Training for the future?
You could one day be marching your way to fitness without ever having to leave your office desk thanks to the revolutionary Walkstation concept.
Steelcase has pioneered the idea of the Walkstation concept in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic in the United States.
Available to try for the first time in the UK today at Steelcase’s state of the art ‘Worklife’ centre on Farringdon Road, the Walkstation concept could hold the key to office workers exercising and burning off calories while they work.
The Walkstation concept is height adjustable with a specially designed commercial grade treadmill enabling people to walk slowly while working on a computer.
Primarily intended for corporate work environments, the Walkstation concept combines Steelcase’s knowledge of ergonomics and workplace design with Dr. James Levine’s research on N.E.A.T™ (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) the energy expended during everyday activity.
Research carried out by Dr. Levine at the Mayo Clinic determined that the workplace and its sedentary workforce can realise significant health, economic and social benefits if workers are physically active during their normal desk-based activities.
A UK Government report released last year on the Health Profile of England has revealed a nation blighted by record levels of obesity which is driving up the cost of healthcare and driving down workers productivity.
Designed to encourage more movement by walking slowly at work, Dr. Levine estimates that users of the Walkstation concept have the potential to increase energy expenditure by 100 calories per hour when walking at a 1 mph rate. Consequently, if obese individuals, who typically move two-and-a-half hours less per day on average, use the system for two to three hours per workday, they could lose between 3 to 5 stone in a year.
“The Walkstation concept is not intended to provide a gym-style workout in the office; its purpose is not to cause users to raise their heart rates or work up a sweat,” Dr. Levine says. “For office workers, the majority of the workday is spent sitting in front of a computer. The premise of this Walkstation concept is simply to increase movement while working, and for users to enjoy the health benefits of that movement.
Mark Spragg, Managing Director, Steelcase UK, said: “Obesity and lack of exercise are a major problem not just in the US but also in the UK.
“The Walkstation concept could lead to people becoming more active and healthy without having to leave their workstations. “
The Walkstation treadmill concept is designed for modest movements and engineered to operate within a limited speed range of 0.5 to 2mph. A safety clip attached to the user automatically shuts off the treadmill if the user is no longer on the unit.
All adjustments for the table height, weight and treadmill speed are easily input on a touchpad digital controller, which also records and displays time, distance, and calories burned.

Cognetas and Englefield capital aquire Morrison Utilty Services for £135m
Cognetas and Englefield Capital, the independent mid-market European private equity firms, today announced the joint acquisition of Morrison Utility Services (“Morrison US”), part of Anglian Water Group, for £135m ( ¤177m). Cognetas and Englefield Capital will be investing alongside the management team.
Morrison US, which is headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading service providers within the electricity, gas, telecommunication and water sectors. Operating under long-term contracts, it is a key provider of outsourced services to a broad range of blue chip utility companies.
Service offerings are centred on the provision, replacement, repair and maintenance of utility infrastructure throughout the UK and Ireland and Morrison US is increasingly working in partnership with its clients to assist them in the long-term planning of their infrastructure management plans.
Jonathan Mussellwhite, the Cognetas Partner who led the transaction, said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to partner with the management team of Morrison US to grow and develop the business going forward. As one of the UK’s leading providers of infrastructure services, Morrison US has a long track record in a sector with exciting growth prospects.”
Edmund Lazarus, the Englefield Capital Partner who led the transaction, stated: "Englefield has a track record of successful investments in both the utilities and the outsourced services sectors. We are delighted to be working with the exceptional management team at Morrison. The business they have built provides consistently outstanding service to its customers and has exciting potential for growth as an independent business."
Morrison US employs more than 3,300 people and has turnover of approximately £500m for the year ended March 2008 with a contracted order book in excess of £1.4bn.

Sodexo strengthens relationship with Newcastle Building Society
Sodexo has signed an initial one-year deal with Newcastle Building Society to supply catering, cleaning and gym services at its new premises at Cobalt Business Park.
The contract, worth £250,000, commenced in January 2008, with Sodexo employing 13 members of staff to initially provide soft services to Newcastle Building Society’s 150 employees (later rising to 500 employees), at the recently built venue, situated on the largest business park in the UK.
This contract is an extension of the existing relationship between Sodexo and Newcastle Building Society, which has seen Sodexo provide catering services at the company’s Portland House headquarters in Newcastle for over ten years.

