some 10 years.
This longer life-cycle approach means less cost to re-install a new floor on a frequent basis and also offers environmental benefits in terms of waste.
Floors are also applied by Flowcrete's approved contractor network, to ensure a high standard of installation.
And keeping a floor looking in tip-top condition is also made easy with Flowcrete's seamless, joint-free surface. This means no cracks and crevices where dirt can dwell, making the floor easy-to-clean and maintain.
As well as showcasing flooring options for commercial sector specialists, Flowcrete will also be signposting Facilities Show visitors operating in the industrial sector to its new campaign Get More From Floors, which shows FMs and other property professionals how to achieve a fit-for-purpose floor system underfoot in manufacturing and processing areas.
The online campaign, located at www.flowcrete.com/getmorefromfloors pulls together content from a variety of sources including video, case studies and technical data, to deliver a wide-range of information to help FMs make informed decisions about their industrial flooring requirements.
Alan Dean, Sales Director of Flowcrete UK, said: "The Facilities Show is a great platform for us to showcase our versatile resin floors, which offer a multitude of benefits for FMs including functionality, durability, low maintenance and aesthetics.
"Across the commercial and industrial sector, we have vast experience - carrying out projects for Blue Chip clients - all backed up with best in class customer and technical support services."
The Facilities Show 2011 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 17 to 19 May
www.flowcrete.co.uk

Cambridgeshire heating and mechanical services specialist opts for Quartix vehicle tracking
A Cambridgeshire company specialising in heating and mechanical services has equipped its transport fleet with Quartix real-time vehicle tracking.
As a result, Chaps, of Bar Hill, is benefiting from impressive savings through the fleet's more efficient use.
Knowing the precise location of its 44 cars and vans, and mobile staff, is essential to the firm. This - and the fact a previous system proved unreliable - was the main reason it opted for Quartix's 24-hour online tracking. Another was the system's ability to provide better record keeping.
Raine Holmes, finance manager, said: "For example, car drivers pay back their personal mileage, which the system records.
"Vans are provided to Chaps employees for business use only, and private use is not allowed. On-site drivers are required to fill in timesheets, and the contract managers are able to confirm these details through the system.
"Of course, if we had a tax inspection we would have to prove they weren't using the vans for personal use, and the system enables us to do just that."
Quartix Pay As You Go
For immediate financial reasons Chaps has opted to connect to the tracking service using Quartix's flexible pay-as-you-go solution - with the intention of switching to its more cost effective leasing/purchase product at a later date.
Currently, Chaps has 24 vehicles using the PAYG scheme, each fitted with Quartix's own-design tracking unit. However, as more leases with its old supplier run out - and as new vehicles are added - the company will ensure its entire fleet is linked to the Quartix system.
Chaps is not only pleased with the system's reliability but also Quartix's after- sales service.
Ms Holmes added: "You ring or email and they get back to you straight away. Everything happens exactly as you would expect of a professional company. They are a very good team, indeed."
Andy Walters, Quartix managing director, said: "Chaps is a highly respected company in the Cambridge area, and their white and blue vans are a common sight in and around the city. We are delighted to be associated with this successful company and hope to continue providing them with good service for years to come."
For further details, or to discuss any aspect of this case study, please contact a member of the Quartix team by email or phone.
More about Quartix
Founded in 2001, Quartix (www.quartix.net) has grown to become one of the UK�s most successful vehicle tracking service providers.
Today, more than 2,500 customers across a wide range of sectors - including government organisations, housing associations, construction, hospital trusts, the emergency services, SMEs and large British brands - use its award-winning online service, with the company's unique, own-design tracking unit currently installed in vehicles.
The Quartix system provides users with a fast, efficient, 'point-and-click' source of real-time information, together with tailored e-mail reports. The highly-flexible service has scope to meet the needs of large corporations and owner-managed businesses alike.
More about Chaps
Chaps, based at Bar Hill just outside Cambridge, undertakes plumbing, heating and mechanical services contracts ranging in value from a few thousand pounds up to £2million. Formed in 2000 by Ian Corney, of Corney Heating and Plumbing Services, the company offers its services within three categories:
Domestic. Work includes design and installation services for new build, the refurbishment of residential properties, private houses and housing associations. All aspects of plumbing, heating, electrical and building works are undertaken.
Partnering. Chaps forms long-term partnerships with local authorities, housing associations and developers. Its work covers heating, plumbing, electrical, and kitchen and bathroom installations.
Commercial. Chaps provides mechanical and electrical services for new build and refurbished commercial developments. The company's full design and installation service is employed on all types of contracts, including sports halls, care homes and schools.
For further information contact Andy Kirk, Quartix sales and marketing director. Telephone 0870 013 6663, email andy.kirk@quartix.net

