Government Business 21.1

FLEET MANAGEMENT

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

FRAUD

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 21.1

Business Information for Local and Central Government FINANCE

PLANNING FOR THE WORST

How risk management and insurance should go hand-in-hand

DESIGN & BUILD

BUILDING TO REDUCE FUEL POVERTY How building to Passivhaus standards can benefit the social housing sector

Cloud g tin compu p85

atial Geosp tion a inform 0 p9

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | FRANCHISING | SECURITY | EVENT PREVIEWS

COMMENT FLEET MANAGEMENT

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

FRAUD

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 21.1

Cover image copyright White Hill Design Studio

Business Information for Local and Central Government FINANCE

PLANNING FOR THE WORST

How risk management and insurance should go hand-in-hand

DESIGN & BUILD

BUILDING TO REDUCE FUEL POVERTY How building to Passivhaus standards can benefit the social housing sector

Cloud ing comput p85

tial Geospa tion informa0 p9

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | FRANCHISING | SECURITY | EVENT PREVIEWS

Comment

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

SATISFACTION DESPITE DEEPER CUTS? According to data published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on local authority spending, coupled with an analysis by Unison, between 2010/11 and 2012/13 total government support for local authorities in England fell from £70.1bn to £61.3bn. Despite this, Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis said residents’ satisfaction with local government has either gone up or remained the same since 2010.

A Welsh Government-appointed commission is expected to recommend that the number of councils in Wales should be halved. The Williams Commission, chaired by former chief executive of NHS Wales Sir Paul Williams, is due to report before the end of January. Such a move could also lead to a reduction in the number of councillors by around 800. Jeff Jones, the former Labour leader of Bridgend council, now a local government consultant, said: “I think that 11 councils may still be too many. We have far too many in Wales.”

In technology, the fifth incarnation of G-Cloud is expected early this year.

Cumulative sales reached £78 million in November, but a sharp increase is expected

by Phil Dawson, ceo of Skyscape Cloud Services, who predicts that October 2014’s spend will be ten times that of October 2013. Read more on page 85.

And in the Rotten Borough Awards, Private Eye reported that David Cussons, a Tory member of Ryedale District Council in North Yorkshire, was responsible for the authority receiving the Baffled by Technology award.

According to Private Eye’s reports, Cussons pressed the wrong button on an electronic voting machine, thereby granting permission to a 260‑home development to which he was actually opposed. Butterfingers.

Here’s wishing our readers a fruitful 2014.

Danny Wright

P ONLINE P IN PRINT P MOBILE P FACE TO FACE If you would like to receive 6 issues of Government Business magazine for £120 a year, please contact Public Sector Information, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055, Fax: 020 8532 0066, or visit the Government Business website at:

Business Information for Local and Central Government

www.governmenttbusiness.co.uk | www.governmenttechnology.co.uk PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED

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 ACTING EDITOR Angela Pisanu EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Arthur Walsh PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Gooding PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Reiss Malone ADVERTISEMENT SALES Emily Dawson, Steve Day, Nichola Halle, Bernie Miller, David Morgan, Ash Seaman PUBLISHER Kelly Scott ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich, Charlotte Cassar REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

© 2014 Public Sector Information Limited. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any other means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial content the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. ISSN 1362 - 2541

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

3

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Contents

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

CONTENTS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS 21.1 07 GB NEWS

41 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

11 FINANCE: INSURANCE

45 FLEET MANAGEMENT: VAN COMPLIANCE

15 FINANCE: FRAUD

48 FLEET MANAGEMENT: ACFO INTERVIEW

More cuts expected as Osbourne looks towards a year of ‘hard truths’; Central Government property to become available Organisations need to be protected from the risk of damage, writes Aidan Kerr from Association of British Insurers (ABI)

11

Joined up thinking is needed to help the Government reduce the billions it loses to fraud, says Steve Mound

19 FINANCE: FRAUD

A recent report by Business Intelligence Software firm SAS explains how improved data management can combat fraud

45

23 DESIGN & BUILD: STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless Steel is an attractive option – not just in the aesthetic, but also in the design sense too, writes John Rowe

27 DESIGN & BUILD: PASSIVHAUS

53

Passivhaus buildings can reduce fuel poverty, writes Jon Bootland

59

35 DESIGN & BUILD: ECOBUILD

Ecobuild on 4-6 March 2014 will unravel the future of sustainable buildings

39 DESIGN & BUILD: SURFACE DESIGN SHOW

Find inspiring interior and exterior surface solutions on 4-6 February

27

82 GT NEWS

Digital leaders survey; Mike Bracken gets CBE; BYOD set to grow; Rotherham ICT chief advocates a shared platform for local government websites

Maintec 2014 is co-located with Facilities Management and the Health & Safety Event

Van operators get a wake-up call from VOSA’s David Wood, reports the FTA

ACFO chairman Damian James discusses the challenges fleet managers face

51 PUBLISHING & MEDIA EXPO

Discover the latest media and publishing innovations on 25-26 February

53 FRANCHISING

The results of the 2013 NatWest British Franchise Association Franchise Survey

59 CONFERENCES & EVENTS: LONDON

Part of the attraction of coming to London the fantastic downtime activities

73 CONFEX 2014

Donna Bushell explains how this year’s International Confex is shaping up

77 SECURITY

A look at Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe in February, plus a look towards April’s Counter Terror Expo, which has grown to become the largest international counter-terrorism event

89 DATA CENTRE WORLD

85 CLOUD COMPUTING

The entire data centre and cloud ecosystem will gather at ExCeL London in February

88 CLOUD EXPO EUROPE

90 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

A look at the progress to date of the Government G-Cloud programme

Whatever your level of cloud expertise, take it to the next level at the dramatically expanded Cloud Expo Europe

Government Business

ISSU

Turn to E 12.1 p latest gage 82 for th techno overnment e lo and fe gy news atures

GIS can provide local authorities with the knowledge needed to make important decisions, writes Chris Rhodes

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

5

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GOVERNMENT FINANCE

NEWS IN BRIEF More cuts expected as Osbourne Sussex Council scraps looks towards a year of ‘hard truths’ West chief executive post

Local and Central Government can expect further austerity measures as it contends with a year of ‘hard truths’, Chancellor George Osborne has indicated.

Speaking in Birmingham on January 6, Osborne said it would be necessary to make £60bn of further cuts over the next four years in order to support the economic recovery.

“We’ve got to make more cuts. £17 billion this coming year. £20 billion next year. And over £25 billion further across the two years after.”

Warning welfare could not be protected from further substantial reductions, the chancellor said £12bn of further welfare cuts might be necessary in the first two years of the next Parliament.

The Chancellor said: “When I took this job, Britain was borrowing more than £400 million every single day to pay for government spending. But as a result of the painful cuts we’ve made, the deficit is down by a third and we’re borrowing nearly £3,000 less for every one of you and for every family in the country.

“There is still a long way to go – and there are big, underlying problems we have to fix in our economy. More repairs. More cuts.

More difficult decisions,” Osborne added.

“We have a choice in 2014: We can give up, go back to square one, risk everything. Or we can confront the hard truth that more difficult decisions are needed – and work through the plan that is turning Britain around.”

Trade union GMB urged Osborne to improve wage levels and construct more affordable

ELECTIONS

ID could be required at polling stations, says Electoral Commission

GB News

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

The role of chief executive at West Sussex County Council will be scrapped, the council has announced.

Kieran Stigant, who earns £175,000 a year, is standing down on January 31 and his position will be dissolved.

Responsibilities will now be shared between the chief operating officer and an interim transformation director.

A council spokesman said the interim arrangements will result in a full year saving of just £25,000.

RIP Paul Goggins houses in order to support economic recovery.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, said: “Allowing councils to build enough houses at affordable rents would save billions from the £23bn per year paid in housing benefits, much of it to private landlords.”

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Chris Leslie said: “George Osborne should admit his policies have failed and led to a cost-of-living crisis.

“While millions of ordinary working people are worse off under the Tories, he and David Cameron are paving the way for yet another top rate tax cut for millionaires.

“The reason more spending cuts are needed after 2015 is because his failure on growth and living standards since 2010 has led to his failure to balance the books.”

Voters could be required to bring proof of identity to polling stations, in a bid to combat fraudulent votes, the Electoral Commission has said.

The need for ID is one of a number of draft recommendations drawn up by the Electoral Commission as part of its ongoing investigation into election fraud.

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said: “Voters value the contact that they have with campaigners.

“But as we look to the next General Election, there needs to be a change in campaigner behaviour in order to help rebuild trust in the system.

Campaigners must no longer handle postal votes, or postal vote applications under any circumstances. We should be able to achieve this through a strengthened Code of Conduct. But if we cannot, we will recommend that the law is changed.

“Looking ahead, the time has come for England, Scotland and Wales to move towards a requirement for voters to produce ID at polling stations.

“This would strengthen the system and bring Great Britain into line with Northern Ireland and many countries where this is already in READ MORE: place.” tinyurl.com/oyeczjs

Paul Goggins, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, has died aged 60. The former Northern Ireland and Home Office minister was director of the Church Action on Poverty campaign group before becoming an MP in 1997, also serving as a councillor in Salford. Mr Goggins was out jogging with his son when he became ill, and died a week later on January 8.

Local government workers receive new years honours More than 30 local government workers were recognised in the New Year’s honours list. Council leaders, those involved in helping troubled families and even a cleaning manager were among those to receive medals. The full honours list also featured those involved in housing and planning plus those working closely with councils in the voluntary sector.

Chinese local government debt could have wider impact China has local government debts of 17.7 trillion yuan ($2.9tn), up 70 per cent from three years ago, according to an official report from the National Audit Office (NAO).

The report showed some local governments were using new loans to repay more than a fifth of their debt.

Asked about the possible effects of this debt, The BBC’s chief business correspondent Linda Yueh “If China were to have a systemic banking crisis it will have a much wider regional, if not global, impact”.

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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ESTATES MANAGEMENT

Central Government property to become available Members of the public and businesses will be able to bid to buy up a portion of Whitehall’s £330bn land and property portfolio under a Treasury-backed scheme.

The Right to Contest scheme is an extension of the Right to Challenge programme that operates in local government, which currently gives people the power to contest the use of vacant or surplus council-owned land and property.

Plans to extend the rights to central government land were announced in last year’s Spending Review and have been subsequently developed by the Cabinet

GB News

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Office. Under the scheme, the public will be able to submit applications challenging the use of sites, and how it could be put to better economic use. Applications will then be considered by a committee comprising Treasury and Cabinet Office ministers, with the land-holding department.

Land will only not be released to the open market if the location is vital for operational use or there are other overriding reasons, the Treasury said.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: “The government is the custodian of the taxpayers’ assets. We

COUNCIL HOUSING Right to Buy boosted by £100m fund to improve access to finance The government will attempt to reinvigorate ‘Right to Buy’ in 2014. The maximum discount for a house will increase from 60 per cent to 70 per cent of its value, and the £75,000 cap will start increasing in line with the consumer price index rate of inflation. A £100 million fund aims to improve access to mortgage finance, and new Right to Buy agents will guide people through the buying process. Revenue from additional sales will be ploughed back into delivering new affordable homes for rent. The maximum cash cap was increased in April 2012 to £75,000. For London, it was increased in March 2013 to £100,000. The caps will be increased annually in line with the consumer price index rate of inflation.

The government has already delivered over 170,000 affordable homes over the past 3 and a half years, with around £23 billion public and private investment planned between 2015 and 2018. Eric Pickles said: “We’ll also continue to plough the cash from additional sales back into delivering new affordable homes for rent, which will help drive up the rate of housebuilding across the country.”

ENERGY

certainly should not act as some kind of compulsive hoarder of land and property that could be better used for things like housing and local economic growth.”

Independent estimates suggest the public sector holds as much as 40 per cent of developable land and around 27 per cent of brownfield land suitable for housing.

The Cabinet Office is also set to launch a ‘Rightmove-style’ search engine of all government property, which will allow the portfolio to be searched by town and postcode with maps showing the READ MORE: extent of tinyurl.com/ooetrak the estate.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Collective Switching framework introduced

Pickles issues guidance on weekly waste collection

A new collective switching framework has been launched to help councils further reduce energy bills in their communities.

Launched by the Local Government Association (LGA) in partnership with switching provider iChoosr, the framework will allow participating councils to take part in a collective switching auction in February.

Essex and Lincolnshire CC have already signed up to the framework, which is free to use and fully compliant with procurement regulations. Local authorities have until 14 January to sign up for next month’s auction, with further events taking place in May and October.

More than 150 councils have already taken part in collective switching, signing up residents and negotiating cheaper energy prices on their behalf. As a result, more than 300,000 people have registered their interest.

A report published last year

The first ever guidance on weekly bin collections has been launched. As part of encouraging councils to deliver better services for Council Tax payers, the Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles is supporting weekly collections by publishing examples where councils have kept weekly collections, increased recycling and made common sense efficiency savings.

Pickles said: “Rubbish collections are the most visible service that people get for their £120 a month council tax bill.

“People deserve a comprehensive weekly service in return for their taxes.

“We have exposed 10 false fictions from fortnightly bin barons they cling to as excuses for cutting services.

“If councils adopt this new guide as their ‘bin bible’, they will be able to save taxpayers’ money and still increase the frequency and quality of rubbish

found collective switching schemes have helped over 21,000 save an on average £125 a year on their energy bills.

Chair of the LGA improvement board, Cllr Peter Fleming, said: “At a time when local government funding is being cut, the best thing about collective switching is that it delivers a huge benefit to residents without costing much to deliver.

“It’s efficient, effective and highly popular. In many ways it encapsulates all that is good about local government.”

READ MORE: tinyurl.com/mm5229m

and recycling collections.

However, Environmental Services Association director general Barry Dennis said: “There is no one‑size-fits-all solution for all areas and both weekly and fortnightly systems can work well.

“In our view councils are likely to find the DCLG ‘Bin Bible’ deeply unhelpful. It is not objective government guidance, couched in measured language.”

READ MORE: tinyurl.com/lalf944

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

9

Finance

INSURANCE

Written by Aidan Kerr, head of property, fraud and specialist lines, Association of British Insurers (ABI)

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE UNFORESEEN

From everyday worries like absenteeism to major threats such as flooding, organisations need to be protected from the risk of damage and loss of business posed by unwanted events. Effective risk management can minimise disruption and help businesses to thrive during times of difficulty Risk is a fact of life. No business is immune from the risk of an unwanted, unexpected event disrupting their activities, even threatening their very existence. No business can be 100 per cent risk free. But every business, from the smallest ‘one man band’ to the large multi-national to a local authority, can and must assess the risks they face and take sensible, practical steps to reduce and manage them. This is where insurance comes in as a valuable way of not only helping firms recover financially when things go wrong, but also helping prevent the worst from happening in the first place. As the saying goes, ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’. A cliché perhaps, but failing to identify, minimise and manage risk could have dire consequences

for any business organisation regardless of their size.

Take an event such as a flood, or rather several floods because the risk of serious flooding is becoming more frequent in the UK. A recent report from the Environment Agency estimated that last year’s record-breaking wet weather (the second wettest year in the UK on record and wettest ever in England and Wales) cost the UK’s economy up to £600 million, when you include lost working days, disruption to transport and

utility links. Not only can a

flood damage your building, No equipment and stock, s s but also force you into busine 00 1 temporary premises e b n ca . e e r while your property f k t ris being repaired, per cen is a valuable iswhich, in case of a e c severe flood can take Insuran f recovering months. Insurance way o ally when i can cover all of c n a n fi o this – from repairing things g your premises, and g wron replacing ruined stock to paying for alternative trading premises so that you can carry on with your business. E

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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INSURANCE  EVERYDAY RISKS Some threats, like fire and theft, are obvious.