Lanes Group announces Scottish roadshow
The Lanes Group plc — which includes drainage specialist Lanes for Drains and hygiene services and pest control divisions — is kicking off its 2008 activities with a roadshow at Hamilton Racecourse in Scotland on 10 April.
The Scottish event follows a successful series of shows held south of the border in 2007 and will be hosted by Lanes’ Scottish operation, Castlebrae which has branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Michelle Ringland, marketing manager at Lanes, says that the series wouldn’t be complete without a Scottish event:
“Castlebrae has been part of the Lanes Group since 2005 and is widely known across Scotland as the leading drainage specialist. Like the rest of the Lanes’ operation, it offers a round the clock drainage service with resources, technology and knowhow to handle everything from domestic blockages to major commercial contracts.
“It also has Castlebrae Hygiene Services and Castlebrae Pest Control, which mirror our Active operations in England and Wales, so offer extraordinary cleaning services — such as graffiti and chewing gum removal; kitchen and washroom deep cleans including extraction systems; biological hazards — as well as eradication of and preventative services for all types of pest infestation. These operations have proved especially successful in the local government sector.
“It’s high time we shouted about the company’s achievements in the region. Holding a roadshow where clients are able to see our technology and expertise in action and find out more about the extensive services we offer is a great way to do that,” she adds.
Demonstrations will include LISY Sat Cam, the latest in CCTV technology which surveys laterals from the main sewer; pipe relining; Ultracoat, the revolutionary waterproofing system; Castlebrae’s acclaimed system for relining refuse chutes in multi storey buildings; and graffiti and chewing gum removal, amongst others.
Lanes’ Scottish roadshow will be held on 10 April at Hamilton Racecourse near Glasgow, from 11am until 3pm with refreshments throughout and a buffet lunch.
For further information or to reserve a place at Lanes’ Scottish Roadshow, email sales@lanesfordrains.co.uk or telephone Castlebrae on 0141 631 4442.

Another high profile legal client for HLW
Building on its considerable experience in the legal sector, global architecture interiors firm HLW, has been selected by Gide Loyrette Nouel (GLN) to deliver a clean and contemporary space to its London headquarters.
GLN is the largest international French law firm, with 21 offices in 18 countries. In September 2008 GLN is relocating its London office from City Point to the newly re-furbished Old Stock Exchange building at 125 Old Broad Street, where it will be the first tenant. HLW will fit out a total of 33,000 square feet, 11,000 of which will be used as expansion space.
Chris Mead, a London-based partner of GLN says, “We wanted an innovative, modern feel for our new office that supports Gide’s brand. HLW’s knowledge and experience in the industry impressed us and gave us confidence that they could deliver .”
HLW London is a team of architects, interiors, furniture and product designers. Its design solutions are rooted in the context of a client’s aspirations and personality and are the product of an intense process of dialogue and exchange. The team make a point of not imposing formulaic responses but seek to understand its clients’ business drivers now and into the future.
HLW International also has offices in New York, Los Angeles and Shanghai. All share a high-speed worldwide computer network, enabling the provision of a consistent and highly responsive level of service and a high speed of delivery.

Pinnacle begins its biggest grounds maintenance contract in the Midlands
Pinnacle has begun its biggest grounds maintenance contract in the Midlands, working with Walsall Housing Group (whg).
This is Pinnacle’s second major contract with whg, the first being estate cleaning for the Group’s 20,000 properties throughout Walsall.
Mary Williams, Facilities Manager for whg, said: “Pinnacle has already set a high benchmark for quality with estate cleaning and I’m looking forward to Pinnacle repeating this to deliver excellent results for our residents on this facilities management contract.”
Roger O’Sullivan, Pinnacle’s Managing Director of Facilities Management, said: “This is a great opportunity to deliver total neighbourhood services and our new GM Plus service. When this contract was awarded, Pinnacle made a promise to our client and local residents that we would deliver quality services – and we are excited about keeping that promise and meeting and exceeding their expectations for grounds maintenance over the next two years.”
The grounds maintenance contract will run for two years with a possible two year extension.