c:scape – the system designed for the connected workplace

Steelcase UK have launched c:scape, a new system designed to help people connect and collaborate, quickly and seamlessly.
As office workers undertake increasingly complex tasks in ever shortening timescales, collaboration between colleagues has never been more important.
c:scape connects people to people, to information, to their work tools and to the culture of their organisation.
c:scape is a workplace system composed of four elements: desk, low storage, mid storage and screens.  These four elements create a wide range of spaces; individual or team spaces, management offices and informal areas.
Every component of c:scape was designed to help individuals and small groups perform and connect better.  Steelcase took a holistic approach to function, considering three key elements: social (what matters to people), information (how people access and share information) and spatial (how space can help).  Open sight lines, integrated technology, multi-purpose components, adjustability and rich materiality help to deliver high functionality and performance.
“We live in a networked world, where technology networks and social networks are entwined - in our work and in our lives. Technology has given us freedom and independence, yet we still need others to get work done,” said Kim Williams, Steelcase’s UK Product Marketing Manager.  “It takes more than one person to tackle today’s complex business problems. That’s why we developed c:scape, to help people connect and collaborate, and ultimately innovate.”
Specific components of the c:scape solution include the desk - which slides forward to reveal a built-in connection zone that provides users with full and easy access to the technology, storage, and privacy, including personal, shared, modesty and expandable screens.
For more information please contact Ramsay Smith at Media House, ramsay@mediahouse.co.uk or 0141 220 6040.

Steelcase partners with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Steelcase, global leaders in the office interiors industry, has joined forces with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
As part of this industry-first partnership, the CSP will officially endorse all Steelcase seating products in the UK in recognition of their ergonomic design and capabilities. 
Mark Spragg, Managing Director of Steelcase UK, said: “Steelcase and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy both share the same commitment to research and wellbeing in the workplace.  We are looking forward to working together, to provide guidance and information to minimize injury and stress in the workplace.”
James Hale, Marketing and Communications Director of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy added: “It is vital employers do all they can to ensure the work environment is safe and comfortable for employees. This is particularly important for office workers who spend hours sitting still and carrying out repetitive tasks. We know from a UK-wide CSP survey that 32% of people who work in offices experience physical pain at work at least once a week, with back pain reported as the most common physical problem (65%) (1). Steelcase recognizes the importance of good ergonomics by designing and creating office furniture with the end users health and well-being in mind. We are delighted to enter into this partnership and to endorse their products.”
As well as recommending Steelcase seating, the partnership will also focus on the highly topical issue of wellbeing in the workplace.
Steelcase research shows that employees who work within supportive environments where, for example, they are seated comfortably and ergonomically, are more likely to feel valued and less likely to suffer from emotional and physical problems that can result in absenteeism and reduced productivity.  
Mark Spragg said: “Today, a growing number of employers see a clear connection between employee wellbeing and organizational performance. High levels of wellbeing mean that people are more able to respond to difficult circumstances, innovate, and constructively engage with other people and the world around them. They’re healthier, too, which reduces illness-related costs.“
James Hale added, “The CSP’s `Move for Health’ campaign has presented consistent evidence that health and well-being initiatives reduce sickness absence and improve productivity at work. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence on any given day (2) and are estimated to cost society and employers around £7.4 billion a year (3).  Provision of good quality, well designed office furniture is an essential factor in helping to avoid pain and discomfort at work.”