In 2012 insurers paid out £800 million – equivalent to just over £2 million every day – to businesses who had suffered a theft or a fire. And of course it is a legal requirement for any organisation with employees to have employers’ liability insurance and third party motor cover if vehicles are used.

But there are many other risks that are part of everyday commercial activity that can be equally disruptive. The departure of one of your key employees, the failure of one of your trading customers to pay you, and the risk of losses due to employee dishonesty are all examples of the risks that insurance can protect against.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE As well as providing financial security when things go wrong, insurers, as experts in risk management, can help prevent the worst happening in the first place by working with organisations to identify the risks they face and help them to take precautions to reduce and in some cases eliminate them.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to risk management. The risks and requirements will vary between different organisations – a public service body providing a wide range of services won’t have the same needs as a small business, and a self-employed individual will have different requirements to a multi national.

Effective risk management will make it easier to obtain competitively-priced insurance, as an organisation that takes risk management seriously is much less likely to be making an expensive claim than one that leaves things to chance. But it also makes good business sense – it can reduce the costs that insurance does not cover, such as the cost of replacing staff and giving sick pay, bad publicity, inconvenience and fines, for example for any breaches of health and safety requirements.

GOOD RISK MANAGEMENT Risk management involves an assessment of the risks your business faces – from the layout of the office to manufacturing and distribution processes.

For every risk your organisation faces you should draw up an action plan, so that if problems arise, the damage and disruption can be minimised. The plan should include key procedures for employees, contingency plans to minimise injury and business disruption (for example, an alternative trading site) and details of important contacts, such as emergency services, to kept in a central place.

HEALTH AND SAFETY You are legally required to know what health and safety hazards and risks exist in your workplace and take steps to eliminate or reduce them.

A clear statement on health and safety policy should be in place, with a senior

Finance

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Effective risk management will make it easier to obtain competitively-priced insurance, as an organisation that takes risk management seriously is less likely to be making an expensive claim than one that leaves things to chance person responsible for ensuring that policy is implemented. Your business also needs a risk assessment process that identifies any significant risks, such as working at high altitudes or the use of hazardous substances such as chemicals and who is at risk, such as employees, sub-contractors and the public.

Clear safety information for staff and staff training can help to minimise risk, as can an accident reporting and investigation system aimed at preventing recurrences.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH It is often said that an organisation’s most valuable resource is its employees. The costs of lost productivity, sick pay, replacing lost workers and absenteeism can be substantial, time-consuming and bad for staff morale. Promoting the wellbeing of your employees can help prevent illness and injury, reduce absentee costs, and make employees feel valued. Your insurer can help you develop a cost‑effective occupational health programme, including workplace assessments, health screenings, access to occupational health experts and stress management.

Vocational rehabilitation can help employees speed their recovery and return to the workplace more quickly. It can include physiotherapy, counselling and workplace adjustments and adaptations.

REDUCING THE THREAT OF FLOODING A flood can have a devastating impact on any organisation and its local community. The flood risk in the UK is predicted to worsen in the future. The Environment Agency estimate that about 175,000 businesses in England and Wales are at risk of flooding, and that does not take into account the threat of localised flash floods caused by extreme heavy rainfall that can strike anywhere at any time.

While the primary responsibility for ensuring adequate flood defences rests with government, organisations that prepare for flooding will significantly reduce the disruption and costs and recover much more quickly through measures such as using dry flood proofing products against risk of shallow floods, and wet proofing products for deeper floods; and using flood‑resistant materials in any new buildings or building alterations. Organisations need to, wherever possible, have access to temporary alternative trading premises so that they can continue to operate while nay repairs are being carried out.

TACKLING THE CRIME RISK Ensuring that your property is secure against intruders should be obvious. But every week, insurers deal with claims for theft and vandalism caused by the obvious being overlooked. Good security starts with ensuring that doors, especially final exit, are in good condition and well secured. Windows need to be sufficiently glazed, and possibly protected by shutters. Electronic security measures, such as intruder alarms (preferably connected to an alarm receiving centre), CCTV systems and access control locks and intercoms work and that your staff understand them.

REDUCING FIRE RISKS The risk of fire can come from within your organisation, from hazards such as the use of flammable materials, and from outside through arson and malicious damage.

You are legally required to carry out an assessment of the fire risk. To do this you should access fire hazards, such as sources of ignition, hazardous processes and flammable materials. Identify the people in your organisation who are more at risk. Wherever possible, remove or reduce the risk, for example by ensuring that potential fire hazards such as rubbish aren’t left to accumulate, and reviewing fire detection and fire-fighting systems. You should have an emergency plan in place and test it regularly. This should include reviewing escape routes and providing fire safety training to staff. Your premises should also be secure to deter arsonists.

STAYING PROTECTED Risk management is not a one-off exercise.

It is not a case of ‘done that and move on’, but an integral part of any organisation’s business plan. However, it needn’t be an all-consuming, laborious exercise. After all, the whole point of risk management is to ensure that an organisation reduces the risks of the unwanted event disrupting its main activities, and that if the worst does happen it can recover and get back to what it does best as soon as possible. Not every risk can be totally eliminated; no organisation can say that they are 100 per cent crime or fire-proof for example, but an organisation that has an integrated risk management plan that is regularly reviewed and updated is much more likely to develop, thrive and survive adversity. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.abi.org.uk

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

13

PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD

Finance

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

TACKLING FRAUD IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR Written by the Credit Services Association

The UK public sector is losing £20.6 billion a year to fraud. Joined up thinking is needed to help the Government reduce this figure, says Steve Mound, group chief operating officer, Cabot Credit Management and spokesman for the Credit Services Association (CSA)

Billions of pounds are written off by Government each year to fraud. Recent figures from the National Fraud Authority (NFA) show that fraud against the public sector is as high as £20.6 billion per annum representing losses to local and central government as well as the tax system. At a time of austerity, misappropriation of public funds is a sensitive issue and can significantly affect public confidence.

Members of the Credit Services Association (CSA), which represents the UK collections profession, have started working with the government to recover some of the significant sums of money being lost. But is there more that the Association, and agencies, could do to limit the impact of fraud?

CORRELATION Steve Mound, who sits on the governing committee of the Debt Buyers and Sellers Group (DBSG), says: “We are at the sharp end of collecting money and so have early access to knowledge about people who

At rt of WHAT IS FRAUD? the hea SA The Fraud Act 2006 C e th provides legislation on o t ions the offence and defines suggestthe early three main ‘elements’: e improv tion of fraud fraud by false ca representation; fraud identifi ter access to by failing to disclose t is be nd sharing information; fraud by of position. data a ormation abuse In each case: the f n of i defendant’s conduct must be

might go on to commit fraud. CSA Members are already working with the government on PAYE, VAT and NI debt collection as well as with the courts on the collection of fines. We see levels of correlation between what is occurring in our work and what is happening in the public sector, but we are often held back by access to or sharing the right data.

“Fraud is on the increase for a number of reasons; what is important is spotting the warning signs early, which is where CSA Members can help. In our Members’ experience, customers who find themselves in debt can easily slide from tax avoidance, for example, into tax evasion, and other ways of defrauding the public purse. It becomes a vicious circle.”

dishonest; his/her intention must be to make a gain; or to cause a loss or the risk of a loss to another person; no gain or loss needs actually to have been made; the maximum sentence is ten years’ imprisonment.

Mound says that it is important to differentiate between ‘fraud’ as a deliberate action, and a debt that has remained unpaid: “As we come out of a very difficult economic climate, we need to distinguish between those people who find it difficult to pay on time, and those people who commit fraud E

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PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD

Much of the work that the industry can do to help the government in reducing fraud could be undone by proposed changes within new European Data Protection Regulations which is set to come into effect in 2015  with the specific purpose of deliberately avoiding their debt and will continue to do so.

“There are people in difficulties who may have fallen into cash flow problems, who when made aware of the different options available, will survive and pay their bills.

And then there are those who deliberately set out to deceive and it is in this area where CSA Members can play an important role in helping the government.”

BETTER ACCESS TO DATA At the heart of the CSA suggestions to improve the early identification of fraud is better access to data and better sharing of information. On a positive note, CSA Members have recently been given access to CIFAS, the UK database for confirming data fraud. This access enables CSA Members to combine their own knowledge, information and experience with the CIFAS data to help track down those who are being intentionally dishonest. It is also helping the government to understand and distinguish between a bad debt and a debt that has been fraudulently accrued.

“Currently, bad debt and fraud are confused and mixed into one area,” Mound continues.

“Not all of the billions of pounds that the government is owed is down to fraud, and a clear line should be drawn between those people who seek to defraud and those who fail to pay their bills for a variety of reasons which can be as simple as bad administration and poor cash flow management.”

PROPOSED CHANGES Much of the good work that the industry can do to help the government in reducing fraud could, however, be undone by proposed changes within the new European Data Protection Regulation which is set to come into effect in 2015. It proposes that if an individual moves address, then their details cannot be accessed by a third party.

Giving people the right to be effectively forgotten, through the proposed ‘right to erasure’ however, will allow fraudsters to go on committing their crimes without fear of being caught. A Regulation that has consumer protection at its heart could perversely damage the most vulnerable in society, by starving the public sector of cash.

So too is there concern over preventing CSA Members access to the electoral register. For many years, the CSA has campaigned for the right to access not just the edited register, but also the full register.

As Mound explains: “The electoral register can be very useful, but the edited register is only approximately 50 per cent of the roll. It is no longer as helpful as it used to

be. If someone has committed government fraud, then access to the full electoral register can help us to trace them.”

Fraud is a hidden crime and fraudsters, who may act as individuals or as part of an organised criminal gang, are incredibly inventive. Fraudsters will always be thinking of new ways of committing crime, and a range of actions is needed to beat them.

However, one simple action that could be taken now, which would immediately bring down the fraud figures, is joined up thinking involving better access to data and better sharing of information.

ABOUT THE CSA The Credit Services Association Limited was formed in March 1988, when the Association of Trade Protection and Debt Recovery Agents Limited, which had been

established since 1902, merged with the Collection Agencies Association.

Both of these former Associations had a strong and active membership with proud traditions. Their decision to merge created, in the Credit Services Association, one truly representative body dedicated to upholding the highest professional standards with the Trade Protection industry.

Trade Protections relates not only to those directly involved in debt collection, but also those individuals and organisations performing allied functions, so that membership of the Association is advantageous to those whose business activities encompass recovery of overdue accounts by investigative and reporting instructions. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.csa-uk.com

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C & L Investigations is one of the most established investigation and debt collection agencies within the UK. Our management can draw on over 100 years of combined experience in the investigation and collection field. We supply a diverse range of services to local government, the legal profession, insurance industry, finance sector and commerce in general.

With our head offices in Southwest London and Satellite offices in Surrey, Kent and East Sussex along with an established network of field investigators in the UK, and researchers throughout the world, we are able to successfully investigate matters on a truly global scale. Our operations and services are conducted across unrestricted national and international territories with a proven success to an impeccable blue chip client base. We can provide you with a range of professional services tailored to your specific needs.

The broad sphere in which we operate has enabled us to create professional services in which local government and businesses will be able to easily identify their specific requirements. Our investigators are well versed in all aspects of civil and criminal law including contract, tort and always undertake investigations in a discreet and efficient manner using only the most professional methods all enquiries comply with government legislation in addition our investigators have a good understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules.

All aspects of debt collection & repossession work taken on 2 Collect Summerfield Road, Bolton BL3 2NN Tel. +44 (0)1204 391555 | Email. info@2collect.co.uk www.2collect.co.uk

C & L has become a forerunner in the field of investigations by creating new concepts and constantly introducing new technology. We do however, continue to maintain old fashion concepts of reliability, honesty and integrity and are ISO 9001 and ISO27001 compliant. The methodology of our investigators is under constant assessment to ensure that the investigations that we carry out for our clients are conducted in the most thorough and cost-effective professional manner possible.

At C & L we completely respect and understand the need for confidentiality and sensitivity and can guarantee you both. With this in mind, we can offer you a complete investigative package tailored to your requirements.

Contact Us www.corporateandlegal.co.uk www.corporateandlegalcollections.co.uk Tel: 0208 755 7930

www.ahjones.co.uk

A H Jones Investigators is one of the leading providers of information and legal support services in the South West of England.

Founded in 1973, A H Jones Investigators provide comprehensive and accurate information enabling you to make effective decisions essential in today’s competitive world. We are private investigators based in Exeter, with nationwide cover.

Our expertise is in gathering, recording and supplying accurate information and services in response to requests from the legal profession, private clients and other businesses and is second to none.

We specialise in: • Process Serving • Tracing • Litigation Enquiries and Statements • Personal Injury (defendant and claimant) and Medical Negligence • Scale Plans, Maps and Photographic Evidence • Fraud Investigation • Commercial Property Repossession • Tracking and Surveillance • Debt Realisation • Private Client Work (Surveillance, Missing Persons, Background) We would be happy to discuss your requirements at any time, including the provision of more sensitive work and other matters not listed above. Contact us on the details below.

Telephone: 01392 278612 Mobile: 07854 313121 Fax: 01392 201322 DX: 122696 Exeter Email: investigators@ahjones.co.uk 45 Clifton Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2BJ

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD

Finance

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

FIGHTING FRAUD THROUGH DATA INTEGRATION Despite the government’s efforts, cases of fraud and error continue to cost the taxpayer billions. A recent report by Business Intelligence Software firm SAS explains how improved data management can combat this behaviour A June 2013 report issued by the National Fraud Authority (NFA) estimates that fraud and error in the public sector carries an annual cost of £20.6 billion to the taxpayer, representing an increase on a previous estimate of £20.3 billion. While this can be partly attributed to improved measurement techniques, it also indicates that the government’s existing prevention methods have not been successful. Recent reports from the National Audit Office (NAO) and the Public Accounts Committee show that HMRC has not been meeting its targets for fraud reduction. In these times of budget cutbacks, such waste cannot be tolerated, as frontline services inevitably suffer.

On a positive note, dealing with fraud and error is not just a moral necessity – it can also be a relatively straightforward way of recovering much-needed funds for key public services, and the government is already undertaking to improve the situation. In its report Tackling Fraud and Error in Government, the government outlines an “ambitious but focused delivery programme that seeks to reduce levels of fraud and error across government.”

KEY THEMES The 2012 report is wide ranging and has several key themes running throughout it, including the need for improved intelligence sharing between government departments; focusing on prevention rather than waiting for problems to arise; using analytic software to identify areas of higher risk; and the implementation of stronger sanctions to deter fraud and error. The report also describes some of the successful initiatives that are already in place, such as the DWP and HMRC’s Prevent, Detect, Correct, Punish and Deter strategy for handling welfare crime.

While one method alone cannot guarantee reductions in fraud, the theme that consistently crops up is a need to use information more effectively. Government departments have at their disposal vast

amounts of data that can be used to identify and combat fraud, but too often fail to use this information as an asset.

a’ ‘Big Datgies o technol nt a represe ance great chnment er for gov egrate to int rtmental pa cross‑dedata

SHARING INFORMATION As public services are increasingly delivered online, the amount of public data held by government departments has grown massively. However, the insular culture in government departments has meant that they have failed to coordinate with one another, and so information that could be

helpful to several departments is not shared. This prevents departments from building up a comprehensive analysis of fraud behaviour. Certain behavioural patterns are known to indicate potential wrongdoing, but it is extremely difficult to recognise these patterns using information from just one department.

