FLEET MANAGEMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ROAD SAFETY
www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 21.6
Business Information for Local and Central Government ENERGY
THE ROLE OF RENEWABLES Sustainable power can boost the local economy and council incomes
EVENTS
POINTING THE WAY ON ELECTION DAY Clear signs and graphics for a modern polling station
test The la logy o techn s p77 w ne
FLOOD MANAGEMENT
WHEN WATER RISES West Berkshire Council shares the story behind its innovative flood defence scheme
nefits The be use in let of tab nment gover 1 p8
PROCUREMENT | FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | SIGNAGE | PRINTING | CONTACT CENTRES
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COMMENT FLEET MANAGEMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ROAD SAFETY
www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 21.6
Business Information for Local and Central Government ENERGY
THE ROLE OF RENEWABLES Sustainable power can boost the local economy and council incomes
EVENTS
POINTING THE WAY ON ELECTION DAY Clear signs and graphics for a modern polling station
est The latlogy techno p77 news
FLOOD MANAGEMENT
WHEN WATER RISES West Berkshire Council shares the story behind its innovative flood defence scheme
nefits The be use in let of tab ment govern1 p8
PROCUREMENT | FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | SIGNAGE | PRINTING | CONTACT CENTRES
Comment
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Power to the Mancunians Chancellor George Osborne has announced that Greater Manchester is to have an elected mayor to take control over regional issues such as such transport, social care, housing and police budgets. The first election is expected to take place in 2017, and is said to be the first metro-wide elected mayor outside of London. The announcement comes despite the fact that two years ago, the people of Manchester voted against having an elected mayor. But the deal, which was agreed with leaders of the region’s 10 councils and will give local politicians more control over budgets and how things are run, was obviously too good to turn down. BBC Radio Manchester’s Kevin Fitzpatrick reported that previously, concerns existed about one person having all the power over an area where different places have different needs. However, the new deal was a winner because any major changes would still need the support of two thirds of the combined authority’s leaders, removing that particular objection. George Osborne said: “I want to talk to other cities who are keen to follow Manchester’s lead – every city is different and no model of local power will be the same.” It will be interesting to see if other UK cities will follow suit. Angela Pisanu, editor
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226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Wright EDITOR Angela Pisanu EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Arthur Walsh PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Gooding PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Reiss Malone ADVERTISEMENT SALES Steve Day, Nichola Halle, Steve Howett, Michael Marius, Bernie Miller, David Morgan, Mark Ohanaka, Charmain Shreeves PUBLISHER Kelly Scott ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich, Charlotte Cassar, Vickie Hopkins REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media
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CONTENTS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS 21.6 07 GB NEWS
Lib Dem Home Office minister steps down; a mayor for Manchester in 2017; Government looks into ‘skills crisis’ in social work
11 PROCUREMENT
Tim Colman discusses Lord Young’s procurement reforms encouraging more business with SMEs and micro firms
15
15 FLOOD DEFENCE: LOCAL FLOODING
Keith Ulyatt of West Berkshire Council explains its innovative flood defence scheme
19 FLOOD DEFENCE: PARTNERSHIPS 22 25
The BSIA’s Judith Denny explores how government and industry are working together for a better response to floods
22 WASTE MANAGEMENT
A look at the current state of household waste collection and fresh ideas to help boost recycling rates
25 ENERGY
Local authorities are in a strong position to help deliver the required growth in renewables, writes Mike Landy of the Renewable Energy Association
33 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
45
81
45 PRINTING
What are the key considerations when choosing a print management supplier for public communication projects? The Independent Print Industries Association explains
53 PUBLIC SECTOR EVENTS
Andrew Harrison of the Events Supplier and Services Association explains the value of clear and crisp signage for your polling station
59 FLEET MANANGEMENT: PROCUREMENT
Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the Fleet Industry Advisory Group, shares some procurement best practice
63 FLEET MANANGEMENT: PUBLIC SECTOR
The Crown Commercial Service’s fleet team explains how it works to promote the green motoring agenda throughout the public sector
65 FLEET MANANGEMENT: ADVICE James Langley, director and Council Member of the Institute of Car Fleet Management shares ten top tips for effective fleet management
Building owners will have to learn about building maintenance techniques or face cost and legal problems, urges to Simon Carter from the B&ES
71 ROAD SAFETY
37 FIRE SAFETY
75 FRANCHISING
41 SIGNAGE
88 PRODUCTS & SERVICES
How will the phasing out of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) affect the fire protection systems industry? Wayfinding signage may seem straightforward, but is actually easy to get wrong. David Catanach advises on how to get it right
77 GT NEWS
Majority of council websites fail performance tests; February launch for sixth version of G-Cloud
81 TABLETS
How can tablet and smartphone devices in local government improve services and make savings?
Government Business
Contents
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
A survey of the UK roads by the Road Safety Markings Association reveals that many road markings are in a bad state Paul Stafford of the British Franchise Association lists the five factors to consider before embarking on a franchise career
A round-up of products & services to help local and central government
85 CUSTOMER CONTACT
Ann-Marie Stagg discusses how technology is driving the demand for expertise and professionalism in front-line agents
ISS
Turn to UE 12.6 p latest gage 77 for th techno overnment e lo and fe gy news atures
www.governmentbusiness.co.uk Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
5
LOCAL POLITICS
A Mayor for Manchester should lead to more local autonomy
NEWS IN BRIEF
GB News
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Stoke-on-Trent lacks funds for Council Tax support increase Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said that it will maintain a council tax support scheme thought to be one of the least generous in the country as it lacks sufficient funds to change the policy. The council offers a maximum of 70 per cent council tax relief to some working age residents, compared to neighbouring councils which pay up to 80 per cent. A council report claims that increasing maximum support rates would cost £1 million. READ MORE:
tinyurl.com/qxmfxz9
Cash boost for neighbourhood planning
Manchester is to have an elected mayor who will be involved in decision making on regional issues, the Chancellor has announced. This followed an agreement between leaders from the region’s ten councils, and it is expected that the creation of the post will lead to greater local autonomy on spending decisions as well as policies like housing and transport. While Mancunians voted against the creation of a mayoral post in 2012, the deal agreed between George Osborne and council leaders was deemed to benefit the region, with one politician telling BBC Radio Manchester they were “amazed” at the level of power being devolved from central government. It is thought that the first mayoral election will take place in 2017, and that the mayor will be responsible for leading Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Osborne spoke of the move as a “massive moment for the north of England,” going on to say: “I have reached agreement with the civic leaders of Greater Manchester to create the first metro-wide elected mayor outside of London.” “This will give Mancunians a powerful voice and bring practical improvements for local people, with better transport links, an Oyster-style travelcard and more investment in skills and the city’s economy. “I want to talk to other cities who are keen to follow Manchester’s lead - every city is different and no model of local power will be the same. “Giving cities power is part of our long-term economic plan to reduce the decades-old gap between north and south; London and the rest.” Anxious to put Labour’s stamp on the topic of devolution within England, Ed Miliband set out his party’s blueprint for greater regional autonomy in the coming years. He said that a Labour government would substitute an elected senate for the House
of Lords as the system currently in place “fails to represent large parts of the UK.” Speaking at a conference in Blackpool ahead of the finalisation of Osborne’s deal, the Labour leader said that senators would be elected by from Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and English regions instead of from constituencies. Speaking out on what he described as an issue of social economic fairness, rather than a purely constitutional issue, Miliband said: “We need to do so much more to reverse a century of centralisation that we’ve seen in our country. “The House of Lords is one of the biggest pieces of unfinished business in our constitution. “The North West has nearly the same population as London, but five times more members of the House of Lords are from London than from the North West. “London has more members in the House of Lords than the East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber added together. “No wonder the recovery isn’t working for most parts of Britain when the voices of most parts of Britain aren’t being heard. “It’s time to reform the way we’re governed, it’s time every part of our country had a voice at the heart of our politics, it’s time to have a senate of the nations and regions which serves our whole country so that we can truly build a Britain that works for all and not just for some.” The Local Government Association commended Miliband’s emphasis on greater regional representation in a statement: “These proposals, including bringing council leaders to the decisionmaking table for devolution, promise to deliver some of the greater freedoms local government has long been calling for. It is right that national government engages with council leaders and the LGA will be keen to work with any future government on READ MORE: how this can be tinyurl.com/mzsrxj8 best achieved.”
The government has announced a £23 million spend to encourage greater participation among communities in how their neighbourhoods are planned. This aims to help local people propose and vote for new developments and their location. These ‘neighbourhood plans’ can be used to determine planning applications, while ‘neighbourhood development orders’ will oversee the granting of planning permissions, voted on in a referendum. The scheme is in place in 1,200 communities. READ MORE:
tinyurl.com/p9mxwnb
Pension reforms may not go far enough The Department for Communities and Local Government’s head of local government pensions, Bob Holloway, has said that recent reforms may not be sufficient to ensure that all 89 LGPS funds are sustainable in the coming years. The changes involve pension funds in England and Wales changing from final salary rates to a career average, as well as changes to the rate of accrual. Speaking at the Local Government Pension Investment Forum 2014, Holloway said that while these changes would help the government to save money they did not guarantee sustainability in the long term: “When you consider the levels of reduction ministers talk about in terms of local government, we are not talking about single-figure percentages. “I do not see things getting better, and the challenges will increase.” READ MORE:
tinyurl.com/pgmfcfh
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PAY
LAND MANAGEMENT
Housing Minister hails success of Help to Buy
Pickle’s Right to Reclaim land scheme falls flat
More than 54,000 people have been assisted in buying their own home via the Help to Buy scheme, England Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has announced. Figures published by the government show that 39,000 new build properties have been provided through equity loans and NewBuy initiatives, while 15,000 have been bought through mortgage guarantees. Meanwhile 3,400 people in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland have become homeowners through the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee. 80 per cent of sales were to first time buyers, and it has been reported that house building is at its highest point since 2007. Lewis said: “Today’s figures clearly demonstrate the continuing success of the Help to Buy in supporting creditworthy, hardworking people who want to buy a home of their own. “Over 54,000 new homeowners have now used the schemes as a valuable alternative to the Bank of Mum and Dad, enabling them to buy with a fraction of the deposit they would normally require. “But it’s also got Britain building and since the scheme’s launch private house building starts has READ MORE: increased tinyurl.com/kar3zhd by a third.”
Community Secretary Eric Pickles has been criticised following the revelation that the Community Right to Reclaim Land scheme, launched in 2011, has failed to free up any unused public land. The Huffington Post published the findings through a Freedom of Information request, highlighting that to date 53 applications had been made to release land, of which 41 had already been refused. Requests are handled by Pickles, who deems whether land is vacant and whether it is not currently involved in any council plans, and then decides whether or not to sell the land on an open market. Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn said: “Government made great play of this new right for communities to ask for unused public land to be brought back into use, but not one of the applications has so far been successful. Ministers should explain why this new law has failed so completely.” A DCLG spokesperson responded: “We’ve pulled out all the stops and got Britain building, including identifying enough formerly-used surplus public sector land for 100,000 homes, and reforming the planning system to give communities a greater say
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
Report calls for finance reforms The Independent Commission on Local Government Finance has published an interim report saying that finance reforms are needed in order to give local authorities greater control over their spending, arguing that this is the only way public services can be made sustainable. The report, ‘Public Money, Public Choice’ compared local government funding in various international cities and found that there was much greater centralisation in the UK, with 74 per cent of funding coming from Westminster, compared to eight per cent in Tokyo and 24 per cent in Berlin. Commission chair Darra Singh said: “The current local government finance system is broken. The way it allocates money is irrational and unintelligible. It is virtually impossible for government ministers to understand, let alone the public. “The Commission believes the need for reform is urgent, and sees an opportunity to establish a funding system for local government which is largely self-sufficient. This should include powers to set council tax bands and revalue properties locally.”
GB News
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Pickles has been criticised following the revelation that the Community Right to Reclaim Land scheme, has failed to free up any unused public land
READ MORE:
tinyurl.com/nvqahu3
over how their local area is developed. “The Community Right to Reclaim Land is another key part of this, giving local people the chance to challenge how local sites are being used and to bring forward ideas for new homes. Each application is considered carefully and since the Right to Reclaim Land was introduced in 2011, we’ve had over 50 applications. Of these, over half have been on sites where there are already plans for the owner to sell, develop or use the land in question.”
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
£70 million London growth scheme The capital is to benefit from a £70 million borough-led investment programme which is expected to create over 7,000 apprenticeships and training opportunities. Members of the London Enterprise Panel backed proposals from all 32 London boroughs and the City of London for job creation and growth schemes to be funded by the New Homes Bonus programme, which makes use of money raised by local authorities for increasing the number of local homes. The Mayor of London and chairman of the London Enterprise Panel, Boris Johnson, said: “This important scheme will mean that building vital new homes also provides our boroughs with funding to be used to create thousands of new jobs, improve infrastructure and boost skills across the capital.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
Social Work skills crisis looms, says LGA The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on central government to tackle what it describes as a deficit of trained social workers, with almost three quarters of UK local authorities having difficulties recruiting and retaining social care staff.
“It is a good example of team work between the boroughs and the London Enterprise Panel, which will help to ensure London remains the best place to live, start a business and to invest.” It is thought that 130,000 square metres of public space will be regenerated through the initiative, as well as 180,000 square metres of workspace. Support will be offered to help 6,600 Londoners into paid employment and to help launch 720 businesses. Approved schemes include: Building Community Resilience, a skills and training project for disadvantaged people in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham; and Entrepreneurs Market, a platform for entrepreneurs READ MORE: based in tinyurl.com/ngn65op Sutton. The Association claims that although £65 million is spent annually on social worker grants to attract people to the profession, a lack of vetting means that councils are not always provided with suitable candidates. Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “In many areas career development for existing social workers and recruiting experienced managers are higher priorities than getting more people through social work courses.”
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
9
SME SUPPLIERS
REFORMING SME PROCUREMENT
The government and some local authorities have recognised the value of procuring goods and services from SMEs for many years. The evidence is compelling and shows the true value of small businesses at the grassroots level. For example, research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) into the impact of local authority spending on their economies found that every £1 spent with local SMEs generated an additional 63p of benefit for their economy, compared to just 40p generated by large local firms. So, doing business with local firms really
does pay and it gives our towns and cities much more value. CLES also found that small local firms generated 58 per cent more economic benefit for local economies over two rounds of re-spending than large local firms did. That said, the benefits are not just economic. Small firms tend to be more innovative and better able to adapt to client needs, and so can offer very high levels of service. They may
SCHEDULE With the public finances still under significant pressure it is unsurprising that the Government is looking to get the most it can from the £230 billion public sector procurement pot. In May 2013 the Prime Minister’s advisor on enterprise and small business, Lord Young of Graffham, published a report, Growing Your Business, which set out proposals to make the public sector market more directly accessible to smaller businesses. There were three main areas: simplifying prequalification; better transparency, and prompt payment. This built a number of reforms that had already been implemented
One y on fromear the consult a t i o n on Young’s proposa Lord regulato ls, the r y w h eels on a p reformsackage of a set in mre being otion
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Written by Tim Colman, national procurement spokesman, FSB
The campaign to open up public procurement to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro firms looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. Tim Colman of the Federation of Small Businesses provides an insight into future legislative developments and what SMEs want
not have the economies of scale, but they don’t have such large overheads, and being innovative can deliver lower costs as well as higher quality. It is a common misconception that large firms are always cheaper. This is not necessarily the case; I know a number of authorities who encountered higher costs when dealing with large businesses. If we opened up the procurement process to many more small firms, you will be surprised at what they can do for you.
Procurement
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
11
SME SUPPLIERS in central government to make procurement more efficient across Whitehall. One year on from the consultation on these proposals, the regulatory wheels on a package of reforms are being set in motion but what will this mean for public sector procurement? Lord Young’s reform programme will be delivered in two tranches. The first will see a consultation on the details of the new public contract regulations, with the intention of bringing measures into force in early 2015. The second will be carried forward through Clauses 33 and 34 of the Small Business and Enterprise and Employment Bill, and subsequent secondary legislation and guidance. WHAT REFORM WILL MEAN So, what can you expect? Well, taking the regulatory package first, we expect measures to oblige procurers to place procurement opportunities on Contracts Finder and oblige procurers to place details of who has won each contract on Contracts Finder, with an indication of contract value, and whether or not the winner is an SME. The measures should also eliminate pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) for low value procurements below European Union (EU) threshold but recommend ‘open style’ self certification approach with emphasis on pre market engagement, as well as ban disproportionate requirements on turnover, and financial strength via statutory PQQ guidance. A simplified standard selection process should also be introduced for high value contracts above EU thresholds, and public procurers should be obliged to use contract clauses to ensure that their fair payment terms (30 days) are passed on by suppliers through their supply chains. Finally, there will be a measure to create a legal duty to report on late payments including interest paid. FAIR PAYMENT TERMS The obligation on public procurers to use contract clauses to ensure that their fair payment terms (30 days) are passed on by suppliers through their supply chains is absolutely vital. Some tier one suppliers have been gratefully accepting prompt payment from public procurers, while simultaneously expecting their own supply chains to wait 60, 90 and even 120 days. This is unfair and Government should be applauded for doing something about it. Some local authorities are already well ahead on this. Wakefield Council is one of those already using contract clauses to force their tier one suppliers to pass on fair payment terms. They generously permitted the FSB to publish their standard clause for doing this as an illustrative example. This can be found in our 2013 report Local Procurement, Making the most of small business, one year on, which can be found on the FSB’s website. For below tender threshold contracts the self-certification proposal is an interesting
one. Normally pre-qualification asks everyone to tell the procurer whether they meet the standard or not. This proposal effectively inverts the process by requiring the procurer to state what the standards are up front in the contract advertisement. Potential suppliers then look at these and take a value judgement on whether it is worth bidding or not, knowing that they would have to provide evidence that they meet the criteria should they emerge as the winner at the end of the process. This is an elegant solution that should save both procurers and businesses time and effort if properly implemented. The second tranche of Lord Young’s procurement reform agenda requires primary legislation and is set out in Clauses 33 and 34 of the Small Business and Enterprise
Procurement
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
concerns about public procurement practice, on statutory footing by giving the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State the power to investigate the exercise by a contracting authority of relevant functions relating to procurement. This means that they can investigate prequalification, tendering/bidding and awards as well as the management of a contract. The provisions will empower them to demand documents, and to name and shame where poor performance is found. With all sides of the political debate broadly agreed on the merits of opening up public procurement to SMEs and micro firms, it is likely that the provisions of the Bill will be enacted by whichever party or coalition of parties forms the next government.
Many public procurers are already making great strides in this area with in excess of 90 per cent of local authorities taking action to assist local SMEs, but there are always opportunities to improve and the FSB is always here to help and Employment Bill. Although the Bill is likely to receive royal ascent before the general election, the reality of legislative time tables means that the window for getting the statutory instruments in place before the election is very narrow. If this window is missed then the future of these reforms becomes significantly less clear. Clause 33 of the Bill gives the Government the ability to implement further measures relating to public procurement in the future. Potential measures could see this power being used to require procuring authorities to run an efficient and timely procurement process and to make available, free of charge, information or documents, or processes necessary for any potential supplier to bid for a contract opportunity, as well as accept electronic invoices. PUTTING THE NEW MEASURES TO WORK It is too early to tell how these will be interpreted for implementation. It seems likely that duties to focus on procurement in an efficient and timely manner will include measures aimed at making sure that procurement time frames are proportionate to the contract size. It also seems likely that measures will oblige acceptance of e-invoices. Somewhere along the line there will also need to be an attempt to address the potential problems that could arise from different organisations using different e-invoicing software. This is a problem that needs tackling sooner rather than later. Clause 34 of the Bill puts the Cabinet Office’s Mystery Shopper scheme, which provides a route for suppliers to raise
However, what about those of you who are eager to start the process and don’t want to wait for the rules to change? Well, the FSB’s 2013 procurement report that I mentioned earlier has plenty of best practice guidance. The main advice centres on breaking contracts into smaller lots to create opportunities for small firms, making sure that processes and requirements are proportionate to the value of the contract, and above all, supply chain engagement and capacity building. So, let the SMEs and micro firms in your area know what you are going to need and they will come up with plenty of innovative ways of giving you what you want. If you are not sure where to begin to engage with SMEs and micro firms in this way, you need only contact your local FSB representatives. They have a range of ways in which they can help including by making introductions to previous winners of the FSB’s Local Authority Awards’ procurement category in your local area. Overall, the direction of travel is for more procurement reforms in the short and medium term. I want them all aimed at increasing SME and micro firm participation in delivery of public procurement contracts. Many public procurers are already making great strides in this area with in excess of 90 per cent of local authorities taking action to assist local SMEs, but there are always opportunities to improve and the FSB is always here to help. FURTHER INFORMATION www.fsb.org.uk
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Hydroprotect Vision and anticipation of flooding risks
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FLOOD RESPONSE
LEARNING FROM FREAK WEATHER EVENTS
In the summer of 2007 the town of Thatcham in West Berkshire, like other towns across the country, suffered flooding on a scale not seen before. In Thatcham it was unprecedented because many homes there were flooded for the first time, and the rainfall that caused it had never been experienced in living memory. FLASH FLOODING On the afternoon of 20 July, torrential rain inundated the town in just a few hours and, crucially, the sloping fields above it. The result was a volume of water that the drainage system simply could not cope with. Something approaching 1,000 properties suffered flooding of some sort, with some homes remaining uninhabitable for months afterwards. Much of the flash flooding that occurred was caused by the huge amounts of rainfall
on the hills to the north of the town, running down to the properties below, unable to be collected by the surface-water sewerage system that was already at capacity from rainfall on the town itself. The floods had taken everyone by surprise and the subsequent investigation, spearheaded by civil engineers at West Berkshire Council, resulted in the drawing up of a surface water management plan, many smaller elements of which were put in place as soon as feasible. Most important to the plan, however, were designs for three
substantial dry reservoirs above the town, the first of which has now been built. ATTENUATION BASIN This flood ‘attenuation basin’ has been constructed at Cold Ash Hill, north of Thatcham. The scheme comprises a 1.7 hectare basin surrounded by a raised earth embankment which acts as the required reservoir. The idea is very straightforward. As Stuart Clark, principle engineer at West Berkshire Council, says: “The pond collects and stores surface water run-off from the rural catchment above Thatcham. Once the storm has passed, the water can then be released at a rate the underground sewers can accommodate. “Storing the water and releasing it at
Written by Keith Ulyatt, West Berks Council
Keith Ulyatt of West Berkshire Council shares the story behind the innovative flood defence scheme that was adopted following the devastation of summer 2007, a ‘once in a hundred year
Flood Defence
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Around 1,000 properties suffered flooding of some sort in July 2007, with some homes remaining uninhabitable for months afterwards
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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Procurement
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Understand, predict and manage application performance with iTrinegy’s new NE-ONE iTrinegy has launched a new generation of affordable and easy-to-use network profiling, pre-deployment testing and post-deployment monitoring solutions specifically designed to enable you to understand, predict and manage application performance across networks. NE-ONE lets you discover, measure and benchmark how network resources are being utilised by users, applications and servers. Its profiling capability enables you to understand how cyclical and changing user demands impact network capacity and your business NE-ONE lets you predict how new applications will behave before they are deployed in the production environment. Equally, it can show you how existing applications will fare if they are migrated to new environments such as the Cloud or onto a Mobile network. NE-0NE enables you to conduct such predeployment testing through its comprehensive, yet easy to set up, network emulation capabilities that recreate the characteristics of any existing or proposed new network. As a result, you can run your applications over the worst possible network conditions, created on demand, and gain a concise understanding of what the end user experience will be prior to actual deployment. It also enables a clear
This ability to predict application performance allows you to proactively identify and fix problems early in the project life cycle and mitigate the potential for application failure that could seriously impact user productivity and customer satisfaction. NE-ONE also helps you to manage and monitor application performance. When things go wrong you will be able to drill down to the root cause, identifying whether it is the network, server, user or application. NE-ONE will determine if the problem is caused by limited bandwidth, latency or packet loss. Alerts can be sent when things start to slow down and before your users start to complain. It is also possible to track the quality of service being delivered by your outsource suppliers. Previously cost-prohibitive to all but major enterprises, these technologies are provided by NE-ONE in an easy to understand format that can be used by a broader range of IT staff and not just a network specialist. understanding of the minimum network conditions you need from your network, datacentre, cloud and mobile suppliers to ensure good customer or staff experience.
