People Connect Newsletter November 2023

People

Connect

November 2023

The employee newsletter that keeps everyone connected.

CONTENTS 03

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Delivering to a higher standard with Dynamics 365

Discovering the future of manufacturing with Microsoft

Harnessing the sun’s power: the role of Photovoltaic Fuses

- What is Dynamics 365?

- What have we achieved so far in 2023?

- What’s next?

- Overview - Key takeaways

- What are Photovoltaic Fuses?

- What are the key functions of Photovoltaic Fuses?

- Integration into solar systems

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Revitalising the former Jericho Health Centre

Lucy Group set for interactive sustainability workshops

Amplifying the employee voice across the globe

Our values in action

- Green living spaces - Residents thrive in sold-out apartments - New year, new home: Lucy Real Estate’s move to Cranham House

- What does the workshop entail?

- When will Lucy Group employees have access?

- Your feedback - How your survey responses are used - Our commitment to you

- Celebrate your colleagues - Caring colleagues in Thailand save a life - Working together at Lucy Zodion

07 Evis wins at the 2023 Highway Electrical Association (HEA) Awards - What is EVIS? - About HEA (Highway Electrical Association)

Delivering to a higher standard with Dynamics 365 As an organisation, we want to improve local decision making and drive operational efficiencies with unified systems. That’s why we’re expanding our use of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) platform. You might already be familiar with AX 2012, which we’ve used since 2016, and we have used its successor, D365, since August 2020, bringing us onto a modern and cloud-hosted platform.

What is Dynamics 365?

D365 is a portfolio of intelligent business applications that reduces complexity and helps businesses to become more agile.

Its solutions include finance, supply chain management, sales & marketing, and service.

This article covers our progress towards enhancing and expanding the Dynamics 365 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution around the Lucy Group.

What have we achieved so far in 2023?

Lawson Fuses UK and Lucy Zodion adopted the D365 cloud-based ERP platform. D365 has improved user experience, data consistency,

business processes, and month-end reporting.

Colleagues in Lucy Zodion are also benefiting from a new module in D365, which assists them in accounting for sales of SaaS more efficiently.

Lucy Electric in the UK and Thailand adopted the Asset Management module. This has enabled us to process preventative and corrective maintenance orders and to manage assets efficiently.

Use of the Vendor Collaboration module has expanded across several businesses, with many more suppliers in our digital supply chain.

Lucy Electric sites benefit from the integrated barcoding solution (RF-Smart). This allows users to easily process receipts, transfers and issues of materials using barcode scanning, and to benefit from improved inventory control. Colleagues in Lucy Electric Brazil are currently undergoing training to use this game-changing solution, whereas other sites have either received training or are next in the queue.

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Delivering to a higher standard with Dynamics 365 To date, we have created over 10,000 digital birth certificates in the new D365 app, which would previously have been created manually and scanned in to store as a PDF. We know that the new fiscal requirements introduced into Saudi Arabia this year are strict and can make compliance challenging. The new Electronic Invoicing Service helps our finance colleagues at Lucy Saudi Arabia to overcome those challenges. We look forward to bringing this solution to colleagues in India and helping to streamline the invoicing process.

The Business Solutions Team provides day-to-day support for colleagues around the world using D365. Furthermore, In 2023 we have delivered 4 major system upgrades with minimal downtime to the business.

What’s next?

The Microsoft Power Platform enabled us to digitise birth certificates for our products, utilising an integrated app in D365. This quality document accompanies each product at each stage throughout the factory. Data from each monitoring stage of the manufacturing process is recorded on the birth certificate, and once completed, is retained for reference, and provides customers with full product and component traceability.

By moving from paper to digital documentation, we make these data searchable, sortable, and reportable in a database.

We can also offer our customers the ability to refer to their product documentation using a unique serial number, which reduces our physical storage needs and the fire risks associated with paper documents.

In 2024, Flashnet will adopt D365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, which will streamline financial and operational processes, such as materials and production planning, month-end reporting, and accounting for sales of SaaS. We will streamline Accounts Payable processes with digital automation tools that capture data to generate supplier invoices in D365 Finance.