However, ‘big data’ technologies represent a great chance for government to integrate cross-departmental data. Sophisticated analytics can be quickly and easily applied to all available data, yielding much greater returns in terms of knowledge and insight. The government has recognised the need E

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Finance

cott& mears

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

ueens Road hend on Sea ssex SS1 1LT

2 466300

mears.co.uk

scott& mears

Debt Solve: a people-centred agency with a reputation for superb customer service

The professional debt recovery specialist (Established since 1991)

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‘No win – No fee’ Debt Recovery Credit Control/Invoice Management Tracing • Pre-sue reports Litigation (fees apply)

Choosing a debt recovery partner is not just about how much they collect, it’s about knowledge, technology, respect and consistency.

Working with Debt Solve brings best practice to your department. The company aims to implement a structured process of debt collection and debtor engagement, resulting in increased client satisfaction, a re-education of customers and prompt ongoing payment.

Debt Solve’s ethical and robust procedures are designed to deal with the most difficult situations in a professional and fair way. The company adopts a realistic approach in everything it does; working in partnership with its clients, defaulters and

their professional advisors to gain the right outcome.

Debt Solve has over 40 years’ experience in debt collection and, since forming in 2007, has assisted over 180 clients to collect what is owed to them.

Superb customer service is deep-rooted in the company’s ethos. One customer commented: “You treat every debt as if it were your own.”

That’s what makes the company stand out from the crowd.

View further testimonials on www.debtsolve.biz.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01527 543672 mike.brooks@ debtsolveuk.biz www.debtsolve.biz

Tel: 01702 466300 Fax: 01702 466366 E-mail: enquiries@scottandmears.co.uk Web: www.scottandmears.co.uk Contact Bill Baddeley Scott & Mears Credit Services Ltd t/as Scott & Mears Credit Licence 347407

Haymarket Risk Management identifies the curse of invisible and after-the-event kickbacks There is a belief that the world of kickbacks is something rare in British business – that we Brits just don’t do business that way. Sadly, this is a misconception.

Kickbacks abound in UK business, but perhaps with somewhat more subtlety than we may see elsewhere.

Kickbacks are paid in a multitude of ways to influence decision-makers in the private and public sectors.

In nearly every case, the kickback is off the record and therefore invisible to routine audit – hence the reason that auditors consistently fail to detect collusive fraud.

However, for every kickback there is a corresponding visible action, be it a contract award to a favoured bidder, a grossly inflated overcharge for a supply or sign-off of inferior quality materials.

It is by forensically analysing these corresponding and ancillary actions and by applying tests, beyond routine audit, that the clues can be found.

Using dedicated data-mining software, it is possible to run comparisons between company data and external data; comparing supplier detail against Haymarket Risk Management’s specially developed accommodation address

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

database quickly identifies suppliers operating from accommodation addresses, running details of current and former employees or blacklisted suppliers against a Companies House database can identify staff or former staff having undisclosed links to blacklisted suppliers, which have risen again in a different guise.

In construction contracts, Haymarket’s Forensic Quantity Surveying team can retrospectively cost-quantify, thereby identifying overcharges that have been signed off by a corrupt contract manager

or quantity surveyor. This is a massively powerful tool, often used by Haymarket in the investigation of suspected construction fraud.

In other words, the kickback is only part of the fraud. By taking a different view of the corresponding action and applying tests that go beyond routine audit, the clues to collusive fraud can be found.

It is also useful to monitor any changes in circumstances of decision-makers after they have moved on. In other words, identify the often overlooked after-the-event kickback, which is often quite overt, such as a consultancy contract given in reward for decisions made whilst in harness.

This can apply of course as much to those in positions of power in the private as well as the public sector.

Basically, the Bribery Act has had a positive effect to some degree, but there must be a see-change in the training and thinking of auditors if they are ever, through proactive tests and lateral thinking, to address the curse of kickbacks. Written by George McKillop.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: +44 (0)20 7801 2400 www.haymarketrisk.com

PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD

Finance

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

The government needs to shift its focus from a ‘pay now, check later’ culture to one that applies effective screening methods to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place  for greater cooperation between departments, and with this in mind has pledged to improve information sharing, not only within government but with law enforcement agencies. Intelligence Sharing Architecture (ISA) is vital to the government’s new approach. ISA aims to coordinate information retrieval and analysis, and thereby give a holistic view of fraud related behaviour.

OBSTACLES TO INTEGRATION While these signs of a greater willingness to share information are encouraging, there remain a number of barriers in place before the government can fully take advantage of ISA. For example, the uncoordinated legacy systems of data management that are currently in place mean that information is difficult to join up across different departments – and fraudsters are fully aware of this, habitually perpetrating the same scams with several departments, confident that they won’t be caught. Inaccuracies need to be removed, and regular auditing is necessary to ensure they don’t mount up again.

CHANGING THE CULTURE Entrenched attitudes represent another obstacle to greater information sharing.

Concerns over data security lead to departments feeling that information should be kept hidden from other parties. While this insular culture is understandable, the case needs to be made that information sharing is a key line of defence against fraud, giving disparate departments the ability to recognise suspicious patterns.

Not all data is equally useful in identifying and preventing fraud and error. Of the vast amounts of information concerning the public, there is much that is impractical to keep and share. Analytics will help to identify the most valuable information.

A shift its focus is also required from a ‘pay now, check later’ culture to one that applies effective screening methods to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Screening of applicants for credits, benefits and grants needs to be stepped up. The ‘rules-based’ ethos currently favoured can only detect fraud that closely matches known behaviour

patterns – and also runs the risk of giving ‘false positives’, identifying wrongdoing where none has taken place. As criminals adapt to bending and breaking new rules, analytics techniques need to keep one step ahead, for example by detecting anomalies in the system, or by using social network analysis to predict fraud before it becomes serious.

This approach, known as ‘hybrid analytics’ has been explored by the software company SAS and its effectiveness has been proven.

USING DATA INNOVATIVELY Automated services represent a proven way to take advantage of detailed customer data. With this technology, the government could act quickly on any anomalies detected, contacting claimants to inform them that the department concerned is aware of a change in their circumstances. Low-level threats could be easily dealt with which would give analysts more time to tackle more serious wrongdoing.

Finally, research undertaken by SAS shows that public sector employees don’t have a strong enough understanding of fraud behaviour. Almost half of the civil servants polled were unsure whether their department had carried out investigations into fraud losses, and just over half had received no training in combating fraud over the previous

year. Better training is necessary if civil servants are to implement the zero tolerance approach outlined by the government.

RECOVERING REVENUES The SIngle Fraud Investigation Service (SFI) could be a great help to the government in recovering revenues lost through fraud.

In order for this to happen, government departments need to collaborate more consistently. SFIS and other public sector fraud organisations need to pool data and prioritise cases by criteria like the value of the fraud, error or debt to be recovered; the individual’s ability to pay; and the probability of the individual re-offending.

If data analytics are used effectively, anti‑fraud efforts can be a valuable source of revenue for the government. L FURTHER INFORMATION SAS is a worldwide organisation specialising in business analytics software and services. Its solutions helps customers at more than 65,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. To download a copy of the full report ‘Eliminating Public Sector Fraud and Error, visit the company’s website at www.sas.com

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STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless Steel is a very attractive option – not just in the aesthetic, but also in the design sense too. John Rowe of the International Stainless Steel Forum

Consider, if you will, the general consumer perception of a product which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but has a remarkable combination of properties, including high strength, durability, formability and resistance to corrosion, even in extreme conditions.

Consider also that such a product could be essential in many areas of everyday life, from cutlery and pots and pans to a wide range of home appliances; from restaurants to hospitals; from automobile exhaust systems to modern trains; from architectural designs to building and construction; from the storage and transportation of every conceivable type of liquid, including the more corrosive chemicals as well as liquids for human consumption; and from many different types of industrial plant and equipment.

If such a product could exist, one would imagine that it would be very highly prized and that its price would be beyond the reach of the everyday consumer.

But such a product does indeed exist and it is known by its generic name – Stainless Steel.

RESISTING CORROSION This innovative product was invented 100 years ago during two independent but similar experiments, one in Germany and the other in England, in which the metallurgical

Written by John Rowe, International Stainless Steel Forum

STAINLESS STEEL: AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

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This e abl remarkuct we drive or the prod yed trains or buses o j on which we n e has dented ride; if we e unprecas demand look inside our computers we growths spread will find that the ha hard disc drive ously covers u n i t are very n o c likely to be made

engineers were searching for a material which would be capable of resisting corrosive attack. They discovered that by adding a certain level of chromium to steel they could significantly improve its corrosion resistance and also make the steel more capable of withstanding wear and tear, because the chromium protective layers were able to ‘renew’ themselves even if the material became scratched or worn.

In the intervening 100 years great strides have been made in the development of stainless steels and a range of products is now available which can cover applications from the very attractive materials used in household kitchens right through to industrial materials that are used in high strength and high temperature applications.

GROWTH This remarkable product has enjoyed unprecedented growth as demand has spread continuously with the ever-increasing identification of new ideas for its use and the development of new markets. In our daily lives we will encounter it in our kitchens; in the restaurants we visit; in the motor cars

from stainless steel; if we need to visit a hospital we will find extensive use made of stainless steel – from the equipment used in the wards and operating theatres even to the very fine needles attached to hypodermic syringes.

As we travel through cities and suburbs it is difficult to avoid the ever-present reminders of this wonderful material, from street furniture and statues to the cladding on escalators and elevators and to hand rails and lamp-posts.

The growth of stainless steels has been particularly impressive. It has outperformed the rate of growth of competing materials by a considerable margin and even in the face of the worst financial crisis the world has experienced since the Great Depression, stainless steel suffered only a temporary setback in 2009, before bouncing back strongly in 2010. E

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STAINLESS STEEL  A SPECIAL MATERIAL That is precisely what one would expect given the benefits provided by this very special material. And yet, the price of the material has been declining in real terms for many years and the Financial newspapers have reported relatively weak returns on investment from the producers of stainless steel in the past five years. It is plain that the profitability of this industry is currently in inverse proportion to the popularity of its products. There are different reasons for this phenomenon and there will be differing opinions. But it seems to me that the answer lies in an elementary understanding of basic economics. The interaction between supply and demand in a free market environment has always

John Rowe, International Stainless Steel Forum

avenues which are open to the producers to counter the impact of increasing supply.

One is to reduce the cost of production in order to remain competitive. A number of producers are actively pursuing this approach and many of them have shown very commendable results. But this industry has faced cost pressures for many years and there is a limit to what more can be done.

NEW MARKETS Another avenue is to increase the efforts to develop new markets for their products in order to accelerate the rate of growth of demand.

It is informative that the developing countries with the largest populations,

The demand for stainless steel has been growing strongly and that it has been out-performing competing materials over an extended period of time. But there has been a parallel and higher increase in its supply been a determinant of prices. Prices tend to vary until the supply of a particular good or service reaches a point of practical parity with the demand for that good or service.

STRONG DEMAND I have mentioned that the demand for stainless steel has been growing strongly and that it has been out-performing competing materials over an extended period of time. But there has been a parallel and higher increase in its supply.

It is not within the brief of this article to comment on continuing investments into new capacity in these circumstances, other than to make the common-sense observation that, over time, markets will usually tend towards equilibrium. But there are two

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notably China, India, Brazil and Indonesia, are among those countries with the lowest per capita consumption of stainless steel.

That presents a very interesting challenge for market development and also gives some encouragement to the industry.

India, for example, has one of the most active and innovative Stainless Steel Development Associations in the world. Their work has borne very significant fruit in a relatively short time frame. A lot of work has recently been done on establishing a similar Market Development Association in China.

There is significant scope for exchanging information and ideas among the various Development Associations in the world in order to transfer know-how about new applications from one market to another.

There is an active community among the Development Associations in the world today with annual meetings arranged under the umbrella of the International Stainless Steel Forum at which existing and planned development projects are openly and freely shared. The easiest way in which to develop a new market is to copy an existing one and it is therefore refreshing to note the willingness of the innovative people in this industry to share their ideas and their practices.

The key to the future stability of the stainless steel industry lies in increasing the focus on maintaining and defending existing markets and re-doubling the efforts on developing new markets. The capabilities of stainless steel are clear for all to see – what is required is the ingenuity of people to find new ways of promoting new markets whilst taking care to defend existing markets from competing materials. L ABOUT THE ISSF The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) is a non-profit research and development organisation which was founded in 1996 and which serves as the focal point for the international stainless steel industry. ISSF now has 65 members in 25 countries, collectively producing 80 per cent of all stainless steel.

Visit www.worldstainless.org for further information.

The Deputy Prime Minister marks 100 years of stainless steel Stainless steel was discovered by Harry Brearley in 1912, at the Brown Firth Laboratories in Sheffield. His successor as manager at Brown Firth, Dr William Hatfield, continued Brearley’s work. In 1924 he patented ‘18-8 stainless steel’,which to this day is probably the widest-used alloy of this type.

These innovations helped Sheffield to gain a worldwide recognition for the production of cutlery; utensils such as the bowie knife were mass‑produced and shipped to the United States. The population of the town increased rapidly – in 1736 Sheffield and its surrounding hamlets

held about 7000 people. By 1801 there were around 60,000 inhabitants, and by 1901, the population had grown to 451,195.

In June last year, the Deputy Prime Minister (left) spoke at an event marking 100 years of stainless steel. He said “Sheffield was built by steel for steel. More than a job, steel was a way of life here. Its importance ingrained in the bricks of the workers’ terraces; its mills dominating the city’s skyline; and every generation following the last

into the works: the steel they made sold around the world.”

Asked what made a good steel man, Harry (Brearly) argued that “brainy distinction between good and ill”. We can still see that drive in Sheffield’s entrepreneurs today as they work to grow, export and create jobs in high-value sectors: advanced manufacturing, healthcare, bio‑medical technologies, digital media, the creative industries and so on.”

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PASSIVHAUS

THE STANDARD FOR LOW ENERGY SOCIAL HOUSING Passivhaus has moved from being a specialist activity for one-off projects and is now a viable alternative for developers and housing associations building multiple units to tight cost parameters. It is particularly suited to the social housing sector because of its focus on occupant health and thermal comfort, and its effectiveness in reducing fuel poverty by reducing heating bills to minimal levels.

Close to three hundred units have now been completed and certified in the UK (December 2013), alongside over 40,000 Passivhaus buildings around the world. In the UK social housing sector, Willmott Dixon have just completed the largest social housing scheme to date, Chester Balmore, a 53-unit project for Camden Council, Octavia have completed a 34 unit mixed tenure housing scheme in West London, and construction is underway on Circle Housing’s 51 unit scheme in Essex.

Other notable schemes in the pipeline that have received planning permission are the 150 unit scheme in Herefordshire

by ArchiHaus, the 250 unit scheme by Broadland Housing in Norwich, and a programme of four further Passivhaus sites being developed by Hastoe

Housing. It is expected that over 1,000 Passivhaus homes will be completed by 2015.

WHY INVEST IN PASSIVHAUS? Increasing numbers of developers and clients are choosing to invest in Passivhaus because they know that it will deliver a building of real quality, with dramatically lower running costs – possibly as low as £80-£100 per year for heating bills. Initial capital costs may be higher (but not always), but they should be offset over time by the lower running costs.

In particular, we are starting to see a variety of supply chains emerging that can deliver Passivhaus at a range of costs. If capital cost is your main driver, then several companies now claim that they can build Passivhaus schemes for the same cost as a Code or Building Regulations scheme. Alternatively, if you

aus Passivh ved has mo ing a from bectivity for st a speciali projects to a one-off lternative for viable aing multiple build to tight units ts cos

are taking a whole-life approach, then the higher quality buildings created through the Passivhaus process should lead to lower lifetime costs, through lower running costs and probably lower maintenance costs as well.