Lancashire property management company chooses Quartix vehicle tracking
First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has chosen Quartix vehicle tracking for its fleet after the online system came top for price, quality and technical merit in a European public tendering exercise.
Quartix has equipped 85 of the Oldham property management company’s vehicles with its award-winning tracking unit. And, in a separate development, FCHO has commissioned Quartix to connect 17 of its older short-term hire vehicles to Quartix Pay As You Go, the flexible direct-rental tracking solution.
David Thomas, FCHO repairs support manager, said: "Now we can identify where our vehicles are on-screen round the clock and, therefore, send the nearest and most appropriately skilled operatives to a job.
"It means improved service and performance for our customers and jobs get done quicker."
One of FCHO's biggest problems - the amount of operatives' down-time - has also been resolved.
"This is because the system has the capacity to ring-fence. For example, we can ring-fence a particular depot and that produces information on how long different operatives spend in the depot and, hopefully, why they're doing that," said Mr Thomas.
"We can identify every single depot where people are based and the amount of end time each operative has.
"Furthermore, all trades, from caretakers to security staff, operate our vehicles, and the system allows us to record any time they spend in specific areas."
First Choice Homes Oldham decided to search for a new telematics supplier after its first system was unable to provide the information it required, and downloading proved an extremely lengthy process. A second system, which involved all data being downloaded onto laptops, took up to four hours to track just ten vehicles.
As a result, FCHO decided a fast, reliable and well-proven web-based solution was needed - and Quartix was chosen.
'We can easily identify the driver'
Although FCHO's fleet numbers more than 100 - including 7.5-ton vehicles, small and medium-size vans, 3.5-ton flatbeds and box vans - the number of authorised drivers vastly exceeds this figure. To identify who is driving at any given time, each of the tracking systems is equipped with a driver identification unit and each driver has been issued with an ID tag.
Mr Thomas added: "Basically we don't have enough vehicles for every single operative. Sometimes a person will swap vehicles or if someone is on leave someone will use their vehicle. If any damage is done, or something like that, we can now easily identify the driver."
All drivers are required to use their ID tag so that incidents - whether involving lone working, health and safety or other issues - can be quickly and accurately dealt with.
David Thomas said the investment is paying dividends, and sometimes in unexpected ways:
"I recently had a complaint from the public about one of my drivers. Fortunately, I was able to quickly identify both the vehicle and the driver involved in the alleged incident."
Top marks in OJEU tendering process
Quartix was chosen by First Choice Homes Oldham after it scored top marks in the OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) public tendering process. As part of the exercise, applicants were asked to outline any additional benefits their systems provided. Quartix put forward its pay-as-you-go solution, which permits tracking units to be removed after just three months and without penalty.
With FCHO operating 17 older vehicles on short-term hire, the suggestion was well received and the vehicles quickly connected to the PAYG service.
More about Quartix
Founded in 2001, Quartix (www.quartix.net) has grown to become one of the UK’s most successful vehicle tracking service providers.
Today, more than 2,500 customers across a wide range of sectors - including government organisations, housing associations, construction, hospital trusts, the emergency services, SMEs and large British brands - use its award-winning online service, with the company’s unique, own-design tracking unit currently installed in vehicles.
The Quartix system provides users with a fast, efficient, 'point-and-click' source of real-time information, together with tailored e-mail reports. The highly-flexible service has scope to meet the needs of large corporations and owner-managed businesses alike.
More about First Choice Homes Oldham
First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) was created in April 2002 to manage council owned properties across Oldham Metropolitan Borough.
Today, it provides services to almost 13,000 council tenants and leaseholders and is responsible for managing, letting, repairing and modernising the borough council's properties.
A not-for-profit partnership, FCHO is run by councillors, tenants and independent volunteers. A board of directors oversees the company's overall strategic direction.
Six local boards monitor day to day operations in six areas: Chadderton, East Oldham, Failsworth and Hollinwood, Royton and Shaw, Saddleworth and Lees, and West Oldham.
For further information contact Andy Kirk on 0870 013 6663 or email andy.kirk@quartix.net

The Keyholding Company goes back to school with Thomas's London day schools
The Keyholding Company, one of the UK’s leading commercial keyholding and alarm response providers, has been awarded a contract by Thomas’s London Day Schools to provide Alarm Response services at six of their sites.
Established over 30 years ago, Thomas’s London Day Schools are a group of family-run, co-educational schools for children from the ages of two and a half to thirteen.
They educate over 1,950 children and their ethos is based on providing for their education by giving each child dignity and self-esteem through a sense of achievement, be it academic, artistic or sporting.
The Keyholding Company acts as a registered keyholder to Thomas’s London Day Schools and is contracted to attend alarm activations, providing an efficient call out response, 24/7.
Brian Butler, Facilities Manager at Thomas’s London Day Schools tells us: “The school has grown considerably over recent years and each location has a number of buildings spread out across the campus. Many staff members have access to these buildings, so it’s inevitable that as a result of unintentional human error, they’re susceptible to some alarm activations.”
“As the Schools are situated in residential locations, it was of paramount importance to us to reduce any undue disturbance to our neighbours with noisy alarms going off at weekends and during the night time and make sure activations are attended to as speedily as possible.”
“Our other key area of concern was that we wanted to eliminate the inconvenience of staff attending false alarm activations and the potential physical risk they may face as a result of attending a genuine activation.”
“We didn’t want to ask staff who had already worked a full day to attend activations in the middle of the night or during weekends and holiday periods and wanted to exercise a duty of care to our employees. As a result, we decided to outsource this important role and put the responsibility in the hands of a professional security organisation.”
“After researching the industry, it became clear that The Keyholding Company has established a reputation for providing professional, efficient and cost-effective security solutions, so I was confident in choosing them as our contractor.”
In the event of an alarm activation, a trained and licensed KeyWarden will attend the site, check the premises, reset the alarm or wait for an engineer if required, until the premises are re-secured. In the event of an incident, if necessary they will organise for emergency contractors to attend, make good the damage and ensure the property is left secure as soon as possible.
Says Brian Butler: “The Keyholding Company has demonstrated a real understanding of our security requirements.
We no longer have to ask staff to be on standby or put themselves in any potential dangerous or difficult position and it gives us great peace of mind to know that during vulnerable times the security of our premises is their priority.”
For more information, please visit www.keyholding.com or call 0800 064 4357.