As part of our Future Factory initiative, we are piloting production line reporting in Lucy Electric India and will expand this into 2024. This will bring greater visibility of factory activity thanks to real-time feedback from colleagues using production line terminals.

We will continue to roll out modules such as Asset Management, Vendor Collaboration, and our integrated barcoding solution, so that colleagues around the business can benefit from the improvements they enable.

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Discovering the future of manufacturing with Microsoft 2. Microsoft in Manufacturing: The session highlighted how Microsoft’s tech stack supports manufacturing reporting and execution. The team were introduced to a comprehensive suite of tools, platforms, and processes to facilitate a more integrated, real-time reporting manufacturing environment. We anticipate this would enhance the quality and speed of decision-making and provide visibility for improved planning and throughput. Microsoft shared a vision of how manufacturers could transition from a disconnected, paper-based, manual system to a fully automated environment using their technology and tools.

3. Mixed Reality Hands-On with HoloLens Technology: The team were shown how HoloLens technology (like the RemoteAssist technology already in the business) could support training activities. For example, training new colleagues on product complexities without having to open them up, or assisting service engineers to fix unfamiliar products. This supports a ‘right first time’ approach to manufacturing.

From left to right: 1. Tim Pitcher (Business Applications Executive at Microsoft) 2. Dan Spencer (Lead Finance Business Partner at Lucy Electric) 3. Hojjat Akhondi (Principal Machine Learning Engineer at Lucy Electric) 4. David Tanner (Manufacturing Systems Engineer at Lucy Electric) 5. Andy Barratt (Business Systems Programme Manager at Lucy Group) 6. John Griffiths (CEO of Lucy Electric) 7. Andy Linfoot (Engineering Director at Lucy Electric) 8. Phil Dingle (Director, Future Networks at Lucy Electric) 9. Paul Beck (Gridkey and Innovative Solutions Director at Lucy Electric) 10. Kathi Roche (PA to CEO of Lucy Electric) 11. Karl Franklin (Group Head of Information Services at Lucy Group) 12. Tony Russell (General Manager, UK at Lucy Electric)

Microsoft recently welcomed the senior leadership team of Lucy Electric to their London Technology Centre for a day of insightful discussions on the future of manufacturing and AI.

Overview: The day was divided into several key sessions: 1. Era of AI at Microsoft: The team heard about Microsoft’s AI offerings, including the different AI tool types and how AI is being integrated into its products. The focus was on driving efficiency by using AI-driven tools to empower individuals to achieve more.

Key takeaways: • The potential of Copilot tools for D365 was discussed. Microsoft cited an example in which implementing Copilot for Customer Service internally resulted in a 12% increase in customer satisfaction and a 31% increase in first call resolution.

• The day highlighted numerous opportunities at our disposal within the existing licenced technology stack that we could leverage to improve our processes. We left with a better understanding of the tools available that we could take advantage of to achieve our continuous improvement goals The visit underscored the transformative potential of AI and advanced technology in shaping the future of manufacturing at Lucy Electric.

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IMAGES HERE Type LFPV-32 Fuse Link

Type LFPV-32 Fuse Holder

Type LFPV-35 Fuse Link

Type LFPV-35 Fuse Holder

Harnessing the sun’s power: the role of Photovoltaic Fuses Renewable energy is rapidly evolving, and with it, photovoltaic (PV) systems are at the forefront of harnessing the sun’s power.

Lawson Fuses Solar DC Fuse range (LFPV-32 and LFPV-35) can interrupt low overcurrents associated with faulted photovoltaic string arrays.

What are Photovoltaic Fuses?

Photovoltaic fuses are specialised safety devices designed to protect solar panels, inverters, and other components of PV systems.

These fuses prevent electrical fires and damage caused by overcurrents, short circuits, and other electrical faults. As solar installations become more complex, the need for reliable protection mechanisms, like photovoltaic fuses, cannot be overstated.

What are the key functions of Photovoltaic Fuses?

Overcurrent Protection: Photovoltaic fuses safeguard against excessive current flowing through the system. By interrupting the current flow when it exceeds safe levels, these fuses prevent damage to the PV components.