John Barnham, head of sustainable development at Orbit Group believes that Passivhaus can indeed work for social housing: “Our findings at Sampson Close, Coventry provide strong evidence that Passivhaus does work – providing low cost (affordable) housing to occupiers. Improved health and well-being are also recognised and attributed to Passivhaus as well as improved occupier satisfaction with their home.

Importantly, within a social housing context, satisfied customers do result in reduced management and maintenance costs.”

Written by Jon Bootland, chief executive, Passivhaus Trust

Passivhaus is an internationally renowned method of building healthy, affordable low energy homes. Jon Bootland, chief executive of Passivhaus Trust, explains why it is an ideal method for the construction of social housing in the UK

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MEETING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS Passivhaus can also help by providing a proven method of meeting current and future requirements. E

The Dormont Estate, Scotland, built to Passivhaus standards (image courtesy White Hill Design Studio)

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Incentivising Sustainable House Building Despite DECC’s assertions in their recent report “An investigation of the effect of EPC ratings on house prices” about the energy performance of houses driving up their value, we see no evidence of this in East Anglia, says Simon Bennett, founder and managing partner of Greenright Homes. In contrast, prospective purchasers can be wary of renewable energy systems such as heat pumps and mechanical ventilation/heat recovery (MVHR) because of system complexity, a lack of understanding and an unjustified fear of high maintenance costs.

Greenright Homes is a small East Anglian developer striving to build future-proofed, high quality houses in the local vernacular style, with a sustainable approach to design and construction at heart. Our standard offer includes high levels of insulation and mechanical ventilation/heat recovery (MVHR) coupled with air-source heat pumps serving under-floor heating and, where there is a suitable south-facing roof space, solar thermal panels delivering hot water and solar PV panels generating renewable electricity. With rainwater harvesting and a host of other sustainable design features, our homes achieve certification to at least Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

Recent new builds have impressively achieved Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores of 95 and air-tightness of better than 2 m3/m2.hr at 50 Pa. Even refurbishments, when taken back to the basic structure of the house (e.g. a timber frame in the case of a listed Suffolk barn conversion), can be achieved to similar standards.

We have received several awards for our approach (Premier Guarantee Environmental Project of the Year in 2012, highly commended in Suffolk Greenest County Awards, RICS (Eastern Region), Bury Free Press Business Awards (Environmental category) and the Suffolk Property Awards (Residential and Environmental categories).

However, such awards ring a little hollow if houses are selling without a premium for their sustainability and energy performance. Unsurprisingly, building to these standards comes at a price, with build costs typically 10% higher than those of more traditionally-constructed properties that rely on hydrocarbon fuel sources. House buyers, once in residence, are convinced of the efficiency of well-designed heat pumps (particularly when operated on the competitive Economy 18 tariff (regrettably available only from E.ON) and free energy from their solar panels.

Of course, good standards of air tightness make MVHR essential in achieving a really good atmosphere and environment in the houses.

David Cameron’s “Greenest Government Ever” has much to achieve if longer term goals of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from the housing stock are to be delivered. Proposed changes to the Building Regulations, Part L, requiring new homes to achieve zero carbon standards from 2016 seem at odds with recent proposed changes to standards described in the Government’s recent Housing Standards Review consultative document, where the modest proposals therein will not really drive the radical changes required to achieve zero carbon. The Review rightly suggests sensible space and disabled access standards and proposes harmonisation of general new build housing standards across local planning authorities, with no scope for local variations (surely to be welcomed by hard-pressed developers who often have to tailor their plans to the whim of the local planning and building control officers), but misses out on changes to improved thermal performance and sets unambitious targets on water use and mechanical ventilation systems.

The likely demise of the Code is also disappointing for developers who have built their businesses around the very sensible requirements of it.

Unfortunately, most estate agents and new build customers are neither aware of the Code nor do they pay any attention to energy performance and EPCs. Arguably, energy in the UK is still too cheap to change behaviours.

Much more needs to be done if we are to reduce the energy demands of our UK built environment. The days of self-sufficiency in inexpensive North Sea gas are long gone and we are now dependent on the global energy market. Is it possible that consumers will wake up to the reality of the market and start demanding higher housing standards not lower energy prices? We could be campaigning for much greater awareness of energy consumption, and incentivising sustainability.

How about, reduced stamp duty on house sales for properties with high EPC ratings and council tax on a reducing sliding scale according to improving energy performance? That might change attitudes and even get some take-up on the Green Deal.

Building homes for the future Residential homes of great quality and style incorporating both high levels of insulation and modern sustainable renewable technologies www.greenrighthomes.co.uk Greenright Homes: Guildhall Place, The Street, Wyverstone, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 4SJ Telephone: 01449 781194 / 07595 985524 Email: enquiries@greenrighthomes.co.uk

PASSIVHAUS

Design & Build

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Hastoe Housing Association Passivhaus scheme in Ditchingham, Norfolk (image courtesy Parson + Whittley)

 Building regulations are tightening, requiring more energy efficient buildings, and targeting zero carbon new homes by 2016.

Passivhaus can help to reduce the risk and uncertainty of meeting this challenge by providing an approach that is quality assured throughout. This ensures that Passivhaus buildings really deliver reduced energy use, as well as providing good indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures throughout the year.

Kevin Hartnett, Business Development Director at rural housing specialists Hastoe Housing Association talks about how they have managed to deliver their Passivhaus schemes across the East and South East: “Passivhaus is the common‑sense approach to delivering well-designed, green and energy efficient homes, especially in rural areas where fuel poverty is highly significant. Hastoe has completed two Passivhaus schemes – Wimbish, Essex and Ditchingham, Norfolk. We have a further four schemes in the pipeline for 2014 and our development programme will include 20 per cent Passivhaus schemes moving

Increasing numbers of developers and clients are choosing to invest in Passivhaus because they know that it will deliver a building of real quality, with dramatically lower running costs forward. Using Passivhaus techniques reduce carbon emissions and fuel bills to around 10 per cent of the average UK dwelling.

BENEFITS TO BUILDING OCCUPANTS The benefits for occupants living and working in a Passivhaus building can be impressive.

The Passivhaus standard was originally designed to provide an ideal comfortable and healthy indoor environment, whilst minimising the energy demand of the building. The warm surfaces, lack of draughts and comfortable temperatures during both winter and summer, make Passivhaus buildings more comfortable than a standard building. Additionally, many occupants feel that the quality of the air supplied by the effective ventilation system Hastoe Housing Association Passivhaus scheme in Wimbish, Essex (image courtesy Parson + Whittley)

is very good , and this can help to reduce the risks of allergies and other health problems.

In addition, a Passivhaus building is designed to respond to the climate, and provides protection from summer overheating as well as winter cold. Careful design using PHPP, the Passivhaus Planning Package, guides the appropriate use of orientation, solar shading, thermal mass, and bypass of the heat recovery ventilation system in order to maintain stable internal comfort conditions.

Careful monitoring of completed buildings shows that Passivhaus buildings actually deliver the required levels of performance on a consistent basis. Kevin Hartnett, of Hastoe explains: “From the monitoring we have done, residents are reporting up to 90% reduction in fuel bills annually. Design was a key component of the project’s success; not only in terms of making Passivhaus work but also in creating homes which are comfortable for residents and reflect the local area characteristics.”

And the residents on the same scheme are equally enthusiastic. A Wimbish resident described the benefits 16 months after occupation: “It’s probably nicer than an ordinary house because of the massive windows and all the sunlight, but the bills are the great thing, having cheaper bills.”

UNDERSTANDING PASSIVHAUS Passivhaus is a fairly new concept in the UK and we need time to get used to how it works.

Windows and doors are of much higher quality than in a typical UK home, and they consequently reduce noise, meaning that a Passivhaus home is likely to be unusually quiet. E

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Sustainable Homes UK Ltd are a small self contained Design and Build Company committed to building houses with excellent standards of workmanship and airtightness. We use insulated building systems to ensure the running costs are up to 85% less than a conventional house and can operate using the elements of our natural living environment. Construction methods and materials are continually developing, we embrace change and look to the future by providing thermally efficient houses at affordable prices. We are ready for Building Regulations 2016 ‘Zero Carbon’ Dwellings.

Illustration of Passivhaus affordable homes in Anglesey built for Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, Housing Association

Insulated Advanced Foundation Technology

Insulated Concrete Formwork

Passivhaus is the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world, the methodology is to construct a house which is extremely airtight, excelling thermal performance and mechanical ventilation. The house is heated by capturing the warmth of the sun and trapping its energy from internal sources such as people and electrical appliances resulting in a very low power demand.

Simply, energy not consumed in the first place does not have to be extracted from other sources, therefore building to Passivhaus standard reduces the need for energy, lowers the cost of living and protects the environment. People joke that to heat a Passivhaus in the winter, “ just throw a party”.

With the increased amount of affordable homes under construction it’s important that Housing Associations provide a building stock that is a long term investment. Passivhaus is now a real option to consider as tenants and property owners can relate to the benefits. Due to new technology and incentives on renewable energy, construction costs can be reduced and are comparable with standard build.

Sustainable Homes build Passivhaus to a budget but also Design and Build bespoke dwellings to clients specifications and are able to offer advice on all aspects of design and energy efficiency. They have also developed independent self contained Passivhaus classrooms which are an education within themselves promoting a comfortable learning environment now and for the future.

If you would like to discuss your project please call/ email Craig or Paul at Sustainable Homes on the numbers below.

Contact us for more information

info@sustainablehomesuk.co.uk www.sustainablehomesuk.co.uk Telephone: Craig Ledwards 07973 489775 Paul Swords 07855 504492

PASSIVHAUS  Similarly, the mechanical ventilation system does require filters and these must be changed regularly, and the heating system is likely to be much less extensive than in a typical home.

The occupants of a Passivhaus need guidance and support to understand how to manage these characteristics and to get the best out of their home. “As with any new product, providing the correct advice in how to ‘operate’ the home is imperative especially as behaviour and lifestyle can impact upon the performance of any home,” says John Barnham.

However, if the building and controls are designed well, living in a Passivhaus building can be simpler and more flexible than many people assume. For instance, one of the main concerns is that occupants won’t be able to open windows. But, as well as being encouraged in the summer to aid cooling, window opening is of course possible in winter, without increasing heating demand by a significant amount.

The feedback from occupants of Passivhaus homes is certainly very encouraging.

A resident of Elliot Drive, an Orbit build, says, “I feel very fortunate to be one of the customers involved in this project.

It’s amazing to think that things such as improving the insulation and the installation of the triple‑glazed windows could all add up to such a huge saving on energy bills. As well as being good for the environment, it’s good for the pocket too and I am grateful to Orbit Heart of England for investing in my home.”

Design & Build

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Construction is also underway on Gallion Housing Association’s five‑storey Parkview Hub development in Thamesmead (image courtesy Tanisha Raffiuddin, Passivhaus Trust)

If the building and controls are designed well, living in a Passivhaus building can be simpler and more flexible than many people assume PASSIVHAUS SOCIAL HOUSING The Ditchingham scheme in Norfolk, with client Hastoe Housing Association and architects Parsons + Whittley, is made up of 14 rural exception site dwellings in a single curved terrace. The development is set on a challenging site in a conservation area and adjacent to significant Tayler & Green Grade II listed buildings.

Innovative foundation and floor slab detailing, and the use of a 300mm

fully‑insulated cavity, along with simplicity of detailing and construction (including the MVHR inlet housed in the ‘chimneys’ for aesthetic effect) have helped to deliver the exacting Passivhaus performance and reflect the character of the Tayler & Green historic context.

The resulting homes maintain internal temperatures averaging around 21‑22°C, deliver good indoor air quality, and support a relative humidity of 55 E Living in a Passivhaus home can be simpler and more flexible than a standard dwelling if the building and controls are designed well (image courtesy Gale&Snowden Architects)

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Damson Consultancy Ltd Award winning Architects and Landscape Designers Levens Hall, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 0PB 015395 61763 www.damsondesign.com twitter @damsondesign

Fuel poverty is becoming an increasing concern for the most vulnerable in society. That’s why at Gladwood Design we take energy efficiency seriously, offering tailored soluuons to architects, home owners and construccon professionals alike to save energy and money.

Are your tenants burning good money on high energy bills?

Energy efficiency isn’t just about bolt on extras; be it solar panels, heat pumps or biomass boilers. Some of the most cost effeccve means of energy efficiency aren’t in fact about producing energy at all, but rather using less of it in the first place.

That’s why we now offer architects a full range of services to address the increasing appeete for low energy buildings that provide genuine guarantees of performance, including AECB and Passivhaus Standards.

Be it new build, refurbishment, or an extension, we are able to offer invaluable advice to save energy and save money.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

PASSIVHAUS

Design & Build

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Based on our experience we specialise in installing 3 of the most effective insulation products available.

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THAMESMEAD PROJECT Construction is also underway on Gallion Housing Association’s five-storey Parkview Hub development in Thamesmead, south-east London – a scheme of 18 three- and five‑bedroom maisonettes, being completed to the Passivhaus refurbishment standard EnerPHit. Contractor Gumpp & Maier UK are working with architects sustainableBYdesign and engineer Alan Clarke on the scheme, using a prefabricated system. Timber stud external wall cassettes are assembled with the insulation, linings, triple-glazed windows, service penetrations and cladding in place in Gumpp & Maier’s factory, transported to the site and craned into position on the outside of the existing pre-cast concrete structure – a speedy process that can be undertaken whilst residents are still in occupation.

At street level, the existing garages are being converted for use as retail and community spaces, in line with the wider regeneration masterplan. Externally, the mineral paint-coated timber cladding panels, zinc shingles and pitched metal roof will transform the look of the building. Internal changes should be equally dramatic in improving comfort standards for residents. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.passivhaustrust.org.uk

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SAVE ENERGY SAVE MONEY THE RETRO-FIT SOLUTION FOR LIGHTING CONTROL

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Supplied and fitted by Energy Facilities these sensors will ensure that your energy consumption is reduced from the moment we install them.

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EVENT PREVIEW

DRIVING FORWARD A GREENER BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Ecobuild on 4-6 March 2014 will bring together professionals from across diverse sectors to learn, share, experience and discover the future of sustainable building and construction

Ecobuild 2014

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Each year Ecobuild hosts the most comprehensive showcase of sustainable construction products in the world. It provides a platform for businesses representing the entire spectrum of sustainable construction products for new build, refurbishment, residential, commercial and industrial projects.

Ecobuild brings together the entire supply chain in order to focus on the green agenda and help them realise the vision of delivering a more sustainable built environment.

Ecobuild 2014 takes place at ExCeL London on Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 March.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Alison Jackson, newly appointed Group director of sustainability and construction at UBM Live Built Environment, comments: “The business case to achieve this vision has never been stronger. The ambition to create a sustainable built environment through better design and construction is at the heart of Ecobuild. It drives economic growth and ensures a built environment that is fit for purpose and contributes to global priorities such as climate change, energy security and job creation.”

Over the past decade, the UK has pioneered the toughest sustainability legislation in the world. In response to this, Ecobuild has been a vital platform for raising standards, and the event is committed to further investing in the sustainability credentials of the industry, as well as the show itself, by partnering with the right organisations and key influencers across the supply chain.

d Ecobuil 2014 e t th will hosrehensive mp WHAT’S HAPPENING most co owcase IN 2014? sh e “Ecobuild’s anniversary l b a n i made us reflect on of sustauction the past 10 years r t s n co and refocus on what in the s t c u d the event is all about,” o pr explains Jackson. “Our aim is world

to bring industry professionals together with a common purpose — to create a cleaner, greener, efficient and more sustainable built environment.”

There will be three core areas to the event.

The Sustainable Design and Construction zone focuses on the topic that has been at the heart of Ecobuild since it launched a decade ago. Here, visitors can learn about the latest design ideas, future construction materials, lighting and technical solutions to sustainable construction challenges. New and existing innovations, such as the role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) will be a central feature of the 2014 show.