Chefs’ choice for food warming U.C.I lamps have been specifically designed to be energy efficient for use in the catering industry. They are use in heated counters and serveries of establishments such as restaurants, hotels, pubs, hospitals, schools, prisons, army bases, universities etc. This low pressure design offers a long service life of 8000 hrs! that’s 60% longer than other manufacturers. The catering heat lamps are available in two overall lengths of 118mm & 220mm, and supplied in 200, 300 and 500W power ratings. Accessories available. The novel design features give them stability in catering environments at competitive prices. All lamps are CE approval and manufactured to EN60335-1:2005 and EN60335-2-30:2003, the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC and the RoHS Directive. Our heat lamps will keep food warm at a constant temperature which can be controlled by the use of a variable power controller.
E: www.undercontrol.co.uk T: 0845 688 7122
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FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01799 543 345 info@itrinegy.com www.itrinegy.com
FLOOD RESPONSE a controlled way, prevents the sewers becoming overwhelmed and surface water flowing over the ground, which was what caused the flooding in 2007.” Far from being a blot on the landscape the structure has been designed to blend in with its surroundings. The reservoir will normally be dry apart from one corner which will be permanently marshy and planted to provide wildlife habitats. Over time, the rest of the area will become grass and vegetation like the surrounding countryside The scheme is designed to provide protection from a ‘once in a hundred year storm’ such as that which caused the flash flooding seven years ago. Designs for further attenuation basins at Tull Way and Dunstan Park above the built up areas are now being finalised. HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES The £800,000 Cold Ash Hill scheme was constructed by civil engineering contractor, Balfour Beatty, with the majority of funding coming from central government and West Berkshire Council together with contributions from Thatcham Town Council and Cold Ash Parish Council. Pamela Bale, West Berkshire’s executive
councillor for Emergency Planning said: “I’m extremely pleased to see this scheme in place. It is an excellent example of the Council’s commitment to building flood defence measures at key locations across the district.” “Severe weather over recent years has highlighted the key locations. However protection from floods can never be guaranteed, which is why we urge all those living in areas known to have flooded, to do what they can to further protect their own properties.” This call to ‘help people help themselves’ has developed as a theme across the district. The authorities can do what they can with the money available, and the reservoirs being built above Thatcham are an excellent example of this. But as they continually point out, 100 per cent protection from flooding can never be guaranteed and households should do what they can for their own properties to complement the wider schemes. To this end, the government has pledged grants of up to £5,000 for homeowners to install measures to help prevent
Flood Defence
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
future flooding to their houses. The aim is to see the cash used for installation of devices such as flood guards on doors, self-closing airbricks, non-return valves on waste pipes or for waterproofing or re-pointing external walls. All such measures must be aimed at alleviating the possible impacts of any future flooding to the property. As is to be expected, there is strict government criteria for claiming the cash, but West Berkshire Council is urging all those who may be eligible to apply. Details are on the council’s website. SHARED DETERMINATION On the wider front, the rural reservoir scheme is certainly a major leap forward in the collective effort to combat flooding. Reflecting on the creation of this first attenuation pond Brian Woodham, chairman of the Funding Committee for Thatcham Surface Water Management Plan said: “This is a really significant first step which will enable protection for around two hundred properties in parts of North Thatcham, Southend and Billington Way. It shows what can be achieved even in difficult economic conditions and has been made possible by the dedication of West Berkshire Council’s flood engineers, support from the Environment Agency and Thatcham Flood Forum. We have shared a common financial determination to get this first retention pond in place, our challenge now is to find funding for the next three.” Richard Benyon MP said: “This is an excellent scheme for Thatcham. I remember the dreadful flooding of seven years ago and continued investment in our flood defences is crucial to ensure that our community does not have to live through a repeat. I pay tribute to all those who have contributed to this scheme.” Meanwhile, the council is continuing with its flood alleviation programme elsewhere in the district. A bund wall has been created above Shaw, north of Newbury designed to have a similar effect to the Thatcham reservoirs. And with rising groundwater – rather than flash flooding – having been a main contributing factor of floods last winter, the council is working with Thames Water and other agencies to see what can be done regarding drainage and sewer systems. Work is under way from Lambourn in the west, to the village of Aldermaston in the east of the district. For whatever reason, weather patterns appear to be becoming more extreme, and that can only make addressing the issues of potential flooding even more important – in West Berkshire and in numerous other districts across the country, too.
The ment govern d grants dge has ple o £5,000 for of up t ners to install homeow to help s e r u s a me future preventding floo
FURTHER INFORMATION www.westberks.gov.uk
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Advertisement Feature
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
SECTOR SPECIFIC INSIGHT AND MARKET RESEARCH
Jigsaw Research is a qualitative and quantitative market research agency with an exclusively senior team, providing perceptive counsel and genuine, sector specific insight for its clients Jigsaw’s approach to research is based on taking the best thinking from research and related disciplines, such as behavioural economics, anthropology, psychology, the social sciences and advertising, and applying them to its methodologies and analysis. This ‘bricolage approach’ is enabled by the fact that Jigsaw doesn’t employ junior staff – all researchers have an average of 16 years’ experience. This means that every stage of the process is managed by very experienced personnel – they carry out all elements of design, management and implementation of the project. As a result, clients don’t
sectors including public sector, finance, technology, healthcare and energy. So clients get the benefit of public sector knowledge – enhanced by leading edge techniques used for commercial clients. THOUGHT LEADERS Jigsaw uses its understanding of how people behave, coupled with its in-depth sector and client knowledge (the teams specialise in sectors they’re passionate about), to squeeze more from every research interaction. It’s not just reportage, its nuanced understanding and recommendations.
Jigsaw Research is one of the best kept secrets in public sector market research. It doesn’t conduct opinion polls, so it is not in the press – but the company has been repeatedly trusted with complex and difficult projects in the public sector for the last 20 years suffer from the mistakes of junior staff. Jigsaw Research is self-owned and works towards mutually beneficial long-term relationships. The vast majority of its work is repeat business with clients with whom the company has long standing relationships. In these relationships, Jigsaw makes use of previous project experience to add value to both the research process and how they use the results. INTEGRATED SERVICE The company offers a truly integrated qualitative and quantitative service with equal levels of expertise in both disciplines; staff are as comfortable conducting longitudinal observation studies as they are at choice based conjoints. This saves clients time (no need to brief two agencies) and minimises risks (it ensures that no insights slip through the cracks between different companies). Jigsaw’s research covers a range of
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They call this Thinking in Colour – bringing together different methodologies, ideas from different disciplines and disparate personal experience. This means their clients get better insight – and better value. This thinking is recognised in the industry – and Jigsaw regularly wins prizes at the MRS and other bodies for the quality of its papers. Most recently it won Best Innovation paper at the BIG/CSA conference for a paper about the use of social media for research amongst organisations and businesses. JIGSAW RESEARCH AND BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS Jigsaw has been using BE since 2006. It sees BE as fundamental to research and ensures that it’s considered it in all the projects they conduct. The company sees it as a framework driving the methodologies used and a powerful interpretative lens to inform the recommendations
formulated to meet clients’ objectives. Jigsaw has spoken on the subject at conferences in the UK, USA, Europe and the Middle East and has recently finished a BE piece that fed directly into the board level strategy of a top four supermarket – as well as using it for current public sector clients. RISK FREE AND COST EFFECTIVE Jigsaw Research is one of the best kept secrets in public sector market research. It doesn’t conduct opinion polls, so it is not in the press – but the company has been repeatedly trusted with complex and difficult projects in the public sector for the last 20 years. In a time of challenge and uncertainty it’s important to have a supplier you can trust – it’s important to know that you’ll always be dealing with director level staff (not a junior who is still learning their trade) and it’s important that you get superb value for money. Jigsaw Research offers cost effective research because it’s lean (being mid-sized, they don’t have big IT or training or accounts overheads) and its staff are fast and effective. WORKING WITH PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS Jigsaw has worked in the public sector since the late 1990s and has undertaken research for a huge range of government departments and other public sector organisations, including DWP, HMRC, Department of Health and NHS, Money Advice Service, Student Loans Company, The Army, The Navy, Home Office, HM Passport Office, Ofcom and the BBC. The company’s public sector work is extremely varied; communications evaluation, concept testing and stakeholder research are key areas and it also undertakes customer satisfaction, segmentation and usability testing studies. Audiences are also varied. Jigsaw has researched: consumers, businesspeople, stakeholders, staff, children/youth, and difficult to reach audiences such as the very poor, and people with physical disability or mental illness. Methodologies range from large surveys (online, telephone or face to face) often using advanced statistical techniques, like conjoint analysis, through to qualitative projects using longitudinal case studies, depth interviews or focus groups. FURTHER INFORMATION If you’d like to find out more please contact Hazel Fletcher or Alex Johnston Tel: +44 (0)207 291 0810 or visit the website at www.jigsaw-research.co.uk
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Flood Defence
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Written by Judith Denny, BSIA
ENLISTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIGHT FLOODS
Flooding comes at a high cost in terms of damage to property and the resources needed to mitigate infrastructural damage. Judith Denny of the British Security Industry Association explores how the private security industry can be pivotal in assisting police to deal with flooding emergencies It seems in recent years that UK flooding has increased in volume considerably, at times separating families from their homes and valued possessions, causing businesses to grind to a halt and threatening the safety of vulnerable citizens, such as the elderly. According to the Association of British Insurers widespread flooding affected more than 8,000 properties, causing £400 million worth of damage in 2012. More recently, in August this year, Cambridgeshire saw 800 homes evacuated with power cuts, a collapsing riverbank and stranded drivers due to flooding. While some commentators assert that rainfall is increasing year on year in the UK – possibly due to climate change or global warming – others have asserted that it is growth is the cause of the UK’s flooding problems. That is, population growth and increased building can leave dated flood defences vulnerable to the effects of intense rainfall and sea level increases. CALL FOR INCREASED SPENDING Indeed, a study by Southampton University published in August this year found that: “The rise in UK flood reports over the 20th Century coincides with population growth from 38.2 million to 59.1 million and a tripling in the number of houses, from 7.7 million to 24.8 million.” That is, protective infrastructural measures must develop alongside wider infrastructural
development to ensure optimal safety. drainage systems for all new developments to Professor Robert Nicholls, professor of make sure that they do not make flood risks Coastal Engineering at the university, worse. However, the proposals have commented on the need for yet to be enacted and according n o continued government to the National Flood i t a Popul and spending on flood defences: Forum, “there have been “These observations tortuous negotiations and growth uilding b should not stop concern consultations ever since.” d e s increa dated flood about future flood ve impacts, especially in NATIONAL can lea es vulnerable coastal areas where SECURITY STRATEGY defenc e effects faster sea-level rises Back in 2010, l l to th are expected and areas the BSIA welcomed a f n se rai n e potentially exposed to the publication of the t n i f l o leve higher rainfall intensities. government’s National and sea ses Future flood risk may be Security Strategy and called a incre very sensitive to changes for closer interaction between in funding or management government and industry to approaches and this has important ensure its effective implementation. implications for decision makers.” Large scale accidents or natural hazards, such as flooding were highlighted to be ECONOMIC IMPACT one of many major threats facing the UK. Beyond the immediate human impact, In relation to the report, James Kelly, flooding damage can be far-reaching in its chief executive of the BSIA commented, negative effects economically. For example, “The BSIA has already demonstrated the redundant or ineffective flood defences important role that the private security can also serve to stunt property prices in industry can play in delivering effective residential areas which are most at risk protection against such hazards and is from flood damage; simultaneously inflating committed to ensuring the everyday safety insurance costs while decreasing resell value. of both businesses and the public.” The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 In a joint foreword written to preface the enabled the introduction of sustainable urban strategy document, David Cameron and
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Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Badge manufacturer Badgemaster announces takeover Name badge manufacturer Badgemaster has announced the acquisition of principal competitor, Akorn Badge Company. Badgemaster is already the UK’s largest name badge manufacturer, and adds this as the most significant event yet to its ever growing list of achievements. Key milestones in the company’s history since its humble beginnings in the back of a porta-cabin in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1992 include in 2006 being granted the Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen for supply of name badges to the staff of the royal households; gaining the British Standards Institute ISO 9001 accreditation for quality management in 2010; the ISO 14001, the highest level of environmental accreditation possible in 2013; and most recently, Badgemaster’s founder and managing director John Bancroft being granted an MBE for services to business in Nottinghamshire. The ever growing success of Badgemaster has been achieved through continual growth and reinvestment of profits into cutting edge technologies, staff training, best practice processes and environmental sustainability. John Bancroft MBE explains: “It has always been our vision to be not just a name badge company but the name badge company, and I am proud that we have achieved that. We
have many millions of people now going to work every day wearing their Badgemaster custom made name badges and we are now processing over 1,000 orders every day.” Through Badgemaster’s acquisition of Akorn Badge Company, which in itself has achieved great success during its 30 years, being one of the most established name badge manufacturers in the world, customers will benefit from even more competitive prices achieved through our greatly increased buying power, wider choices and the combined technologies and expertise of two specialist name badge companies who share the ambition to deliver unbeatable customer service. Badgemaster will now have over 27,000 accounts, from organisations with just one employee to those with hundreds of thousands of wearers.
John outlines the reasons behind this major acquisition by explaining that most leading companies with customer facing staff do already recognise the value of staff name badges: “Badgemaster’s recent growth has been largely achieved by taking market share from our competitors. We have been able to do this by providing better quality, faster efficient service levels and more competitive prices. In combining Akorn with Badgemaster we have a marriage made in heaven that will bring significant and long term benefits to both Akorn and Badgemaster’s extensive combined customer base.” Jim Kent, Akorn Badge Company’s well known, highly respected former managing director, has joined John and Vicky Bancroft on the board of directors. Jim McNiven, the former general manager of Akorn Badge Company Ltd will also be joining Badgemaster’s senior management team. Badgemaster’s now 90 strong workforce and its global suppliers are thrilled to be part of this exciting new organisation and the company is looking forward to bringing unparalleled levels of service and quality to all of the organisation’s customers. FURTHER INFORMATION www.badgemaster.co.uk
Camden Lock Market embraces next generation experience with a performance wireless solution Wireless access points are a perennial feature of many public areas, warranted by high levels of demand. It is this demand that is prompting wireless system advancements, with intuitive features coming to the fore. However, up-to-date infrastructures are a necessity to deliver the capabilities of a performance wireless solution. Camden Lock Market is a renowned attraction for popular among tourists and Londoners alike. First opened in 1972, Camden Lock market has diversified to become a hub of creativity and one of London’s key areas of commercial real estate. In 2013, Camden Lock Market embarked on a technology advancement initiative. Senior management wished to evolve the market by embracing new technologies, including public wireless access, wireless PDQs for card payments on stalls and improvement of management processes. An investigation of the market’s technology infrastructure showed it to be obsolete to support the plans, so a complete overhaul was commissioned. In early 2014, OryxAlign, a managed technology services and solutions provider, was enlisted as the estate’s IT support partner. Along with the delivery of 24/7 remote monitoring management and support, OryxAlign would
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implement the full technology expansion plans. Camden Lock Market were already operating a standard Meraki network wireless throughout the estate, however it was insufficient to provide the business with what was required. OryxAlign proposed a full expansion of the existing network, upgrading to the cloud managed Cisco Meraki solution, to ensure full security. To handle the new Cisco Meraki platform, OryxAlign on-site engineers installed fibre-optic connectivity, improving the speed and stability of service. Once the fibre-optic connectivity was operating, OryxAlign engineers installed 15 Meraki Access Points across the market, dispersed strategically according to volume of foot-fall. The networks were meshed and the configuration of each device
fine-tuned to work coherently and in synchronisation across the estate. Considering the volume of visitors, stall owners and management, OryxAlign recognised that multiple SSIDs were required to secure the networks and split the services accordingly. OryxAlign created multiple SSIDs for the business, including visitor, management, stall operators and PDQ machine operators. The multiple SSIDs allow OryxAlign to track the download usage of each group and implement the necessary restrictions as per senior management instruction. Since July 2014, Camden Lock Market visitors, stall-owners and senior management have had access to high performance wireless across the estate. Senior management have implemented a stall allocation system, and wireless card machines are currently being rolled out across each stall. OryxAlign continue to partner with and support Camden Lock Market in the delivery of their technological vision. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0207 625 7890 www.oryxalign.com
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Flood Defence
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
opportunist criminality as well as dealing with emergency response and evacuation. It is through effective partnerships such as this that threats to national infrastructure can be dealt with in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
Where police resources are stretched, the private security industry is able to alleviate this pressure and help get communities back on their feet Nick Clegg stressed the importance of a collaborative approach in delivering national security. Indeed, they called for “a much closer relationship between government, the private sector and the public when it comes to national security” and highlighted a need to “work in alliances and partnerships wherever possible to generate stronger responses.” The private security industry represents a significant resource that, in times of national disaster or threat, vigilantly waits to be called upon to help deliver the highest levels of protection to the public. SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS Looking specifically at partnerships between the police and the private security industry, the recent decade has seen many examples of effective collaboration. For example, in 2007 the Gloucestershire area was hit by incredibly heavy rain one evening which led to intense disruption within the transport network. Vehicles had to be recovered from floodwaters and homes and business premises were left seriously damaged. Police forces worked around the clock alongside the local community, governmental bodies and volunteering groups to deal with unforeseen challenges and to minimise disruption to the community. Often at times where police resources are already stretched to the limit, the private security industry is able to effectively alleviate pressure on the police force and pick up some of the functions required to get communities back on their feet after catastrophic events have occurred. Indeed, The Civil Contingencies Act of 2004 requires the police to deal
with emergency situations and to take the lead in any multi-agency response. OPERATION OUTLOOK Looking back at the events of the 2007 flooding, chief inspector Derek Jones from Gloucestershire Police asserted: “This was the largest peace time emergency since the Second World War, and the reputation of Gloucestershire police was at stake.” The force worked alongside a BSIA member company to co-ordinate strategic and tactical responses and overcome the challenges presented; undertaking what became known as ‘Operation Outlook’. Inspector Jones further praised the exceptional role played by the private security team in helping the police: “The security team that we worked with had a positive and flexible approach. Whatever I asked for, the answer was yes, and they provided a great deal of reassurance. The escalation of confidence soon increased. Because of that positive leadership, I was able to give feedback to the Gold Commander and arrange redeployment and rest days for police staff as well.” At a time when the Gloucestershire Constabulary was faced with ‘business as usual’ activity in addition to emergency response, the police force engaged with a BSIA member to investigate ways in which the private security industry could assume some responsibility for the protection of government buildings and water distribution centres. Their involvement meant that over 140 front line police officers were relieved from water distribution centres, enabling them to focus on reducing
THE THAMES BARRIER As well as providing support through increased manpower in response to flooding, private security firms are also in a position to support flood protection structures such as the Thames Barrier through the deployment up-to-date technology like CCTV. The Thames Barrier is one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world and protects 125 square km of central London from tidal surges. As well as a tidal defence, the Barrier is one of London’s most striking and famous landmarks. Security at the Barrier is critical; a breach could result in extensive financial cost, human suffering and potentially loss of life. The Barrier attracts high profile visitors and film crews, which led the government to seek the help of a security partner that could manage these high-status situations. There are two access gates at the Thames Barrier and numerous cameras that are monitored by a BSIA member supervisor 24 hours a day. There are clearly defined protocols to keep to for access control, and no access to the site is given without prior arrangement; anyone who arrives unannounced will not be granted access to the site. The officers run a strict pass system and, within their teams, each work to ensure that the correct levels of manning are achieved at all times at all stations. Private security officers also patrol the tunnel under the Thames as part of a maintenance regime, looking for any hazards or health and safety issues. The supervisors from each team, who monitor the on-site cameras, are fully trained in the required action in the case of alarm activation. Their role is to implement the correct action or escalate it to the next level depending on the type of alarm. THE FUTURE OF FLOOD PROTECTION As discussed above, partnerships between private security organisations and police forces appear to present a unique opportunity for tackling the often unpredictable nature of natural disasters like flooding. Moving forward, it appears that in order to tackle the ripple effect of such disasters, (i.e. water shortages, exploitive behaviour from criminals, power outages, transport network damage) private organisations must work in tandem with police forces to ensure optimal security and safety for the public. Similarly, it is important that protective flood measures which are already in place are updated and maintained alongside technological advancements and wider infrastructural developments to minimise the impact of future flooding. FURTHER INFORMATION www.bsia.co.uk
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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Waste Management
TAKING THE WASTE DEBATE TO OUR DOORSTEPS Government Business takes a look at the current state of household waste collection and at local authorities trying out fresh ideas to help boost recycling rates Waste collection is a perennial key topic for citizens, with a majority of individuals polled in a 2013 YouGov survey citing it as the most important service delivered by local councils. A vigorous debate is taking place on how aspects of the service should be delivered – how often should collections take place, and how many bins should residents be given to divide their waste into? For some, the issue boils down to the extent to which communities prioritise recycling and the level of resources available to meet targets. There is widespread support for recycling – a poll carried out this summer indicates that 94 per cent of people view it as important – but how are councils to act on this commitment? We take a look at the current situation and at proposals from the government and the European Union to address the issue and highlight some of the innovative practices that councils are adopting to improve their efforts in this area.
