Facilities Services Group Opens Access To 24 Hour Helpdesk Service
National property maintenance provider Facilities Services Group (FSG) has extended its out of hours helpdesk service, to help more businesses achieve continuous protection of their property.
Under the initiative, FSG is opening up access to its 24/7/365 helpdesk - which has been delivering an out of hours service for clients for more than 14 years - to companies outside its partner network.
Fulfilling incident reporting and emergency maintenance needs around the clock, the service is ideal for sites that operate during unsociable hours, such as bank holidays and throughout the night.
It is operated through a single point of contact, through FSG's state-of-the-art helpdesk facility, located at the company's headquarters in Aylesbury.
From there highly-trained staff and the latest advances in technology combine to deliver a seamless, individual and efficient service to meet clients' property management needs.
Stephen Mills, of FSG, said: "Businesses signing-up to the out of hours service receive a package of measures, which ensure their properties are protected at all times.
"As well as access to a 24/7/365 helpdesk service, this includes a full UPS generator back-up facility, to ensure disaster recovery measures can be put in place.
'The service also includes email notification on jobs raised, a daily, electronically reported handover, and the reassurance of a robust escalation process."
To find out more about FSG's out of ours service call 0844 9802 500 or email sales@fsguk.co.uk

Traffik - making your floors last longer
Contract Maintenance Group rebrands to form Traffik - a new concept in floor care offering sustainable flooring solutions to both the public and private sectors
Contract Maintenance Group (CMG), which over the past 20 years has established a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost hard floor maintenance and carpet care companies, has re-branded itself under the Traffik brand name to present an innovative new concept in hard floor and carpet care and maintenance.
Launched on February 1st 2012 Traffik will provide both public and private sector clients with a range of new and sustainable solutions that help to both maintain and replace problem flooring at a fraction of the price associated with complete renewal.
The company’s services will include the provision of new surfaces for old and damaged hard flooring, new colour options and even new branding all without the need for replacement - turning unsafe and unsightly surfaces into safer BS compliant floors and providing cost effective anti mark and anti static solutions.
The most important component of the Traffik service is to make existing floors and carpets last longer – saving the cost of replacement and, through minimal disruption to the working environment, also saving valuable company downtime costs as well.
MD Julian Stoneman, “Traffik will aim to become the most practical and efficient link between designers, Facilities Managers and the eventual end users of commercial premises who have to deal with often poorly thought out flooring design schemes. Traffik will also help in identifying problems, specifying solutions and then providing them. Technical Support and the provision of ongoing maintenance where applicable will also form an important part of the Traffik package”.
“The same rigorous attention to service quality associated with the CMG brand will be maintained alongside further additions in product ranges offered through our Service Partnerships with some of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world as well as some of the best niche market sector companies. We also hope to continue the growth in our UK network of specialist providers”.
“Our principle aim, particularly in these difficult economic times, is to take floor services to a new level, presenting clients with a range of solutions that revitalises and reinvigorates their flooring options without the need for expensive replacement and, once installed, to help maintain and prolong the flooring’s life”.
Traffik’s service partnership programme enables the company to offer tailored floor refurbishment and maintenance programmes including;
Replacing old and worn floors - with brand new long lasting surfaces in an unlimited range of colours, designs and finishes. Floor surfaces no longer need stripping and sealing and are as easy to maintain as any top specification floor at a fraction of the cost of replacement.
Bespoke floor design - Using our revolutionary PU Design system, Traffik can work on top of most resilient surfaces such as PVC, linoleum, rubber, smooth concrete, ceramic and quarry tiles, resin and wood, to create amazing results - all without the need to lift and replace old floors. With limitless colour options, coloured flecks, printed foils and even bespoke graphic elements, unique and individual flooring is created at a fraction of the cost of conventional replacement flooring systems.
Anti-slip. Traffik can advise on the suitability of floor surfaces and through Pendulum Testing determine if flooring meets HSE/BS slip guidelines. With a wide range of anti slip solutions, including exclusivity for world leaders No Skidding for the UK & Ireland the company can provide solutions for all types of floor surfaces. All Traffik offices nationwide use Pendulum testers to assess floor safety using BS7976 guidelines.
Anti-stain and ESD compliant surfaces. Traffik’s anti colour system ensures that, stains and damaging marks from tyres, iodine, bleach and other materials that can cause marking, are easily managed to avoid permanent stains. Anti-static ESD compliant systems are available in two forms for fully earthed floors as well as for floors that require Electrostatic dissipation.
Vinyl & lino. Instead of removing and replacing, Traffik can refurbish old vinyl and lino flooring in any colour or design.
Carpet Care. Troubleshooting Carpet Cleaning Problems with Dry Extraction and Revolutionary Electrolytic Carpet Maintenance means we don’t waste water. In-House training is provided for carpet and resilient floor cleaning teams.
Stone and Tiles. Specialists in stone surface repair, restoration, protection, anti slip and diamond polishing.
Concrete. Traffik offers services in sealing and protecting concrete floor surfaces using shot blasting, resin floor application, PU sealers and anti slip coatings.
Julian Stoneman, “These are exciting times for us - Traffik will, we believe, quickly become recognised as a company that promises and delivers a reliable, consistent and exceptional maintenance and refurbishment flooring service. Providing world class products and solutions through a nationwide network of highly trained, professional technicians across the UK and Eire. It still amazes me that most people think a floor is just something to walk on - think again! It is often the first thing people notice when visiting your premises, a valuable asset that often defines who we are and what we represent and as such is a vitally important investment. They need looking after and that’s what Traffik is all about!”
For further details visit the Traffik website: www.traffik.uk.com
Traffik UK Ltd, Tel: 01985 840400