The Connecting Future Cities zone will incorporate a range of topics from biodiversity and greening cities to infrastructure, water and waste, technology and transport – all of which are crucial to creating a sustainable future for an ever changing global population. E

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

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EVENT PREVIEW  The Energy zone addresses another hot topic for Ecobuild 2014, championing key energy issues and providing guidance and practical advice on policy and legislation. This area will include a range of features on renewable energy, resource management and energy efficiency.

DEBATE AND DISCUSS Ecobuild 2014 will also feature an unrivalled information programme, attracting over 600 speakers. Free to attend, it champions the business case for more sustainable buildings and helps visitors respond to complex and demanding sustainability legislation. At the heart of the programme is debate, learning and information exchange, led by internationally renowned academics, politicians, industry leaders and celebrity speakers.

In response to overwhelming audience demand, all speakers will now appear on the show floor and there will be two spectacular arenas to house the conference programme. Within the three main areas there will also be six core content zones, focusing on: Design; Green Energy; Future Cities and Green Infrastructure; Building Performance and BIM; Refurbishment and Retrofit; and Water, Waste and Materials.

2014 will also see an emphasis in bringing exhibitors and visitors closer together through an array of networking opportunities and social events.

What’s more, next year’s Ecobuild has chosen CRASH as their charity partner for 2014.

Founded in 1991, CRASH channels the expertise, supply chains and the benevolence of the property and construction industry to help facilitate the development and improvement of emergency night shelters, hostels, day centres and move-on accommodation for homeless men and women.

GREEN CONSTRUCTION GROWTH A new government partnership has been forged between UK Trade & Investment

(UKTI) and Ecobuild to attract inward investment and drive export growth for the UK green construction sector.

Supporting Government’s ‘Construction 2025’ aims to ensure the UK continues to thrive in the face of increasing global competition, UKTI will bring senior international buyers from across the sustainable built environment from as far afield as the USA, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia to meet with the UK industry’s leading suppliers at the 2014 event.

Nick Baird, Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment, said: “With the global construction market forecasted to grow by 70 per cent by 2025, it is UKTI’s mission to pursue high value opportunities for UK green construction

Ecobuild 2014

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

The partnership will see BRE conduct a range of research initiatives in the lead up to and during the event including the launch of the Ecobuild Academic Forum – a research paper assessing the impact of the built environment on wellbeing which will be launched at Ecobuild 2014.

Following research conducted at Ecobuild 2013 revealing that 93% of visitors participated in some form of learning at the event, BRE is working with its global network to help define the highly anticipated content programme at Ecobuild 2014. BRE’s CEO Dr Peter Bonfield is already confirmed to tackle the widely debated topic of ‘Nature – market opportunity or legislative burden?’

Ecobuild 2014 will feature an unrivalled information programme, attracting over 600 speakers. Free to attend, it will champion the business case for more sustainable buildings and help visitors respond to sustainability legislation companies internationally. We want to showcase the UK industry to as many parts of the world as possible and Ecobuild provides an outstanding opportunity for investors to see all that the UK has to offer in one place.”

Building upon a long and successful relationship with UKTI spanning seven years, Alison Jackson, Group Director of Sustainability & Construction, Ecobuild, said: “We are immensely proud to be working in partnership with UKTI to open new business opportunities for international buyers and our exhibitors. As the leading event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, Ecobuild is the perfect platform to show the world the capabilities of the UK’s green construction sector.”

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP BRE has been selected as the official Research & Innovation Partner of Ecobuild.

Alison Jackson, Group Director of Sustainability & Construction, Ecobuild, said: “Our strategic partnership with BRE marks an exciting time for Ecobuild, enabling us to remain at the forefront of knowledge transfer year round. BRE’s established track record for authoritative, impartial research, combined with Ecobuild’s reputation as a world-class platform for knowledge, debate and discussion will create a unique force for driving change across the sustainable built environment.”

As a lead supporter of Ecobuild, BRE will be showcasing its wide range of products and services on its biggest stand ever.

The prestigious BREEAM Awards will also take place once again at Ecobuild on Tuesday 4th March 2014. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.ecobuild.co.uk

Bring beauty and life to your exterior walls Can beauty and practicality be united to make the exterior of a building both aesthetically striking and viable over the long-term? Treebox installs feature green walls to prolong a structure’s longevity, make it visually more attractive and also improve the surrounding air quality.

A great benefit of living walls is their ability to change with the seasons and provide an ever-changing landscape for the eye to experience. Plants are added to give texture, colour and fragrance.

Just as adding a splash of colour to the urban landscape can make a tired and rundown area feel fresh, vibrant and rejuvenated, so does the introduction of a vertical living element.

A living wall is not only fantastic for the

environment – both in terms of purifying the air and improving biodiversity – but it can instantly bring an uplifting effect to an area.

There are also practical reasons why living walls are becoming increasingly popular.

Energy savings can be made through their use, with the vegetation in the wall functioning as a blanket to mitigate heat-loss from the building in winter. Conversely, the same

coverage of vegetation can sharply reduce the need for additional cooling in summer.

When well-designed, the maintenance costs of a living wall can often be offset through the energy savings it provides.

Green walls can protect a building from UV, weather and temperature fluctuations and thereby extend the life of a structure.

From vertical rain gardens that store rainwater in the panels to vegetated louvre strips that can span windows and openings, see Treebox’s products at Ecobuild, 4-6 March 2014, ExCeL London.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.treebox.co.uk

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

The Light Bureau project

Design & Build

EVENT PREVIEW

WHAT’S ON THE SURFACE?

The Surface Design Show on 4-6 February at London’s Business Design Centre attracts architects and interior designers in need of new and inspiring interior and exterior surface solutions The highly successful Surface Design Show returns to the Business Design Centre, London from the 4-6 February 2014.

It is the leading event for architects and interior designers to source new, cutting edge and inspiring interior and exterior surface solutions. The 2014 show will be the 11th edition of the event and with rapid changes in technology and the environment the show has never been so essential to contemporary architecture and design.

Among the large number of exhibitors such as Ceramiche Caesar, Vicalvi, Applec and Sound Control Services you will find innovative natural materials such as pioneering natural stone, wood, tiles, recyclable materials, living materials, metal, paint, luminescent surfaces, the latest cladding designs, wall covering, flooring and ceilings. Ranging from acoustic wall solutions to high quality printed concrete walls; the show is a big source of inspiration and innovative ideas for architects and interior designers.

THOUGHT PROVOKING TOPICS The event kicks off on Tuesday 4 February with a themed Preview Evening hosted by the RIBAJ on Traditionalism, Modernism and the Vernacular, this will be an opportunity to debate and discuss the role of materials in architecture and the vernacular in the built environment with some of the best known characters in the industry.

Wednesday 5 February sees Cany Ash, of Ash Sakula, chairing a lively PechaKucha evening with a line-up of industry innovators including designer Adam Furman of Ron Arad and Mark Ridler of BDP Lighting.

The extensive and thought provoking programme of live debates, seminars and presentations features Light School, the show’s new focus on lighting. Presented

by Sharon Stammers of Light Collective, Light School is a series of inspirational talks and demonstrations by leading members of the lighting design community which will change the way you see light!

Future Thinking, an interactive exhibition curated by Arup called ‘21st Century Fragments’ will be showcasing actual

fragments from Arup’s most innovative building facades. The unique look ‘behind the façade’ will reveal the thinking and materials technology that drive their design.

Global Color Research, the company behind Mix Trends forecast book returns to the Show with a trend wall where samples of materials, colour palettes and inspirational images will give you an insight into future trend concept themes for Spring/Summer 2015.

On the final day of the show, Sarah Featherstone, Architect and Director of the award winning practice, Featherstone Young, will be giving the keynote address at the Surface Design Show Awards Presentation where the 2014 winners will be revealed. The awards are the best in progressive design and innovative surfaces and are the only international awards to focus exclusively on surface design.

Finally, Fringe Thinking underpins the Show with an interesting and topical programme of CPD seminars, presentations and debates from the likes of AIS, SBID and Mix Trends.

which deliver a modern interpretation of the understated historical style.

The Net Effect product collection provides a subtle visual reminder of the sea on its surface, with a design reminiscent of swirling currents. Created by David Oakey, owner of David Oakey Designs, an exclusive designer for Interface, the collection of six modular carpet tile options embraces sustainability in construction and concept.

Surfaceform will be exhibiting their creative innovative plaster surfaces for inspirational interiors. Surfaceform use luxurious materials such as polished plaster, relief plaster, stucco, marmorino and impasto to infuse traditional form with the very latest designs.

4G will be showcasing their contemporary range of sustainable furniture made from waste material. The Curva chair is made from recycled PVC and fully recyclable and has been designed for end of life deconstruction and recyclability.

Decolan will be exhibiting the Decostone collection, a veneer of real stone split in thickness of 0.1‑2.0 mm from big stone slabs to create an ultra-thin, very light (just Kg 1.7/sqm) and very flexible stone laminate which can be used for a very wide range of applications.

Decostone is an innovative solution for kitchen tops, furniture doors, furniture components, flooring, internal and external wall cladding, flush doors, flat TV panel background and vehicle and ship interiors.

Creative Resin will be showcasing their Glassline Sergei satin effect spray.

The satin effect spray turns plain glass into a satin glass which is an inexpensive alternative to producing satin glass.

For a full list of the exhibitors, visit the Surface Design Show website. L

The Surface w is Sho Design event for ing the leadts and interior architec ers to source design terior and new in r surface exterio tions solu

NEW LAUNCHES Grestec Tiles, specialist supplier of ceramic, porcelain, glass and natural stone tiles will be launching the new and original Cement Stone range alongside a selection of other unique and innovative collections including Aarde Steen and the Le Shack Collection.

The Cement Stone range has been inspired from a variety of natural stones to create a collection of five graduating shades.

Le Shack presents a new range of timber effect porcelain tiles which comprises of a fusion of industrial and retro styles.

The Aarde Steen collection on show is made up of an expansive range of cool and earth colours inspired by the heritage of North European tiles, ‘Tegals’. These tones have then been interpreted into formats

FURTHER INFORMATION www.surfacedesignshow.com

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

EVENT PREVIEW

BRINGING TOGETHER THE MAINTENANCE COMMUNITY Maintec 2014, the leading UK event for the maintenance, plant and asset management industry, is co-located with Facilities Management and the Health & Safety Event, to give visitors a comprehensive overview of these related industries

There is more on offer than ever before at Maintec 2014, which is returning to the NEC, Birmingham on 11-13 March.

The leading UK event for the maintenance, plant and asset management industry is in its 39th year and has a packed hall full of industry leading exhibitors, content rich seminars and the latest technology.

There will be the Lions’ Lair competition to find the most innovative product at the event, plus The Business Strategy Forum – where experts from some of the biggest names in the industry debate the most significant maintenance issues. What’s more, thanks to clever co-locations with Facilities Management and the Health & Safety Event, there will be two other complementary shows for attendees to see whilst at the NEC. INNOVATIVE EXHIBITORS Exhibitors at Maintec 2014 will include all the major names and show regulars such as Schaeffler (UK), Fluke UK, Hansford Sensors, FLIR Systems, SoftSols and Valveforce.

These will be joined by a plethora of new exhibitors including as Matthews Engineering Training, IRISS and KDP Systems.

First time exhibitor Matthews Engineering Training will display how their Boiler Inspector Certificate Programme provides comprehensive and independent training with an examination for inspectors who examine

Facilities Management

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of interfacing directly into PLC, BMS, or SCADA, the 4-20mA transmitters / (LPS) are ideal for low cost, on-line monitoring.

First time exhibitor KDP Electronic Systems will be showcasing their cabling and integration systems at Maintec 2014.

They will present the new the AS-6600, a battery operated, portable instrument designed to simulate the electrical output signals generated by many commonly available vibration transducers.

Probe Technical Recruitment are running an interview and CV clinic for visitors, whilst Keytracker will exhibit iLockerz, a global first for the engineering and maintenance industry. The ground breaking RFiD technology allows handheld data terminals, tablets, tools and lifting equipment to be secured, tracked and monitored automatically.

Idhammar Systems are exhibiting their latest mobile Maintenance Management System: ‘Pocket MMS’ which simplifies maintenance engineers roles. The system is compatible with iPad and Android tablets, allocating work to individual engineers via their device wherever they are working.

c Mainte is the ent ly ev UK’s on ed on focus f plant ds o the nee t managers, e and assineers and eng ance maintennnel LIVELY SHOW FLOOR perso Visitors will also have plenty

steam ‘package’ boilers. Matthews’ objective is to provide boiler inspectors with demonstrable competency training, independent from their employers.

Fluke (UK) will feature a wide range of rugged and reliable portable test instruments suited for maintenance applications. In particular they will focus on their new Ti200, Ti300, Ti400 thermal imaging cameras, the Fluke 1730 energy logger, their latest power quality analyser, and vibration tester, plus the Fluke VT02 and VT04 Visual IR Thermometer and its CNX Wireless Tester.

Maintec will be the UK show debut for FLIR Systems’, new FLIR Ex and Exx Series thermal imaging cameras. The FLIR Ex Series is an entry-level model which provides a highly cost efficient gateway to thermal imaging. The FLIR Exx Series is a more advanced camera that is thermally tunable and has a manual lens focus.

Those looking for vibration monitoring products will have plenty to see on Hansford Sensors’ stand including their new range of premium industrial accelerometers, the latest 4-20mA transmitters, or loop powered sensors (LPS) plus the new M12 cable assemblies with protective conduits and snap on quick release cables. With the capability

of learning opportunities at Maintec, including a return of the Business Strategy Forum which made such an impressive debut at the last show. This will once again be hosted by Dr. Andrew Starr from Cranfield University.

There will also be The Exchange, featuring a packed programme of practical presentations delivered by leading industry names. The Exchange will feature 21, free content-rich talks packed full of advice, new innovations and case studies for maintenance professionals, engineers, plant and asset managers to learn from. For instance energy consumption is a major industry issue and Jit Patel, Technical Sales Manager at Fluke UK, will explain how companies can reduce energy costs by up to 20 per cent by identifying and quantifying energy waste.

Managers who rely on modern maintenance software systems will be interested in the presentation by John Atkinson, Technical Director, Russell Sion, Managing Director and Toby Smith, Software Director at C-Cubed.

They will examine how to make valuable data readily accessible to all those who are E

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automatic Monitoring & Targeting 12th Annual conference and exhibition Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Thursday 27 February 2014

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

EVENT PREVIEW  permitted access to it, whilst keeping those who are not, out of the loop. The presentation will raise questions about data security and is expected to get people discussing the future direction of this technology.

Dave Anderson, Company Director at Score Diagnostics Ltd, will focus on the importance of valve condition monitoring, with a look at the equipment, techniques and systems available. As part of this he will outline how to move away from reactive maintenance and towards a more proactive approach, in line with the new Asset Integrity Management Standard.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS In theory Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) are powerful, for instance allowing companies to determine which machines require maintenance and which storerooms contain the spare parts needed. Yet up to 80 per cent of CMMS implementations fail to meet expectations in the first 12 months. To combat this Roy Rothwell, Implementation Account Manager at eMaint Enterprises, will explain the top 10 keys to success in CMMS implementation.

Those weighing up the benefits of adopting a proactive rather than a reactive approach to plant maintenance will find the session from Ian Pledger, IAM Field Service Engineer, and Ian Taylor, Director, at Schaeffler UK invaluable. They will help attendees understand the key principles of a proactive plant maintenance regime, and how to select condition monitoring tools and techniques.