Short Circuit Protection: In the event of a short circuit, photovoltaic fuses disconnect the faulty circuit, averting potential damage and ensuring the system’s integrity.

Fire Prevention: PV fuses contribute to fire prevention by interrupting the flow of electricity when anomalies are detected; this is crucial for the safety of the solar installation and the environment.

Integration into solar systems Photovoltaic fuses integrate into combiner boxes, which merge the output from multiple solar panels before connecting to the inverter. This strategic placement allows for the quick detection and isolation of faults at the source, minimising the impact on the entire PV system.

Photovoltaic fuses ensure the safety and reliability of solar energy systems.

As the world moves towards sustainable energy, these fuses become vital in safeguarding the assets that harness the sun’s power. Put simply, photovoltaic fuse technology promises a safer and more efficient future for solar energy.

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Evis wins at the 2023 Highway Electrical Association (HEA) Awards In October, Lucy Zodion attended the 2023 Highway Electrical Association (HEA) Awards. EVIS, the Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure Solutions pillar range, was recognised as the Most Innovative Product of the Year.

Congratulations to each member of the Lucy Zodion team for their hard work and dedication. Let’s celebrate this achievement as we continue to drive innovation, set new standards, and make a lasting impact on the future of sustainable transportation.

This accolade from HEA is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication that Lucy Zodion pours into its products. EVIS goes beyond being just a solution; it is a catalyst in expediting the global transition towards sustainable transportation practices.

About HEA (Highway Electrical Association) The Highway Electrical Association (HEA) is a significant force in our industry, representing over 400 organisations within the highway electrical sector. As one of the largest and most influential bodies, the HEA sets standards for excellence in our field, ensuring our members and employees are registered with the Highway Electrical Registration Scheme (HERS).

What is EVIS? EVIS was crafted to meet the rising demand for accessible, safe, and dependable EV charging networks. Positioned as a groundbreaking solution in the Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure sector, EVIS is not only shaping the future of sustainable transportation, it is also streamlining the installation process.

Offering a diverse range of over 80 standard designs with incoming supply ratings from 100A to 630A, EVIS is tailored to support EV charge points ranging from 7kW to 150kW. EVIS is designed to meet a variety of EV charging needs, from on-street charging to fast-charging hubs.

Whether installed in publicly owned local authority car parks or in private settings, such as hotels and retail parks, EVIS offers a holistic and versatile solution.

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Revitalising the former Jericho Health Centre In Cranham House, each apartment has its own solar supply from roof panels and an air source heat pump, contributing to a collective effort toward environmental responsibility. The incorporation of zone-controlled heating in every room and low-energy lighting throughout has earned these new apartments an ‘A’ grade Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. To put this achievement into perspective, each apartment is set to produce only 0.5 tonnes of CO2 annually; a remarkable feat compared to the average household’s emission of 6 tonnes per year.

The existing apartments in St. Pauls House haven’t been left behind in this eco-friendly endeavour. They have been upgraded with a switch to A-rated gas boilers, benefitting from improved thermal performance through glazing replacement and internal insulation upgrades.

Adding to the allure, a living roof now graces the top floor, while the podium-level garden and balconies give sought-after amenity spaces. The garden’s various plant species contribute to local biodiversity.

Thanks to the team at Lucy Developments, the building formerly known as the Jericho Health Centre has undergone a remarkable restoration. Located on Walton Street in Jericho (Oxford, UK), it has undergone extensive regeneration, resulting in the creation of two addresses, St. Paul’s House and Cranham House. The development has nine new apartments and significant refurbishments to the existing eight apartments.

Adding to the vibrancy of Jericho, the ground floor now features commercial spaces housing a Sainsbury’s supermarket, along with an extra commercial unit.

Green living spaces Sustainability has been at the forefront of this redevelopment, with careful considerations embedded into every aspect of the project.

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Revitalising the former Jericho Health Centre New year, new home: Lucy Real Estate’s move to Cranham House The culmination of this ambitious project has paved the way for Lucy Real Estate to embark on a new journey. As of January 2024, Lucy Real Estate will move out of the Lucy Group head office and settle into its new home at Cranham House, just 400m down the road. This transformation not only highlights an impressive piece of architecture in a prime Jericho location, and also provides Lucy Real Estate with a vibrant high street frontage for its lettings and management business.