Pest-Ventures turns its attention to ‘bread & butter’ pests
Rodent control, including new research into anticoagulant resistance in mice and an in-depth look at block control for the 21 century with, in particular, its role in combating resurgent pests like bed bugs, dominate the Pest-Ventures 2012 programme.
“In the BASF/Pest magazine National UK Pest Management survey 2011, which assessed the mood and future direction of the UK pest management industry, rats and mice accounted for around half of all pest controllers time,” says Pest-Ventures’ Adrian Meyer, who put together the programme for the 2012 event. “With rodent control such an important part of the industry, rats and mice can be described as ‘bread & butter’ pests so we make no excuses for devoting a large part of the 2012 event to these two,” he adds.
Billed as more participative but still tackling the key technical pest control issues at a strategic as well as tactical level, this popular event returns on 26 April in a new one-day format. It is again being held at the Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel in Kegworth, Notts, near to East Midlands airport and three PROMPT CPD points have been awarded by BASIS.
The programme includes an update on rodenticide resistance in rats and new research showing anticoagulant resistance now being found in mice. There is also a paper on a new initiative by the National Pest Advisory Panel (NPAP) to develop a national strategy for sewer rats; something which many in the industry might argue is well overdue.”
Break-out sessions will tackle the future of permanent baiting against rodents and take a fresh look at the old technique of block control, including its role in tackling the resurgent bed bug problem.
The full 2011 Pest-Ventures programme can be downloaded from the Pest magazine website at www.pestmagazine.co.uk

Bandstand repair
Application services division, Belzona Technosol Limited recently completed a repair application on a 60 year old bandstand in Macclesfield. The domed roof, gutter, parapet and decorative copings on the Bandstand showed signs of spalling and deterioration. It was discovered that the cause of the problem was the lack of an effective roof coating on the dome rendering it porous. This was compounded by vegetation growth in and around the gutters resulting in blockages to the gutter drains. If the bandstand had been left untreated it would have ultimately become structurally unsafe.
After initial preparatory works, installation of the scaffolding and edge protection, the domed roof was cleaned and the vegetation removed.  During the removal of the vegetation roots, some of which were a considerable size, it became apparent that they had undermined sections of the concrete gutter: deeming the extent of the concrete damage very serious.
Belzona Technosol Limited excavated the affected areas of concrete and replaced them with Belzona 4131 (Magma Screed), a concrete rebuilding and re-surfacing system. A waterproof coating was then applied to the domed roof, gutter detail and parapet walls to prevent further ingress and reduce the likelihood of future spalling. Belzona 3111 (Flexible Membrane) in a sand colour, matching the original colour of the band stand, was the product selected as it provides a high performance, long life waterproofing and weatherproofing system.
The application was completed within 2 weeks and the Belzona system is expected to provide complete and long life weather and waterproofing protection to the domed roof structure in the future.
Further information from Belzona Polymerics Limited t: 01423 567641