FeRFA launches recycling scheme
The FeRFA Recycling Scheme is a major initiative to bring contractors and manufacturers together in a recycling programme for waste packaging.  As resin flooring is laid in situ, with minimal material waste produced on site, packaging waste has been identified as the major waste stream.  Under the new recycling and waste management scheme, waste packaging (hazardous and non hazardous) is collected, decontaminated and reprocessed for future use, with up to 100% of waste being recycled.
To assist its members in achieving their own recycling targets, FeRFA has joined with Countrywide Waste Management, who offer a complete recycling and waste management system, and Protech Plastics Containers, manufacturers of recycled and recyclable plastic containers.
As part of this initiative, FeRFA has become a signatory to WRAP’s Halving Waste to Landfill Commitment, and has adopted a resource efficiency plan which  includes the following commitments:
- By 2012, increase the level of packaging being recycled within the resin flooring sector to achieve a 20% reduction in packaging by end 2012, based on 2010 baseline
- Actively promote the use of recycled materials
- Raise awareness of environmental issues and provide guidance and training to increase knowledge and share best practice.
The first FeRFA member to sign up to this commitment is Altro, and according to Kevin Cook “Altro Resins has held ISO 14001 for 10 years, so we are very pleased  to demonstrate commitment to Halving Waste To Landfill and the wider sustainability initiatives of FeRFA, which are in-line with Altro’s core values of environmental and social responsibility.”
Full details of the FeRFA Recycling Scheme can be found on a dedicated area of the website at www.ferfa.org.uk/html/recycling.htm where you can download a selection of useful documents.

Passive Fire Protection Explained
New technical seminar from Chiltern International Fire includes live fire demonstrations
Chiltern International Fire (CIF) and BM TRADA Certification have introduced a new technical seminar and live fire demonstration day, Passive Fire Protection Explained.
The course is designed to provide a basic understanding of passive fire protection (PFP) and the need for correctly tested, assessed and certified passive fire protection products.
To be held on 26th May and 27th October 2011 at CIF’s High Wycombe headquarters, the course will combine technical presentations with a series of live fire demonstrations, to provide delegates with an understanding of:
Passive fire protection responsibility and legislation
Passive fire protection products and how they work
The principles behind passive fire protection: product testing, assessments and certification.
The cost to attend Passive Fire Protection Explained is £375 + VAT.  TRADA members are offered a discounted rate of £340.00 + VAT. Book online at www.chilternfire.co.uk/training.

PHS Recordsmanagement Has Got It Covered
PHS Recordsmanagement extends UK coverage by acquiring Southampton-based company, FileStore.
PHS Recordsmanagement has spread its wings further by acquiring Southampton-based data and document management business, FileStore, creating comprehensive coverage of the South of England.
Since embarking on its expansion program 3 years ago, PHS Recordsmanagement, the Secure Document and Data Management Company, has been steadily increasing its off-site storage capacity and adding value to its services.   This latest acquisition gains facilities in Southampton, extending PHS Recordsmanagement’s geographical coverage to include Hampshire, Wiltshire, West Sussex, Berkshire, Devon, Somerset and Cornwall. 
With existing sites serving the Midlands, Bristol and London areas, the additional 6 storage facilities attached to FileStore will increase PHS Recordsmanagement’s box capacity by a further 850,000.  Each site offers the highest security with 24hour CCTV, VESDA fire protection and vetted staff. 
As the business expands, all clients can remain assured of the highest attention from the dedicated team at PHS Recordsmanagement; a service offering complete cradle to grave records management, including secure storage and delivery, media vaults, electronic scanning services, online access and, when necessary, confidential destruction.
Working closely with its clients, PHS Recordsmanagement can advise on legal requirements for the retention of documents, ensuring that nothing is retained longer than needed or at unnecessary cost.  When records need to be retrieved, customers can be confident that this will be done without fuss and in as little as 2 hours. 
PHS Recordsmanagement is now looking forward to improving its footprint by opening new sites in the North of England, providing businesses there with more convenient off-site data and document storage.  
Nick Burke, Commercial Director of PHS Recordsmanagement is keen to emphasise the seamless integration of FileStore, saying, “It will be ‘business as usual’ for all our customers, whether they are familiar with PHS Recordsmanagement or not.  We are delighted to have acquired such a strong regional business which operates with the same values as the PHS Group.  We very much look forward to building on the excellent foundations that FileStore has already laid.”