Ian Ashcroft, Chief Executive Officer of Lucy Real Estate, said:

Residents thrive in sold-out apartments The response to this revitalisation has been overwhelming. All apartments were leased out quickly by Lucy Properties, with tenant viewings often unseen due to ongoing construction. The trust associated with the Lucy brand allowed applicants to believe in the potential of these spaces. We are delighted to report that residents are now happily calling these two buildings their homes.

The St Paul’s House and Cranham House redevelopment is not only a renewed architectural gem in Jericho; it stands as a testament to the blend of modern living and sustainable practices.

“Now known as St. Pauls House and Cranham House, this overdue refurbishment has transformed a 1970s building and created an impressive piece of architecture in a prominent Jericho location. For Lucy Real Estate, this project marks an exciting new chapter as Cranham House will become the location of our new office, giving our lettings & management business a high street frontage. The new space will accommodate our real estate team, which is growing as we expand our Lucy Properties and Lucy Developments divisions.”

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Lucy Group set for interactive sustainability workshops from March 2024 What does the workshop entail?

The workshop is structured around key modules on the ethos of sustainability and its significance at both a professional and personal level.

Participants will explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and discover how Lucy Group has integrated them into our overarching strategy.

The session will delve into the details of measuring our carbon emissions, biodiversity, waste, and our commitment to the economy. We’ll discuss the targets we’ve set at Lucy Group and the strategic roadmap we’ve devised to achieve them.

When will Lucy Group employees have access?

Exciting news is brewing within Lucy Group, as we gear up to roll out a groundbreaking initiative to foster a sustainability culture across our organisation. The Sustainability Workshop, a 2-hour interactive session, will debut for managers by March 2024, with plans to extend its reach to all employees later.

This workshop offers participants a deep dive into the world of sustainability, both from a global perspective and within the context of Lucy Group. The objective is to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to our environmental and social responsibility endeavours.

A successful pilot session with 13 managers took place on the 27th of September at Lucy Electric UK. We’ve collected and incorporated their feedback to ensure that subsequent sessions are more impactful.

As we prepare to extend this opportunity to all Lucy Group sites, we’ll invite you to participate. We’re in the process of scheduling sessions for all locations, and we understand that some of you may be eager to kickstart the journey sooner.

If you have a specific date in mind, or wish to expedite the process, please reach out to Tamara Driver Jones, Sustainability Analyst, or Holly Taylor, Regional Sustainability Coordinator, our dedicated Regional Sustainability Coordinator at Lucy Electric.

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Amplifying the employee voice across the globe Your manager is there to show you that meaningful action is being taken on feedback they’ve received in their report. Managers have attended training sessions that covered how to access reports, how to feed back the results, and how to involve you and your colleagues in the action planning process.

Managers are expected to share a communication, ‘You said it, we did it’, with you that communicates the results and the actions taken since the last survey. If you’ve not yet seen this, ask your manager to share it in your next team meeting.

Our commitment to you At the organisational level, we will summarise the key themes that emerged from your feedback in a follow-up announcement on the LucyConnect intranet.

We appreciate your feedback Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to give confidential feedback in the latest employee engagement survey. We know that listening to our colleagues, giving the opportunity to shape our organisation for the better, is critical to our success.

At the team level, we will listen to your feedback, involve you in the action planning process, and keep you informed of our progress.

Together, we can make Lucy an exceptional place to work.

How your survey responses are used When the survey closes, we will begin analysing the results across the organisation. Your manager will receive anonymous reports. They have access to an action planning system where they can address survey feedback. We are committed to celebrating what we do well, and to acting on any areas for improvement.

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Our values in action: celebrate your colleaguess Do you want to be part of a culture where people are celebrated for a job well done? Do you want to let your colleagues know how much you appreciate their efforts and achievements? Do you work with amazing people who embody the Lucy Group values: caring, daring to differentiate, excellence, trusted, and working together?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you’ll want take advantage of the values recognition scheme. This is a simple and effective way to appreciate your colleagues for going above and beyond in a way that aligns with our values.