Interior landscaping
Superplants supplies and installs a wide range of interior live and artificial plants to businesses across the UK.
The company supplies hotels, banks and corporate clients with an interesting selection of varieties, which can be installed in a wide range of containers to create stylish displays with impact. Live interior plants and trees are available on a sale or rental basis with full aftercare, which ensures the highest standards are maintained.
The company also specialises in providing natural stem ‘replica‘ trees and preserved palms up to 8m tall – ideal for a wide range of environments. There is also a mail order service for smaller plants and trees available on their web site.
There is also an exhibition and event hire service available for clients wishing to have planting for short periods of time.
A free survey and recommendation & quotation service is available, to ensure clients achieve the very best designs at ‘value for money prices’. Call free on 0800 0680295. www.superplants.co.uk e-mail: info@superplants.co.uk.
Photo 1: Curvy grp containers planted with Sansevieria by Superplants
Photo 2: Preserved palm and live olive tree in Duato natural stone containers by Superplants

Crate rental company boss hits out at new parking restrictions during London Olympics
John Mitchell, Managing Director of crate rental specialist Pluscrates has hit out at Transport for London’s proposals to extend parking restrictions beyond the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and increase fines during the 2012 Games.  Pluscrates supplies crates for the relocation industry and makes daily deliveries to corporate addresses in central London.
“Companies like ours provide the logistic support that’s vital for London’s relocation business to function,” said John. “We already have to bear the cost of penalty charge notices (PCN’s) when we’re carrying out our legitimate deliveries in central London and even during normal times the cost runs into tens of thousands of pounds every year.  The last thing we need is higher fines and more restrictions during what is normally our peak trading season.”
While it is expected that some relocations will be planned to avoid the Games period, others will be determined by commercial time constraints and cannot be re-scheduled.  Many London corporates are requiring their commercial movers to submit operational plans to ensure continuity of service during the Games period. Some might say a reasonable enough request given that Transport for London (TFL) has released details of planned road changes and details on the proposed Olympic lanes. However, if the proposed parking restrictions to areas surrounding the ORN are implemented, planning will become a logistical nightmare.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has branded the proposals as, “a cynical move to cash in on the Games at a time when the logistic sector is already under enormous pressure to keep London moving.”

Effortless balustrade installation at City Peninsula with C.R. Laurence’s TAPER-LOC® System
Over 160 apartments at City Peninsula, Greenwich have benefited from fast and easy installation of stunning glass balustrade systems using C.R. Laurence’s effortless TAPER-LOC® Dry Glaze Balustrade System.  
City Peninsula is one of the largest and most ambitious urban regeneration schemes ever seen in Europe with 166 luxurious apartments and triple level town houses, all benefiting from spectacular 360° panoramic riverside views.
C.R. Laurence is the leading supplier to the glazing, railing, architectural and construction sectors and their innovative TAPER-LOC® System was used along with base shoe channels to secure the cantilever glass balustrading to the balconies on the apartment blocks.
The development for clients Bellway Homes, was designed by RMA Architecture Ltd and constructed by Principal Contractors, Ardmore Group. 
Tony Hall, Foreman Steel Fixer at Ardmore Group said:
“We used approximately 2,500 units over 19 storeys and had no failed units. The wedges were positioned at 200mm centres on the advice of Building Control when we did the sample test panels, and the system was approved by all parties. The product worked wonderfully, was fit for purpose and was easy to use. The product information and instructions were also very clear”.
The balconies are designed to allow residents to take full advantage of the outside areas around the development and Joanna Lewinski, Partner at RMA Architecture Ltd commented:
“The clean lines of the cantilever balustrade solution offered a simple but effective method to enclose the different types of balconies. The fully glazed enclosure allows river and city views and enhances the feeling of openness within the apartments.”
The TAPER-LOC® System conforms to BS6180:1999 and BS6399-1:1996 and is more than 50% faster than alternative methods and is also completely unique, in that it uses a horizontal TAPER-LOC® design, which allows the system to be adjusted, dismantled and re-set.  This gave the installers the flexibility and control they needed on site for accurate installation and will make replacing scratched or broken panels effortless in the future.
The development has also secured an ECO Homes excellent ratings award and the exterior elevations to the buildings are greatly enhanced by the glass fronted balconies which give a contemporary and luxurious feel to the development.
For more information, and to receive a TAPER-LOC® System brochure, call free on 00 800 0421 6144, visit C.R. Laurence’s website at www.crlaurence.co.uk or email CRL@crlaurence.co.uk