When maintenance engineers encounter leaking process equipment, the simple gasket is all too often blamed, whereas frequently it is the bolted jointing assemblies that are at fault. Adrian Jefferies from James Walker will illustrate best practice when it comes to such assemblies. This will include the benefits of measuring installed bolt loads, the factors affecting the reliability of bolted joints, along with examples of how leaks on problem equipment have been eliminated.

Dean Whittle, Director at Reliability

The newest maintenance and engineering technologies will be pitched to an expert panel in the Lions’ Lair. The winner will be announced live Maintenance Solutions, will explore the challenges posed, and vibration analysis used, when monitoring complex gearboxes. He will particularly focus on testing situations such as gearboxes on wind turbines.

Anyone looking to improve plant reliability will not want to miss the talk by Andrew Fraser, Managing Director of Reliable Manufacturing. He will explain how putting reliability at the top of the agenda reduces the need for reactive maintenance, cuts injury levels and creates a safer working environment. He will use client case studies to show how the best plants are competing globally thanks to a holistic top-down and bottom-up ‘reliability strategy’.

CLEVER CO-LOCATIONS Maintec is the UK’s only event focused on the needs of plant and asset managers, engineers and maintenance personnel, and the co-locations are designed to give this audience even more to see. The first of the complementary shows running alongside Maintec is Facilities Management. This brand new show is a huge development for facilities, property and estate managers, as it is the only event for them run outside London. Furthermore, it’s a neat fit as many Maintec visitors also have a wider facilities management remit.

The market place has reacted warmly to the announcement of this co-location with DHL, Emerson Industrial Automation, Amey, Coo-Var and Parrs, just some of the major names coming out in support. Marcus Davey, Amey’s Facilities Manager comments: “I welcome a new Facilities Management show to Birmingham. I deal with both industrial maintenance and facilitates management, so having the show co-located with Maintec will be a major pull knowing I can source the

Facilities Management

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latest products and services in one day” The new Facilities Management event will feature a special practical programme of seminars called the Exchange.

The Exchange will include 21 free content-rich talks packed full of advice, new innovations and case studies for delegates to learn from. For example, facilities managers looking for the best environmental option for disposing of flooring from refurbishment projects will benefit from attending a talk

by Jane Gardner from Axion Consulting. Her seminar will include the disposal options for carpet tiles, commercial broadloom and vinyl flooring along with case studies on how other sites have reused and recycled their flooring.

Facilities management teams can often find themselves acting as fleet managers; to help them, John Webb, Principle Consultant at Lex Autolease will provide advice on topics such as choosing the right vehicles, whole life costs, tax compliance, and carbon reporting.

FM professionals tasked with reducing cost will want to hear Nick Butlin, operations director at KiWi Power, who will outline how money can be made from a company’s electrical demand. Butlin will explain how demand response programmes work and the financial and environmental benefits they offer.

HEALTH & SAFETY Maintec 2014 will also be co-located with the new Health & Safety Event. This is another smart development as the UK’s maintenance, plant and asset management community increasingly has to consider health and safety issues as Matt Benyon, easyFairs UK & Global Managing Director explains: “When looking at what we could do to drive even more visitors, and provide yet more relevant content for the maintenance and engineering professionals who head to the show every year, health and safety was an obvious area to focus on.

After all, 25-30 per cent of all manufacturing fatalities are typically related to maintenance activities. Co-locating with a health and safety show reflects our commitment to once again step the show up another gear.”

LIONS’ LAIR Last but by no means least, the newest maintenance and engineering technologies, innovations and concepts will be pitched to a panel of experts within the Lions’ Lair. This competition will be run in front of a live audience with the winner announced live from the show floor. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.easyfairs.com/maintec www.easyfairs.com/facilitiesmanagement www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk

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VAN OPERATIONS

Van operators attending the FTA Van Excellence conference in Dunblane late last year were given a wake-up call from VOSA’s David Wood, who said that stricker enforcement of van standards is on its way. The Freight Transport Association reports The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) warned of a ‘reality check ahead’ and told delegates at the third 2013 Van Excellence conference that those van operators not complying with regulations would be targeted by the authorities.

The message was clear, and was made as part of the keynote speech by VOSA’s Road Worthiness Policy Manager, David Wood, who stated that: ”VOSA was determined to improve van operational standards and makes no secret of its

What is VOSA? VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is executive agency of the Department for Transport.

It is tasked with improving road safety by ensuring drivers, vehicle operators and MoT garages understand and comply with road worthiness standards. It also provides a range of vehicle licensing, testing and enforcement services.

In 2014 it is merging with the Driving Standards Agency to become a single agency.

intention to significantly ramp up the number of roadside inspections and other enforcement activity.”

Quoting the 50 per cent first time annual test failure rate for vans, the anecdotal evidence for excessive driving time, the fact that nearly 70 per cent of light goods vehicles VOSA inspects at the roadside are subject to a road worthiness prohibition and 90 per cent of LGVs weighed were overloaded, Wood acknowledged that, in the past, vans had attracted a lower burden of enforcement from VOSA than they perhaps should have had.

However, highlighting the impact of the recession on operator practices, Wood left delegates in no doubt that VOSA would be targeting non-compliant van operators and drivers in the future.

Written by the Freight Transport Association (FTA)

SHAKING UP VAN COMPLIANCE

Fleet Management

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

haunted by the ‘white van man’ stigma.

With almost 3.5 million UK van busy delivering goods, transporting parts, and serving as a mobile toolkit for many, there is no doubt that they play a vital role in the logistics industry’; recognised by freight operators as an essential part of their day-to-day business, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Van Excellence scheme was launched in 2011 – ‘by the industry – for the industry’.

The Van Excellence scheme was designed to help create and sustain improved operating performance, and to enhance public image and customer confident; the FTA backed scheme received a great deal of praise from VOSA and was described as ‘an extremely good example of how the industry can take responsibility for itself.” Accredited van operators of the scheme were also recognised by VOSA for demonstrating good practice in the industry.

David Wood said: “There needs to be a change in the attitude of the LGV sector to improve vehicle maintenance and driving standards, I believe that schemes like Van Excellence will contribute to improving road safety and gaining professional recognition, it is also very beneficial in helping to change the public perception of the ‘white van man’. E

With ion 3.5 millns UK va oods, ng g deliveri serving as d parts ane toolkit, they a mobil a vital role play logistics in the stry indu

NEGATIVE IMAGE Vans very often have a mixed public image.

On the one hand they are seen as an essential working tool for the tradesman, whilst on the other hand the image of the vehicle is often

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

VAN OPERATIONS

“Working together to make the roads of Lincolnshire safer for all.” www.roadlincs.com Tel: 01526 861170

PC g C nin i tra

VAN EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE The Dunblane event was the last Van Excellence conference in the 2013 series which had previously being held at Slough and Sheffield. Delegates were also provided with a series of presentations throughout the day which were designed to help them improve legislative compliance and reduce costs.

Other key sessions included within the seminar were managing road risk; reducing fuel spend; vehicle specifications; future van technology; current and upcoming legislative issues; and an examination of the Van Excellence scheme through the eyes of an accredited operator.

The events had been sponsored by Van Excellence Industry Partners ATS Euromaster, BT Fleet, Hertz, Route Monkey and TomTom Business Solutions.

WE CAN HELP YOU

M tra ini in bu in s g

LED BY THE INDUSTRY As an industry-led initiative Van Excellence aims to enhance standards of van operator compliance, celebrate operators who demonstrate excellence and represent the interests of the van industry. The Conferences are sponsored by Industry Partners ATS Euromaster, BT Fleet, Hertz Van Rental, Route Monkey and TomTom Business Solutions who were on hand to speak with delegates at Sheffield about their role as industry partners with Van Excellence. Mark Cartwright, FTA’s Head of Vans, said: “Van Excellence demonstrates that operators are entirely capable of self regulation.

FTA applauds the efforts of VOSA to increase general operational standards and welcomes the words which David Wood from VOSA has delivered as they can only help enforce the message to those van operators who need to improve their standards do so.”

FURTHER INFORMATION www.vanexcellence.co.uk

l na io at isk up r cc ad O ro

 The scheme ensures that better standards are met so that vehicles operate in a safe and viable way and therefore should be encouraged.”

Wood continued: “VOSA needs support from the industry to ensure that our resources are best directed at the right target audience. I see Van Excellence as a very positive initiative and congratulate the FTA on the scheme.”

Since it launched in 2011 FTA’s Van Excellence has established itself as the operating standard for light fleet operators across all sectors. The scheme has been going from strength to strength; it has attracted the support of a variety of large commercial operators and currently boasts over 170 engaged operators running in excess of 180,000 vans.

Van Excellence’s national accreditation scheme for van operators was introduced ‘by the industry for the industry’, in order to promote high standards of van operation and driving by accrediting operators against a code of good practice, and support van operators on a day‑to‑day basis. The scheme is open to van operators of commercial vehicles of 3.5 te GVW or less. L

tra Fle in et in g

Highlighting the impact of the recession on operator practices, VOSA’s Road Worthiness Policy Manager David Wood left delegates in no doubt that VOSA would be targeting non‑compliant future van operators and drivers

Fleet Management

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Fleet Management

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INTERVIEW

A QUESTION OF FLEET

Government Business talks to ACFO chairman Damian James about his new role, the challenges faced by fleet managers, and how organisations can lower the carbon footprint of their fleet WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS NEW ACFO CHAIRMAN? Becoming chairman last year was a really exciting opportunity for me and marks the highpoint of my career with ACFO. I joined the ACFO board more than three years ago having been involved with the organisation for over a decade through its South West and Wales Region.

Over the years I have found the knowledge and experience of fellow ACFO members tremendously helpful in assisting me in managing a fleet, and through my work as chairman I hope I am able to return that assistance and help other fleet decision-makers.

As a result, a key priority for me is to expand ACFO’s membership, particularly among employees who, like me, have part-time fleet management responsibility within a wider job brief.

ACFO offers members’ tremendous value for money through its website – www.acfo.org – and an array of benefits including regional meetings, networking opportunities and access to a wide range of knowledge and experience, and seminars and conferences.

Consequently, ACFO’s influence will naturally grow and that is another key objective for me as chairman. I want ACFO to grow its influence among all fleet decision‑makers – not just those that focus on fleet 100 per cent of their time, but employees whose main role is perhaps in HR, finance or procurement, for example.

Additionally, ACFO already has strong relationships with a range of external agencies.

They include Government departments, such as HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Additionally, ACFO works closely with the likes of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, Freight Transport Association, Institute of Car Fleet Management and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

I want to further strengthen ACFO’s relationships with these organisations – forge partnerships with other representative groups in the transport and travel arena – and ensure ACFO’s voice is heard loud and clear on a wide range of Government and transport issues.

‘White ’ n van ma e WHAT ARE THE MAIN m o r CHALLENGES FOR d n sy . Yet e u FLEET MANAGERS s s i n a s e n i s THESE DAYS? a e h m t re ity of r Irrespective of whether o j a m e t a the r we are talking e p fleets o est and about cars or light n commercial vehicles cost the cleaefficient management remains t s mo the critical issue as it has vehicles been for a number of years.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

However, that broad term covers a multitude of issues and vital to both car and van operations is a corporate focus on vehicle emission reduction. In turn that also brings into play numerous management issues around the so-called ‘grey’ fleet – employees who drive their own cars on business which are typically older than if they were to drive a company, hire or pool car on work-related journeys.

The Government’s emission-based company car benefit-in-kind taxation policy is driving manufacturers to produce vehicles with ever-lower CO2 figures. Taken at face value that means that HM Treasury’s tax take

from the sector will reduce at a time when its coffers need rapidly replenishing.

Therefore, the long-term tax treatment of company cars is a key issue and tied in with that is significant uncertainty around the true fleet operational viability of alternative fuels from a cost perspective – tax, service, maintenance and repair and residual values.

Simultaneously, there are major challenges around educating the company car driver population around the viability of the alternative fuel options available given that when selecting their vehicle they must take into account both their work and private requirements.

Turning to LCVs and ‘white van man’ syndrome remains an issue. Too often the public and the media in general – I exclude the specialist fleet press – use the ‘white van man’ as a derogatory term.

Yet, the vast majority of these fleets operate the cleanest and most efficient vehicles on the market in accordance with best practice as highlighted by, for example, the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence programme.

But, there are always exceptions and as a fleet industry we must unite to spread the message that actually operating vans in line with best practice in terms of vehicle choice, maintenance procedures, driver behaviour, and so on, we can ensure that ‘white van man’ really is a myth.

WHICH GREENER FUELS DO YOU SEE AS BEING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL? There remains much discussion around the fleet viability of electric vehicles.

ACFO’s view has been consistent for many years and it is that such models are not financially or operationally viable except in a handful of niche circumstances.

One of the key viability issues for fleets is vehicle range and pure electric vehicles currently do not meet the majority of corporate needs in that respect. Therefore, ACFO believes the most viable fleet alternatives to a 100 per cent petrol or diesel engined car is either a hybrid, in which a petrol or diesel engine is combined with an electric motor (albeit that zero emission range is restricted to a few miles), or range extender vehicles where a small generator, powered by a petrol engine delivers a more ‘reasonable’ range.

In the longer term, ACFO would expect hydrogen power to become a force, but there is a long way to go in terms of ensuring operational cost and a suitable refuelling infrastructure meet fleet requirements.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FLEET MANAGERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT? As head of operations at Bracknell Forest Council, I have signed-up to the Government‑backed Plugged-in Fleets Initiative to discover if electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles make sense for the authority.

As part of the Initiative, which is funded by the Department for Transport and Transport for London, the Energy Saving Trust is undertaking a free bespoke analysis on 100 fleets to help them understand where ultra‑low emission vehicles could work for them.

The application process is not onerous – after all, I have done it – and the EST will deliver a detailed report and analysis with recommendations of how plug-in vehicles could work; a whole life cost analysis comparing the fleet’s existing vehicles with suitable plug-in alternatives and infrastructure advice.

WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO TO HELP ORGANISATIONS ‘GREEN’ THEIR FLEETS? Over many years, irrespective of Government party make-up, ACFO has called for measures to be in place that enable fleet decision‑makers to plan for the long-term.

Unfortunately, that does not always happen. For example, private, public and

The government is keen for ultra-low and zero‑emission vehicles to take to the roads; the Plug-in grant scheme assists such purchases voluntary sector fleets buy the majority of new vehicles in the UK and therefore assume the position of early adopters.

The Government is keen for ultra low and zero-emissions vehicles to take to the roads. To that end, it introduced its Plug-in grant scheme to assist in the purchase of such cars and vans.

However, in Budget 2012 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne shocked fleets by announcing that company car benefit-in-kind tax rates on zero-emissions cars would leap from 0 per cent in 2014/15 to 13 per cent in 2015/16 and rates on ultra low emissions models would jump from 5 per cent to 13 per cent. In Budget 2013, he realised the error and performed a partial U-turn saying rates would rise to 5 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.

Unfortunately, such moves do not give clear long-term financial incentives for the take up of alternatively-fuelled vehicles that give confidence to fleet managers’ decision making process. Similarly, the Government has said that Plug-in grants will remain in place for the duration of the current Parliament – May 2015 – which is less than 18 months time. Longterm fleet decisions cannot be based on such

Fleet Management

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short‑term incentives. On some issues it is important that an all-party consensus is reached so fleet managers know what the future holds.

WHAT HAS YOUR ROLE AS HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT BRACKNELL FOREST COUNCIL TAUGHT YOU? In short, expect the unexpected. The fleet industry changes on a daily basis and that means keeping up to date on trends, new initiatives and the potential impact of legislation emanating from both Whitehall and Brussels is a full time job in itself.