It’s designed to foster a supportive work environment, where everyone feels valued and motivated. It also helps to reinforce our core values and behaviours, which are the foundation of our success as a global business.

There are two ways you can use the values recognition scheme to show your appreciation: 1. You can send a digital recognition card to your colleague, which is a personalised message that expresses your gratitude and admiration. You can find the digital recognition cards under Values Recognition Tools. Just fill one in and send it - easy! You can write a short recognition post for the LucyConnect intranet, which is a public platform that showcases the achievements and contributions of our employees.

2. You can send your recognition post to Group Comms, and they will publish it on LucyConnect for everyone to see. By using the values recognition scheme, you help your colleagues feel appreciated and inspire others to celebrate living our shared values. Don’t miss this opportunity to show your colleagues your appreciation. It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a huge difference.

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Our values in action: caring colleagues in Thailand save a life hours of her personal time, and she has shown ownership, dedication, and selflessness to make this happen.

Her actions that evening, and her skill in organising a chaotic and rapidly developing situation, will be greatly appreciated and respected by many in the community.’

From left to right: 1. Patawee Pimpamajarern, Operator, Production – Fabrication (RCT & Paint) 2. Panomporn Ainthirat, Operator, Production - Module Assembly (Module) 3. Apichat Bunpachat, Operator, Production - Final Assembly (Final) 4.

Watchalakon Thongma, Operator, Production - Module Assembly (Module).

We’d like to recognise our colleagues in Thailand for their incredible compassion and quick-thinking. The team at Lucy Electric Thailand received a call late at night on the 8th of November with an urgent request. A local man was in critical need of A-negative blood donations to help save his life. Suwanna Moonboon (Toom), the Regional HR Manager of Lucy Electric Thailand, swung into action with her team.

To read the full story and see photos, visit the Colleagues in Thailand Answer the Call to Help Save a Man’s Life article on LucyConnect.

Bryan Bowman, Plant Director at Lucy Electric Thailand, said: ‘Khun Suwanna diligently worked through the evening hours... so suitable donors could donate before the deadlines set by the doctors. ...This has taken several

‘The Thai Red Cross donation site informed us that out of 100,000 donors, they only find 1 with type A-. We found five from researching and identifying what nationalities have a higher percentage likelihood of having the blood type, targeting our search, using our networks, and reaching out to these people personally. To rapidly arrange and organise this is a great achievement and has had a large impact on a local Thai family and their loved ones. Please join me in extending a hearty thank you to Khun Suwanna for her and her team’s work.’

Madeline Laxton, Executive Director of Lucy Group, said: ‘Well done to Suwanna - and to Bryan - for their work on this initiative.’

Saif Ullah, Global Head of HR Operations, Systems, and Rewards, said: ‘A rather heartwarming example of how our team in Lucy Electric Thailand have gone out of their way and worked together to help a man, possibly saving his life!’

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Our values in action: working together at Lucy Zodion

Congratulations!

Robert Ashworth, Paul Lomax and Adrian Cundy

have been recognised for demonstrating the value of ‘Working Together’, through great partnership and communication by...

Adrian Cundy, Customer Services Sales Advisor

Working together

munication are Team working and com hing we do. at the forefront of everyt e across our We share our knowledg fit of all. organisation for the bene

Paul Lomax, Product Engineering Manager

efficiently and succesfully dealing with a customer enquiry for a new product that required identification, creating and accuratley quoting, resulting in new business taken from a competitor. North Yorkshire Council have bought fused products and feeder pillars but have stuck with a competitor when it came to the photocells. From the enquiry coming in on the Wednesday morning, Robert Ashworth identified the closest matching photocell and modification that would be required within the hour. Adrian Cundy quoted the product and updated the customer to ensure they had the precise information before lunchtime. Last but not least when the order was placed on the Friday, Paul Lomax created a new part number and bill of materials, updated the D365 system by Monday lunchtime. Simply Superb.

Recognised by

Date

Giles Davidson

09-Nov-2023

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