Quest launches new quotation tool offering centralised access to UK commercial property reports
QuestCommercial.co.uk online hub provides instant access to a range of services for non-domestic buildings, including mandatory energy and air conditioning reports
Quest, the UK’s market leading provider of survey and mortgage valuation software, has launched an online ordering system on  HYPERLINK "http://www.questcommercial.co.uk/" QuestCommercial.co.uk that provides commercial property owners, agents and landlords with a centralised quotation and ordering tool for accessing a wide range of services for commercial properties.  This includes the ability to order mandatory Air Condition Reports, Display Energy Certificates and non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates.
With over 1.8 million non-domestic properties in England and Wales each requiring a number of site inspections, from energy assessments that are part of the EU Energy performance and building directive, through to survey and valuations on behalf of commercial property lenders, QuestCommercial now offers a service to connect qualified and accredited assessors with property professionals that require commercial reports.
The QuestCommercial dashboard intelligently interprets regulations based on the information provided to the system and presents the recommended reporting requirements for the client to review and action.
The centralised hub also provides direct links to a wide range of other useful services, including Landmark’s Carbon Counter tool that enables professionals to calculate and audit carbon footprints to meet the mandatory CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme guidelines.  Direct access to Landmark’s Envirocheck and Promap services are also available within QuestCommercial, providing a convenient single source of environmental reports and mapping tools.
James Sherwood-Rogers, managing director, Quest said, “QuestCommercial.co.uk has been designed as a workflow hub that makes it as easy as possible for commercial property owners, agents, landlords, facilities managers and conveyancers to quickly access a wide range of services.  It not only delivers a simple way to procure commercial EPCs and other mandatory energy compliance reports, but also offers direct access to other related services making it a convenient single-port-of-call for all non-domestic building professionals.”
QuestCommercial.co.uk has no set-up costs and offers a useful, streamlined service to property professionals so they can order, and once completed, access all commercial property reports from a single source, saving time and resources. 
For further information, telephone 0844 844 9969 or visit www.QuestCommercial.co.uk.

Woking’s single largest industrial lease of past 12 months
LaSalle has announced that it has completed the single largest letting of industrial property in the Woking area in the last 12 months.  Multipulse Electronics has taken a new lease on 25,000 square feet of modern, refurbished industrial property at Units 1 & 2 Goldsworth Pk. Tr. Est., whilst at the same time Surrey Tiles has taken a new lease on 5,150 square feet of modern, industrial property at Unit 18.
Multipulse Electronics won a £20 million contract to supply Network Rail with onboard GSM-R installation kits including wiring looms and mountings over four years and has taken a new 5 year lease on Units 1&2. Surrey Tiles has taken a new lease for 5 years and 4 months on Unit 18.
James Smith, Associate Director at LaSalle said: “This let with Multipulse demonstrates the popularity of the Goldsworth Park estate to local businesses.  The fact that we have completed the largest industrial lease in Woking in the last 12 months emphasises our position as a leading real estate investment manager.”
Additional units ranging from 8 to 24,500 square feet are also available offering modern accommodation suitable for trade counter, industrial and warehousing uses, offered on flexible terms.

Argus Security awarded first LPCB EN54-25 Approval
For several years, Argus Security Srl, a specialist fire detection design and manufacturing company based in Trieste, Italy has been working in conjunction with its engineering partner Argus Spectrum, to expand the range of dedicated wireless detectors and ancillary devices distributed to European markets, including of course the UK.
These products were first developed and supplied well before the implementation of the specific European standard, EN54-25, which now covers the wireless performance of such fire alarm devices. Since they were designed to fully comply with the standard’s requirements Argus Security was keen to demonstrate this fact to customers by having the products third party certificated by a leading approval organisation and so chose LPCB (part of BRE Global) as an internationally recognised assessment partner. This choice was also determined by the need to obtain comprehensive certification covering not only wireless performance, but confirmation of the critical responsiveness of smoke and temperature detectors, ability of devices to withstand environmental extremes, immunity to EMC, etc. All of these aspects could be readily covered by LPCB as part of their assessment process.
The Sagittarius range of Argus Security wireless detectors recently completed the full series of EN54 testing successfully and are the first products to have been certified by LPCB to the EN54-25 wireless standard for fire system applications.
Argus Security addressable wireless devices are designed to be used not only in conjunction with Argus Vega protocol intelligent systems, but also offer dedicated interfaces allowing them to be used with other system solutions, including conventional fire alarm installations.
Product is distributed in the UK under the Hyfire brand by Sterling Safety Systems and is available in other European markets via specialist system distributors. Please contact Argus Security at www.argussecurity.it for more information.