Communities and Local Government (DCLG) issued its recommendations for weekly waste collections, arguing that the practice should be rolled out across the country and tackling a number of ‘myths’ surrounding the impact going weekly would have on recycling rates. The DCLG’s report refutes claims that fortnightly collections lead to a reduction in overall waste generation. It cites statistics from Defra showing that the ten local authorities which produce the lowest amounts of waste, including Crawley Borough Council and the London Borough of Ealing, all have weekly collections. Another ‘myth’ that the DCLG report aims to address has to do with public sentiment, namely the idea that “people don’t want their bins emptied every week.” The authors mention that a survey “found that two-thirds of the public thought government should mandate weekly collections of residual waste and that weekly collections were better.” Dartford is given as an example of public support for going weekly – 95.3 per cent of those who
New EUs to on regulati uced in d be intro ill legislate w January increase in for an g rates to recyclin cent for 70 per al waste municip2020 by
GOING WEEKLY – IS IT ACHIEVABLE? In January of this year the Department for
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voted in a local referendum agreed with the council’s plan to maintain a weekly collection service for residual waste. The report also lists a number of problems it claims go hand in hand with fortnightly waste collections, including unpleasant odours and a rise in rat infestations. This push from Government to double the rate of waste collection has been met with resistance in some quarters. There has been controversy in recent months over the refusal of some councils to introduce the weekly collection service recommended by Government, effectively rejecting hundreds of millions of pounds offered to help them roll this out. However, this situation could change if the Tories are re-elected next May, as Local Government secretary Eric Pickles has said the party may introduce a ‘minimum service standard’ which would require all councils to go weekly. Pickles told the Telegraph earlier this year: “The UK Government will continue to stand up for hard working people who deserve a decent bin service. “One option being considered by the Conservatives is the introduction of a minimum service standard, which would reinstate the previous legal requirement for councils to collect rubbish weekly.” EU RULES New EU regulations are to be introduced in January legislating for an increase in recycling rates to 70 per cent for municipal waste and 80 per cent for packaging waste by 2020, as well as for landfills to be banned by 2025. In addition, a revised version of the EU’s Waste
Framework Directive calls for recycling waste, commonly managed as a single collection on the resident’s end in UK Local Authorities, to be divided into separate collections for glass, paper waste, metal and plastic wherever this is ‘Technologically, Environmentally and Economically Practicable’ (TEEP). It is hoped that a greater emphasis on recycling will benefit the economy. The European Commission claim that 580,000 new jobs will be created by the new waste objectives by way of tapping into the possibilities of a ‘circular economy’, replacing a model of extracting resources for a single use before discarding them with one where they continue to be productive after initial use. When the recycling target proposals were adopted in Brussels this summer, European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potonik called for member nations to reflect the complexity of waste management processes in their policy: “We are living with linear economic systems inherited from the 19th Century in the 21st Century world of emerging economies, millions of new middle class consumers, and inter‑connected markets. If we want to compete we have to get the most out of our resources, and that means recycling them back into productive use, not burying them in landfills.” INNOVATIVE COUNCILS Although a report issued this year by the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee found that only a quarter of households are recycling their waste correctly, Local Authorities throughout the country are deploying interesting new strategies to improve the situation. Denbighshire County Council in Wales, for example, has turned its service provision around since being ranked as one of the lowest-performing councils in recycling in 2009. Since the introduction of measures like recycling wheelie bins and a greater recycling range of plastics, household waste in the area is of such a high grade that waste contractors pay the council for it. Household waste is rejected if it is contaminated by food or if waste paper is wet (this presents a fire hazard to contractors), and the council gets in touch with offenders to advise them of their obligations. Rochford District Council presents another successful example. Council leaders have tried to emphasise the importance of recycling over general waste disposal by providing residents with largers bins for the former – 240 litres compared to 180 litre ‘residual bins’. Bins for garden and kitchen waste are collected weekly to avoid unpleasant odours while others are collected once a fortnight. Rochford’s head of environmental services, Richard Evans, told the Guardian: “In 2008, we were one of the lowest in Essex, at 29 per cent, but as soon as we launched this scheme it was almost immediately 60 per cent. Odd
months we were going over 70 per cent.” Meanwhile, the DLG report cited above offers case studies of councils that claim to have seen benefits from making waste collections once a week. For example, Lewes District Council accepted £2 million from the government’s Weekly Collection Support Scheme to introduce weekly food waste collection services and to promote the recycling message through social media and recycling competitions in the community. The reduction in landfill waste has been significant, and projections for the future look promising; Lewes is expected to have 47 per cent of all household waste composted or recycled by 2015-16, up from 23 per cent in 2011-12. The new service model has also proved to be advantageous for the council purse, with the average cost per household collection dropping from £47 per household in 2011-12 to £45.33 under the current system. It remains to be seen how councils will respond to new EU directives on waste disposal, and to the Tories’ stated policy of making weekly collections compulsory for all local authorities. While, for many local authorities, these targets represent a daunting shift from current practises, innovative councils like the ones described here can point out a way for people throughout the UK to follow. L
Waste Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
READ THE DCLG REPORT tinyurl.com/obr2kae
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Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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RENEWABLES
Energy
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Written by Mike Landy, senior policy analyst, The Renewable Energy Association
Image courtesy of Phil Clarke-Hill and Dulas
THE PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY
Local authorities are in a strong position to help deliver the required growth in renewables and energy efficiency, through their strategic planning role and a host of other functions. Mike Landy of the Renewable Energy Association explains how The Climate Change Act 2008 set a national target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 per cent by 2050. The Renewable Energy Directive in 2008 also commits the UK to increase our share of renewables from 1.3 per cent per cent of energy consumption in 2005 to 15 per cent in 2020. Progress in recent years has taken us to 5.2 per cent in 2013 but it is clear that there is still a long way to go. Despite having some of the best renewable energy resources in the European Union, the UK currently ranks 26th out of 28 Member States. Local authorities have a crucial role to play in achieving carbon reduction goals and are in a strong position to help deliver the required growth in renewables and energy efficiency, through their strategic planning role and a host of other functions – not to mention their own carbon footprint. Examples include the multiple recycling and energy recovery options from waste, LAs’ role as social landlords and the influence they can have on consumer choices in their area.
Most importantly, renewable energy can be a huge win for the local economy. Whether it’s the urban or rural economy, there are multiple opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and enhancement of local quality of life. Since 2013 local authorities retain 100 per cent of the business rates from new renewables development. Renewable energy developments can provide many forms of community benefit, ranging from the funding of local energy efficiency refurbishment to reductions to residents’ energy bills.
government announced in October that it is offering almost £2.4 million to 32 local authorities across England and Wales to support the development of heat network projects. The cost of solar PV has more than halved in the last three years and, together with the Feed-in Tariff, solar power has become an increasingly attractive investment for residential and commercial/ industrial buildings alike; educational establishments are particularly appropriate. The REA welcomes the government’s aim to install 1,000MW of PV on the Government Estate, including schools – especially if it could be done outside the existing support programmes, which have limited budgets. Solar and wind power look to be competitive with grid electricity within a decade, upsetting
LAs hav role to pe a lay in achie v i n g c arbon reduc are in a tion goals and st to help rong position requireddeliver the gr renewa owth in bles
EXPANDING THE NETWORK On the heat side there is increasing interest in heat networks, potentially fuelled by a range of renewable sources. The
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SOLAR At love your earth we specialise in the conception, design and installation of solar PV and solar thermal systems, both large and small, across many different sectors including education, local and central government, NHS and housing associations. Unlike most companies, this is all done in-house using our own engineers and designers, working alongside you to create the right system for your requirements. Our own installation teams see the project through to conclusion. All funding options are available including price to fit, lease purchase, operating lease, asset purchase and more. We also have a free to fit option which offers you the ability to have a fully funded system with absolutely no cost, and the benefit of a huge reduction in energy costs by getting free electricity.
BIOMASS Biomass technology has gone from strength, largely due to demand created by the governments RHI incentive scheme. At love your earth, we specialise in system design, installation and commission of biomass boilers and can fund these installations using the traditional means. But we are also in the position to install absolutely free of charge in any type of building (including residential premises) irrespective of system size. The benefits of biomass are incredible, especially if you are using oil or LPG, where savings can be as much as 80 per cent. Couple this with a completely free installation and free maintenance for up to 20 years and the savings are staggering.
ABOUT US Together with our sister company Navitron, we have been involved in the renewables industry since 1992, pioneering many new technologies and overseeing thousands of installations from our offices in Oakham. We are passionate about saving our customers money by reducing their energy costs. By installing only the very best equipment, we maximise returns. Our policy is simple: if the benefits don’t far outweigh the costs, we won’t install it.
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RENEWABLES
the established order in the energy industry. Together with new storage technologies and electric vehicles, locally produced energy will allow communities to become increasingly independent of centralised power production, whilst generating significant revenue for the local authority. Energy Secretary Ed Davey wrote to local authority leaders in January outlining the opportunities: “Local government is uniquely well-placed to support, partner and invest, and to provide a positive planning and policy environment to help drive a community energy revolution. Local authorities know the problems, opportunities and stakeholders in their area best and can work as a trusted voice. DECC [the Department of Energy and Climate Change] is committed to a sustainable and significant expansion of the sector in the years ahead and local leadership will be key to helping deliver community energy projects across the country.” However, there is one area where the benefits of local authority involvement are potentially being missed. The government’s Community Energy Strategy seeks to spread ownership of renewable projects to local people across the country, working in partnership with commercial organisations, but the definition of ‘community energy’ and the given partnership models do not currently include a role for local authorities. The key role local government could play in this area is illustrated by many of the examples below. ‘BLUE SKY PETERBOROUGH’ Peterborough City Council’s innovative approach is boosting the city’s economy and producing revenue for the Council for decades to come. Amongst a range of initiatives, the Council has been working in partnership with the Mears Group to install solar panels on public buildings and schools. The project’s framework is available to other local authorities, giving them quick and cost-effective access to the same benefits without having to go through an OJEU procurement (Colchester Borough Council is now using it). The Council is also working with Viridor to install a waste-to-energy plant that will provide the Council with power to use or sell.
Energy
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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RENEWABLES These projects will support the economic well-being of Peterborough by generating sustainable cost savings and revenues that can be used to protect front-line services and support the ambitions of the Council. Generating assets located in or near Peterborough will inject money into the local economy that would otherwise go elsewhere. OXFORDSHIRE POWERS UP AND DOWN The OxFutures partnership, comprising Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the Low Carbon Hub, is aiming for the River Thames and the roofs of Oxfordshire to be the power stations of the future. Communities, businesses and the public sector will ‘power up’ by developing renewable energy schemes, creating an investment market for low carbon energy generation and leveraging £25 million investment into local energy projects over the next two years. At the same time, the partnership will implement large-scale energy efficiency retrofitting programmes to encourage local households to ‘power down’ and reduce their energy use. The reputation of the Councils builds trust in the programme and the Low Carbon Hub brings innovation, enterprise and new skills to existing relationships with local communities. GOING FOR CARBON NEUTRAL Eastleigh Borough Council has set a target of reducing CO2 by 50 per cent by 2020 and producing 3.4MW of renewable energy
Energy
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
The cost of solar PV has more than halved in the last three years and, together with the Feed-in Tariff, solar power has become an increasingly attractive investment for residential and commercial/industrial buildings alike by 2016, focusing on solar and biomass. The council has installed PV on every operational building possible, as well as on a large number of its commercial assets. In the case of one Academy the site is owned by the school but the panels are owned and operated by the Council, setting a precedent for other councils to follow. In March the Council approved plans for a 1MW solar farm with 3,600 solar panels. The Council is now set to be carbon neutral on its electricity use, saving around 760 tonnes of CO2 per year, without the need for offset. The combined schemes will produce enough electricity to power over 400 homes. ENERGY SUPPLY OPTIONS FOR CITIES The Greater London Authority, Nottingham and Bristol intend to engage in the electricity supply market, generating a new source of income. Nottingham City Council is looking to be a fully licensed independent supplier, taking full responsibility for delivery and meeting licence conditions. The GLA is pursuing Licence Lite, in which a city
becomes a ‘junior supplier’ with responsibility for some aspects of delivery and licence conditions, while a partner ‘senior supplier’ is responsible for the rest of the business. Other models include joint ventures, partnerships and licensing the use of the city’s brand to an existing supplier who uses it to market to customers in the local area. These options are all described in a recent IPPR report, City Energy, a New Powerhouse for Britain. NUMEROUS OTHER EXAMPLES Many other local authorities are taking innovative action to boost their local economy. Aberdeen, for example, is planning to become a global pioneer in the use of hydrogen produced using excess power from nearby offshore wind farms. The Bristol Solar City project aims to install 1GW of solar PV by 2020, with opportunities for local community groups to invest in installations on council properties rent-free. West Sussex County Council and the other Sussex authorities are implementing a pilot
Image courtesy of Rural Energy
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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Summit Energies are a bespoke renewable energy company specialising in commercial and Domestic projects all across the UK, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Air Source Heat Pumps, Solar Thermal and Solar panels. Fully trained and installed by registered MCS Engineers. Please feel free to talk to our experienced team. Call us now on 01291 421 671 Visit www.summitenergies.co.uk Email energy@summitenergies.co.uk
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
RENEWABLES
Energy
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Introducing truly scalable renewable energy solutions A UK market leader… Operating nationwide, Mosscliff Environmental Ltd offers a complete service for renewable energy systems, from planning consultancy to install and monitoring. Whatever the scale of your requirement we provide real engineering excellence, quality equipment and turnkey solutions – based on over 10-years expertise within the industry.
A dependable service… We offer the best quality service, whatever the scale of the project. From planning an 8MW Ground Mounted Solar Farm for British Telecom… 16-Hectare Solar Farm supplying energy via a private wire to Adastral Park main research and development site at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. n 60 companies n 4,000 people employed n Optimum supply… 90% of demand
Image courtesy of James Beard
community energy model to develop renewable energy projects and sell the completed installations to the community, potentially through a local share issue. Bath & North East Somerset Council is cooperating with the social enterprise Bath & West Community Energy to install PV on six schools via roof-rental agreements and is planning a range of further community solar, wind and hydro projects in the future. In terms of investment, some leading local authority pension funds have already begun to invest in low-carbon energy. For example, Lancashire County Pension Fund (winner of a 2013 British Renewable Energy Award) has committed approximately £200 million to low-carbon projects, including a £12 million investment in Westmill Solar near Swindon, thought to be the world’s first large-scale solar co-operative. CONCLUSION The examples cited above demonstrate what a boost renewable energy can make to both the local economy and council incomes. Furthermore, DECC’s public opinion polling consistently show that renewables are very popular, with approval ratings for technologies like biomass, wind and solar in the range of 60-82 per cent, much higher than any non-renewable technology. The small but vocal minority that oppose renewable developments should not be allowed to overshadow the views of the silent majority. I finish with the thoughts of John Harrison, executive director of resources, Peterborough City Council and the main driver behind Blue Sky Peterborough. John stresses the importance of councils investing in technical, financial and legal advisors to gain a better understanding of the often hidden potential of local government schemes to generate income, while also using industry leaders to share their learning to drive income early at minimum risk to councils. He emphasises that an appetite for risk is key in a climate of economic uncertainty, and can lead to ground-breaking measures with unprecedented results. FURTHER INFORMATION www.r-e-a.net
Planning and installation of a 15kW Wind Turbine at Chelmer Valley Park and Ride – creating free energy to power the terminus building.
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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MANAGE
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
MONITOR SECURE
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
THE BURDEN ON BUILDING OWNERS
If buildings are to remain fit for purpose and up to the challenge of tackling rising energy costs, their owners will have to take a closer interest in how building services systems are maintained. There is also plenty of legislation now in place that places a heavy burden of responsibility on building owners and maintainers to remain within the law. Properly trained and accredited facilities managers (FMs) can help building owners deal with issues such as building regulations, fire risk assessments and mandatory air conditioning inspections. These are things that are required by law, but which are also designed to ensure the building in question operates more efficiently throughout its operating life. The new Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), which comes into force next year, is also expected to apply to around 10,000 organisations employing 250 people or more or with a turnover in excess of €50 million. It will require them to provide four-yearly reports on their energy use and plans for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements – starting next December. SAVINGS As many as 200,000 buildings are expected to be included in the ESOS and, therefore, will need to carry out energy audits. This is the mechanism chosen by the UK government to implement Article 8 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, and could lead to cost savings of £1.6 billion across the affected businesses. By incentivising building owners to address the opportunities for energy savings, the government is hoping to close the gap between how many buildings were designed to work and how they actually perform – that gap is often alarmingly wide and means the building consumes far more energy than it should. 80 per cent of the value of a building is realised during its operating lifetime, but the biggest effort to modernise and reform working practices has, historically, been focused on the design and installation phases, which accounts for just 10 per cent of the value (the other10 per cent being at decommissioning). Clients need to be better educated about the value of their built assets during operation.
The modern FM company has a fantastic array of modern tools at its disposal to tackle energy efficiency and extend the operating life of equipment, so saving the building owner significant amounts of money. We can
techniques that may require a little more upfront investment. ‘Non-invasive’ techniques like thermal imaging and vibration analysis could revolutionise the way buildings are serviced.
By incentivising building owners to address the opportunities for energy savings, the government is hoping to close the gap between how many buildings were designed to work and how they actually perform – that gap is often alarmingly wide and means the building consumes far more energy than it should also keep owners out of jail by ensuring they fully comply with legislation. However, too many companies fail to sell their expertise properly – preferring simply to compete on price rather than promote innovative maintenance
Written by Simon Carter, chairman, B&ES Facilities Services division
Building owners will have to learn about building maintenance techniques or face cost and legal problems, according to Simon Carter from the Building and Engineering Services Association
Facilities Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
These techniques, along with increased use of BMS intelligence, means maintenance programmes can be based on usage rather than frequency. This, in turn, allows the FM service provider to pre‑empt equipment failures and save clients money and disruption, while also ensuring buildings perform with greater E
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
09R22B
BUILDING MAINTENANCE energy efficiency. The use of condition-based monitoring of building services systems is well understood, but not as widely used as it could be. As a result, clients miss out on the lower costs and reduction in down time for critical equipment delivered by a maintenance service that also does not disrupt their working patterns. TECHNOLOGY With modern non-invasive monitoring there is no need to shut down parts of a building. Work can also be carried out during normal working hours, which also means the maintenance team can see how the building is really operating under load. It should also be standard practice to provide more system automation by using the sophisticated IT networks that are already installed in commercial buildings as a platform. Increased occupancy monitoring of local lighting and HVAC systems can be delivered this way. In an attempt to extend the reach of this kind of best practice in building maintenance, the Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES) has updated the industry’s building maintenance specification SFG20. This is being increasingly adopted by government building specifiers and operators, in particular, to establish strategic maintenance programmes for many building types including prisons, schools and commercial offices. It is now available as a dynamic online tool and is accessible via mobile devices.
SETTINGS Most buildings would benefit from re-commissioning and a regular survey of their energy consuming plant. Many of the adjustments required to put equipment back on track are simple changes to controls settings and, therefore, are easy to do and extremely low cost, but with significant running cost paybacks. With energy prices still on an inexorable upward slope this will become a greater priority for the budget holders and it is important to deliver the message that managing energy costs is not just about shopping around for the best tariff, but getting consumption down. The building engineering services industry has the tools to take a far more proactive and far sighted approach and, by making adjustments to installed equipment and replacing or upgrading key components, the building will deliver much better long term value. These are exciting – and challenging – times for the facilities management industry and an amazing amount is now achievable by combining our traditional expertise and modern IT tools. This also makes it an attractive and worthwhile career for any young person weighing up their options. Making buildings work better can be a very rewarding exercise – we just need to make sure building owners and operators recognise this and, therefore, ask the right questions of their facilities management providers.
Facilities Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
re These a and – excitingg – times gin challen e facilities for th nt industry me managean amazing and is now amountvable achie
COMPLIANCE By customising the core task library, building managers, consultants and contractors can ensure relevant statutory/regulatory compliance and prevent the costly over-maintaining of assets. Inclusion of RICS new rules of measurement completes the build, maintain, replace standard life-cycle costing model, and new criticality ratings enable clear prioritisation of maintenance tasks to streamline budget and project management. The SFG20 ‘Customiser Compliance’ tool allows users to create a bespoke building maintenance task library, including adding new non-core tasks such as fabric maintenance, and printing bespoke booklets of applicable standards. It includes links to all relevant statutory/legal obligations and references, together with regular updates to define compliant maintenance and an ‘asset criticality rating’ system which flags up – with a red warning – if a user is missing a maintenance task necessary for legal compliance. Providing this kind of support is important because many clients simply don’t know what they are buying when they acquire a building and have no idea of what is now possible in terms of improved performance and the enhancements the industry can provide. Regrettably, despite the upturn in the economy the main focus remains on the bottom line cost and not the long term gain. There are many ways for building owners and operators to reduce their carbon footprint and cut energy costs that are simply not being exploited because many building operators are unwilling to make the relatively modest upfront investment in a more strategic maintenance programme. However, awareness is improving and initiatives like ESOS are helping to make the link between maintenance improvements and monetary value. Many of the remedial actions are extremely simple. For example, buildings are progressively de-commissioned because the owners and operators are not well informed about how control systems should work. Temperature set-points are regularly ‘tweaked’ by individual occupants in a misguided attempt to change comfort levels in their section of the building. This can easily lead to the heating and cooling systems operating at the same time and ‘fighting’ against each other with the consequent negative impact on energy usage. This situation is often exacerbated by people also opening windows to cool down overheated areas so all that expensively tempered air is simply thrown away.
FURTHER INFORMATION www.b-es.org
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The Standard in Fire Systems Advanced is a British success story. We design and manufacture worldbeating fire alarm systems in the UK, exporting them to over 60 countries. Where quality and performance are priorities, you’ll find Advanced, including in The Shard.
Our innovations continually challenge the industry. AlarmCalm, our complete false alarm management solution tackles one of the biggest issues in Fire today and gives Advanced customers more options, more confidence and more peace of mind.
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F-GAS LEGISLATION
Robert Thilthorpe of the Fire Industry Association explains how the European Commission’s revised strategy for phasing out flourinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) will affect the fire protection systems industry in terms of cost and leak checking requirements The European Commission’s F-Gas regulations have changed. The original legislation was published in 2006 as EC 842/2006 and placed controls on Fluorinated Green House gases (F-Gases) as part of the EU’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto protocol. The new regulations were published in the summer of 2014 and come into force in January 2015. The original regulation, EC 842/2006, was an overarching document with supporting daughter acts and is the regime Europe has been working to in refrigeration and fire for the last ten years. This last statement is probably an overestimation, as those who have been involved will know there hasn’t been the take up of the regulation that the Commission thought there would be – more on that later. If for some reason this regulation has slipped past you here’s a brief reminder of what it is and what it was supposed to do. THE BACKGROUND What are F-Gases? These are a range of gases, all of which contain fluorine e.g. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). All
The regulation imposes requirements on the operators (owners) of systems containing F-Gases to ensure that they do everything possible to reduce leaks, and accordingly use only appropriately registered companies using trained and certificated personnel to undertake the installation and carry out the leak checking and maintenance of those systems. CURRENT REGULATIONS For fire protection we are talking about systems containing HFC 227ea (FM200), HFC 236fa (FE-36) HFC-23 (FE-13) and HFC 125(FE -25/NAF125) which cover most installed systems but other agents were used and may still be in those systems these were perfluorocarbons PFC-308(CEA-308), PFC-410(CEA-410), PFC-614(CEA-614). In simple terms what this meant was that if a fire protection system contained any of the above agents then the installation, service and maintenance of that system had to be carried out by trained and certificated personnel employed by a certificated company. With regard to leak checking (called containment in the regulation), there were criteria for when this had to be done
Whilst the new regulation does provide a challenge, it’s not insurmountable. System owners should check with their service providers to confirm where they fit within the new regime have a global warming potential (GWP) greater than 1 (1 being equivalent to the warming potential of 1kg of CO2 over 100 years, which was chosen as the base level). Global warming is of course a bad thing and the legislation is aimed at containing, preventing and thereby reducing emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. These gases are used in a number of areas including car air conditioning, air conditioning, refrigeration, building foam blowing – foam sealants, novelty aerosols, and fire protection. The refrigeration/air conditioning market is the biggest user by far. Fire protection is a smaller but very important use of these gases, and in reality is also non-emissive.
and, again in simple terms, if the system contained more than 3kg of an F-Gas then leak checking had to be done at set intervals. Things were slightly easier for fire protection since the regulation said that complying with the requirements of the existing standard ISO 14520 was seen as sufficient to meet the leak checking requirements. Most importantly, the 2006 regulation did not put any restrictions on placing HFCs on the market it focused on the containment of the gases. As with all EU regulations EC 842/2006 had a built in review timetable, which started in 2011. Consultants were employed to review the implementation in national regulations of the main text and the daughter regulations on training and certification. The review showed
PHASE OUT TARGETS FOR F-GAS USE BY YEAR 2015
100%
2016-17
91%
2018-2020
63%
2021-2023
45%
2024-2026
31%
2027-2029
24%
2030
21%
Written by Robert Thilthorpe, technical manager, FIA
PHASING DOWN FLUORINATED GASES
Fire Safety
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
that with a few notable exceptions (UK and Germany) very few EU member states had put in place the certification and training regimes. It also showed that if the EU were to meet their own targets for reductions in global warming gases something would have to change. The process of revising the regulations was started and the end result was published this year as 517/2014 and it comes into force on 1 January 2015. NEW RULES So what’s changed? Well, firstly and most importantly there is now a requirement to reduce the amount of F-Gases in the European market by up to two thirds of 2010 emissions by 2030. This will be achieved by a gradual phase down on the use of F-Gases. The new regulation allocates quotas to individual producers and importers for the placing of F-Gases on the market. The quota system includes the amount of F-Gases in equipment, not just virgin gas. The quotas will be based on the quantities of F-Gases that reported as having been placed on the marked during a reference period from 2009 to 2012. The proposed reduction each year up to 2030 will be a percentage of average annual total quantity of F-Gases placed on the market during reference period. What this means is in 2015 it the same amount in 2016-17 it will be 91 per cent of the 2015 amount and then going down in steps (see table opposite). What does this mean for fire protection?