Therefore, it is critical to be surrounded by a great team that is fully focused on ensuring the transport operation functions at optimum efficiency and effectiveness and continually questions the status quo.

It is also vital to join ACFO as the membership with its knowledge and experience will support you through best practice guidance and ensure that what can sometime seem a lonely existence is not. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.acfo.org

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Introducing the Azura Flex from Scarab UK: the global frontrunners in compact & truck-mounted road sweepers As a way of introducing the Azura Flex, Paul Mannering, Scarab UK’s sales manager, explained the concept: “The idea behind the Azura Flex was to combine the functionality of the popular Azura Sweeper and the Aquazura Scrubber and adding a whole lot more functionality at the same time.”

On the front of the new Flex is a platform mechanism on which the user can easily mount a scrubbing head for surface cleaning work or various other useful attachments, such as a weed clearing brush, snow brush or snowplough.

The unique aspect of the Flex is that customers can use it for sweeping, the majority of the time; undertaking the scrubbing of their pedestrian areas and weed clearing using the third brush; and when other machines may be stood down due to inclement weather.

This is not just a sweeper with a few bolt-on options. The whole Azura range, including the Flex, has had a lot of time and effort from a team of skilled engineers looking at all aspects of the machine and ensuring the product will stand the test of time.

Significant upgrades to the hydraulics and electrics have allowed for the

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increased option range as well as ensuring the reliability and robustness of the product range is the best in its class.

The Flex gives a very comfortable and compliant drive thanks to the fully sprung suspension and being rubber mounted means that little vibration enters the cabin.

A single button starts the sweep mode with all the sweeping commands intuitively located on a single joystick.

Its general ease of manoeuvrability was very reassuring when driving along narrow alleyways, roads and pavements and its tight turning circle and four-wheel steering in work mode made the eager Flex a cinch to thread through the city.

On the road, its 30+ mph transit speed means it can keep up with traffic, if needed. With its increased versatility and increased utilisation and the possibility of multiple shifts, it is comforting to know that the latest quality levels will cope with the higher usage demands.

Whilst the Azura platform has been in the UK for a number of years, it is very clear to see the care and attention to detail that has been invested by Mathieu in recent times.

The Azura Flex has set the bar very high indeed for anybody looking for a sweeper and, more specifically, at a multi-functional sweeping tool that is not just a ‘jack of all trades’ but manages to master them as well.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.scarab-sweepers.com

Publishing & Media Expo

EVENT PREVIEW

DEFINING THE FUTURE OF PUBLISHING

The Publishing & Media Expo on 25-26 February is the event where you can discover the latest media and publishing innovations and hear directly from industry experts The publishing and media industry is continually evolving, content delivery is now prevalent across all industries and in turn, the boundaries of what it means to be a ‘publisher’ have been blurred. In the face of this changing and developing landscape it’s ever more important to keep our industry colleagues, as well as ourselves up to speed with its developments and advances. The Publishing & Media Expo (25-26 February, Earls Court 2) is the event where you can discover the latest innovations, hear directly from the industry experts and learn how you can stay ahead of the competition.

Established in 2005, Publishing & Media Expo (P&ME) is the UK’s leading event dedicated to defining the future of publishing.

It offers a forum for the entire publishing industry to connect and keep up with the latest trends, as well as assist in building a strategy fit for the evolving journey that the publishing sector is embarking upon.

Now in its ninth year, P&ME continues to grow and reflect the industry it serves, delivering the industry’s leading multi‑platform publishing show – the only one of its kind to serve the UK market place. P&ME is a well respected platform which brings together over 5,500 industry leaders for two days filled with inspiration, new ideas, services and solutions.

for visitors and exhibitors alike, leveraging the well-established show audiences and ensuring these leading shows maintain their position through developing in line with industry trends.

WHAT’S ON AT P&ME 2014?

As visitors have come to expect, Publishing & Media Expo will once again have a variety of features planned for the 2014 show to enrich the visitor experience and encapsulate the many channels involved in publishing and media.

As always, the show will be bringing you the industry’s leading solutions, products and services providers across Print, Digital and Mobile, which again leaves P&ME as the only multi-platform publishing event in the UK. By attending P&ME you will have the opportunity to network with over 100 leading exhibitors from the world of publishing.

Furthermore, the four combined events will bring together over 300 leading suppliers of Digital, Direct, CRM, Data, Online, Publishing and Media solutions with the UK’s largest gathering of senior marketers, publishers and advertisers to help you execute campaigns more effectively. Exhibitors at this year’s P&ME include: Pensord, Future Folio, La Poste, PageSuite, Circular Software Ltd, InPublishing Ltd, Mail Options Ltd, Denmaur and many more. This is only a small snippet of who will be onsite, to view the current exhibitor listing for please visit www.publishing-expo.co.uk.

ing Publish Expo a & Medi e again will onc ariety of v have a planned for s feature 14 show to the 20 publishing enrich media and ls channe

CO-LOCATED EVENTS As the boundaries blur and industries become increasingly aligned, the publishing community needs to be more aware than ever before of the wider industry backdrop. Reflecting this necessity, the 2014 edition of P&ME will now lower its walls and run alongside Technology for Marketing & Advertising (TFM&A), International Direct Marketing Expo (IDMX) and Online Advertising & Affiliate Expo (OA&A). Four co-located events held under the one roof.

While each individual brand will continue to embrace its key market sector, the benefits of the increased alignment between the shows are threefold – providing increased accessibility

SEMINAR PROGRAMME Free to attend, the seminar programme is regularly cited by visitors as being more informative and inspirational than most paid‑for conferences. The educational programme consists of over 40 seminars, put together by leading industry experts and covering the full spectrum of publishing through three dedicated features; Audience & Data, Production & Design and Digital & Multi-Publishing.

With sessions spanning both days of the

show, topics will be covering the future of publishing, what’s working and where, what’s not and why, Monetising Mobile Media, the role of the editor and much more.

Three key sessions not to be missed include an exploration of the issues and pitfalls facing the real monetisation of Mobile Media. Everyone will soon be using one – why hasn’t the ad industry worked out a way to take the cash? Or has it?

There will be a session asking questions on editorial quality: Do we need it? Who is responsible for it? If content is a product, who owns it? In a world where content is increasingly generated by brands, what does ‘editorial quality’ or even ‘independence’ now mean?

There will also be a session modern journalism and how it is affected by the ongoing tussle with big data faced daily by marketers and commercial directors.

Find out what other informative sessions you can attend by viewing the complete seminar programme at www.publishing-expo.co.uk.

KEYNOTE THEATRE P&ME will be directly by the Keynote Theatre and will play host to 10 high level, Inspirational and forward thinking global industry.

Year‑on‑year, the show has secured big brands and industry gurus to present in the Keynote Theatre including: Google, Oracle, Facebook, Ebay, LinkedIn, Ogilvy, Cisco, Mycustomer. com, 02, Microsoft, Nokia, Salesforce.com, econsultancy and BT. And for the first time in 2014, the keynote theatre will play host to forward thinking publishing related content.

THE DIGITAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE Can the collective talent of the community solve the challenges on the publishing agenda? In collaboration with Digital Innovation Solutions, and with support from our friends at Digital Shoreditch, IC tomorrow and other innovation networks, the community will be tasked with solving the problems faced by publishers and a shortlist of the best six will be selected for a final showdown at Publishing & Media Expo, with the winner being crowned onsite. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.publising-expo.co.uk

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Whilst it’s really great being your own boss, it’s very reassuring to have support and advice whenever you need it. There is always someone willing to help you with advice or to pass on their own experience of particular situations.

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Mail Boxes Etc. franchise opportunities Established, fast-growing network with a proven system A complete turnkey start-up package from £60,000 Comprehensive initial training Regular 'cross-media' marketing campaigns Continual operational support For more information please call 01608 649238 or email franchise@mbe.co.uk mbe.co.uk/franchise_opportunities

FRANCHISING

Franchising

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Written by the British Franchise Association

FRANCHISE SECTOR REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Franchise businesses across the UK have reported record highs in turnover and full-time employment, according to the 2013 NatWest British Franchise Association (bfa) Franchise Survey The research, looking at the five years since the country entered recession in 2008, shows a 20 per growth compared to a 2.5 per cent contraction in the overall economy during the same period.

The survey calculates that the sector contributed some £13.7bn, or just under one per cent of UK GDP, to the economy in the last 12 months. That means once again the sector has grown at a quicker rate than the economy as a whole.

Over a quarter of a million full-time jobs were recorded for the first time in UK franchising history out of total employment in excess of 560,000, an increase of 20 per cent over the last five years.

With around four out of every five brands

operating a franchise model in this country being UK-owned, domestic success is translating into export success with one in four expanding their business model abroad.

And franchisors expect their growth to continue through 2014 – almost nine out of 10 stating they believe trading conditions will improve in the coming year.

With t four ou nds a br of five g a UK n operati odel being LONG‑TERM em TRENDS franchisned, domestic Impressive long-term UK-ow is translating trends continued at the franchisee level success o export too, with 92 per cent int reporting profitability and success one in four running multiple outlets, reflecting a maturing and growing industry. Of those new to the industry (up to two years), 80 per cent are already turning a profit.

Brian Smart, director general of the bfa, commented on the findings: “UK franchising offers thousands of people each year the opportunity to take on their own sustainable business, in turn creating employment for many thousands more – a success that has continued through hard economic times while other parts of the economy have struggled.

“The exceptional performance of the franchise sector since 2008 augurs well as the UK returns to business growth and prosperity.

There are now nearly 1,000 franchise brands operating in this country across multiple business sectors, offering plentiful opportunities for those undertaking the necessary research and due diligence to join the franchise success story.”

At a regional level, the franchise model has confounded economic trends even in some of the areas worst-hit by economic difficulties over the previous five years. Every part of England and Wales recorded growth in franchise turnover, with Wales increasing E

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FRANCHISING

The 2013 NatWest British Franchise Association (bfa) Franchise Survey reported record highs in turnover and full-time employment for UK franchises

Franchising

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Case study: Karen Bowe Karen Bowe started her Birmingham-based Concentric Lettings franchise in January 2012, having previously worked for her local council in the social sector, and before that for the NHS.  by 33 per cent, the north west by 27 per cent and the north east by 14 per cent.

The south east continues to lead the way with a remarkable 42 per cent growth since 2008.

Graeme Jones, head of franchising at NatWest, was delighted with the new survey’s results. He said: “Franchising in the UK continues to deliver real benefits for the economy and the growth achieved over the past five years is a standout achievement.

“Optimism remains high, underpinned by profitable trading and opportunities both here and overseas. In the thirty-plus years that NatWest has had a specialist franchise team, this is the most robust set of results from our annual survey and we are delighted to continue our support for the sector.”

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE NUMBERS Analysis of the demographics of franchisees confirms that franchising continues to provide a bright future for people from all walks of life. With so many business sectors represented in modern franchising, each with their own ideal franchisee profile, it’s a sector that targets, and is suitable for, almost all backgrounds, ages and skill sets.

The average age of a franchisee continues to be in the late 40s, with age groups from 31 to 65 years old extremely well represented.

It’s also a sector without gender bias, many businesses being most suited to women; 30 per cent of UK franchisees are female, a figure which has grown steadily in recent years and represents double the proportion of the overall national SME average for female-led business ownership (15.5 per cent according to BIS).

When it comes to satisfaction levels, records have been broken again. 84 per cent of franchisees declared they were happy with their relationship with their franchisor, a good sign that yet more franchises are operating ethically and fulfilling their obligation to provide full support to their network.

With business confidence tentatively increasing as the UK economy breaks free from its shackles, expectations within the sector are high. Could it be the right time for you to think about becoming a business owner and reaping your own rewards? If you still feel unsure that you might have what it takes to run your own business, make the most of your skills and set your own pace, then you’re certainly not alone. It’s worth looking at a real-life example of why franchising is the right option for many in the public sector (see panel). L

It was a completely new start for Karen, and totally different to anything she had experienced before.

She was used to working in a team, for big organisations, with holidays, sick leave, security and very little pressure; running your own business from scratch alone is very different.

Karen’s main concerns before starting out on her won were the potential isolation of working on her own, and being very targets-driven and financially-focused.

She explains: “I could not believe the isolation of sitting in your own office on your own, being the only one responsible for making stuff happen; it felt quite overwhelming at first.

“But then I realised that I was not alone, I was part of a network and this kept me strong. We have a ‘bell policy’ here at Concentric and I love it; when someone in the network does something great we just have to ring the hub and bells will start ringing, we even have our own bell here now that we ring ourselves when we do a good deal!

“There is always someone to talk to, I join the fortnightly group Skype

meetings and discuss with all the other franchise business owners what is working for them, and love the sharing nature of those calls.

I have a weekly meeting with my franchise development manager Mark and trainer Jo at the hub and they are always on call whenever I have any little questions too, so you are never alone really. I’m so glad of their support.”

Since she joined the Concentric network, Karen has built up an extensive knowledge of the industry in a very short space of time and is now planning to take her ARLA qualifications. She was also awarded the best new starter in the company’s 2012 awards ceremony.

The support of her franchise has been critical in helping Karen get off to such a strong start and growing her business. For example, when she took on a new member of staff, Natalie, she was sent to the Concentric Lettings hub to be trained up. Karen says: “It was great to be able to send Natalie over to the hub for training, and have her up and running straight away.”

FURTHER INFORMATION www.thebfa.org

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Making a difference every day

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

Franchising

EVENT PREVIEW

CALLING ALL CAREER-CHANGE SEEKERS

The Franchise Exhibitions – organised by the Venture Marketing Group and supported by The British Franchise Association – take place throughout the year and provide an opportunity for everyone interested in starting a franchise to learn everything they need to know to go about it Franchising is one of the economic areas in the UK that has continued to see growth over recent years. It is largely referred to as an industry in its own right, but in reality it is a business model that spans many sectors from home-run domestic services to high-street names and worldwide brands.

The Franchise Exhibitions – organised by the Venture Marketing Group and supported

by The British Franchise Association – take place throughout the year and provide an opportunity for everyone interested in starting a franchise to learn everything they could possibly need to know about how to go about it. The next event is The National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham, taking place on 14-15 February and will host an exciting range of franchises from fast food to home care and property sales to cleaning.

WHAT IS FRANCHISING? Becoming a franchisee is very much like setting up your own business, only with the added security of an already established business model and brand. It is a viable business option for anyone, as there is something to suit all budgets and levels of experience. Unlike creating a start-up, becoming a franchisee provides the security of a network of colleagues and a reputable company name from which to trade under. With many former civil servants, police and ex-servicemen, retirees and young people hoping to start out on their own choosing it as a career option, the popularity of becoming a franchisee is growing exponentially every year.

Tim Horne, a former healthcare worker from Evesham found The National Franchise Exhibition last year particularly helpful with his decision to become a franchisee: “This was an educational exercise as I wanted to find out about franchising, particularly the costs. The seminars, both by the bfa and ones by particular franchisors, were very good – I learnt a lot and now understand more about specific franchises. I’m now clearer about investment levels and the type of industries that might suit me. I’ve got plenty to read and think about!”

WHAT ADVICE IS AVAILABLE? The National Franchise Exhibition provides an abundance of advice and guidance for anyone hoping to get involved with franchising.

There will be experts on hand to discuss every aspect, beginning with ‘an introduction to franchising’ as part of the extensive seminar programme. The Expert Advice Clinic and The Finance Clinic are run by industry experts, lawyers and bankers so visitors can be sure of the advice they are getting on their financial requirements and business plans.

Consultants at The Careers Clinic will also be on hand to help potential franchisees generate a clear, focused and realistic career plan.

Other features of the exhibition include face-to-face talks with exhibitors and the opportunity to really explore the many different sectors in a frank and open way.