Online shop for workplace signs adds stylish new display range
Online shop for workplace signs adds stylish new display stand range
Signbox’s e-commerce site goes from strength to strength enhanced with the addition of the Alumino stylish floor stand designed to display A4 or A3 notices.
The Signbox e-shop: www.signboxshop.co.uk has added the Alumino display stand range. Supremely stylish, this contemporary looking silver anodised aluminium floor stand is designed to present A4 and A3 notices in portrait or landscape format.
Easy to assemble, the stands are sturdy in construction but light enough to move around a building. Ideal for the modern office reception area, hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants, retail outlets, public spaces or any location where instant information needs to be displayed at a moment’s notice. Prices start at just £195 (ex VAT and delivery).
The Signbox e-shop continues to go from strength-to-strength assisting more businesses and facilities managers with their corporate and workplace signage requirements. As one of the UK’s foremost sign manufacturers and winner of the coveted ‘Best Sign Company of the Year’ award for 2011, Signbox took the view from the outset that workplace signs don’t have to be utilitarian and purely functional – the ever present “visual clutter of DTP notices”. Their customer research revealed that what many companies wanted were high quality, aesthetically pleasing workplace signs that are in keeping with the quality of their own working environment – yet at affordable prices.
The Signbox e-shop range are all stock items so delivery is quick with most types of signs needed in and around the workplace available including display, health & safety, desk and door, fire escape, paper insert and wayfinding – with the most sought after being fire escape signs.
To see the secure, easy-to-navigate online shop, go to www.signboxshop.co.uk.

BTEC Accreditation for RoSPA’s new moving and handling trainers courses
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is marking the start of 2012 by launching new Safer People and Manual Handling Trainers Courses with BTEC accreditation at Levels 4 and 3.
RoSPA is one of the longest-serving providers of both manual handling and safer people handling courses in the UK but this is the first time that BTEC accreditation has been gained. In fact, the new accreditations mean RoSPA’s Safer People Handling Trainers Course and Manual Handling Trainers Course are now the only ones of their kind in the country with a recognised levelled qualification equivalent to a Certificate of Higher Education or A-Level standard, respectively.
The Safer People Handling Trainers Course is for managers, supervisors and those responsible for educating others in the moving and handling of people within the health or social care sector and education sector. It will use a flexible approach suitable for all sectors that move or handle people and will teach how to “handle people with dignity”.
The Manual Handling Trainers Course is for those who train others in manual handling and covers the lifting of routine loads, awkward loads and team handling as well as the pushing and pulling of loads.
Both courses aim to help organisations reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders.