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BAFE - Helping business to meet their fire protection obligations
Don’t gamble with your fire risk assessment! It is a legal requirement across the UK that all premises have a full and competent Fire Risk Assessment and then implement the fire protection requirements. The ‘responsible person’ has the duty to ensure that they have carried out these obligations – but how can they be sure that they have used competent contractors? BAFE has developed a scheme for Companies who carry out Fire Risk Assessments (SP205) which is a vital part of meeting legal responsibility obligations under fire legislation. Providers are rapidly recognising the value of this scheme and gaining certification. After a number of fatal fires, such as the one at Rosepark Care home
in Scotland and Lakenal House in London, there have been updated requirements for fire risk assessments. BAFE is the independent, third party certification, registration body for the fire protection industry, founded nearly 30 years ago with a wide range of industry bodies represented on our Council. We develop schemes for UKAS accredited certification bodies to assess and approve companies to recognised standards. There are now more than 1150 BAFE registered companies across the UK. Our aim is to support property owners and specifiers to ensure that they get quality fire protection for their premises, staff and service users.
to ISO9001 and all technicians are assessed by BAFE. For installing or maintaining fire alarm systems Companies should hold BAFE modular SP203-1 scheme approval. Our Emergency Lighting scheme (SP203-4) sets out the standards and staff competence criteria to be met. There are a range of other schemes for different fire protection requirements. So if you want to be sure you are getting your fire protection from companies who are properly assessed look for more information at:
If you are specifying the supply and maintenance of portable extinguishers, look for Companies accredited to BAFE Schemes SP101/ST104. Companies are certificated
Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0RH
T: 0844 335 0897 • E: info@bafe.org.uk • www.bafe.org.uk BAFE Moderngov ad.indd 1
06/08/2014 12:55
F-GAS LEGISLATION Simply, there will be less FM200, for example, around and it will cost more. In addition to this phase down, certain F-Gases will be prohibited for fire protection. On a positive note, only one, HFC 23 (FE-13), will be banned for new systems from January 2016 – there are very few systems, if any, containing FE-13 in the UK. Training and certification that has not really changed, all companies involved in handling F-Gases (installation and/or maintenance) the company needs to be registered and the relevant personnel be trained and certificated. LEAK CHECKING As mentioned earlier, the regulations had a limit on the size of system that was covered by the leak checking requirements of the regulation and in 842/2006 it was based on the weight of the system as described here: for 3kgs up to 30kgs, checking was required every 12 months; for 30kgs up to 300kgs, every six months; and 300kgs and above, every three months or six months if leak detection fitted. In the new regulation this has changed. The requirements for leak checking are now determined by CO2 equivalent and start to apply if the system contains more than 5 tonnes so the criteria now becomes: for 5 to 50 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, checking is required every 12 months or 24 months if leak detection is fitted; for 50 to 500
tonnes of CO2 equivalent, every six months or 12 months if leak detection is fitted; and above 500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, checks must be carried out every three months or six months if leak detection is fitted. Again, if the fire protection system is inspected in accordance with the standards ISO 14520 or EN 15004 then the requirements are deemed to have been met. The CO2 equivalent determined by the GWP of the gas times the mass of the system and this move to CO2 equivalent has moved the ball game significantly. Under the previous regime the smallest system covered was 3kg. Now, if you look at the two most common agents FM 200 (GWP 3220) and FE-36 (GWP 9810), it’s immediately obvious this is no longer the case for FE-36 even a 1kg system is now covered by the requirements and FM200 a 2kg system. As you move to the higher requirement significantly smaller systems are now covered than previously. There is a phase in on the requirement for systems less than 3kg as the requirements are delayed until December 2016. This change means that systems previously seen as outside the scope of the regulation with regard to the leak checking are now included. For example, small systems used on boats and other craft are generally based on 2kg FE-36 extinguishers, or police forces who moved from Halon to FE-36 for their
Fire Safety
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
personal protection are now covered as they used extinguishers around 1-2kg in size. UK LEADING THE PACK The good news is that since UK was one of the EU Member States who were ahead of the curve in terms of training and certification there are many certificated companies available in the UK and the number of trained personnel was in the 2,000 region at last count. So there is already a large pool of qualified personnel and registered companies to meet the challenge of more systems coming under the requirements. As the training and certification body, the FIA is working to update the training to reflect the new requirements. In summary, whilst the new regulation does provide a challenge it’s not insurmountable. System owners (operators) should check with their service providers to confirm where they fit within the new regime. At the same time service providers and insurance companies should start to inform their clients of the impending changes. A simple rule is if the company your using to service your F-Gas system doesn’t have an F-Gas certificate or trained personnel they shouldn’t be touching a fire protection system containing an F-Gas. FURTHER INFORMATION www.fia.uk.com
Advanced launches AlarmCalm to ‘red line’ false alarms False alarms are among the biggest issues in fire today, and alarm systems leader Advanced has recently launched AlarmCalm, which it believes is the most complete solution to the problem. It delivers a false alarm management (FAM) that will suit almost any building or site strategy. AlarmCalm provides total, easilyconfigured control over alarm verification periods and investigation delays to outputs. It allows a site to be divided into FAM zones called Building Areas – up to 200 per panel or 40,000 per network. These are virtual areas that can share grouped, or have individual, FAM settings. There is no limit to the number of points in a Building Area and every device in the area can be configured precisely. Verification can be configured for day/night operation and set quickly according to device type. Heat, smoke, multi-sensors and other inputs can be used as verification inputs and set by device type or individually per point. Once a signal is detected AlarmCalm starts a programmable ‘stage one’ verification time. At the end of this time if the signal is still present, the system will go into full alarm. During this time the signal can be confirmed by mode or sensitivity change, for example an optical
heat detector switching to heat to verify the signal, or by coincidence detection. There is growing awareness of the role that residents can play in unwanted false alarm reduction, especially in HMOs, student accommodation and apartment buildings. Advanced’s new intelligent, loop-powered Alarm Acknowledgement device, the AlarmCalm Button can be used by residents to manually verify an alarm signal is due to an issue in their property that they believe is a false alarm, burnt toast or shower vapour are common culprits. By pressing the AlarmCalm Button, a resident initiates a ‘second stage’ verification time. If after the second stage time the
signal has cleared, the system will reset to normal conditions, if the signal in the detector is still present, a full fire condition will be signalled. During the second stage period, a fire condition is also indicated if the alarm is confirmed by another method such as sensitivity change or second detector. AlarmCalm is currently available on Advanced’s EN54 2,4&13 approved MxPro 5 multiprotocol panels and Axis EN fire systems. More information, including AlarmCalm Button datasheets, can be found at the AlarmCalm microsite. FURTHER INFORMATION alarmcalm.advancedco.com
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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Reade Signs … are a nationally recognised sign, graphics and display company who are proud to be a full member of the British Sign and Graphics Association. Established in 1980, Reade Signs’ boasts the experience and expertise of being in the sign industry for 34 years, and has the most up-to-date machinery, technology and skilled, in-house staff to provide the client with an impeccable level of service, and, above all, the exact signage and communication solution you need. We are THE complete permanent and temporary signage and display provider – from Built Up Lettering that really stands out from the crowd, to clear and concise Way finding signage, eye catching Exhibition Stands, Pop Up Displays and stunning Window Graphics and Vinyls – the list is endless. Reade Signs’ prides itself with ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditations so you can be assured that every aspect of the design, production and installation of your signage, stand or banner is planned and managed to a very high standard and has the least impact on the environment. So whatever your signage requirements, Reade Signs will provide the solutions you need to communicate your message, with a flexible, fast and exceptional service. CALL NOW TO FIND OUT MORE…
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WAYFINDING
Signage
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
WORDS AND IMAGES THAT POINT OUT THE WAY A sign does two things. It acts as a beacon, guiding the visitor to the right location and, more importantly, it delivers a message about your services. The task is further complicated by the fact that the people will be on the move when they see the sign and it must be possible to read and understand its message in an instant. Get it right and signage can then be a powerful tool. The importance of well-designed and planned signage as part of your overall strategy cannot be overstated. The question is how do you get it right? To find the right answer you will need to consider a number of factors, for example: what types of signs are right for your sector or business; what are the design and content criteria; who should make your signs; and what materials should be used to create them. You should also find out whether you need planning permission to erect your sign and how to meet any legal obligations arising from maintenance and inspection of the sign over the course of its lifetime. Legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act will also have a bearing on the design and location of a sign. It’s worth repeating, no matter how good you are, if your sign does not inform, it has failed. Experienced sign designers understand how to get attention and, more importantly, how to get the right reaction. LEGIBILITY Sign legibility depends on many factors, though there are a number of basic considerations that must be taken into account. Regarding letter size, generally, the larger the size, the greater the legibility relevant to the viewing distance. When it comes to letter shape, some letter styles are more legible than others. Script and extended letter styles are more difficult to read unless they form a well-advertised brand name or logo (e.g. Coca Cola). Letters are more discernible if they are spaced apart at a reasonable distance. Crowding together, particularly of adjacent vertical strokes can make them difficult to read. Also remember that to be legible, a sign has to be bright enough to stand out from its surroundings and to be placed in a position without competing or confusing backgrounds. Finally, a sign with a colour that contrasts well with that of its background will be more legible than one where the colours tend to merge.
Written by David Catanach, director, BSGA
Wayfinding signage may seem straightforward, but is actually easy to get wrong. And if a sign has not informed, it has failed. So how do you get it right? David Catanach, director of the British Sign and Graphics Association shares some advice
It’s worth repeating, no matter how good you are, if your sign does not inform, it has failed. Experienced sign designers understand how to get attention and how to get the right reaction AVOID MISCOMMUNICATION Today many sign buyers are influenced by the design agencies that handle their corporate identity programmes and come up with signage schemes that consider neither the intricacies of the planning system nor the feasibility of bending rigid materials into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes. Thus, when the signage programme goes out to tender, both agency and client are disgruntled when they discover to learn that what they have requested just isn’t possible or is cost prohibitive. This is why it makes sense to consult a reputable signmaker at an early stage in the design process. Most signmakers, and especially those who specialise in corporate branding, have a good idea of what the planning authorities will allow and will be able to advise on the suitability of designs and
availability of materials. They may also be able to suggest more effective – and very often much cheaper – alternatives to those specified. Many signmakers also boast an in-house design capability and will happily help create workable concepts that meet both aesthetic and budgetary considerations. The best signmakers will produce prototypes to test feasibility and will also supply material samples so that the client and his agency can see whether the ‘glossy effect’ they had so fondly envisaged is viable. It actually takes a great deal of skill to produce an attractive and effective wayfinding scheme which guides visitors smoothly around a complex of buildings or floors and then safely back. Wayfinding signage is vital if any large visitor location with multiple entrances and facilities – retail
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Get yourself noticed
WAYFINDING
Most signmakers have a good idea of what the planning authorities will allow and will be able to advise on the suitability of designs and availability of materials parks, shopping centres, schools, universities, hospitals, theme parks etc. Even a large, multi-storey car park needs wayfinding signage. CHOOSING A SIGNMAKER So, how do you find a reputable signmaking partner – one that is capable of delivering signs that best meet your needs and at a cost you can afford? It may seem like a daunting task, but the good news is that in the UK there are a large number of superbly equipped, highly skilled and very creative, professional specialist companies capable of providing you with signage of the highest quality. Of course, as in any other business sector, there are also a number who will happily promise the earth, take your money and then fail to deliver. The question is how to avoid these. One way is to check that your Signmaker is a member of the British Sign and Graphics Association. The Approved Signmaker Search facility on our web site will help you. It includes profiles of all member companies and
links to their web sites, where you can find more information on the services they provide. All Members of the BSGA are vetted before joining and all have signed up to the Association’s Code of Practice, which is designed to promote the highest standards, design, workmanship, health and safety, and commercial practice within the sign industry. It is essentially the Code of Practice that sets members of the BSGA apart from many others in the industry. The fact that they are members is a clear indication that they are serious businesses and are serious about their dealings with their clients. Should any Member breach the Code, the BSGA Council will either suspend membership or expel the member completely through its Dispute Resolution Service. CONSIDER YOUR REQUIREMENTS Your choice of signmaker will, to a large extent, depend on the nature of your requirements. If you are looking for single fascia sign for your offices or maybe a ‘wrap’
Signage
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
for your delivery vehicle, then a local sign shop may be the ideal partner. However, if the project is part of a major re-brand across multiple locations you may need to consider one of the larger sign manufacturers. Whatever the case, we recommend that you enlist the services of a BSGA Signmaker. Sign buyers also have a legal requirement to effect a maintenance contract where the positioning of the sign can endanger lives or property in the event of failure of the sign (including fixings). This must include safety checks on sign structures. Sign buyers must engage a suitably qualified company to undertake this. In addition to the maintenance requirement, sign buyers need to be aware that the European Construction Products Regulations (CPR) is now in place. Under CPR, load‑bearing structures with signs will need to comply with the new Eurocodes and be CE marked. These new regulations come under criminal rather than civil law and carry severe penalties for non-compliance. BSGA Members are kept informed of the legislation and other requirements necessary to help keep them and their clients from falling fall foul of their obligations. Even more reason to choose a BSGA Member to supply your signs. FURTHER INFORMATION www.bsga.co.uk
Advice on how to maintain & inspect signs Sign Owner’s legal responsibility Maintenance Contracts
t: (028) 3839 8998 email: info@apsigns.co.uk
apsigns.co.uk
hello@dis-group.co.uk
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COMMUNICATIONS
Printing
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Written by The Independent Print Industries Association
PUBLIC SECTOR PRINTING: BEYOND INK AND PAPER
The Independent Print Industries Association looks at some of the key considerations when choosing a print management supplier for public communication projects There have always been strategies for cost reduction techniques but there has never been greater government commitment to look at ways of reducing cost whilst at the same time enhancing the service offering. Shared services and consortium purchasing cost reduction techniques can involve standardisation of production, simplification and variety reduction and improvement in design to help with efficiency – all coupled with overhead and inventory control. All of this needs to be achieved without any drop in essential quality and an eye to what the product is required to achieve. INNOVATION A good print management company will analyse the end user’s requirement,
understand the process model and the strategic needs of the service. Armed with this knowledge they will be able to advise on methodology, quality, quantity and order frequency. Their expertise can often be seen in the proposals of new or innovative products, designed to reduce costs whilst at the same time ensuring an improved service. It must not
be forgotten that cost reduction techniques should encompass not just the end product but every process involved with the purchase. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT There are a lot of myths surrounding the use of paper, trees and the environment, but actually European forests have grown by over E
The paper industry has a number of certification schemes ensuring the paper used has come from a sustainable forest source, mainly the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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COMMUNICATIONS
When embarking on a major printing project the most important element is to arrive at a specification that is accurate, encompasses the needs of the project, and is clear and unambiguous for the suppliers. 30 per cent since 1950 and are increasing by 1.5 million football pitches every year. The paper industry has a number of respected certification schemes ensuring the paper used has come from a sustainable forest source. There are some 30 schemes in existence, but the two main auditable certifications that have emerged are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)®, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)®. Other areas that may contribute to environmental impact are transport and geographical location to the delivery point. IPIA members strive to organise production in the
same locality; matching product needs, delivery periods and price points with close proximity to the end user wherever possible. The environmental and social benefits are obvious and bring something back to the end user community. There are many other approaches to limiting any environmental impact such as the use of vegetable inks, recycling of cleaning solvents and paper waste as well as offsetting any remaining carbon emission. Factories are constantly striving to improve their environmental credentials. More and more, customers are demanding a cross-media approach whereby paper products
Printing
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
link closely with digital communication methods such as email, SMS and social media. This approach can help to reduce environmental impact whilst at the same time increasing the efficiency of the process. GENERAL ADVICE When embarking on a major printing project the most important element is to arrive at a specification that is accurate, encompasses the needs of the project, and is clear and unambiguous for the suppliers. Without a watertight specification a project may become ‘loose’ and result in numerous change control actions along the way, potentially creating inefficiencies. Government tenders are usually comprehensive in the details requested in order to form an objective opinion of a potential supplier. Suppliers should be well versed in the intricacies of responding to PQQs and ITTs. These documents highlight the information required which may include questions about Certification to ISO9001, 27001 and 14001 as well as other bodies E
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COMMUNICATIONS
Printing
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Is the paper ethically sourced?
Print managem companie ent the exper s are ts in field and this hence see advice ca king n pay divid often ends
such as Investors in People and Customer Service Excellence, and seek to gain an overall picture of the respondent. More recently, suppliers to local government will be looking to achieve certification with Public Services Network (PSN). The Public Services Network (PSN) will substantially reduce the cost of communication services across UK government and enable new, joined-up and shared public services for the benefit of citizens. PSN is creating one logical network, based on industry standards, and a more open and competitive ICT marketplace at the heart of the UK public sector. EXPERTISE Increasingly, competition is based upon
capabilities and knowledge. The allowance of scope to view value-added methods of operation should result in a better end solution. Print management companies are the experts in this field and hence seeking advice can often pay dividends. Having at least shortlisted potential suppliers the best way forward is to form a collaborative approach to the benefit of all concerned. Suppliers should be able to react to changes when required and have a clear defined method of handling the project from start to finish. Contingency factors should be in place and are important in the event of minor or major catastrophes. The role of digital print is changing rapidly, meaning that larger and larger volumes now become cost-effective. Speeds can now run at up to thousands of meters per minute with every single impression different – tailoring E
The paper industry has a number of respected certification schemes ensuring the paper used has come from a sustainable forest source. There are some 30 schemes in existence, but the two main auditable certifications that have emerged are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)®, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)®. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non‑governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC runs a global forest certification system with two key components: forest management and chain of custody certification. This system allows consumers to identify, purchase and use timber and forest products produced from well-managed forests. FSC’s ‘tick tree’ logo is used on product labels to indicate whether products are certified under the FSC system. When you see the FSC logo on a label you can buy timber and other wood products, such as paper, with the confidence that you are not contributing to the destruction of the world’s forests. Meanwhile, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification. PEFC UK was established in 2000 and is the member of PEFC International. PEFC International is an umbrella organisation that endorses national forest certification systems developed through multi‑stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions. PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Its eco-label allows customers and consumers to identify products sourced from sustainably managed forests. FURTHER INFORMATION www.pefc.co.uk www.fsc-uk.org
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Litho and Digital Print Specialists ✓ Brochures ✓ Leaflets ✓ Business Cards ✓ Business Stationery ✓ Bespoke Calendars ✓ Invites ✓ Pads ✓ Posters Tel: 01482 610902 Fax: 01482 216295 info@jadan-press.co.uk www.jadan-press.co.uk Rainbow House, Kimberley Street, Hull, HU3 1HH
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
COMMUNICATIONS the exact message to each individual person. The Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) is a not for profit organisation established 25 years ago whose membership comprises print management companies, trade printers and associated suppliers. Organisations link together and share knowledge of print, marketing and communication techniques. The IPIA is committed to helping its members develop their skill sets, grow their businesses and be able to offer a complementary range of services.
In today’s world where one solution is rarely enough, an IPIA Member can draw on and partner with a host of other companies specialising in their own skill sets. This collaborative approach helps to offer the end user an all-encompassing solution whilst only dealing with the one supplier
IPIA MEMBERS The benefits of choosing an IPIA member company are many and varied. First and foremost all new members are vetted and required to sign a code of practice. The IPIA organises many training and networking events all designed to increase the knowledge of Members. The IPIA shares news and views across the industry and has associations with most of the other print and communication focussed bodies. In today’s world where one solution is rarely enough, an IPIA Member can draw on and partner with a host of other companies specialising in their own skill sets. This collaborative approach helps to offer the end user an all-encompassing solution whilst only dealing with the one supplier. An IPIA Print Management member can draw
on trade factories specialising in: design, data handling, print, digital print, digital marketing, and simply everything required for any communication requirements. John Foster, managing director of Print Image Network Limited says: “Partnership and collaboration are key; no one production company can now hope to satisfy a customer’s total demands because the skill sets, machinery required and product diversifications are too varied. A Print Management company pulls these varied needs together and presents a single source solution for the end user. For example, Print Image Network was tasked with delivering a multi-channel referendum on a high profile subject matter reaching out to 200,000 people for their opinion. “We held meetings with the client (a London
Printing
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
based Council) and built the project. Using our knowledge of the IPIA network of suppliers we seamlessly sought envelopes and printed material and handled the data in a manner which allowed the recipient of the postal vote packs to respond by paper, phone, internet or SMS voting. From a very high turnout, approximately 60 per cent of people voted by paper with 40 per cent using some form of digital media. This enabled a large number of people to view the question and supporting information whilst being able to vote electronically, thereby creating efficiencies and lowering not only the response cost but also the environmental impact.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.ipia.org.uk
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SIGNS & GRAPHICS
Public Sector Events
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Written by Andrew Harrison, director, ESSA
ALL SIGNS POINT TO THE ELECTION
Whilst there are rules and regulations about graphics around polling stations, some crisp new signage helps to make people feel they’re taking part in something serious and significant, writes Andrew Harrison of the Events Supplier and Services Association If you are involved in the local or national preparations for the next general election, have you examined your requirements for event graphics and signage? The general election can rightfully be called a live event, and with 650 constituencies and probably half the 9,500 council wards getting ready to elect their representatives to the local authority and the national government, it’s a very big live event indeed. The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) counts a number of excellent graphics companies among its members – companies whose expertise is in planning, producing, delivering and installing graphics of any scale to exhibitions, conferences and live events. GET VOTERS’ ATTENTION In seven months, the country will be asked to choose its new national government and a solid proportion of its local
government. Voters will be finding their way to polling stations, thousands of observers and members of the public will attend the counts, and millions will watch the events unfold on live television. It’s a limelight moment for every local authority and city hall in the country, and an opportunity for you to put your best foot forward. Crisp, clear and unambiguous signage, impressive, eye-catching backdrops and well designed public information material will paint the right picture for the public and television audiences alike.
POLLING STATIONS Andrew Kennedy, director of Perton Signs Ltd, has been to a few elections himself, and reckons he knows some of the pitfalls that trap the unwary: “So often, when I visit the polling station, the graphics in use have clearly been used every year since Pitt the Elder was in office, and are looking tatty and threadbare. “Obviously, it’s not a funding priority, but there’s an issue of perception to address here. Sprucing up your polling station graphics need not be expensive, but voters are more likely to feel enthused about the exercise if their E
Crisp, clear and unambiguous signage, impressive, eye-catching backdrops and well designed public information material will paint the right picture for the public and TV audiences Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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SIGNS & GRAPHICS voting station isn’t looking past its sell-by date.” Clearly, there are rules and regulations about graphics around polling stations, but some crisp new signage helps to make people feel they’re taking part in something serious and significant. “Of course,” Andrew says, “it’s the count and the announcement of the results that command the most attention, particularly from the media, and watching the election coverage, it’s always amusing to spot the mistakes from a graphics standpoint. Sometimes you see the name of the authority printed too low on the backdrop, so it is obscured by the candidates on stage. Or there is a beautifully rendered four colour coat of arms, which looks fantastic but is meaningless to the TV audiences. In three words – plan, survey, design. Remember that you’re not just buying graphics supplies, but their expertise and experience too – make good use of it.”
to trompe d’oeil translucent window vinyls, and has some advice for anyone thinking of commissioning new graphics for the general election: “Think big. Modern digital print firms can produce graphics at literally every size. But if you are printing big, remember to consider the resolution of the image. “All too often we see beautifully printed wall wraps fitted by experts so no joins are visible, but the entire effect is destroyed by blocky images and jagged edges on text. Make sure your image resolution matches your finished image size. “For temporary overlays for halls and venues, there are a number of excellent low tack repositionable printing substrates available that offer you unprecedented flexibility and opportunities for clean removal. If your graphics are likely to appear on television, insist on a matte finish, as high gloss finishes will tend to create glare on screen. Also be aware that tight geometric patterns may result in strobing
The ion elect generalmelight is a li or every tf momen thority and u local a hall in the city country
THINKING BIG Andy Delpech, operations director at Oasis Graphics in Cookham is an old hand at large format show graphics from full building wraps
effects when shown on television. “Site surveying is an important part of any graphics installation, and an experienced project manager can bring a lot to the table during these visits to the site, not least establishing how the traffic will flow through the venue, and how it is lit. If fixing graphics to walls is not permitted they will be able to suggest alternatives that might not be immediately obvious. When you retain a good graphics firm, the print and installation is only half the story, you should also be getting plenty of advice and creative thinking to solve problems and obstacles, and a site survey is essential for this process.”