Multi Million contract with University of London
Facilities management provider Balfour Beatty WorkPlace has secured a £multi-million contract with the University of London’s Central Academic Bodies and Activities for the provision of all its facilities management services, except catering.
Under the terms of the three year agreement BBW will be responsible for providing a comprehensive range of FM services in staff working areas and student halls of residence at 31 sites across the central London estate.
The Central Academic Bodies and Activities of the University enhance the academic excellence of the federal University and deliver highly effective, value-added services to the Colleges. Their activities include the delivery of distance learning to 50,000 students worldwide, the provision of world-renowned libraries containing over two million items and the accommodation of over 3,000 students.

You’re hired! Lovell apprenticeships for Essex teenagers
Essex teenagers Kathryn Boret and Alex Norton are getting a head start in their construction careers thanks to housing maintenance and regeneration specialist Lovell.
At a time when good construction apprenticeships are in short supply, Kathryn, 16, from Laindon, and 18-year-old Alex, who lives in East Tilbury, have secured places on the Lovell national apprentice training programme.
They will start their careers in the local area as members of the Lovell team carrying out Decent Homes housing improvements and repairs for homes managed by arm’s length management organisation South Essex Homes for Southend Borough Council. Both Kathryn and Alex are studying for an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Construction Maintenance Operations at Prospects College, Basildon and attend college one day a week. The rest of the time, they are getting essential experience working with Lovell, closely supervised by qualified tradespeople. Lovell is paying their wages and has presented them each with a set of tools.
“I have been looking for an apprenticeship since last autumn, ringing up lots of companies but I couldn’t find anything, so this is a fantastic opportunity,” says Alex. “I am really enjoying the work – I like the variety and having the chance to put my skills to use.”
“I was over the moon the moon when I found out about the apprenticeship,” says Kathryn. “I’ve always wanted to work in the industry and have helped my grandfather build his own house. I love the fact that you build things which last and have the satisfaction that you’ve played a part in creating something permanent. It’s been really good getting experience of bricklaying and rendering.”
“It is excellent to see our repairs and maintenance programme creating additional benefits in the form of training opportunities for young people. We are delighted that Kathryn and Alex are benefiting from this chance to gain construction qualifications and we wish them every success with their training,” says Paul Longman, group manager, property services, South Essex Homes.
“Helping create jobs and offer opportunities for career development in the neighbourhoods where we work is immensely satisfying and we see it as an important part of our commitment to community involvement,” says Lovell regional director Steve Coombs. “We look forward to helping Kathryn and Alex progress through our training programme.”

IMC wins two ‘Green Oscars’ for Innovation in Food Waste Recycling
IMC’s pioneering ‘Compod’ is twice honoured at the 2011 Rushlight Awards
IMC, one of Europe’s leading innovators in food waste management and recycling, is celebrating the honour of scooping two prestigious Rushlight Awards in recognition of its pioneering ‘Compod’ recycling unit; one of the safest, most cost effective and most eco-friendly methods of managing the 4 million plus tonnes of commercial food waste disposed of in the UK every year. 
The Rushlight Awards – often referred to as the ‘Green Oscars’ - celebrate the technology and innovation achievements of UK organisations in providing new and innovative solutions to address global warming and climate change and represent the pinnacle of industry recognition. This year’s submissions were arguably the strongest in its 20-year history but despite the strong competition IMC not only scooped the ‘Organic Waste Award’ but also beat off four other Award Winners to take the overall ‘Waste Innovation Award’.
Collecting the Award at the ceremony at which Professor Sir John Beddington, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, was guest speaker, Dennis Moore, Business Development Manager at IMC, commented "It is absolutely wonderful to have our food waste recycling solution acknowledged in this way by such a distinguished panel of leading experts. We are looking forward to assisting commercial catering establishments, from hotels and restaurants to hospitals and universities, to address the increasingly difficult, safe disposal of food waste and its diversion from landfill."
 IMC’s ‘Compod’ is a stand-alone modular unit designed to be a flexible solution to the treatment and processing of food waste into quality compost in a cost effective way. The food waste is macerated and dewatered before being blended with wood pellets and loaded into an In-Vessel Composter from which high quality compost emerges around 8 weeks later. The system can be used within a variety of catering establishments such as restaurants, hotels, shopping centres, universities, hospitals and stadia.
Imperial College London is already reaping the benefits from the ‘Compod’ which is recycling the 50-plus tonnes per year of food waste produced at Imperial’s largest, South Kensington campus into re-usable compost. In the spirit of ‘Landscape not Landfill’, this odourless compost is already being used as fertilizer on the College’s gardens. As a consequence the University has been able to replace more expensive equipment and is expecting to make savings of more than £100,000 in its first year of operation, thereby delivering a Return on Investment (ROI) for the ‘Compod’ of just 19 months. This installation has captured the attention of companies and governments from around the world and, in March last year, Imperial College hosted a visit by delegates at the C40 “World Climate Change” conference led by the Mayor of London. ‘Compod’ systems have since been specified for use as far afield as Brazil and the Middle East.
For further information regarding IMC, please visit us at www.imco.co.uk or contact us direct on 01978 661155