Impressive results announced
Despite the current financial downturn, Develop has announced profits up by *18% against the previous year with plans for even greater success in the future.
Develop is a national operator that delivers technical training and assessments across the UK, supported by five dedicated regional Training Centres. Develop is one of the few providers delivering multi-utility training for both traditional and environmental technologies and is the only one that offers a distinctive blend of technical and behavioural training.
“We are extremely proud of the progress that Develop has made over the last 12 months.” Commented Develop’s Executive Chairman, Rod Tompsett, who has been in post for two years. “We are delighted to be able to report that our financial performance has exceeded expectations in a very challenging economic environment.”
It was reported in April this year that more than two-fifths of organisations have decreased funding for learning and development and only one in 10 anticipate an increase in the next 12 months, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. This is borne out with an increasing demand for far more efficient training and a greater return on training investment.
Develop attributes its positive results to some significant achievements this year as well as the successful implementation of a strategy to innovate, drive efficiencies and improve quality and delivery of its training.
Major accomplishments include Develop being retained by National Grid as a core supplier of technical training and being awarded the contract for the supply of technical training by Anglian Water Group. Develop also achieved first stage recognition on training excellence accreditation (TX, formerly the Training Quality Standard) and is working towards full recognition as a provider of training excellence.
The amount of training delivered by Develop has increased, most significantly in facilities management. Also Develop’s ground-breaking behavioural training and assessments offer has contributed the best ever results this year.
With one of Develop’s objectives being ‘to innovate and to invest in the future’ advances have been established this year to help clients maximise their budgets through greater efficiencies, specifically through bespoke IT.
Develop is already planning for even better results in 2012 and working hard to ensure that its success continues. Significant investments are planned in the on-going commitment to deliver best value and effective training to its clients, utilising the local Training Centres and extending its highly specialised offer for the growing environmental technologies sector.
Rod added; “Despite our success in 2011 we are very aware it is a challenging environment. But it is our belief that by continuing to innovate and drive efficiencies will allow us to better service our client base of major utility, construction and facilities management companies, and public sector bodies. We have a committed and highly skilled team at Develop who are all dedicated to achieving even better results in the coming years.”
*Year ending 30th September 2011

Lotus Professional® launches streamlined Marathon™ range
January 2012 saw the re-launch of the Lotus Professional® Marathon™ dispenser range, incorporating an interleaved hand towel and toilet tissue dispensing solution.   The new sleek Marathon™ dispensers provide total washroom solutions which can be combined to meet the functional and aesthetic requirements from HoReCa, to schools and healthcare. Each dispenser is easy to use and low on maintenance with an optimised dispensing mouth, providing sheet by sheet dispensing, ensuring users only touch and take one hand towel or toilet tissue at a time.
The new dispensers offer a new streamlined look and are available in translucent blue and white.  Integrating the renamed M and Z fold paper towel options, and the 1 and 2 ply interleaved toilet tissue, the Marathon™ brand ensures customers can select the product most suited to their needs easier than ever before
Each Marathon™ dispenser is made from a shock resistant poly-carbonate cover, with a removable key to reduce pilferage. Compatible with the Lotus Professional® range of M, Z and C fold paper towels; they can be topped up any time. They are also available in two sizes, small and medium to fit a wide variety of locations and where space is at a premium. Emma Nourry, Trade Marketing Manager at Georgia Pacific Lotus Professional® brand says, “The new Marathon™ range combines classic folded paper towel and toilet tissue solutions with hygiene and consumption innovations for a modern dispenser suitable for all of the sectors we service. Its streamlined look signifies a move forward in the look and feel of the Lotus Professional® range of products, whilst the paper towel rebrand demonstrates our commitment to products that not only reduce consumption and improve hygiene, but meet the needs of our customers.”
The Lotus Professional® brand understands there is a vast choice of hand towels available and by simplifying the Marathon™ M and Z fold hand towel brand, customers are now able to easily select the correct paper towels to meet their needs. Ranging from value 1-ply paper towels, through to premium and luxury 2-ply towels, manufactured using ultra-absorbent TAD (Through Air Dried) technology, the benefits and intended use of each paper towel are clearer than ever before. 
Paper towels continue to be the most hygienic way to dry hands. According to research conducted by Westminster University, paper towels reduce bacteria spread on hands by up to 77%, compared to jet air hand dryers and warm air hand dryers that encourage bacteria spread, in some cases meaning that a washroom user could be better off not washing and drying their hands at all. By developing a fully dismountable dispenser that can be completely and easily cleaned as required, the Marathon™ hand towel dispenser range allows staff to maintain the dispensers internally, reducing the risk of germs and dirt contaminating paper towels inside the dispenser.
For more information about the Marathon™ range or any other Lotus Professional® products please call 0114 2856666, or visit www.lotusprofessional.co.uk.