Public Sector Events
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
CODE OF PRACTICE ESSA’s graphics company members represent a deep well of expertise and experience for you to call upon when you are planning for the local and national elections. As members of the association they are, of course, all bound to a strict code of conduct, their financial credentials have been checked, they are almost without exception SMEs, and they are covered by the ESSA bond, three factors that make them a prudent, desirable choice of supplier for your graphics requirements. The ESSA quality charter, to which all our members adhere, is your guarantee that any graphics work you commission will be delivered on E
Setting up a polling station: Advice from the Electoral Commission SIGNAGE TO THE POLLING STATION There should be directions (arrows and/or instructions) steering the voter to the entrance. If there is a different entrance to assist people with mobility problems then this entrance should similarly be clearly signed. CAR PARKING Any car parking spaces for disabled people should be clearly marked. On site car parking facilities for staff should be regularly monitored. Be aware of the nearest parking facilities to advise voters. LEVEL ACCESS TO POLLING STATIONS Ideally the polling station should be accessible to all voters. If temporary ramps are to be used, they must be fitted properly and monitored through the day. ENTRANCES TO POLLING STATIONS All doors, especially those on designated disabled access routes should be permanently propped open. Fire doors however, must not be propped open. Ensure doormats do not present a tripping hazard. INSIDE THE POLLING STATION The staff themselves must consider the best place to site themselves, the ballot
box and the polling booths, ensuring that people can easily identify the staff, move to the voting booths and then to the ballot box without causing problems to themselves or other voters. LIGHTING OF POLLING STATIONS Many people’s vision is dependent on the quality of lighting, especially for reading and writing. Good lighting, both in the polling booth, where the large-print versions of the ballot papers are displayed, and outside at the entrance, is vital. LOW-LEVEL POLLING BOOTHS AND BALLOT BOXES Low-level polling booths should be installed to ensure that voters in a wheelchair are able to cast their vote. The ballot box should be placed on a chair rather than a table so wheelchair users can reach it, and a white strip placed around the slot helps visually impaired people to locate the opening more easily. INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS Every polling booth must have the instruction notice and it must be checked regularly to ensure it is still there and has not been defaced.
LARGE-PRINT NOTICES OF THE BALLOT PAPER A large-print version of the ballot paper must be displayed inside the polling station for the assistance of voters who are blind or partially sighted. The legislation also requires that enlarged hand‑held copies of the ballot paper, marked as ‘sample’, are available to anyone who requires them. DEVICE FOR BLIND OR PARTIALLY-SIGHTED VOTERS It is a legal requirement to provide a tactile voting device at every polling station. The tactile template is a device that allows someone who is blind or partially sighted to mark the ballot paper themselves once the details on the ballot paper have been read out. SEATING Chairs should be provided in polling stations for anyone who needs a rest, ideally a mix of chairs with and without armrests. However, chairs should not be placed so that they get in the way of other voters, nor should they overlook people casting their votes.
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Quality Registration Services Where the emphasis is on Quality: • Affordable and bespoke packages for your event • Customer service • Reliable registration services • Colour badges • Data management and reporting • Marketing solutions • Front of House Management • User friendly sales lead retrieval services We provide the best-looking badges to support your brand, as well as sophisticated analysis so that you can get the most out of the data you collect. Please call us if you would like to discuss the possibilities for you.
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
Public Sector Events
SIGNS & GRAPHICS time and on budget. You can obtain a copy of the charter on our website. This charter stipulates that all the work will be explained and agreed with a clear budget given, and that their technicians and installers will not only produce work to the highest standard, but will do so in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Association members must also comply with the ESSA code of conduct which can also be viewed online. The code of conduct ensures that members will only agree to work that is within their capacity, experience and financial capabilities, and that the work will be undertaken only by qualified, suitable craftsmen. What’s more, the ESSA has a Sustainability Working Group where members meet to discuss the important issue of sustainability, and how they can all work together to help reduce the event industry’s impact on the environment.
ESSA’s s is a wise choice. r Not only do members membe well of a have the probity, t n e repres tise and for experience and exper ll upon when knowledge to execute your a you to care planning specifications to you he local perfection, they have the capacity for t tional a and bandwidth to n d n a s cope with very high election demand across multiple
A WISE CHOICE So whether you simply want a few simple laminated signs for polling stations or a full temporary overlay for City Hall to ensure TV viewers know exactly where this set of results is coming from, an ESSA member
projects. Events tend to be very time inflexible, so event graphics companies have evolved to be able to meet multiple, simultaneous deadlines. The ESSA member list contains dozens of graphics companies who will be only too happy to discuss your requirements with you, and advise on every aspect of planning, designing, producing and installing the
graphics you need for national and local elections. Distance is no object, and whilst you may find a local ESSA graphics company, members are well accustomed to working internationally and will be able to deliver their services to you wherever you are in the UK, from Stornoway to The Isles of Scilly. So, there really is no excuse for the polling station that no one can find or the election results that appear to have been televised in the 1980s. Make your election event the one where everyone knows what’s happening, the event that the TV pictures keep cutting back to and the event that leaves a favourable impression on voters, tellers, counters, candidates, officers and the television audiences. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.essa.uk.com
Corporate & Social Events The Crown Moran Hotel is the place to meet for all corporate and social occasions • Preferential bedroom rates • Air conditioned rooms • Event rooms for 2 - 300 people • Daily Delegate packages available from £39 per person • Social event packages available from £28 per person 142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, London, NW2 3ED Tel: 020 8452 4175 Email: cb.crown@moranhotels.com
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INCOME TAX 1798
ROMAN CURRENCY
ROAD TAX
DECIMALISATION
THE EURO
CIRCA 300 BC
1888
1971
1995
BENEFIT IN KIND 2002
WE HAVEN’T JUST MADE HISTORY.
WE’VE MADE YOU £5,000 RICHER. With the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, we haven’t just made a car – we’ve given you a £5,000 pay rise1. The fusion of electric and petrol technology can deliver a staggering 148 mpg2 and creates a fraction of the CO2 emissions of a conventional car - just 44g/km. Business users only pay 5% Benefit in Kind rather than the 25%+ that most pay. It could add thousands to your pay packet, plus it’s the only 4WD SUV that’s exempt from road tax and the Congestion Charge. If your commute is less than 30 miles your petrol consumption will be minimal too. That’s because, in full electric mode, the Outlander PHEV has a range of 32 miles. Its combined petrol and electric range is an incredible 510 miles3. Plus its battery can be charged in a few hours via a domestic plug socket or a low-cost4 home Charge Point5. We’ve made history – you just need to make time for a test drive. We call this Intelligent Motion.
THE WORLD’S FIRST 4WD PLUG-IN HYBRID SUV
Compare the tax savings of running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as your company car against these market leaders.
OUTLANDER PHEV GX4H AUTO
COST OF THE CAR - P11D VALUE
£37,8996
GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION
£5,000
ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE
£32,899
HONDA CR-V EX AUTO
BMW X3 XDRIVE SE AUTO
AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO
£33,995 £34,500 £39,225 £0
£0
£0
£33,995 £34,500 £39,225
MERCEDES E-CLASS SE ESTATE AUTO £36,005 £0 £36,005
CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM
44
180
138
184
140
BENEFIT IN KIND RATE
5%
32%
23%
29%
24%
VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED
£758
£4,351
£3,174
£4,550
£3,456
THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)
–
£3,593
£2,416
£3,792
£2,699
VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITH FUEL PROVIDED
£1,192
£7,129
£5,170
£7,067
£5,540
THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)
–
£5,937
£3,978
£5,875
£4,348
Make time for a test drive | Search: Outlander PHEV | Visit: mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer 1. Outlander PHEV GX4h compared with Honda CR-V EX Auto. PHEV business users will pay 5% BIK compared to 32% on the Honda saving a 40% taxpayer £5,102pa. The savings for business drivers with a company fuel card are higher. 2. Official EU MPG test figure shown as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. 3. 32 mile EV range achieved with full battery charge. 510 miles achieved with combined full battery and petrol tank. Actual range may vary depending on driving style and road conditions. 4. Low-cost British Gas plug-in vehicle charging package available – ask your dealer for more information. Offer ends 31st March 2015. 5. Domestic plug charge: 5 hours, 16 Amp home charge point: 3.5 hours, 80% rapid charge: 30mins. 6. Prices shown include VAT (at 20%), exclude VED and First Registration Fee. Metallic paint extra. Model shown is an Outlander PHEV GX4h at £33,399 including metallic paint. Prices correct at time of going to print. For more information about the Government Plug-in Car Grant please visit www. gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants.
Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: infinite, Depleted Battery Charge: 48mpg (5.9), Weighted Average: 148mpg (1.9), CO2 Emissions: 44 g/km.
PUBLIC SECTOR FLEETS
FLEET BUYING EXPLAINED
I have spent more than 50 years in the fleet industry and during the last decade or more have become increasingly concerned at the decision of many organisations to axe the post of fleet manager. The traditional fleet manager is now rare and with their passing, employers have lost the knowledge and skill necessary to deliver a cost effective fleet operation. Consequently, there is a real need to reintroduce into the fleet management process individuals with a clear understanding and the necessary skill and knowledge to deliver a professional approach. I accept that the fleet industry, just like any business sector, must continue to evolve and change. However, for those employees now taking on fleet management responsibility it is important that all aspects of running the operation are properly understood and standards maintained. The goal for every professional fleet manager should be to implement a sustainable performance programme in all areas of managing the driver, vehicle and journey. The costs involved with running fleets are enormous, second only to staffing costs in most organisations. However, understanding the intricacies of fleet management is a discipline which, sadly, very few organisations properly grasp. That became increasingly apparent when I was running Fleet Support
Group. Discussing the issue with colleagues who are all highly experienced, full-time professional fleet managers it became apparent that they were also concerned at the demise of the role across all business sectors. The outcome is the launch of the Fleet Industry Advisory Group (FIAG), which is aimed at developing and sharing best practice among fleet decision-makers while simultaneously raising money for Hope for Tomorrow, a national charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes by providing a mobile chemotherapy unit to every oncology unit within the UK. CAREFUL DECISION-MAKING There is no single formula to tackling a fleet issue, but through networking, communication and a hugely knowledgeable base of founder members our intention is to ensure best practice is shared and adopted more widely. One area of concern in terms of fleet decision-makers getting it right is the purchasing of vehicles, fleet services and related products. That is why FIAG’s first workshop, held in Spring, focused on procurement best practice. Too often the purchasing process conducted via a tendering exercise can be totally inappropriate, ineffective and almost a charade. However, when undertaken carefully and
involving all key stakeholders in the tendering process it then becomes the cornerstone of the subsequent contract that will define the long‑term efficiency and effectiveness of the fleet operation. Indeed, partnering efficiently with a range of fleet suppliers is the secret to keeping operating costs in check, while continuing to drive through efficiencies that will make the business as a whole function more effectively. BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP Making sure that the customer-supplier relationship that develops following a tender process works well throughout the duration of the contract is not just about getting right the words and numbers in the agreement. It is also about developing a strong working relationship and genuine rapport with each and every supplier necessary to achieve strategic corporate objectives. The key to a successful fleet purchasing process is to define what is required, commercially and functionally, from potential suppliers while ensuring that very best value for money is obtained. However, do not confuse value for money with price. When making procurement decisions too many people focus on price when greater consideration should be given to intangibles such as value added service delivery, account management and product innovation if a successful long‑term business relationship is to be formed. A tender process undertaken properly will guard against incumbent supplier complacency and provide all stakeholders of the company going out to the market with firm reassurance that the process is taking their particular interests into account.
Written by Geoffrey Bray, chairmna, Fleet Industry Advisory Group
Too frequently, price is the dominating issue when purchasing new vehicles and fleet services. But there are many other aspects that should be considered if a long-term efficient fleet is to be run. Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the Fleet Industry Advisory Group, shares some procurement best practice
Fleet Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
TENDER DOCUMENTS Typically tender documents when issued to potential suppliers fall into four categories: documents that are concise, to the point and generally first class; those that are vague having probably been written by people with little or no fleet knowledge; those that are written by external consultants engaged for the specific exercise, which are so often unnecessarily complicated; and those that are simplistic generic documents that are used for general purchasing that are totally inadequate for the job in hand. Therefore, it is vital that fleet decision-makers clearly identify their requirements and establish the criteria. However, in ensuring compliance and value is achieved, it is critical to involve other key
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Thinking of going electric? Talk to the experts. EDF Energy has been working with fleet managers across a variety of sectors helping them to deliver strong business cases for making the switch to plug-in vehicles. Our expertise covers the technical assessment of sites, impartial advice on hardware requirements and best price design solutions. And because we provide complete end-to-end recharging solutions, there’s no need to look elsewhere. To find out more call the electric vehicle team on: 0800 096 9636 or email electricvehicles@edfenergy.com.
PUBLIC SECTOR FLEETS internal stakeholders in the procurement process. Depending on the size of the organisation this could include input from departments such as: procurement, finance, HR, legal, health and safety and environment. Such an approach ensures the procurement process is both well-run and has a clearly defined and auditable tendering objective. But too often, particularly, if the fleet decision-maker is inexperienced or fleet is not their full-time job role, the purchasing decision‑making is unduly influenced by colleagues from other departments. This can result in a lack of clarity in terms of what is required from suppliers because those making the purchasing decisions do not necessarily understand the complexities of fleet. CLARITY Specification clarity within the tender document is therefore essential, but too often, challenges have to be made by suppliers. Ultimately this can mean that the specification has to be rewritten so that those on the supply side can deliver what it is that companies actually want – once that has been determined. In short, if bidders come back with numerous questions it clearly highlights poor tender drafting and a failure to understand the needs of potential suppliers. However, where fleet expertise and knowledge is thin on the ground, businesses should beware of simply setting out the status quo in service specification terms and asking tenderers to price against it. Using the ‘it’s always been done that way’ approach can be very costly in today’s fast moving world. A better tactic in such situations would be to fully explain the existing fleet arrangements and the desired outcomes of the exercise and to request detailed proposals from tenderers for delivering an effective solution or range of solutions. This will test the listening skills of tenderers and their ability to bring targeted added value to the business in terms of service and/or cost. All too often tender documents contain a little bit about the fleet and the fleet policy and a lot about a company’s purchasing strategy, which appears to be the same whether those making the decisions are sourcing for fleet or any other corporate requirement such as office stationery. However, it is vital that a company’s procurement department provides technical support and ensure that the purchasing process from start to finish is managed against corporate compliance procedures. To ensure that ultimately the right purchasing decision is made and the right supplier appointed it is important that: the organisation issuing the tender has a high level of market place knowledge so the right suppliers are asked to tender; potential suppliers tendering for fleet business have knowledge of the organisation; an understanding of the fleet set-up and the objectives of the exercise; and that there is a cultural fit between the parties. This soft aspect is so often overlooked, but it is so important that a good fit exists from day one of what will often be a long term relationship. VALUE Too frequently, price is the dominating issue in tenders when the real focus should be on how a potential supplier can add value to a fleet through service delivery and innovation against a continually evolving transport and travel operation managed in a constantly changing tax and legislative environment. It is also clear that tenders are not a defined area and can result in a long drawn out and convoluted process involving too many people – and sometimes the wrong people leading the way and making the critical decisions. In reality fleet managers should write the purchasing specification/operational requirement; procurement should then focus on ensuring value and compliance with the specification/requirement; and finally fleet managers should implement and be responsible once the decision is made. While the product or service must be right for the fleet and the business, people ultimately buy from people because there is trust between them. If a relationship cannot be built on trust in the first instance then this could result in a recipe for operational disaster. FURTHER INFORMATION www.fiag.co.uk
Fleet Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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Dave’s one of your new drivers. He seems great.
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PROCUREMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR FLEET PURCHASING
The Crown Commercial Service’s fleet team explains its role in fleet procurement and how it works to promote the green motoring agenda throughout the public sector The recent Arrive ‘N’ Drive event – a yearly showcase of the latest vehicles and solutions to help fleet professionals run a more efficient transport operation – provided a fantastic opportunity for us to talk to visitors about our range of public sector fleet procurement solutions and discuss our green vision. Arrive ‘n’ Drive gave us valuable insight into how various sections of the market are utilising technology and the resources available, such as telematics applications and carpooling, to help us push forward with our green agenda. Following the event, we have established customer and supplier stakeholder groups to help us further improve our knowledge of a wide range of fleet topics – including driver training, accident assistance and prevention, and spare parts and consumables. If you are a public sector organisation or supplier of fleet‑related goods and services and would like to get involved in our stakeholder engagement please feel free to contact the team. GREEN COMMITMENT Green fleet issues are very much at the forefront of our strategy and we’re working
closely with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles who are developing the new Transport Government Buying Standard. This promotes easy-to-use product specifications to enable the public sector to develop tenders which focus on sustainably. It is mandatory for central government, and represents best practice for the wider public sector. Our commitment to green operations also means that the average CO2 level of the vehicles bought through our Vehicle Purchase agreement over the last year sits at 115g/km. This comfortably meets the Transport Government Buying Standard target of 130g/km, yet our goal in 2014/15 is to further reduce this to 110 g/km. We are also exploring the options to include telematics in our range of goods and services to boost fuel efficiency and improve driver behaviours; and are developing a new Vehicle Purchase agreement. Scheduled to launch in December 2014, it will promote supplier accountability by making them responsible for the complete supply chain from vehicle manufacture through to after sales support. £680 million of public sector fleet spend passed through our agreements last year, with
over 32,000 vehicles and over 250,000 tyres purchased, demonstrating our commitment to providing great value for money.
Fleet Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
PROCUREMENT We have several agreements already available for public sector organisations to meet their fleet procurement needs. The core fleet agreements we offer are Vehicle Purchase (RM859), Vehicle Lease (RM858), Supply and Fit of Tyres (RM955) and Vehicle Conversion and Reconditioning Services (RM956). Additionally, other fleet solutions such as the provision of electric charging installations, fuel cards, liquid fuels and insurance services are also available. If you are a public sector organisation, you can access our services in a number of ways depending on your specific needs: self‑service via our website or dedicated fleet portal for the purchase and lease of standard specification vehicles; or get involved with our programme of eAuctions which we run on behalf of multiple customers to combine requirements and leverage economies of scale. Our eAuctions are delivering superior savings for customers – for example, an eAuction for 2,500 vehicles saved customers a total of £7.9 million compared to Recommended Retail Price. We aim to be the ‘go-to’ place for expert fleet-related commercial and procurement services for the public sector. Our current focus is on increasing the scope and innovation of the goods and services available through our agreements and developing further expertise on fleet market dynamics, working proactively to spot future trends and innovations. FURTHER INFORMATION ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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FLEET EFFICIENCY
TEN TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE FLEET MANAGEMENT
Fleet Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Changes to business models, marketplace and legislation mean that the way your fleet is run is likely to change over the years. But keeping the following ten-step plan in mind will ensure that any new techniques adopted will make a positive contribution to the overall effectiveness of the fleet, advises James Langley, director and Council Member of the ICFM
ICFM top tips Clarity of Purpose Make sure you clearly understood the purpose of the vehicles Develop the policy Consider how the vehicles be provided, vehicle bands and replacement life and mileage Establish processes Develop processes to support the policy and deliver the outcomes Vehicle selection Consider the commercial requirement and whole life costs
Today there is a veritable plethora of technology, services and facilities that can or will improve particular aspects of the performance of a fleet. These solutions seek to address many of the issues which might well be faced by a fleet operator. However, in identifying those solutions which will represent justifiable investment opportunities, it’s necessary to have a real understanding of the real requirements of the organisation as well as the performance standards currently being attained. In most organisations, evolution of their business model, developments in the marketplace and changes in legislation mean that things are likely to change. Keeping the following ten step plan in mind will ensure that any new techniques adopted will make a positive contribution to the overall effectiveness of the fleet. CLARITY OF PURPOSE Be sure that the rationale behind operating the fleet and the purpose to which vehicles or groups of vehicles will be put is clearly understood.
DEVELOP THE POLICY Establish and confirm the structure of the scheme; how the vehicles will be provided, ranging from fully expensed company cars right through to business use of a privately owned car; vehicle bands to reflecting employee status, extent of permitted driver choice and the replacement life and mileage. ESTABLISH PROCESSES Develop processes to support the policy and deliver the required outcomes. These will include arrangements for drivers to access servicing and maintenance facilities, a method for obtaining fuel, appropriate reporting processes for the driver as well as arrangements for managing driver choice. VEHICLE SELECTION Qualify vehicles for selection on the basis firstly of them being able to fulfil the commercial requirement but then on the basis of whole life costs, which should include depreciation; funding; non-recoverable VAT; the impact of any differential writing down allowances and restricted rentals; service, maintenance and repairs and
Communicate Fully brief drivers on their requirements Establish measurements Identify measurements which will allow fleet to be accurately monitored Interpret and contextualise Regularly review information to identify issues which require attention Manage performance Focus on improving performance, prioritising those areas where the payback is most significant Maintain policy, processes & procedures Update the policy to reflect the evolution of the organisation Deliver continuous improvement Apply a continuous improvement approach and make sure issues addressed don’t revert to old standards
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FLEET EFFICIENCY replacements and fuel. Carefully consider how the entitlement or allowance will be maintained over the longer term. COMMUNICATE Make sure that the drivers, their line managers and any other interested parties are fully briefed about the part they are required to play in ensuring that the requirements are fulfilled and precisely what actions they must take. ESTABLISH MEASUREMENTS Identify a series of agreed measurements which will allow the performance of the fleet to be accurately monitored. These might include the number of vehicles in each employee grade, mileage and costs and could be available at company, cost centre or individual vehicle levels. Identify robust and reliable routines for gathering key elements of information. INTERPRET AND CONTEXTUALISE Regularly review the available information to identify those issues which require attention and management focus. This may be achieved by looking for individual or groups of vehicles which are inconsistent with the norm in an area of measurement, comparison between two similar user groups or even comparison against an internal
standard or an external benchmark. It is right and proper to take the nature of vehicle deployment into consideration, for example users whose duty cycle sees them being able to travel significant distances at a consistent speed will deliver better fuel consumption that the user who spends a deal of time on heavily congested roads. However, don’t accept that every variance is rooted in a unique operating situation.
MAINTAIN POLICY, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES Update the policy and the things you do to reflect the evolution in what the organisation requires, developments in support facilities available from the fleet marketplace and changes in legislation, including taxation. Particularly however, react to what is actually happening in your own fleet.
Fleet Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
DELIVER CONTINUOUS Keeping IMPROVEMENT this plan Deliver value to your i employer by applying a will ensurn mind e continuous improvement t h a t any new t approach to what you e c h adopted w niques do. Careful analysis of information will a positive ill make almost always identify contributio to the eff area for focus; ectivenes n doanother however keep an eye s of the flee on current measurements t
MANAGE PERFORMANCE Focus on improving performance, prioritising those areas where the payback is most significant either in terms of compliance with legal or organisation cultural demands or in terms of cost saving. There are benefits to be had in dealing with performance improvement in a measured manner, for example addressing the handful of the worst cases on a routine and regular basis. Remember that managing the driver’s performance is often a matter for the line manager and it will often be necessary to work in concert to secure the best outcome.
to make sure that aspects you’ve already addressed don’t revert to old standards.
UNDERSTAND THE FLEET The reality is that unless any initiative contemplated is consistent with the overall strategy for that fleet, is thoroughly evaluated and well implemented, it will, in due course and in the subsequent evaluation, be regretted.
Scarab Sweepers is a global frontrunner in the design, manufacturing and supply of compact and truck-mounted road sweepers. Scarab products are all designed and built to a high standard at our manufacturing headquarters in Kent, England. Our truck-mount models are built on a vehicle manufacturers chassis of your choice from 7.5 tonne to 18+ tonne GVW. Operators can select the type of transmission and power delivery system that best suits their needs.Hopper capacities available from 5.2m3 to 8.2m3 fitted alongside water tanks between 900 and 4200 litres. If you need something out of the ordinary our design team will work with you to build a bespoke sweeper to your requirements.
Tough on the Streets - Easy on the Environment www.scarab-sweepers.com Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS With CO2 from 98g/km
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The new Ford Focus has everything covered. SYNC 2 with Voice Control allows your drivers to make and take those important phone calls, so no opportunities pass them by. Need a quick response? Active City Stop will step in to help prevent any potential accidents. And because Ford Easy Fuel makes it impossible to put the wrong fuel in the car, your business never stops moving. For more information please contact our Business Centre on 0345 723 2323.