OCS chooses Azzuri for ground breaking communications solution
OCS has awarded a three year contract to Azzurri Communications for the design, implementation and management of a unified communications solution for its 30,000 staff across the UK.  This move is part of a strategy to introduce more flexible and collaborative working practices resulting in continuous service improvement for the client.
The first of a new breed of communications solutions to be deployed in the UK which federates the services of a number of previously conflicting vendors and carriers to deliver a fully managed solution, this will enable OCS to cut around a third of the company’s communication costs. OCS also aims to add value to customer partnerships by sharing the cost saving rationalisation and integrated communications methodology with clients.
The new contract will allow OCS to reduce its communications spend by over 30% in the next three years, while continuing to refresh its technology platform through harnessing new technologies such as Ethernet First Mile (EFM). Azzurri will use its unique cloud-based ‘fabric’ to bring together multiple suppliers of MPLS, Ethernet, SIP and DSL services, combined with mobility from Telefonica O2 and hosted VoIP capabilities from Avaya.
Jenny Sener, OCS’s ICT Shared Services Director commented:  “It is our vision to take advantage of latest technology and best practice to excel in a highly competitive facilities management sector and we challenged the market with our requirement for a transformational communications structure. We have chosen Azzurri to help us achieve our roadmap for innovation and increased productivity partnered by cost reduction to support a quality customer service.”
Azzurri Communications Director of Mobility and Converged Solutions Martin Flick said: “OCS wanted a partner who could match their ambitions and we’re delighted to work with them on this ground breaking project.”
For more information please contact: Jackie Bennett Shaw, Tel: 01524 595453, Email: jackiebennettshaw@ocs.co.uk, www.ocs.co.uk

World First: an experiment broadcast live from Southampton University will demonstrate copper's antimicrobial efficacy for all to see
Approximately 7 million people worldwide acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) each year and, of the 4 million in Europe, around 37,000 die. In addition to the immeasurable personal toll, this costs over $80 billion globally, according to the World Health Organisation.
Microbes that thrive on objects we touch every day cause these infections. Despite aggressive hand washing campaigns and routine cleaning, infection rates remain unacceptably high and more needs to be done. Antibiotic-resistant organisms have spread from the healthcare environment to schools, homes and public transportation. In addition, antimicrobial resistance – the theme of World Health Day 2011 – and its global spread, threatens the continued effectiveness of many medicines used today to treat infectious diseases.
Researchers are now looking at new ways to prevent the transmission of significant pathogens such as MRSA. Laboratory and clinical tests have shown that copper can destroy such pathogens. This is why we invite you to see a live experiment, led by Professor William Keevil, internationally-renowned microbiological researcher and Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the University of Southampton, that will show the efficacy of antimicrobial copper, scientifically proven to be the most effective touch surface material. To witness, live from the lab, the power of antimicrobial copper, join us on the 4th of April at 14:00 on www.antimicrobialtouchsurface.com.
You will not only be able to see microbes dying on copper with your own eyes, but you can interact via web chat with copper experts.