Additional Contracting Services for Customers
Yorkshire based company Belzona Polymerics Ltd, the world leader in the design and manufacture of industrial protective coatings and polymer repair composites has seen significant developments in the contracting division of the business. Belzona Technosol Ltd has received a major investment which will facilitate long term growth and help to enhance support to its customer base.
Belzona Technosol will now be managed in- house from the Belzona headquarters in Harrogate which will allow customers to deal directly with Belzona as a single source for both the material manufacturer and provider of a complete application service. Additional services now in place will allow Belzona Technosol to provide customers with direct labour, contract management of projects and a Q.A inspection service to customers or nominated contractors.
Operating from its regional offices based in Wrexham and Livingston, local service to customers will be provided by a network of trained Belzona Technical Consultants resulting in a fast, effective and reliable service.
Steve Cooper, Commercial Manager for Belzona explained, ‘We are simply responding to the demands of our market. Our customers purchase Belzona products for performance and reliability but require a complete package combining quality Belzona materials and a highly effective reliable application service. This allows flexibility for the customer as there is now a one point responsibility contact which ensures efficient and exceptional customer service.’
Other recent changes have also been focused in several other key areas of the business including a large recruitment drive that is currently underway to identify new contractors to join the Technosol team. In addition to this a new corporate branding initiative has help to reflect the company’s professional image demonstrated through the purchase and design of two new Technosol vans.
For further information email: sales@belzona.co.uk

LSI Architects Secures Planning Approval for building development
Norwich and London-based LSI Architects has announced that planning permission has been granted for a new build project at Town Close House Preparatory School, Norwich. Town Close House is a co-educational school for 500 pupils aged 3 to 13 years. It is situated between the Ipswich and Newmarket Roads in attractively wooded grounds close to the city centre. The plans are for a new multipurpose sports hall with integrated changing and office facilities, to be followed by the conversion of existing buildings to create a new performing arts centre. At some future date, the strategic plan for the site also includes the provision of a new dining hall.
The scheme provides for up to 2000m2 of new buildings, with the first phase involving the demolition of the timber clad Little Theatre, formerly a gymnasium, and the construction of a new sports hall, changing rooms and viewing gallery, along with rationalisation of maintenance stores and workshops. The new buildings have been designed to complement the existing listed buildings and to conserve the trees and landscape amenity of the site. During the forthcoming building phase, management of construction access will be a key priority in order to protect the health and safety of the school community and the general public.
The second phase of the building will include the remodelling and refurbishment of the existing sports hall to create a new drama and performing arts facility. The proposals involve re-roofing the existing building to achieve modern environmental performance standards, and the creation of a new entrance foyer from the central playground, offering full accessibility.
The long term plans for phase three involve the demolition of some existing buildings which are towards the end of their economic life and the construction of a new dining room, music teaching rooms and offices.
David Andrews, a Principal Member of LSI Architects, commented: ”The phasing of the development has been carefully considered to ensure that the school remains fully operational throughout the duration of the construction works. The design has been formulated to achieve appropriate scale, massing, architectural expression and palette of materials. It has maximised the utilisation of daylight and natural ventilation and incorporates sustainable design and energy strategies.”

Portakabin named as a business superbrand
Portakabin announced as one of the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands
Portakabin was announced as one of the UK’s leading business brands in the Business Superbrands 2008 list. The announcement follows a robust selection process tapping into the views of an independent and voluntary council of experts and over 1500 business professionals, the latter surveyed by research agency YouGov.
Business Superbrands is a unique initiative from the Superbrands organisation, the global branding arbiters. Business Superbrands is in its eighth year and has become a key barometer on the performance of brands across a wide variety of sectors.
“With talk of significant slowdown in the economy over the next 12 months, it is reassuring to those companies achieving Business Superbrands status that they possess a powerful, respected and recognised brand that should assist them in mitigating risk, negating the downturn and outperforming competitors,” comments Stephen Cheliotis, Chairman of the Business Superbrands Council for 2008.
“The essential components that define a Business Superbrand – quality, reliability and distinction – help make a business strong enough to see off the challenges bought about by a deteriorating economic climate.”
As a Business Superbrand, Portakabin has become extremely desirable among many business leaders and influencers. To find out how Portakabin can benefit your business call 0845 355 5359 log on at www.portanews.co.uk or email news@portakabin.co.uk