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Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Ford Focus Titanium 1.5 TDCi 120PS: urban 65.7 (4.3), extra urban 83.1 (3.4), combined 74.3 (3.8). Official C02 emission 98g/km. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING FOR EFFECTIVE, WIN-WIN FLEET MANAGEMENT
Advertisement Feature
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Keeping costs down and managing budgets remain key challenges for organisations when it comes to fleet management, says Lex Autolease, a leading vehicle management specialist in the UK For organisations across the UK, operating a cost-effective fleet hinges as much on offering the right financing options to employees as it does on making the right vehicle choices, according to Angela Allbutt, Business Development manager at Lex Autolease – the UK’s leading vehicle management and funding specialist. “The market today benefits from a variety of financing options for employees, from standalone schemes to others that can fit within an employee’s existing benefits package,” she explained. “One such scheme that Lex Autolease provides organisations with is a salary
safer vehicles that are greener, more efficient and have lower emissions. LEX AUTOLEASE AND YOUR HOUSING GROUP One organisation that benefitted from a salary sacrifice car scheme, supported by Lex Autolease, is Your Housing Group. The social and affordable housing provider had traditionally operated a fleet of company cars for directors and some staff members. They also had a ‘grey fleet’ of employeeowned vehicles used for business travel. In 2013 the organisation made the decision to introduce a salary sacrifice scheme so
“Lex Autolease enabled us to offer staff a variety of new vehicle options, while setting a limit on emissions in line with our CSR policy” Marvin Lee, Reward and ML Analyst at Your Housing Group sacrifice scheme, which is an effective way for an organisation – such as in the public sector – to manage its fleet. This type of scheme has proven to be beneficial for a wide-range of organisations. It offers an alternative way for employers to finance vehicles, while the employee benefits from a new car and the advantages that come with it. It’s a win-win solution.” SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEME A salary sacrifice scheme can be a great way to motivate and retain existing staff or attract new employees. It offers employees a new car with a full management and maintenance package. A salary sacrifice car scheme can be applied either as a stand-alone benefit or to enhance an existing company car package. An employee opts in to the scheme, and the monthly payment for their vehicle is deducted from their salary, before tax and National Insurance contributions are paid. As well as potentially improving employee engagement and retention, a business can also benefit from reduced fuel expenditure through smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. It also supports a business’s duty of care obligations by providing newer,
that all staff could benefit from a company car in return for a monthly payment. All employees are eligible and the scheme has proved very popular with employees, giving access to new cars with insurance cover, full maintenance and servicing, low CO2 emission rates plus tax and National Insurance savings. “Lex Autolease enabled us to offer staff a variety of new vehicle options, while setting a limit on emissions in line with our CSR policy,” explained Marvin Lee, Reward and ML Analyst at Your Housing Group. “We’ve been able to improve our benefits package, helping to engage and retain staff. The Lex Autolease team has been brilliant both in terms of communication with us, their knowledge and their expertise. We did look at other providers for our salary sacrifice scheme but it was quickly obvious that it would be beneficial for us to stay with Lex Autolease. The effort they have put into efficient implementation has been exceptional.” MORE EFFICIENT FLEET Overall, as a result of the scheme, Your Housing Group has established a more efficient and better maintained modern car fleet, consisting of low-emission cars.
Angela Allbutt, Business Development manager, Lex Autolease
Companies all over the UK trust Lex Autolease to take care of their vehicle leasing. Lex Autolease has over 22,000 vehicles operating in the public sector and in excess of 280,000 vehicles currently under management, making it the UK’s largest leasing company. “We’ve been delighted to support Your Housing Group with their salary sacrifice car scheme,” explained Angela. “We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service, for example working with the drivers to help them make their choice in line with requirements and budgets.” Lex Autolease has won more than 20 independent industry awards in the last 10 years, with the latest being for delivering fantastic customer service: the FN50 Individual Customer Service Award 2013 and the FN50 Rising Star of the Year 2013. The team at Lex Autolease develops true partnerships with public sector organisations, working side by side with customers to help them face the challenges of running a fleet. FURTHER INFORMATION publicsectorsales@lexautolease.co.uk www.lexautolease.co.uk
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The ‘one-stop-shop’ for engineering solutions From engineering design to pavement development, from civil engineering to specialist surfacing treatments, Eurovia is the ‘one-stopshop’ for engineering solutions. With a range of specialised but highly flexible services, Eurovia offers asphalt production, surfacing, road contracting, specialist treatment solutions and airport services throughout the country. Supported by a strong technical network here in the United Kingdom as well as on the continent, Eurovia prides itself on delivering on time and on budget - every time.
Eurovia Roadstone With a diverse product range which includes traditional and warm mix asphalt, Eurovia Roadstone offers a full-range of accredited coated materials designed to meet the needs of the customer. Committed to the continual investment in sustainable products, carbon reduction technology and new production techniques, Eurovia Roadstone strives to improve efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.
Eurovia Surfacing With one of the most modern and innovative plant and fleet, whatever the surfacing requirements, from routine maintenance to new carriageway construction, from motorways to country lanes, from full-depth reconstruction to thin surface course systems, Eurovia’s surfacing division has an accredited surfacing solution to suit all requirements.
Eurovia Contracting With vast experience of managing town centre improvement schemes, major motorway maintenance, footway and carriageway reconstruction and improvements, CCTV design, installation and maintenance, line marking and street lighting, Eurovia Contracting is the contractor of choice.
Eurovia Specialist Treatments Delivering advanced and effective solutions to improve and renew the surfaces of roads, footways, airfields and car parks nationally, Eurovia Specialist Treatments’ offers a bespoke service to clients. Committed to meeting the precise needs of its customers, Eurovia Specialist Treatments prides itself on bringing new, innovative and improved technologies to the market.
Eurovia Airport Services With considerable experience both landside and airside, Eurovia Airport Services is accomplished in the detailed management of airport maintenance. Providing innovative solutions to help clients achieve value for money, Eurovia Airport Services work at all major airports in the UK.
Eurovia | T: 01992 784100 E: info@eurovia.co.uk | W: www.eurovia.co.uk
HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE
THE HUMBLE WHITE LINE
White line markings on roads can save lives and it is therefore important that they are maintained to such a standard that they do their job properly. But a report by the Road Safety Markings Association reveals that many road markings are in a bad state The LifeLines report from the Road Safety Markings Association is a survey of over 7,000km of the UK’s road network to determine the state of its road markings. The highways industry generally accepts that road markings are the most cost‑effective safety device available to road engineers, according to the RSMA. Markings guide road users, provide advance warning of potential dangers ahead and create a safer environment for all using the shared space, be they motorists, pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists. George Lee, national director of the RSMA said: “The humble white line can save lives and it is therefore important that they are maintained to a sufficient standard that they do their job properly.
If a line is so worn that it cannot be seen, it may as well not be there.” In the case of England, the survey, which was released in March, found that half of all road markings on English highways are so worn that they need replacing. Likewise, in Wales, well over half of the roads controlled by the Assembly for Wales are in such poor condition they need replacing, and only one per cent of markings on Wales’ motorways are classed as excellent. In Scotland, the report found the standard of road safety markings on the country’s roads to be of “significant concern” and in places inadequate.
Road Safety
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
ENGLAND The survey found that in England, 52 per cent of markings on motorways, 42 per cent on dual carriageways, and 48 per cent on single carriageways all need replacing immediately or need to be scheduled for replacement now. The survey shows that just 16 per cent of markings on England’s motorways and 13 per cent on single carriageways make the “excellent” grade. The section of road surveyed in England which scored the lowest rating with 94 per cent of markings in need of replacing or in need of being scheduled for replacement was a section of the M3 between Bagshot and Camberley. The section of road surveyed which scored the highest rating with zero per cent of markings in need of replacing and 99 per cent in the “excellent” grade was on A34 from the junction of the A44 (Kidlington) and the M40 (Bicester). The RSMA is hopeful that the findings reported in LifeLines England will help the Highways Agency, local authorities and main contractors, identify where adequate resources are being spent on road markings and where inadequate attention is being paid to road markings. E
The recent port es’ re ‘LifeLin that half found markings ad of all roish highways on Englare so ey need worn thacing repl
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE
Markings on the roads controlled by the Assembly for Wales are in such poor condition that well over half need replacing The RSMA met with the Highways Agency prior to publishing the report to share with them the findings of the survey. The Agency has welcomed the opportunity of working with the RSMA to “understand the results further.” SCOTLAND COMMITS TO BETTER ROADS In the case of Scotland, the survey found that the standard of road safety markings on the country’s roads is of “significant concern” and in places inadequate. Following the publication, Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government Agency responsible for the country’s trunk roads and motorways, will work with the Road Safety Markings Association to improve the quality of road markings on routes across the country. The RSMA and Transport Scotland are now working to see where improvements can be made. Transport Scotland will map the report’s findings onto its own network data and will concentrate its efforts on improving the quality of markings where they are significantly below standard. “We are greatly encouraged by Transport Scotland’s pragmatic approach in taking on
board data from this independent survey of roads under its control,” said George Lee. “It indicates an encouraging willingness to engage with others in striving for the safest possible roads for Scotland.” Graham Edmond, Transport Scotland’s head of network maintenance, said: “Road markings are vital to the safety of road users and the RSMA report is an excellent addition to our toolkit. We welcome the opportunity to work with the industry to drive up standards and jointly to develop innovated ways to increasing the quality and durability of road markings to enhance safety and value for money.” WALES Markings on the roads controlled by the Assembly for Wales are in such poor condition that well over half need replacing, and only one per cent of markings on Wales’s motorways are classed as excellent, according the report. The survey, which looked at 600km of the road network controlled by the Assembly for Wales, found road safety markings were falling well below UK-recognised standards. George Lee said: “We have conducted this
Road Safety
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
year’s LifeLines Wales survey to find out precisely what the state of road safety markings are throughout the country. The report will not make comfortable reading for those responsible for maintaining the lines on these roads. “Over 60 per cent of road markings on Wales’s motorway network are of such poor standard that they either need replacing immediately or need to be scheduled for replacement. In fairness, other types of road do score better, but none comes up the recognised safety standard, and that should not be acceptable.” “As with other parts of the UK, we hope that those responsible for maintaining these roads in Wales, the Assembly, will take serious note of this report and work to improve the quality of road safety markings on the roads. In doing so, they will considerably enhance the safety of roads in Wales.” The section of road surveyed which scored the lowest rating with 93 per cent of markings in need of replacing or in need of being scheduled for replacement was a section of the A449 Newport to Raglan. The section of road surveyed which scored the highest rating with just 16 per cent of markings in need of replacing or in need of being scheduled for replacement was a section of the A40 from Raglan to Fishguard. L FURTHER INFORMATION To see the report, visit: www.comparethemarkings.com
C L Roadmarkings Limited are Line Marking Specialists with over 25 years’ experience of Line Marking, covering London and the South East of England. All of our work is completed to the highest standards with customer satisfaction at the forefront of our minds. All staff are NVQ 2‑qualified and CL Roadmarkings are members of the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) and Construction Line.
Contact Us
Mobile: 07961 368082 Telephone: 01634 576936 Email: clroadmarkings@ btinternet.com Address: 43 Alexandra Avenue, Gillingham Kent ME7 3LP
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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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BOTH UNDERWATER AND CONVENTIONAL
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INVESTMENT ADVICE
BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING If you’re just discovering franchising as a concept of self-employment and you’re starting to look into the myriad of options on offer, it can be tempting to blindly look through every website directory you can find. But before you do that there are some simple steps that can put you in a much stronger position to thrive as a franchisee when you do take on your own business. So before you spend hours trawling franchise sites, spend a few minutes reading this and put yourself firmly in a place to maximise your chances of success. ‘Honesty is the best policy’; this old adage should be at the forefront of every prospective franchisee’s mind from the outset. And it should encompass everything that informs your decision on which brand to invest in. In this context, this means honesty with yourself. There’s plenty to consider, which is why you should be taking your time when buying a franchise and think about the following. YOUR SKILL SET Take time out to list what you bring to the table. Franchising revolves around transferable skills – because a good franchise offers substantial initial and ongoing training and support, the overwhelming majority are suitable to people with no direct prior professional experience in whatever industry the franchise is in. So consider your top skills – which might be sales, administration, business growth, getting hands-on in a business, marketing, people management, or networking. Think carefully about them. Finding a business that plays to those strengths will improve your chances of success. YOUR PERSONALITY The type of person you are can be crucial to your business’s outlook. Are you outgoing or introverted? What are you passionate about? Looking honestly at your own traits can give you good insight into the type of operation you’re likely to be successful with. Combining your personality traits with your skill set can give you a powerful indicator of the franchises that are right for you. DRIVING FORCE Think about what kind of operation you want to run, and why. Do you want to be hands-on, or a business manager and
developer? Out on the road or working from home? Is potential profit the most important factor in your decision-making, or is a better family balance higher on your priorities? Second, take time to understand what’s driving you to want to become a business owner. Are you tired of working long hours for the reward of others, is it succession planning for your kids, to be a part of your local community, to have control of your own professional life, or to take home more money? Understanding your motivation is important in order to determine the franchises on the market that can give you what you’re looking for. FINANCES Work out which franchises you can afford. There is a huge range to suit almost every budget, from a few thousand up to hundreds
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES Running a franchise is a serious proposition. You must take your personal life and the circumstances of those around you into consideration; discussions with your partner and/or family are crucial, you will need their support when you take the leap into self-employment and many franchisors will want to see that you have it. Think about what you want to get out of the business and how it might impact those around you. Some franchises, at least in the early days, require more than
Written by Paul Stafford, British Franchise Association
Paul Stafford of the British Franchise Association lists the five most important factors to consider before embarking on a career as the head of a business franchise
of such reputable, ethical franchisors, banks will typically lend up to 50-70 per cent of the start-up cost, depending on how long they’ve been trading. Of course, regardless of the brand, you’ll still need a strong business plan to gain bank funding. To give an example, if you have £20,000 in liquid capital to invest, with an established franchise in good standing with the banks you can potentially take on a business with a total start-up cost of approximately £65,000 (around 70 per cent bank funding on top of your £20,000). For a newer brand, it might be more like £40,000. Doing the maths gives you a clear idea of the range of franchises that are realistic for you, financially speaking. And remember to consider working capital in the early days of the business before you’re turning a profit.
Franchising
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
Think about what you want to get out of the business and how it might impact those around you. Some franchises, at least in the early days, require more than a 9-5 undertaking, while others are set up to appeal to parents and fit perfectly around a young family and the school run of thousands, but before you fall in love with an idea it’s important to know the ceiling of your liquid capital combined with any funding you can access. To calculate that, work out how much you personally have available (and are willing) to invest in the franchise; then consider your funding options, which can add substantially to that figure. By far the most popular option is bank lending – banks like the franchise model because they can access historical data from already-trading franchisees – with other sources including family and even franchisors, a few of which will finance the cost of starting up over a period of time for the right franchisee. Bfa member franchises are looked upon favourably by the major banks, because they understand the strict criteria involved in gaining bfa membership – which includes proof of the financial sustainability to support a network properly, and evidence of previous franchisee success. For franchisees
a 9-5 undertaking, while others are set up to appeal to parents and fit perfectly around a young family and the school run. Be prepared to keep up with the business demands and know that you can do so around your other commitments. BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS So, before you start to send off for prospectuses or spend hours searching online, there’s plenty to consider if you want to give yourself the best chance of success as a franchisee. It’s worth repeating time and again: buying a franchise is not a decision that should be rushed. It’s a legal, financial and emotional commitment – and one that could change your life for the better if you approach it the right way. A long, hard look in the mirror is a good first step. FURTHER INFORMATION www.thebfa.org
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Contact: Was Rahman, Vice President & Head, UK Public Sector & Government, email: was.rahman@wipro.com, Phone: +44 20 3655 8749
COUNCIL WEBSITES
Majority of council websites fail performance tests
The results of a speed test survey by netEvidence has revealed that the majority of Council websites are still not meeting the government’s Digital by Default Service Standard for good performance. The survey, which examined 227 council websites, unearthed a drop in performance - 69 per cent of UK councils failed the website performance test compared to 64 per cent in 2013. netEvidence measured good performance of a website as one that responded in under half a second (0.4 seconds). Its highlight service measured how fast the websites opened for the 227 councils during the month of September 2014. Local councils need greater visibility of their online services if they hope to deliver on the government’s ‘Digital by Default Service Standard’ introduced in April. The standard requires that a user’s experience of digital services must be so good that they prefer to carry out the transaction online rather than by phone, post or in person. The study suggests that councils have no way of judging how well their services are being delivered, since many rely on external providers with no way to measure users’ experiences. Thurrock Council was the top performer
and the worst was a Scottish council, whose webpage opened 122 times slower. Richard Thomas, CEO of netEvidence said: “UK local authorities are increasing their use of digital services to replace high cost call-centre services but if digital services fail to deliver a good end-to-end experience, it can result in all sorts of problems such as delays in getting benefits or an officer’s inability to resolve a customer’s issue even during face to face meetings. “A council’s website is just the first point of contact; it is effectively a supply chain linking a whole host of digital services that all need to be performing well to fulfil a customer’s request. However, having outsourced key parts of their infrastructure, many UK councillors and officers – particularly those at a senior level – now lack any real-time visibility into how these online services are performing and more importantly, what experiences people have when using services. This visibility and knowledge of how people experience digital services is fundamental to achieving the government’s aim of making it the preferred form of contact for FURTHER INFORMATION: public tinyurl.com/m27g3bt services.”
PLANNING
Socitm addresses third party software Integrating third party software to enable people to do things they want to do on council websites, such as renew library books or pay parking fines, is continuing to cause problems with usability, according to IT management organisation Socitm. To address this, the organisation has developed a dedicated one-day event that will run for the first time in London on 27 November. Use of third party software: addressing a major problem for council web teams tackles an issue at the heart of the current
discussions among local government IT and digital professionals about the benefits of sharing commissioning and development of software to create better customer experiences online, at lower cost to the taxpayer. The event will feature contributions from two suppliers, IDOX and Capita, that have engaged with Socitm’s Better connected team in response to evidence of widespread problems arising from Socitm’s annual survey of FURTHER INFORMATION: council tinyurl.com/orb6787 websites.
NEWS IN BRIEF
GT News
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
Digital Currency consultation The government is calling for views on the benefits and risks of bitcoin and other digital currencies, as it seeks to make Britain a global hub for emerging financial technology. An estimated 20,000 people in the UK currently hold cryptocurrency Bitcoin – and around £60m worth are circulating in the UK economy. In its ‘Digital Currencies: Call for Information’ consultation, The Treasury said it wants to hear about the risks of digital currency, including the extent to which it is being used for illicit purposes as well as its benefits.
Maxwell claims £14bn savings on IT procurement in last four years Giving evidence on IT services before the Public Accounts Committee, Government chief technology officer Liam Maxwell claims that more than £14bn has been saved on IT procurement and services over the last year compared to the cost of IT services in 2010. Maxwell said that the current government was battling against 25 years of established IT procurement practice, which in many cases did not deliver value for money. “The problem that we have, and the inheritance we have had of 25 years of outsourcing IT, is that people felt it was acceptable to go and buy IT at very high cost and at very high margin without any reference, peer review, understanding or spending control. “This new measure on IT contract size is part of that spending control process, and it is part of the reason why we have saved more than £14bn over the last year, based on 2010 baselines,” Maxwell told the READ MORE: committee. tinyurl.com/m38m3gg
Maude calls for collaboration to reduce internet threats In a speech to the Payments Council Cyber Security Conference, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has called for more collaboration in order to make the Internet more secure. Maude said: “The internet is too large – and the threat too complex – for any single organisation to respond by itself. We will only be truly effective when we work together, pool resources, share information and co-ordinate our READ MORE: response.” tinyurl.com/mmqe6ze
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Case Study
IT & COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
Redcentric: Supporting your journey to the cloud There’s no doubt that the G-Cloud framework has helped transform government IT supply in recent years and as one of those who lobbied hard for a more equal playing field, Redcentric is delighted that SMEs now have fair access to the public sector market. But G-Cloud hasn’t been a panacea for all government technology ills and we shouldn’t kid ourselves it has been – otherwise, efforts to continuously improve will slow or stop altogether. There are still clear instances of a lack of shared services, collaboration and interaction – the justice sector, for example, still has a myriad of systems and services that fail to provide a fully ‘joined up’ communications and operating environment. There is also evidence of procurement teams struggling with some suppliers when it comes to understanding their offerings; suppliers can be guilty of a lack of transparency over what they can or can’t deliver, a problem exacerbated by the proliferation of terminology over the years. There are now so many product names in use it is not surprising that buyers get confused as to what they are actually getting. (Incidentally, the four lots used within the CloudStore are probably now too broad to be useful, and we’d encourage the introduction of sub-categories going forward.) Another key issue is assurance, and buyers
understanding not just the technical elements of their project but the business and service accreditation requirements around it. So for all the advances of G-Cloud, it’s not yet the home of effortless, hands-off, guaranteed IT procurement, and there is still a degree of caveat emptor about the process. Just who are you partnering with? What track record do they have? Do they understand the legal requirements of delivery to government clients? Can they help you meet the assurance challenge, and do they have the requisite
accreditations to back it up? Do the services offered do what they say on the tin, right out of the box? Do they have the ability and agility to go beyond ‘out of the box’ commodities where required, providing solutions that can be adapted readily in very short timescales to meet changing requirements? Redcentric has a long and proven record of providing services to the public sector that have been accredited against HMG standards since 2000 and healthcare since 2004. That experience has given the company plenty of insight as to what’s needed beyond the simple ‘matchmaking’ of the CloudStore concept, and it understands where true value lies: end-to-end services, clearly explained, accurately costed and professionally delivered; transparency, openness and accountability; full responsibility for business assurance; and proper investment and engagement in a relationship to derive maximum returns and drive future development. Public sector organisations have more choices when it comes to IT than ever before. Narrowing that choice isn’t always easy – but looking under the skin of suppliers will always pay off. FURTHER INFORMATION www.redcentricplc.com
REDCENTRIC.
PROVIDING CLARITY TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR THROUGH TRANSPARENT CLOUD SERVICES AND ADVICE. Redcentric is a leading UK managed services provider delivering innovative technology to improve productivity and efficiency. As an approved G-Cloud supplier, we’ve got experience of the framework since version 1 and a proven track record of implementing assured solutions to government organisations through G-Cloud. Download our G-Cloud Buyers Guide for advice on using the framework www.redcentricplc.com/gcloud-buyers-guide.
0800 983 2522 info@redcentricplc.com www.redcentricplc.com Redcentric_Gov_Tech_OCT_14.indd 1
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E-PROCUREMENT
Sixth version of G-Cloud should see February launch
NEWS IN BRIEF
GT News
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
e-Conveyancing service to launch next year A privately run web portal handling conveyancing in England and Wales, linking home buyers with their conveyancers, HM Land Registry and HM Revenue & Customs, will go live next spring under the brand name Veyo. The new service is a joint venture between The Law Society and Mastek UK, designed to bring together processes, checks and documentation prepared and undertaken by solicitors and licensed conveyancers in the sale and purchase of residential properties. A previous attempt to put the process online was abandoned by Land Registry in 2009.
The government has said the latest iteration of its G-Cloud framework should be up and running by the first week of February 2015 as it prepares to publish the tender document in November. In a blog post, G-Cloud director Tony Singleton said: “I can confirm that the G-Cloud 6 Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) is expected to be published on 6 November 2014, and should go live in the first week of February 2015. We encourage all suppliers to apply, so they can update their service descriptions in a way that makes it clearer, simpler and faster for buyers to find services that meet their requirements.” Singleton continued: “The team have been working hard to develop and improve the service submission portal (SSP) on the Digital Marketplace for G-Cloud 6.
This has been supported by weekly sessions in the GDS user research lab, listening to what people had to say about applying to the framework and continuing to improve and iterate it to make sure that it meets user needs.” As part of plans to improve the G-Cloud procurement, a new e-sourcing tool (Bravo) is being used by Crown Commercial Services (CCS) for G-Cloud 6, which replaces the previous system (Emptoris). To date, 1,500 suppliers have joined G-Cloud. In August, total sales exceeded £300m – more than half of which went through small and medium sized firms. Data from the previous system cannot be migrated to the new system, and so existing G-Cloud suppliers will need to re-register.