Back to the future for ENER-G apprentices
Three apprentices from Salford-based clean technology business ENER-G who are engineering the technologies that power tomorrow’s green revolution have restored an historic engine that powered the post industrial revolution.
For the past two years the trio have worked alongside retired engineers at the Anson Engine Museum, in Poynton, Cheshire, to restore a 1943 Brotherhood Engine, which is the size of a transit van, and was last in use more than 20 years ago to power beer making at Kirkstall Brewery in Yorkshire.
The apprentices invited ENER-G group Chairman Tim Scott to the museum to celebrate the completion of the project and demonstrate the working engine. 
“This was the first time we’ve seen the engine working, so it was fantastic to get it running and to show it off,” said Dean Mellor, aged 20, who has recently completed his apprenticeship and is a qualified production fitter with ENER-G.
He added: “We’ve gained a fantastic education from the other volunteers who have years of experience in traditional engineering and have passed on to us the techniques and skills that they’ve been using all their working lives. It’s given us a deep understanding of engines and made us so much better at engineering.”
Each Tuesday for the past two years, the apprentices have taken it in turns to work at the museum, working with  other volunteers to strip down the type R63/8 371 kW (500 bhp) engine and completely restore it to working order.
In their day-to-day role within ENER-G, they manufacture renewable and energy efficient technologies, including combined heat and power systems that create low carbon energy for global customers, including the Royal family at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Peter Wood, Volunteer Coordinator for Anson Museum, said: “This is the first time we have involved apprentices and it’s been very successful. We’re all getting on in years so it’s been really nice to have young people around. It’s been a two way relationship in that we’ve benefited from their help, and they’ve learnt valuable skills from qualified engineers with years of experience.”
ENER-G started its engineering apprenticeship scheme in 2006, and trainees complete a four-year programme spending one day a week studying for ONC and NVQ level 2, and then HNC and NVQ level 3.  The company works in partnership with Salford and Trafford Engineering Group Training Association (STEGTA) and Trafford College Technology Centre.  ENER-G is also planning to launch an administration apprenticeship scheme.
ENER-G presented the museum with a donation of £1,500 to thank them for hosting the apprentices.

Firms sentenced over Worker Injury
Two construction companies have been fined a total of £45,000 after a worker suffered severe injuries to his hand.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated Kent Commercial Finishings Ltd and LCS Interiors Ltd after the incident on 14 July at a development at Wilton Plaza in Westminster.
Labourer Sean Forsythe, 22, from Streatham in London, was cleaning a screed pump, which is used to move concrete from a mixer to the floor of a building.
City of London Magistrates’ Court heard that the hose he was using to clean the pump got caught in the rotating blades of the mixer, pulling his hand into the machine.
Mr Forsythe suffered severe cuts to his right hand, leaving him with permanent damage.
The investigation by HSE found the screed pump had no safety grill to stop the blades when it was lifted - a grill is a guard when lifted, stops the blades from rotating. Magistrates heard a few months earlier another grille had broken off a pump but was not replaced– despite a written procedure being in place.
HSE prosecuted Kent Commercial Finishings Ltd, Sandy Cross, East Sussex – who were the contractor who hired the screed pump. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations 1998, and was fined £3,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.00 at an earlier sentencing.

Masternaut fuels fleet efficiency for L&W Heating & Plumbing
Satellite tracking and a mobile PDA system has helped heating and plumbing company L&W Heating & Plumbing boost productivity, reduce fleet fuel consumption and improve its carbon footprint. Working with Liverpool Housing Trust, L&W has implemented the fully integrated Masternaut vehicle tracking and service management system, which L&W Director Stephen Lee says is paying for itself in fuel and efficiency savings.
“The vehicle tracking, mobile software and PDAs all work hand in hand to make us a more efficient and agile organisation. We have gained a lot since installing the system, which has provided a fast return on investment. It gives us the edge, enabling us to provide a faster response to customers. What we save on fuel alone pays for the system. I believe that this system is suitable for any size of organisation that wants to streamline its operation,” says Stephen Lee. 
L&W is an ISO 14001 company and the system helps to support its environmental standards. It also underpins the company’s commitment to being socially responsible.
“The PDAs and software have greatly reduced our paperwork and paper consumption, helping us to maintain our ISO 14001 status. Also, by managing speeding and idling with Masternaut’s GreenerFleet environmental management tool we can limit our emissions and keep a tight rein on our operation. Because we work in built up areas and small communities, we have to maintain a socially responsible profile. The Masternaut system allows us to monitor and manage unacceptable driving patterns,” says Stephen Lee.
With the mobile software, L&W has clarity of the workload. Information is instantly accessible and managers are not waiting for reports from engineers as they update records onsite, with the data being sent at a touch of button. Information is accurate and legible as engineers simply complete electronic forms that capture critical information, including customer signatures on completion of each job.
“The PDAs act as multifunctional, multitasking devices giving us full visibility of each job. They free up time for the office and engineers as information is communicated in real time and without needing to make lots of phone calls. The system gives a clear picture from start finish and importantly allows us to tailor our services to meet specific client needs,” says Stephen Lee.