E-voting ruled out by Constitution Minister A switch to electronic voting has been ruled out by the government – just weeks after a Labour Party report said it backed the shake-up. Constitution minister Sam Gyimah told MPs that such a voting revolution was unwise because there was no way to “check an error”. The verdict came as Gyimah slightly increased the proportion of voters announced as being successfully matched with existing central and local databases, ahead of the switch to individual electoral registration (IER).
Open Source attacks likely to increase A new report by security software company Trend Micro said that an increasing focus on security by giants such as Microsoft is likely to see a decline in attacks on their products and services. As a result, attacks on open source protocols and command processors are likely to increase. Trend Micro said that local authorities and other organisations needed to make use of patching software and upgrade devices to protect themselves against such attacks.
READ THE STATEMENT: tinyurl.com/oztk8vo
OPEN DATA
Met Office partners with ODI The Met Office has become the first UK trading fund to join the Open Data Institute’s (ODI) membership programme as a partner. It joins fellow ODI partners Arup, Telefonica, Thomson Reuters and the University of Southampton, each of which is helping to set standards for open data use and delivery in their field. The Met Office already publishes significant amounts of open data via its DataPoint API service, including five-day forecasts, real time observations and regularly updated forecasts for mountain weather, national parks and UK regions. As part of the process it will be working with the ODI to both improve
this data and expand its range of open data. While the Met Office needs to charge for some of its data in order to cover its running costs as a trading fund, it is also keen to share as much information as it can as open data in order to boost the creation of new services that use weather data. The Met Office has a responsibility under the Public Records Act to record the history of the UK’s weather and it has paper records archived that date back to 1854. By working with the ODI it will be making more of this information available electronically as open data. FURTHER INFORMATION: www.theodi.org
Edinburgh Apps competition second year winners A running app for tourists and a tool to organise sporting activities in the city are among the winners of this year’s ‘Edinburgh Apps’ competition, which aims to find innovative digital services that can potentially improve life in Edinburgh. The annual event is run by the City of Edinburgh Council and in its second year focused on health, culture and sport. Winners included the Find a Player app, which works to join sports venues, sporting activities and players together; SpeechCity, a smartphone app providing a conversational tour guide, ACE, which supports people recovering from addiction to stay sober; and Bubbal, which won the challenge to promote the city’s viewpoints with an app which automatically updates users with historical information on nearby monuments, giving the opportunity to donate to their upkeep. The Wildcard app award was won by Run2See, which provides running routes and tourist information for READ MORE: runners new to the city.
tinyurl.com/o2gnpp7
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GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE | Volume 12.6
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Tablet Technology
SMART DEVICES
PUBLIC SERVICES FOR A TECH SAVVY GENERATION The use of tablet and smartphone devices in local government has huge potential to improve services and make savings. While the majority of headlines in the media continue to slam council spend on such devices, the benefits are often overlooked. Government Business reports The use of tablets and smart devices within all areas of government is reported to experience double-digit growth through 2016. There has been an explosion in the amount of bespoke mobile applications that can revolutionise the way that council services are delivered, saving councils money in the process. The innovative development of ‘apps’ to help deliver council services could also have massive cost saving implications, as well as their use in the field, or when council employees are working in remote areas, and even ‘hot-desking’. Here we look at how tablets, apps and the smart use of technology can be used to improve transport, education, and the planning process. APPS FOR BETTER TRANSPORT A new guide by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) has highlighted how local authorities can make use of new technologies, such as big data analytics and cloud computing, to revolutionise their local transport systems while also reducing costs. In the current political and financial environment, where local authorities are increasingly strapped for cash, the guide illustrates how some local authorities have used technology to improve their transport systems while managing, and in some cases reducing, costs. The guide sets out some of the advantages new technologies can bring in solving existing and future transport problems. Examples range
from smartphone apps to determine road and cycle path conditions, to Bluetooth systems that allow transport operators and planners to analyse journeys across multiple transport modes in near real-time. It also discusses some of the important issues when implementing these new solutions, including open standards, security and privacy issues. Highlighted in the guide are some local authorities who are already embracing new technologies. These include Dublin City Council who is using smartphones and tablets to better manage traffic technology and Sunderland City Council who works with the Met Office to run a transport and weather information pilot to improve traffic and travel throughout the region. Miles Elsden, Acting Chief Scientist, Department for Transport, says: “Given today’s challenging financial environment, local authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver the transport systems that people need. This new guide gives a comprehensive overview of the potentially cost-saving new technologies available for local transport, which will hopefully encourage more local authorities to take a fresh approach to the way the plan and procure for transport in the future.”
SCHOOL TABLETS Tablet use in schools has surged. A British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) survey has found that the use of tablets in schools across the UK has increased. The trade organisation represents over 300 educational suppliers in Britain, including manufacturers, and distributors of digital equipment. In its annual survey, ‘Tablets and Connectivity’, the usage rates of tablets and apps in educational settings were analysed. It looked at 636 schools across the country, of which 334 were primary level, and 302 were secondary. Participants predicted that by 2015 a total of 24 per cent of computers in educational settings would be tablets. Respondents believes by 2016 the rate of usage will be 37 per cent, and by 2020, 56 per cent of hardware in classrooms will be tablets. If usage grows at the projected rate, the pupil-to-tablet ratio would be 11:4 in primaries and 6:4 in secondaries. Last year’s results expected to see one tablet for every 14 students by 2015. Director of BESA Caroline Wright said: “It is heartening that schools continue to invest in this mobile technology to put the power of learning back into students’ hands. However, schools must continue to collaborate and share best practice use of tablets and apps E
The use of hin wit tablets ment govern rted is repo ience r to expe ‑digit double hrough t growth 16 20
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ITQUEST is an award winning team of mobile consultants and mobile app development experts and software engineers delivering end-to-end enterprise and consumer solutions. We offer software consulting, solutions, services; support and maintenance to the general market as well as to our chosen verticals, (for more details please click Industry). Our vision is to be the most preferred and significant software led global IT services provider in our chosen markets. We offer our clients the benefits of superior quality, a time-to-market advantage and scalability in all our solutions and services. Our unique combination of onsite consultancy and offshore development ensures high levels of customer satisfaction with economic and efficient end results. We specialised in Mobile app Development, Website development, SharePoint deployment Custom Applications. We undertake of iOS and Android and windows app Development and in Custom applications.
Internet applications, B2B, B2C and C2C Client - Server applications Migration and Porting of existing applications Business, Enterprise and Application Integration
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GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE | Volume 12.6
SMART DEVICES if the technology’s adoption is to continue to contribute positively to educational standards.” The survey also found that 90 per cent of schools said funding and budget allocation were barriers to procuring tablets. Other barriers included security, training, and the availability of a wi-fi connection. PLANNING PROGRESS Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has recently utilised tablets in order to move towards a paperless operation of the planning function when a relocation and refit of the RBBC town hall office space meant the number of available desk spaces were reduced by 20 per cent. RBBC development quality manager Kelvin Hinton introduced paperless practices to casework and consultation processes. All incoming planning applications are now validated electronically on screen. Planning officers were equipped with large 27-inch monitors to view application drawings and other supporting documentation. Officers use software measuring tools that are also available to external users of their online public register. Planning officers do have the option to print out their own copies of drawings if required but this is by exception and avoided whenever possible. Planning officers have remote access to back-office planning system, meaning they can access application information from home, saving travelling time
and improving hot-desk availability in the office. However, the real quantum leap followed the introduction of tablet devices for site inspections. RBBC projects and change officer Kenton Reader shadowed planning officer site inspections to assess appropriate technology and usage requirements. The practical trials identified that screen brightness is an important consideration, as was robust shockproof protection. Given broadband black spots in some rural areas, it was decided that in most cases the whole case file should be downloaded onto the tablet for site inspections using Civica Briefcase software. For those applications with multiple documents, only the most relevant plans and drawings are downloaded. The working case file can then be viewed and annotated, with photographs and report notes recorded on-site, then uploaded back in the office or from home. RBBC selected the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 tablet to view drawings and documents on-site. The device’s 10.6-inch screen permits folder navigation and viewing of documents in a sizeable split-screen format. The development management service bought an initial bank of eight devices held on full battery charge and ready for officers to take on-site. Adoption has been mixed, with some officers taking up the new technology faster than others. However, print requests have now fallen significantly to an ‘acceptable’ level.
This technology has also led to wider adoption by building control departments.
Tablet Technology
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
BYOD CONCERNS A new research paper, produced by UK think tank Parliament Street has examined the extent to which Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies operate in London Borough Councils. The report, written by Steven George-Hilley, calls on public sector decision‑makers to invest more in BYOD research and implementation. It concluded that there should be “calls for a bolder, more proactive approach from IT decision-makers to push through personal device schemes in the workplace wherever possible.” George-Hilley explained the barriers of adoption for local governments include security concerns, who will manage the process and implement it and whether employees are aware they can use their own devices for work. Additionally, if local governments do decide to roll out a BYOD strategy, they must ensure the necessary protocols, procedures and training is in place to make it an effective scheme, George-Hilley said. Councils should “factor in planned reduction in personal IT devices such as tablets and laptops and shift the onus onto employees to provide preferred devices where possible,” he said. L FURTHER INFORMATION Parliament Steet’s report into BYOD: tinyurl.com/o687a6d
Unprecedented demand creates GDS resourcing gap As myriad Government departments strive to meet their commitments under the Government Digital Strategy (GDS), the supply and demand gap for talented digital expertise appears to be widening at an increasingly fast pace. Of course, this is not surprising given that the digital transformation is touching all Government departments at the same time, all with tight agile deadlines to achieve. However, the resulting shortfall in available talent could soon start to impact on target delivery dates unless procurement teams rethink the traditional approach to securing flexible labour. What’s more, it seems that the whole resource spectrum is affected; from senior programme/ portfolio managers and project managers to technical architects and researchers to developers and content designers. Ben Curnock, a director at Redrock Digital commented: “It’s true, we are certainly witnessing an unprecedented demand for many IT roles as various public bodies are effectively competing for the best individuals to build their project delivery
teams. The worry is that price hikes usually go hand-in-hand with a shortage in supply and this could undermine the procurement shake-up which was all about saving taxpayers’ money in the first place.” He continued: “We believe in a partnership approach to overcome these issues, working more closely with our clients to achieve their goals. By carefully managing our resources in such a way that they can seamlessly transition from one project to another we can guarantee continuity of resource provision.”
Redrock Digital is one of the new breed of pre-approved suppliers to support the Government’s Digital Services Framework in line with its Digital by Default standards. One client tasked with delivering the GDS who has worked with the Company, said Redrock has a competitive rate card and has delivered significant savings – quite unusual given the pricing trends which traditionally accompany the laws of supply and demand. Unlike traditional procurement routes which, it appears, have become increasingly user‑unfriendly and less cost‑effective, Redrock Digital gives its clients the flexibility to opt for Fixed Price Projects or Managed Services as well as traditional Time Based Resource. These approaches reassure clients that their costs won’t escalate, while putting responsibility for delivery with the agency. FURTHER INFORMATION To find out more, Redrock Digital can be contacted on 0117 317 1300 or by visiting www.redrock-digital.co.uk.
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CCTV Systems
At Security Engineering, we understand how important your home or business is to you. That’s why we provide comprehensive security installation and maintenance services that meet your specific requirements. We use the latest technology in all of our Intruder Alarm Systems, Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Access Control System Installations, to ensure that you’re afforded complete security at your property.
Exceptional customer experience is becoming harder to attain, with a recent survey from the ‘Institute of Customer Service’ showing customer satisfaction has fallen for the second year in a row.
Equipping your home or workplace with the very latest Intruder Alarm Systems, Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Access control systems is one of our aims but we also pride ourselves on delivering a great customer experience from start to finish. Not only will we provide you with a free quote beforehand to ensure that all work is carried out within your budget, but we’ll also visit your premises and conduct a free consultation to ensure that the security system we install is as effective as possible.
Recruiting the best, experienced customer contact professionals and leaders, can make the difference in achieving effective customer service. Couple this, with a jobs report by the REC and KPMG, pointing out the sharpest rise in job vacancies since 1998 and predictions of a further 44% rise in jobs within 6 months, means high demand for the best talent. Choosing the right recruitment partner will be key to helping you recruit the right individual to design, or, deliver your customer strategy and fully engage your people.
At Security Engineering, we have the expertise and knowledge to install a variety of advanced, cutting-edge intruder systems that provide you with the ultimate peace of mind. From conventional systems to modern, easy-to-install wireless systems, we can provide you with the ideal security solution for you and your home or business.
Douglas Jackson are a professional recruitment consultancy and executive search company, specialising in Customer Contact recruitment, with over 80 years recruitment experience across our team. We help our customers to recruit permanent and interim talent at executive, head of department and managerial level across customer contact, contact centres and customer strategy for traditional, digital and multi-channel environments.
If you want to identify, attract and hire executive and managerial level talent across customer contact, give us a call: T: 0845 620 9720 W: www.douglas-jackson.com E: mail@douglas-jackson.com
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PCI
CONTACT CENTRES
Ann-Marie Stagg, chief executive of the Contact Centre Management Association, discusses how technology is driving the demand for expertise and professionalism in front-line agents The way we experience customer service and our expectations of it as consumers is transforming the way in which contact centres operate. Speak with people working in and around the industry and you will hear comments ranging from ‘customers have become far more demanding’ to ‘overall service standards are not where we need them to be’, or conversely, ‘customers have never had it so good’. There are aspects of truth in each statement, but the one undeniable truth is that contact centres are more important today than they have ever been, but there is still room for improvement when it comes to standards and professionalism. CHANGING TIMES To understand where we are right now as an industry we need to go back 20 years – coincidentally, this is when the CCMA
was founded. In many respects the world looked very different and this is in no small part down to the technology revolution that we are currently living through. Today, I can have 4G access to the internet on my smartphone whilst on the train, often faster than my home broadband. Yet back in 1994 the worldwide web was just taking shape (Yahoo also launched in the same year), mobile phones were the preserve of the wealthy executive and whilst I did have basic email access via my dial-up modem
connection, our office relied heavily on fax machine, post and the landline telephone. Thinking back to those days, I realise how patient everyone seemingly was. When email was first introduced in to call centres (heralding the change from call to contact centre) the debate raged about how long it should take to reply. I recall the automated ‘we will endeavour to answer you enquiry within 48 hours’ message and I would accept that (just so long as they were true to their word). But now we as a society are much less tolerant
Written by Ann-Marie Stagg, chief esecutive, CCMA
MEETING THE NEEDS OF A CLICK-HAPPY CULTURE
Customer Contact
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
Contact centres are responding to the changing dynamic by making their front-line agents subject matter experts in their respective areas and deflecting simple tasks to self-service channels
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CONTACT CENTRES of anything that delays or inconveniences us. Through technology we have become accustomed to the things we want to happen, happening faster. In many respects we have also become far more self-reliant, and this has changed how we interact with contact centres. EMPOWERED BY INFORMATION The internet has placed huge amounts of information resources at our fingertips. Now if I want to buy something I can look at the specification, check price comparisons, read reviews watch product demonstrations and make a purchase all without leaving my chair. In fact, thanks to 4G I can easily do all this and more on the train with my smartphone. I am a far more informed and confident customer and if I have an issue, chances are I will have attempted to resolve it before I make a call. So, if and when I need to interact with an organisation I will have already done my homework and I expect that the person I speak to or chat with online will be more informed than I am, and have the power to resolve my issue without hiccups. This has been a big change for contact centres and its agents, who previously in their daily shifts would spend the majority of their time firefighting very basic and repetitive enquires, such as giving a customer their bank balance, or making a simple transaction. Then, if they did come across a complex problem they would escalate it to a specialist. Contact centres are responding to this changing dynamic by making their front‑line agents subject matter experts in their respective areas and deflecting – to the benefit of both the organisation and the customer – simple tasks such as balance checking to self-service channels. However, this isn’t without its own challenges, for the industry is still marred by the issue of high agent churn rates. In this respect little has changed in the past 20 years. Contact centre managers are all too aware of the need to invest in training agents to meet customer service
demands but with high staff turnover it can be tough to retain knowledge and expertise. FIGHTING STIGMA The harsh fact is that there has long been a stigma associated with working in a contact centre, fuelled by an increasingly misplaced perception that it is low-paid, holds few career prospects and is something you turn to when other avenues are closed. Sadly, it is indicative of the way in which we have come to value service in this country. I am often struck by how service is treated so differently on the continent, for example the way in which being a waiter in France is considered to be a career, which is reflected in the way they conduct themselves and how they are treated. In many respects the contact centre industry in general has not helped itself in the past, to challenge and alter this perception. Yet speaking with contact centre managers in operations of all sizes and sectors I am extremely confident that things are changing for the better. LAUNCHING A GOLD STANDARD For our part, as the association representing the industry, the CCMA is taking an active role in helping to ingrain professionalism at every level of the industry with our training, seminars, workshops and networking events. Most recently we have collaborated with industry partners to introduce two new initiatives launched last month that aim to improve the perception of contact centres, improve standards and encourage people to seriously consider a long-term career in the industry for the next 20 or more years. We are very excited about the work we
are doing with the Professional Planning Forum and the University of Ulster to introduce a bespoke stream of study for contact centre operations managers within its BSc in Customer Contact Planning and Management. The first cohort of students will begin this three-year undergraduate qualification in January 2015 and it represents a hugely significant step in a career working in contact centres and customer service being recognised both internally and externally as a highly skilled profession. The second initiative is the launch of the Gold Standard, which is open to contact centres in the UK that want to benchmark their service operations based on customer feedback, operational effectiveness and employee engagement. By attaining the Gold Standard a contact centre will have clearly demonstrated, through a wholly independent and rigorous assessment process, that it is delivering consistently high standards of customer service. In time it is hoped that this will become a ‘badge of honour’ that will also instil confidence in consumers. The past 20 years has seen the contact centre industry transform in response to the changes happening in the world around it. However, it is the next 20 years that excite me the most. All of the right foundations for success are in place – a marketplace that is placing increasing emphasis on the service experience; organisations are beginning to appreciate the contribution contact centres can make to the success of their business; those working at the coalface are beginning to be recognised as the skilled professionals that they are.
Customer Contact
IT & COMPUTNG FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR– www.governmenttechnology.co.uk
The pas 20 years ht seen the c as centre indontact ustry transform in respon se to the ch happenin anges g world aro in the und it
FURTHER INFORMATION www.ccma.org.uk
Unified communication solutions from Solar Solar Communications, established in 1988,is a multi-award winning supplier of Unified Communications (UC) solutions suitable for businesses of all sizes. With nearly 2,000 clients nationally, Solar Communications is Europe’s only ShoreTel platinum partner as well as a MitelSELECT partner. The company’s product portfolio includes Unified Communications (UC) telephone systems, high-speed internet connectivity, calls and lines, wireless mobility, mobiles, LAN infrastructure and high-definition (HD) video conferencing solutions. Solar Communications has received a number of prestigious awards
Technology Fast500 and being a 2013 Finalist in Best Reseller category at The Comms Business Awards. From 2010-2013, Solar Communications were included in the ShoreTel Circle of Excellence that recognises their top 10 world-wide partners. Solar is a rapidly growing company with ambitious growth plans led by an experienced management team. including being listed in The 2012 Sunday Times Tech Track 100, being named in the 2013 Deloitte
FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 140 4080 marketing@solar.co.uk www.solar.co.uk
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Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
VENDING
Liquid Culture – the experts in coffee
Liquid Culture is passionate about all things refreshment; experts in coffee first and foremost, and specialists in providing the complete drink and snack service. Liquid Culture supplies a comprehensive range, from vending machines to professional coffee machines, and the best ingredients and products to serve with them. The company also shares its expertise and knowledge, offering businessto-business consultancy and a ‘Your Brew Buddy’ barista training service. Liquid Culture’s colleagues are knowledgeable and friendly and always willing to go the extra mile, whether they are chatting to you about new coffee blends, delivering your ingredients, or filling and maintaining your vending machine. Ideal for both retail and commercial venues, the Liquid Culture Espresso Tower offers exceptional quality at the touch of a button. It is exactly
the same concept as Costa Express and Starbucks to-go but supporting the independent coffee provider. Liquid Culture can also fully brand the towers to your requirements. So if your organisation serves refreshments to customers or staff, the company can design and deliver the optimum refreshment service. Liquid Culture strongly believes that every refreshment break deserves to be enjoyed – how totally refreshing. FURTHER INFORMATION www.liquid-culture.co.uk
Akhter has been carbon neutral since 2008; Akhter is not a company that waits to be pressed into taking action, it is a company that leads from the front, endeavouring to pre-empt the market and deliver high quality products backed by high quality service. Whether you are looking for solar, IT or business continuity solutions, Akhter has the experience in your field to deliver the highest quality solutions and the track record to back up its promises. It is Akhter’s customers who are most likely to bring the company new business, we know this, and we rely on it. “I only knew of Akhter because of their hardware but it is obvious that they deliver a full solution. I would have no hesitation in recommending this organisation.” – Kevin Burns, Bae Systems
FIRE & SAFETY
ENERGY
Hyfire is the UK’s leading EN54 3rd party approved fire detection and alarm system. Fully compliant with BS589 and utilising the latest technologies allows rapid installation of the system into difficult and challenging environments. Installations on sites such as heritage buildings, asbestos affected locations, fast implementation projects and installations with occupied working areas are easily achieved making Hyfire the choice of many blue chip companies, high street banks, major universities, councils and government departments to name but a few. High profile installations across many market sectors include Wimbledon, Cirque Du Soleil, Eton and Claridges. With over 1,000,000 devices installed worldwide, an established wireless protocol and an impressive list of international third party approvals and accreditations, designers and
Worldview Learning has won the Innovation of the Year at the 2degrees Champions Awards held at Wembley Stadium in July. Worldview’s ‘discover’ platform is a cloud-based engagement platform designed to drive down energy consumption and carbon within any organisation. The platform consists of all the major elements needed to interact with employees throughout any organisation. These include: 3D visualisation, customisable information hotspots, energy efficiency eLearning modules and quizzes, virtual suggestion box, social media integration, the carbon promise (where users have free choice to ‘do something different tomorrow’) and individual and group tracking of quiz scores and promises made. Dan Saxton, director, Worldview Learning commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award. Firstly, as this Innovation of the Year Award is entirely voted
Hybrid wire to wireless fire detection solutions
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Solar, IT and business continuity solutions from Akhter Computers
installers can feel confident that they are choosing a system with a proven pedigree. Hyfire’s distribution network is at the heart of our ethos, which is why a unique three step support package has been developed to assist companies that want to move into the highly flexible and cost-effective wireless solutions market. Utilising the plan ensures a worry free installation and commissioning and includes a lifetime manufacturer’s equipment guarantee. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01926 485282 info@sterlingsafety.co.uk www.sterlingsafety.co.uk
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
“The staff at Akhter Computers are security cleared and know exactly how to support defence. The project was delivered on time and provided competent and effective staff and solutions to overcome the many obstacles without incurring time delays. Akhter deliver what they say they will, on time and to budget.” – Maj G G Moody, project manager. FURTHER INFORMATION www.akhter.co.uk
Worldview Learning wins innovation award
for by people from the industry, it underlines that other people believe, as we do, that we have a market leading product. Secondly, it recognises that employee engagement and behavioural change are key to reducing carbon in an organisation.” Martin Chilcott, CEO, 2degrees said: “Worldview Learning’s award represents years of commitment to thinking afresh, tackling inefficiencies and trailblazing ground-breaking solutions which have a positive impact on society.” FURTHER INFORMATION www.worldview-learning.com
RECRUITMENT
ENERGY
SW Locums was established in 2009 on the principles of providing ethical, timely and cost effective recruitment solutions. SW Locum’s consultants have extensive knowledge of social work, medical and AHP recruitment, SW Locum’s takes the time to listen to your needs and provide a personalised, genuine 24 hours, seven days a week service. We focus on you. The company prides itself on providing a seamless service to both locums and clients alike. SW Locums understands the needs of its social care staff and is always willing to go that extra mile to ensure you are totally happy with the positions you decide to engage upon. We deal with all grades and specialties, thus ensuring that your locum role is perfect for you. The company works closely with its clients to ensure that the staff it sends through to
DP Consulting Ltd provides a professional service of high standards, meeting the exacting requirements of its clients whilst remaining affordable and accessible. The company actively helps to project manage schemes, ensuring that sustainable resources and generation plant are utilised to their best potential. DP Consulting is committed to sustainable energy and micro generation and is a member of ESTA (Energy Services and Technology Association), whose aim is to help in the design, construction, updating, operating and managing facilities at a lower cost, while improving sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions. Sustainable building practises are rapidly rewriting the rules of the design and construction
Ethical recruitment for local authorities
them are able to offer a service which is second to none. SW Locums are able to supply qualified and unqualified social workers, occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants, housing, revenue and benefit officers, income officers and administrators. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01920 823775 Fax: 01920 823815 swood@swlocums.com www.swlocums.com
Building services and project management for the public sector
ENERGY
ENERGY
MWA, a leading metering supplier, has a strong belief in reducing CO2 emissions, improving data management and lowering energy costs. This confidence is demonstrated by its close relationship with OFGEM and ESTA and its commitment to the Renewable Heat Incentive. - a UK Government scheme designed to increase the number of renewable heat technologies. It is expected to significantly contribute towards the Government’s 2020 goal, which sees 12 per cent of heat being generated by renewable sources. Fixed payments, for renewable heat generation, are currently operating in the nondomestic sector, with domestic households planned for this year. In addition to a wide range of RHI approved meters in stock,
Low energy lighting significantly helps to reduce the energy consumption of a room or building. Lighting accounts for around 39 per cent of the overall energy used in an office building. The LED market is saturated with not only cheap imported products, but also high quality and often over-priced branded ones. Imported products are very ‘hit or miss’ and consistently overstate their performance – while they will offer faster payback times they are less reliable and don’t last as long. Now in their third or fourth generations, recognised brands such as Ansell, Aurora, or Philips offer superior quality and performance and are the reliable option to the
One of the UK’s leading metering specialists
MWA Technology is supporting its customers with independent product advice and RHI expertise to help them make the right product choices and maximise on this important scheme. A newly launched website www.rhimetering.co.uk, details general RHI information and the full range of RHI meters and services, all designed to boost the uptake of RHI and improve UK energy efficiency.
Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
industry. Building systems consume 40 per cent of the world’s energy, and DP Consulting believes that the industry has a moral imperative to dedicate itself to moving toward a greener future – one that reduces the impact of the environment and reverses climate change. DP Consulting has a clear vision for the future: To offer top-class performance on every project it undertakes. This is fuelled by the fact that its Leicestershirebased team encompasses a wide range of capabilities, and can offer a full service with impeccable speed, responsiveness and attention to detail. FURTHER INFORMATION www.dpconsulting.eu.com
Energy efficient LED lighting solutions cheaper alternatives. In some applications it’s not always the best option to choose the lowest wattage light source with the highest light output and hope for the best. Many rooms, such as corridors are not always occupied but the lights are constantly left on. The best way of reducing energy is not to use it at all. Installing an occupancy sensor can make sure that no light energy is wasted – when the room is empty, the lights go off. Downlights Direct can help you to choose the best lighting products for each application. Visit the website to find out more. FURTHER INFORMATION www.downlightsdirect.co.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0121 327 7771 www.mwatechnology.com
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Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
ICT
Valuable HR advice and support from EPI-USE In this world of changing technology it’s hard to keep up with the latest and greatest, so EPI-USE has a mission to make IT simple. A specialist in human capital management (HR), EPI-USE understands that introducing cloud-based systems such as SuccessFactors is not an IT project, but a business transformation project which returns better value and achieves measurable results through organisational change management and data governance. Cloud based systems are designed to be simple and easy to use and EPI-USE believes that adopting them should be just as easy. That’s why the company invests time giving valuable advice and support on how to cost effectively implement and integrate new systems, as well as successfully delivering the technical side too.
In its 30 years, EPI-USE has worked with government organisations and is proud to have a continuing relationship with county councils, city councils, universities, fire and rescue and prison services. EPI-USE is a global group of IT companies which is mostly owned by a diverse mix of employees. The company donates one per cent of its revenue to reducing poverty and environmental causes in subsaharan Africa, which makes EPI-USE a great place to work.
Comprehensive scanning and data capture services
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Supercharge your business message with design from Shark Attack Shark Attack is a North London design studio that prides itself on delivering effective, engaging, top-tier design for both pixels and print. Available services include branding and identity design, promotional or informational literature, and web design. Whether your project requires just one of these disciplines, more than one, or something else entirely, Shark Attack will provide you with a stylish, integrated solution that looks great and does its job in a smart, elegant, intelligent way – exactly as it should. Furthermore, you won’t be stuck talking to an ‘account handler’; at Shark Attack the client gets to deal directly with
the designer, ensuring that you get exactly the design that you are looking for. No middlemen. With over two decades of industry experience, Shark Attack has satisfied clients around the world. Here in the UK the company has created compelling design solutions for the Metropolitan Police Service and the BBC, not to mention charities, pharmaceutical companies, and the music and publishing industries. Even if all you need is a business card, Shark Attack is here to help. Just call the studio and ask for Rick. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 020 333 20200 info@sharkattack.co.uk www.sharkattack.co.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION www.epiuse.com
PRINTING
Abergower can be traced back over 15 years in the document processing marketplace. In that time, the company has supported local and national authorities throughout the UK providing its comprehensive scanning and data capture services for planning, building control, finance, human resources, and archive departments. Abergower has an enviable track record of meeting the most demanding needs and supporting its customers’ diverse range of requirements. The company is therefore delighted to be working with Scanoptics in the launch of its brand new SO range of production scanners. These new scanners set the benchmark for document throughput, total cost of ownership, reliability, performance and quality of images that are produced. There are two new models enhancing the highly acclaimed and market leading SO series
SMALL BUSINESS
of production scanners; these include the SO 400P and 320P. With their robust construction they are capable of up to 320 pages per minute throughput, have an unlimited duty cycle and offer unrivalled performance and flexibility. They are attractively priced and are supported and maintained throughout the UK, directly by Scanoptics professional services division. Please contact Robin Prior to discuss your requirements and arrange a demonstration. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0755 751 6996 rprior@abergower.com www.abergower.com
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
PRINTING
Design and print services from Creative Graffix
Creative Graffix is a creative graphic design and print studio based in Dundee. The studio is based around a small, motivated, highly qualified core team with over 25 years experience who know what they are talking about. The Creative Graffix process is all about good ideas and practical solutions achieved by a solid approach to each individual client brief. The company also prints in-house, meaning that Creative Graffix can control every aspect of a job to ensure that projects can be delivered on time and on budget. Some of the services offered include: print, promotional items,
exhibition displays, posters, outdoor displays, scanning, website design, print for the home and signs of all varieties. The company prides itself on delivering a very high quality of work, giving the client peace of mind. Creative Graffix has built a very loyal and satisfied customer base over the years by working closely with its clients to understand their business so the company can offer the best solution, helping to forge close, long-term relationships. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01382 660099 hello@creativegraffix.com www.creativegraffix.com
ICT
ICT
The greatest threat to your organisation’s information is not rooted in technology, but in the behaviour of your people. One in three security incidents are caused by employee behaviour. The impact of poor behaviour is staggering. For example, in 2013 staff at a Barclays Bank branch in London let a bogus technician alter their system and transfer nearly £1.3 million from accounts before it was discovered. We have helped a number of clients recognise and change behaviour that left them wide open to attacks. As behaviour is driven by culture, information security behavioural risks are most cost-effectively lowered by improving employee behaviour. Instead of expensive technology-based ‘fixes,’ simple behavioural tweaks can
You can’t predict when or how your citizens will try to interact with you but you can ensure that you deliver the round-the-clock service that they expect and provide them with the information that they need, even if an emergency means that you’re required to handle thousands of enquiries at the same time. “Communications Integration”™ is the principle through which Content Guru is revolutionising citizen-facing interactions. Its cloud-based storm® platform integrates multi-channel communications with public sector information systems, seamlessly feeding relevant data into and out from both automated and human interactions and providing an efficient, centralised hub which instantly connects citizens, staff and information, breaking down the traditional siloes of data which can stifle the effectiveness
IT security – the real threat Handling unstructured demand in the public sector is employee behaviour
massively lower your exposure. If you truly want to lower information security risks, then you need to approach it with an organisational psychologist’s mindset and tools – a robust information security behavioural audit will give you an inexpensive and rapid means of monitoring behaviour, diagnosing problems and targeting interventions where they will do the most good. Barney Smith, a director at InProc has led large public and private sector IT organisations. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0117 905 5008 barney.smith@inproc.co.uk www.inproc.co.uk
ICT
ICT
As a world leader in the field of networked storage, QNAP is entrusted by organisations and businesses around the world to provide secure, powerful and high-functioning Network-attached Storage (NAS). Data is the lifeblood of every organisation, but the security of data is sacrosanct for government agencies. With cybercrime on the rise and with leaks and other server breaches becoming all-too common, QNAP provides NAS with full encryption to secure confidential data and is backed up by an array of security options to foil intrusion attempts. When some people think of NAS, they think of simple file servers that can serve a home or small office. With a full line-up of enterprise-grade NAS and unified storage that are capable of scaling to store hundreds of terabytes, QNAP has solutions
Niftysol is a three year old company offering different audit app solutions for mobiles, tablets, web and cloud. Niftysol’s solution is useful for government departments, hospitals, FMCG, manufacturing, automobile and the pharmaceutical industry. Gone are the days where people carry pen and paper and perform audits and prepare reports. Niftysol offers a paperless solution for performing audits with latest mobile technology. The solution allows auditors to insert a set of audit criteria/questions and provides a simple checklist approach to perform an audit. Against each criteria, the auditor can upload evidence in the form of images, video or comments. Niftysol’s audit solution works offline, so even if mobile network is weak the audit can be done on the go and
Networked-attached storage for government
to fit every requirement. QNAP has made great strides in evolving NAS from ‘simple storage’ to what they call ‘4th Generation NAS’ that consolidates a wide array of features such as virtualisation, cloud integration, surveillance and other technologies into one convenient device. With a QNAP NAS, you can get more from your investment than just a storage solution. Discover how a QNAP NAS can protect your data and improve your IT infrastructure today. FURTHER INFORMATION salesuk@qnap.com www.qnap.com/uk
Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
of your citizen services. This enables citizens to selfservice through the channels of their choice, whether through automated SMS updates on roadworks, real-time web chat on paying taxes, automated out-ofhours voice prompts for finding out opening hours, email to track case progress, or social media to feedback on new services. Through its work with a variety of public sector bodies, from local authorities through to central government departments and agencies, Content Guru is spearheading this multi-channel revolution to end the challenges of unstructured demand. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01344 852 350 info@contentguru.com www.contentguru.com
Heath & safety, ISO and quality audits made easy with apps from Niftysol
in remote areas. The solution offers customised report in Word, PDF and Excel formats. The Company also offers a solution for school management, hospital management, invoice management, CRM, stock control, project management, total quality management, lean implementation and e-commerce with its partner companies. Niftysol also offers custom mobile app development, open source customisation and web based software development services. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 07412623840 www.niftysol.com
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Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
WATER TREATMENT
FLOODING
Brodex UK is a leading specialist in providing water treatment services including legionella control measures to conform with HSE, L8 ACOP (4th edition), HSG274, CQC, CSSIW, HIW, HTM01 - 04/05 and BS8558 requirements. Brodex is an independent water treatment company having a 100 per cent safety record working with all sectors and water systems to meet legislative compliance. Brodex also carries out a full spectrum of remedial work, surveying requirements for replacement/refurbishment of stored water units. The company also carries out chlorination and chemical sterilisation of tanks and pipework, byelaw 30 remedial solutions, calculating and introducing correct chemical levels to heating
CPLC Water is an independent company dedicated to providing a comprehensive service in all aspects of flood management, drainage and water engineering. CPLC offers a reliable and professional consultancy, design and installation service. The company specialises in designing and constructing floodgates, flood barriers, water walls and water doors to minimise the risk of flood water entering the building. CPLC’s services spread across the UK, and the company aims to provide you with maximum protection against natural disasters and threats by deploying high quality and reliable barrier systems, thus saving precious lives, property and equipment. The company has a team of professional and expert engineers who are dedicated to developing the best flood barriers to fulfill your needs and requirements.
Water testing and water risk assessment services from Brodex
and chilled systems. Brodex services and maintains the water treatment requirements of some of the country’s leading companies. Wonderful as it is, water has the potential to cause many and varied problems. From a legionella out break to corrosion issues, Brodex operates to suit your requirements. Please quote GB2106 and speak to Shafik Megji for a preferential rate. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01704 834 477 info@brodexuk.com shafik@brodexuk.com www.brodexuk.com
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
MAINTENANCE
Ductbusters is a specialist ventilation system cleaning and maintenance company offering full UK coverage with a directly employed, fully trained labour force working to B&ESA TR19, CIBSE TM26 and NHS HTM03-1 standards. The services offered include: Ductwork cleaning – ductwork is often located above ceilings and requires certain skills and techniques to obtain safe access and thoroughly clean. Air handling unit maintenance – the equipment that drives the air through the ductwork also needs attention to ensure the quality of the air inside the building is not contaminated. Kitchen extract cleaning – most catering operations have an extract system above their cooking range. This takes away steam and grease emissions and if not regularly cleaned will present a fire risk. Fire damper drop testing – any
JCA is a building engineering services company, specialising in facilities management and projects. The company’s facilities management division is a leading provider of on-site resident and mobile managed services. Working across the UK, JCA maintains many blue chip companies’ head offices and has become known for its bespoke and client-focussed approach to facilities management. Trusted by a diverse range of clients across many business sectors including commercial, financial and the public sector, JCA delivers the highest quality support to critical operational facilities. Being an engineering led company, JCA’s focus is firmly on providing its clients with innovative and energy efficient engineering solutions to their building’s requirements. By
Ventilation system maintenance services
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Water management services from CPLC Water
ductwork that passes through a fire rated wall should have a fire damper fitted to help prevent the spread of flames. Regular testing to BS9999 and B&ESA SFG20 is essential to ensure correct operation. Ventilation risk assessment – all ventilation systems should be regularly inspected to ascertain what the level of internal contamination is. A team of experienced surveyors is available to conduct free site surveys of any potential application. To arrange a survey please call or visit the website. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 085 0403 www.ductbusters.co.uk
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
CPLC is fully focused on its customers’ satisfaction and values your safety above all. Assessments include a full breakdown of mitigation measures required and CPLC provides assistance to clients in designing and sourcing the most cost effective ways of protecting your development or business. The company has over 15 years experience within the flood and water management industry and its installers are all BPEC accredited. All products are PAS1188 tested and BSi Kite marked. FURTHER INFORMATION www.cplcwater.com
Facilities management for the public sector
ensuring their buildings are run at their optimum level, by fully trained and experienced engineers, clients can rest assured of uninterrupted service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Louis Loizou of The Food Standards Agency said: “JCA provides an excellent service to the Food Standards Agency and I have been particularly impressed with the communication and customer service they provide. I feel that JCA really value us as a client which is a real breath of fresh air”. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01438 847 020 enquiries@jcagroup.co.uk www.jcagroup.co.uk
SECURITY
ENERGY
With most organisations using some type of smart card for their access control, ID and time recording, Databac Group offers expert advice on optimising their use. Databac is a UK manufacturer of RFID, biometric and smart ID cards. A trusted and authorised ID partner, it has been providing secure ID badging and visitor registration systems for hospitals, prisons, schools, universities, police forces, emergency services, local authorities, libraries and sports centres for over 44 years. Databac provides an end-toend service, offering a single source to take care of its clients’ identification needs. As such, it not only implements ID systems but also offers supplies for existing systems, including cards, printer ribbons and badge wearing accessories.
Waldmann Lighting is a manufacturer of indirect/ direct total lighting solutions for the office that provides significant energy savings, flexibility of use and improvement to the lit environment. Luminaires are available with LED’s for high performance and even lower energy use. Using glare-free microprism panels and on-board sensors, these luminaires allow local lighting control for the users, without affecting their neighbours, and ensures additional energy savings by the use of a presence and light sensor. The on-board sensor provides a fully automatic lighting installation. The presence sensor switches the luminaire on and off depending on occupancy of the zone, while the light sensor maintains the user set lighting level if there are changes in the ambient lighting level. This may
Complete identification solutions from Databac
As a UK manufacturer, Databac produces bespoke cards that can support a range of technologies – from NXP Mifare/DESfire, Legic and HID prox, to iclass, Indala and Cotag. Corresponding card readers and Suprema/Virdi biometric readers are, of course, also available. Databac utilises the latest in printing and card production techniques, offering unrivalled quality, delivery times and pricing. Databac holds ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0208 546 9826 www.databac.com www.databacdirect.co.uk
Lighting solutions for offices and buildings
LEISURE
FIRE & SAFETY
Jaymart’s new sports and leisure division is already making an impact in the world of fitness. Tottenham Hotspur FC training centre and St George’s Park National Football Centre in Burtonon-Trent are amongst the many establishments that have opted for Jaymart’s renowned, robust rubber Bladerunner – the optimum eco-friendly choice for longevity, comfort, and shock and sound absorbency. National sports and leisure manager, Nick Bunyard, has expanded his sales force and is growing his product portfolio in order to offer an enhanced package and improved customer service for the sports and leisure arena. CrossFit boxes now benefit from Jaymart’s new Xfit weightlifting mats, which give great force reduction on bumpers
Hyfire is the UK’s leading EN54 3rd party approved fire detection and alarm system. Fully compliant with BS589 and utilising the latest technologies allows rapid installation of the system into difficult and challenging environments. Installations on sites such as heritage buildings, asbestos affected locations, fast implementation projects and installations with occupied working areas are easily achieved making Hyfire the choice of many blue chip companies, high street banks, major universities, councils and government departments to name but a few. High profile installations across many market sectors include Wimbledon, Cirque Du Soleil, Eton and Claridges. With over 1,000,000 devices installed worldwide, an established wireless protocol and an impressive list of international third party approvals and accreditations, designers and
Jaymart’s new sports division makes an impact in the world of fitness
and provide a secure footing. Shockpad underlays and line/logo marking are also available for sports and leisure installations. Included in the increasing versatile range are roll and interlocking solutions, highimpact acoustic/force reduction rubber tiles, throw-down sports mats, several indoor and outdoor sprint track solutions, artificial grass lanes, stretch mats, foam jigsaw matting and much more. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01985 218994 sportsflooring@jaymart.co.uk www.jaymart.co.uk
Product Profiles
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
be due to changes in available daylight or from changing light levels from adjacent luminaires. Simple to install and maintain, the luminaires can be mounted on or around the desking. The luminaire family also includes Pendant, Wall and Surface luminaires. To assess the energy savings available for your office, contact Waldmann now for a free lighting design and a demonstration. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01923 800030 info-uk@waldmann.com www.waldmann.com
Hybrid wire to wireless fire detection solutions
installers can feel confident that they are choosing a system with a proven pedigree. Hyfire’s distribution network is at the heart of our ethos, which is why a unique three step support package has been developed to assist companies that want to move into the highly flexible and cost-effective wireless solutions market. Utilising the plan ensures a worry free installation and commissioning and includes a lifetime manufacturer’s equipment guarantee. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01926 485282 info@sterlingsafety.co.uk www.sterlingsafety.co.uk
Volume 21.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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Advertisers Index
BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service Abergower 90 Access Displays 52 Advanced Electronics 36, 39 Akhter Computers 88 Antalis 48 Ap Signs (Portadown) 43 Arcus Global 82 Badge Master 20 BAFE 38 Brightec 82 Brodex 92 Carbon Numbers 30 Centerprise International 12 Chevronshop 61 CL Road Markings 73 Content Guru 91 CPLC Water 92 Creative Graffix 90 Crown Moran 57 Crystal Curtains 34 CWT Partners 14 Das Infomedia 91 Databac Group 93 Decorative Panels IBC Denmaur 46 Digital Imaging Services 43
94
Display Wizard 54 DMS Protective Equipment 86 Douglas Jackson 84 DP Consulting 89 Drive & Survive (IAM) 62 Ductbusters 92 EDF Energy 60 Epi-Use 90 Exhibition Superstore 51 Expert Electrical Supplies 89 Fiat 66 Flo-Gas 24 Ford 68 Hills Waste Solutions 23 Hydroprotect SPRL 14 Icreon UK 80 In Touch-IS 27 Inproc 91 IT Quest 82 Itrinegy 16 Jadan Press 50 Jaymart Rubber and Plastics 93 JCA Engineering 92 Jigsaw Research 18 Kayleigh 50 Kyocera Document Solutions 6
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.6
Lex Autolease 69 Liquid Culture 88 Long Rake Spar 72 Love Your Earth 26 Marstons 74 Mitsubishi 58 Monodraught OBC Morse Watchmans 72 Mosscliffe Environmental 31 MWA Technology 89 Nexus Industries 28 Nissan 64 NSXi 10 Oakley Mobile 4 OKI Systems UK 44 Orbis Protect 32 Orsis UK 30 Oryx Align 20 Qnap Systems 80, 91 Quality Registration Services 56 Reade Signs 40 Red Rock Consulting 83 Redcentric 78 Redcliffe Imaging 56 Renewable Energy Partners 88
Ringway Eurovia 70 Scarab Sweepers 67 Security Engineering 84 Service Graphics 42 Shark Attack 90 Smooga 56 Solar Communications 87 Soluclean 34 Stand It Displays 56 Starcom MediaVest IFC Sterling Safety Systems 93 Summit Energies 30 Sun Renewable 35 SW Locums 89 Sync Interactive 82 The Interface Financial Group 74 Toms Trees Ties 34 Ultra Communications 84 Under Control Instruments 16 Universal Pool Services 74 Waldmann Lighting 93 Wamitab 23 WIPRO 76 Worldview Learning 88 Yeoman Shield 32
the decorative panels group YOUR PERFECT PARTNER
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dp-BioCote Quartz technology: • Makes a product more hygienic, if it is likely to host harmful microbes. • Keep a product fresher for longer, if it is likely to host odour-causing or staining microbes. • Extend the usable lifetime of a product, if it is likely to host microbes which might degrade the surface. • The surface is highly resistant to abrasion, far exceeding the abrasion resistance of high pressure worktops.
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Century House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9HF
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T: +44 (0) 1484 658341 F: +44 (0) 1484 658812 E: info@decorativepanels.co.uk www.decorativepanels.co.uk Produced in 2014
DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS
Natural Cooling and Low Energy Ventilation Systems
1974 - 2014
Award Winning Performance at £0.25 per week! Cool-phase creates a comfortable , fresh and healthy indoor environment and reduces the running costs of buildings by up to 90%. Cool-phase uses a thermal energy store utilising a Phase Change Material in combination with an intelligently controlled Air Handling Unit to actively ventilate and cool the building.
W: www.monodraught.com E: info@monodraught.com T: 01494897700 Halifax House, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire, HP12 3SE
Cool-phase Case Study
• •
Location: Bournemouth University Science Lecture Room. Sector: Education
Cool-phase systems have kept the temperature within a very comfortable band. Daily Temperatures (°C) Science Lecture Room
The Science Lecture Room at Bournemouth University was fitted with two new Cool-phase® units discreetly positioned within the ceiling void to provide intelligently controlled low energy ventilation and natural cooling via thermal batteries to the area to maintain thermal comfort and air quality levels throughout the year.
Energy Used Science Lecture Room - 61 Weeks Cost in £’s
(Assumed 0.11£/KWh)
138.5 KWhs
£15.24 Total
£0.25p Wk
Average
Min Average
Max Average
20.6 °C
19.0 °C
21.9 °C
Background or atmospheric CO2 level is approximately 400 parts per million (ppm) and 1500 ppm or above would be considered a high level. CO2 Levels Science Lecture Room > 1000 ppm
> 1200 ppm
> 1500 ppm
0%
0%
0%
As shown in the table the two Cool-phase units installed in the Science Lecture Room used a combined 138.5 KWHs of energy across the logged period. Assuming 0.11 £/KWh that amounts to £15.24 or an average of £0.25p a week.