The appointments system which is a relatively recent addition will help ensure no time is wasted by allowing visitors to book in specific time slots for one-on-one sessions with the franchise companies that they particularly want to visit. Available via the website www.franchise.co.uk, visitors can pre-book to avoid disappointment.

One of the most popular aspects of the show is Real Franchise Stories where people who have been working as franchisees for years, as well as those who have recently joined the franchise fraternity openly discuss why and how they did it, what pitfalls they encountered along the way, what they feel they have learnt from the experiences they have had, and how successful they have become since starting. Visitors can ask questions and seek advice from those that have been there and done it already.

HOW SUCCESSFUL CAN I EXPECT TO BE? Starting up as a franchisee is a laborious process, the fact that individuals are allowed to take on household names and run them as their own company means that there are a lot of checks in place to ensure the reputation of the brand is maintained. Once the initial checks have been made, and the franchisee has found the funds required there is a great deal of support provided from the franchisor to maintain

the necessary standards. Almost everyone who makes the career choice to become a franchisee is successful in their new venture.

Graham Coulston-Hermann attended The British Franchise Exhibition in Manchester in June 2012, where he came across the franchise Dublcheck. He had spent the previous thirty years working as Chief Superintendent at Lancashire Constabulary. He had no business experience and no real idea of what he wanted to do, other than the fact he new he wanted to run his own business. Graham bought a Dublcheck franchise in September of the same year. He paid back his initial investment by month seven and after 14 months he had more than doubled his turnover.

WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE? The British and International Franchise Exhibition, which is taking place on 14 and 15 March at Olympia in London has been granted the Trade Fair Certification which means that a large range of well-known US brands are expected to launch their franchises in the UK at the event.

Adrian Goodsell, Head of Franchise Sales at Venture Marketing Group, organisers of the event says: “This is great news for aspiring franchisees. With the support of the US Commercial Service we expect to bring many powerful US franchise brands to the UK for the first time offering inspiring fresh opportunities, and this relationship will add an exciting new dimension and energy to this already superb event.”

Brands from Canada, Latin America, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Russia and other countries worldwide are also expected to feature in the event’s International Zone. This section of the exhibition is also a major focus for visitors who are considering becoming the master franchise of a foreign brand coming into the UK, as well as those who might like to take their brand overseas.

Visitors can gain free admission by using the promotional code GOVBUS when booking tickets at www.franchiseinfo.co.uk saving up to £15 on the door. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.franchiseinfo.co.uk

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Emirates Stadium is one of the world’s most breathtaking sporting arenas; not only as a pioneering football stadium, but also as a groundbreaking meetings and events venue renowned across the UK and throughout Europe. Boasting an array of versatile, modern and luxurious suites it provides everything you would expect of a stage hosting one of the world’s most successful football clubs, and much more. Our dedicated and experienced events team will work with you to create events that are as inspiring as the setting, delivering tailored solutions to ensure every detail is perfected to create a truly memorable experience for you and your guests.

events@arsenal.co.uk

0845 262 0004

www.arsenal.com/events

LONDON VENUES

CREATIVE LONDON

Conferences & Events

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

London’s creative buzz makes it the ideal city for events in 2014

France 2014 to Wimbledon Championships to the second Prudential RideLondon mass cycling event and Notting Hill Carnival.

New hotels opening in the capital include The Mondrian, South Bank; The Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair and Hub by Premier Inn. Cantonese culinary genius, Alan Yau will open a Chinese Gastropub, Duck & Rice in Soho and chef Jason Atherton will continue his takeover of the London food scene with a new restaurant, City Social.

CREATIVE BUZZ Many government teams want their business events or incentive trips to have a creative theme or aspect and London is the perfect

A e tangibl the for legacy es is a the am 2012 G generation of huge re don. The area n East Lo w a hotspot is no rporate for co nts eve

place to do that – but unlike a Rembrandt or a Van Gogh – adding that creative touch in London won’t come with a big price tag! And for most business visitors, part of the attraction of coming to London is the almost endless list of fantastic downtime activities, from sight-seeing to shopping to eating out. Around every corner of London visitors will find new and exciting options.

A BUSY YEAR CLOSES London had a busy year in 2013. The first seven months saw a huge positive impact from the Games with the magic continuing on from summer 2012. With more visitors attracted to the capital, increased awareness, higher rankings on business reports, new awards and new products, London’s two E

Written by London & Partners

London has always been a city which has had a strong creative buzz. In recent years London not only played host to the Olympics and Paralympics but also the Cultural Olympiad which saw the city celebrate the huge wealth and diversity of cultural offering that London has. Famous artists, musicians and creative businesses have trained, lived and started their global journeys here – London is a city where great things start. And with 2014 marking 450 years since the birth of playwright William Shakespeare, the capital is preparing for a year-long celebration.

2014 is set to be an exciting year, with many major events taking place, including the Virgin London Marathon to Tour de

59

LONDON VENUES Hospitality hotspot: there are seven new hospitality venues at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

 year on anniversary is set to not only celebrate the amazing past but the dazzling and creative future which lies ahead.

In 2012, in addition to hosting the Olympics and Paralympic Games, London hosted a record number of global business events which has now elevated the city’s status to sixth place globally in the ICCA rankings.

The city has also recently secured some of the most prestigious congresses and annual general meetings which is some cases means the city could host groups as big as 35,000.

Events of this scale typically bring up to £80 million in economic benefit to the city and support the business events (MICE) industry which is worth £40 billion to the UK overall economy.

The south end of the park will also offer temporary exhibition and conference venue space as well as the actual stadium.

Other hotspots that opened in 2013 in London is The View from the Shard. As the highest viewing point in Western Europe and nearly twice as high as any other view in London, it provides visitors with a multi-sensory experience and exhilarating views for 40 miles across London.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) re‑opened in July 2013 and has undergone a total transformation to allow for the rich collections to improve the visitor experience where you can host gala events or cocktails receptions.

Or maybe one of London’s hottest new restaurants ‘Ceviche’ in

Many nt me govern nt their a teams ws events to busineseative theme REGENERATION A real tangible legacy ave a cr ndon is the h for the 2012 Games is and Lo place to do the huge regeneration of East London. The area is perfect ithout a big now a hotspot for corporate that w ice tag events and incentives. Venues pr such as Westfield Stratford,

Conferences & Events

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

London’s Shoreditch, the Peruvian restaurant features a Pisco Bar, a dedicated BBQ for sizzling anticucho skewers, live music and DJs. And finally a spot of luxury arrives in the capital, with the Shangri-La Hotel London which is the Asia Pacific’s brands first hotel in London and features an 18‑floor high‑end hotel in The Shard, London.

London will also host a range of major events this year – ranging from the most amazing creative exhibitions, music concerts, sporting and cultural events – giving business visitors even more reason to return to London throughout the year.

As part of their role as the Mayor of London’s official promotional organisation and the convention bureau (CVB) for the capital – the team at London & Partners have selected their creative favourite venues for 2014 which are sure E Garden party: the Royal College of Physicians boasts a private ‘Physic Garden’

Canary Wharf’s new technology hub Level39, the adrenaline pumping O2 Arena, ExCeL, Siemens Crystal (the sustainability heart of the city) and of course from last summer there the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opened and is a major draws for events.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the perfect location for a raft of event incentive activity. There are seven new hospitality areas within the Olympic Park including the ArcelorMittal Orbit – the tallest sculpture in the UK – which can host 200 guests for a reception with fabulous views across the stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome will also become key venues for gala events and the Multiuse Arena which is known as the ‘Copper Box’ will become London third biggest indoor arena.

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INCREDIBLE VENUES. INCREDIBLE CITY Give your next event in London the world-class venue it deserves, with Hilton Worldwide.

Capital of music, capital of style, capital of cuisine; London is the perfect venue for meetings and events of all kinds.

With more than 25 outstanding hotels to choose from across the city and passionate support teams to assist you every step of the way, Hilton Worldwide is perfectly placed to help – for events of up to 3,000 delegates. Our hotels include: Hilton London Metropole • £6 million lobby transformation, changing the face of one of the biggest conference and events hotels in Europe

Hilton London Paddington • Complete with £5 million bedroom refurbishment and outstanding Heathrow Express connection

London Hilton on Park Lane • Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, this Mayfair hotel has stunning views of London from all guest rooms

Hilton London Syon Park • Provides a beautiful backdrop for business events combined with state-of-the-art technology

Hilton London Tower Bridge • Stunningly located against the backdrop of one of London’s best known historic landmarks

Hilton London Wembley • Overlooking the iconic Wembley Stadium, this is the perfect place to stay for the biggest matches and biggest gigs

DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London • Located in the heart of the city with its unmissable Sky Lounge bar, boasting 360° views of London’s skyline

The Waldorf Hilton London • Situated in the heart of Theatreland, this elegant hotel has recently completed a refurbishment of the Adelphi Suite

Hilton London Metropole

London Hilton on Park Lane

Hilton London Tower Bridge

To see for yourself why this truly cosmopolitan city was named the best city in the world by TripAdvisor®, take a look at our London destination video on YouTube now – simply go to the YouTube website and search for ‘Meetings and Events in London with Hilton Worldwide.’

To discuss MICE opportunities, call +44 (0) 207 616 6405 or email london.sales@hilton.com

© 2013 Hilton Worldwide

Conferences & Events

LONDON VENUES

The View from the Shard is the highest viewing point in Western Europe and nearly twice as high as any other view in London

 to add that creative twist to any business event, meeting or gala reception.

ALTERNATIVE LONDON Discover the London you won’t find in the guidebooks with the original off‑the‑beaten‑track street art tour in East London. Even though this is much more than just a London street art tour, you are guaranteed to see a huge range of artwork from around forty artists. Street art by nature constantly changes, which in turn means that our tours also change and evolve on a very regular basis.

Wyld Bar at W Hotel Leicester Square Boasting London’s biggest glitter ball! Sip‑creative libations under a three‑metre‑wide glitter ball constructed of 17,000 individually placed mirrors as a ruby glow emanates across black and red interiors.

Why not give delegates a quirky and cost‑saving option for lunch. At ICHI Sushi and Sashimi Bar at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge an ideal business events space which also offers a Japanese sushi bar Ichioffers a Bento Box lunch option from only £14. Ichi & Sashimi Bar also boasts a specialist sake menu with tasting notes to be paired with individual dishes.

FEED THE SENSES If it’s quirky and different you’re seeking then try the Senses Room at Lancaster London. Every detail of a guest’s specification, from the colour scheme, decor, food, lighting and music is controlled by you. The full sensory experience accommodates up to 10 people at a time and is complimentary for clients who have booked an event at Lancaster London. This gives event organisers more freedom and flexibility whilst keeping the costs down.

The Royal College of Physicians have private ‘Physic Garden’ for events. Filled with rare plants and flowers from all over the world, ideal for barbecues, receptions and al fresco dining – the ideal summer venue for business events and conferences.

Meanwhile, EDG Bar, located in the lobby of Hilton London Metropole, is vibrant brand new bar and lounge is the perfect venue for a relaxing morning coffee or afternoon tea, international modern cuisine, signature cocktails and other premium spirits. Hilton London Metropole has been superbly redesigned to offer conference and events guests new and enhanced facilities in a welcoming yet contemporary environment.

What’s more, some of the best value food in London is ethnic – Chinese, Indian or Italian.

Specific areas of London offer great value, particularly in ethnic cuisine. E

i-La Shangr ndon o Hotel L Pacific’s sia is the A first hotel brands don and in Lon n 18‑floor sa feature nd hotel in high‑e Shard The

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LONDON - THE CITY Make us your first choice for meetings and events.

Award-winning restaurants

A vibrant and contemporary venue 6 contemporary meeting rooms 5-star service 4-star accommodation in the City Prime City location 3 min walk from Blackfriars station Destination dining 2 award-winning restaurants 1 destination champagne bar Delegate rates from £49 Competitive 24 hour rates available

Champagne bar

“Free Friday” meeting room Book a new meeting or event worth over £2.5k by the 31st March 2014 and once the event has taken place, book a “Free Friday” meeting room for up to 10 delegates.

Subject to availability. Terms and conditions do apply.

Quote: Government Business Offer

We are experts in corporate hospitality.

CONTACT US 19 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6DB T: +44 (0) 207 438 8059 E: loncy.conference@ihg.com W: cplondoncityhotel.co.uk

Conferences & Events

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

LONDON VENUES  The street food scene is vibrant and growing – Brick Lane is famed for very good, cheap Indian and Bangladeshi food, Turkish restaurants are abound in Stoke Newington and Chinatown is found in Soho.

London also offers some major calendar events that celebrate food as well as numerous food markets and farmers markets.

GREEN ENERGY It’s not just the turf which is green at Wembley Stadium.

Wembley Stadium is the largest stadium in the world where every seat is under cover, but what people may not know is that it’s powered by 100 per cent green energy. Thanks to their ‘waste recycling and recovery programme’, Wembley Stadium is also ‘zero waste to landfill’ venue too.

As well as being London’s only ICC, ExCeL London is one of the greenest major events spaces. With over 300,000 worms in their wormery, they also recycle 89 per cent of their waste and have achieved Carbon Gold Save for three years consecutively.

RIVER VIEWS The Queen Elizabeth II Conference centre is located in Westminster, a five minute walk from the River Thames and uniquely situated against the stunning backdrop of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliament and The London Eye. Clients can make use of the wonderful river and its facilities as part of their conference at the Centre, or just enjoy the fabulous views of the river from the rooms.

The newly refurbished Entrance Hall at Kensington Palace opens onto the beautiful East Front Gardens and includes the spacious Stone Hall and Vestibule, new spaces for private and corporate events. Luminous Lace, created by designers Loop.pH, it is a specially commissioned light sculpture lying at the heart of Kensington’s new entrance. Made from almost 4 km of electroluminescent wire and containing nearly 12,000 Swarovski crystals it will dazzle guests attending cocktail parties, receptions and dinners.

Meanwhile InterContinental London Westminster is steeped in history. The converted Queen Anne’s Chambers, a former government building, is now a luxury hotel. Located alongside New Scotland Yard and the Ministry of Justice, the property was originally built in the 1800s as a hospital. E

In 2012, London hosted a record number of global business events which has now elevated the city’s status to sixth place globally in the ICCA rankings

Hold your next event at 116 Pall Mall Home of the Institute of Directors and the centre of British Business 116 Pall Mall in the heart of central London can be hired on a room by room basis as well as renting the entire building. We always provide flexible packages that can be shaped to suit your particular requirements

Get in touch with us 020 7451 9187 functions@iod.com www.iod.com/functions

Government_In_Business_half_page_portrait.indd 1

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

The Great Hall A magnificent room, perfect for a conference, presentation, dinner or dance, set in a beautiful and historic venue in the heart of London.

Event

Capacity

Cabaret

120

Dinner/dance round tables

200

Reception

600

Contact us @1moorgateplace www.onemoorgateplace.com 020 7920 8613

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

Facebook/onemoorgateplace events@onemoorgateplace.com

Conferences & Events

Covent Garden offers opportunities for shopping or relaxing

LONDON VENUES  FUN AND FRIENDLY LONDON From captains of rugby teams to captains of industry, Twickenham Stadium is an inspiration machine. Add a fun activity to your events with The Twickenham Experience GPS Challenge. Created by Wildgoose Treasure Hunts and using a unique GPS app, each team is issued with the latest Samsung Galaxy Tab to undertake our high tech treasure hunt.

Bubbledogs is a Champagne bar with a difference. Sink your teeth into some gourmet hot dogs and quench your thirst with some of the world’s greatest Champagnes. An ideal space to host a small VIP business dinner or luncheon.

The Mayfair Hotel in Green Park offers a quirky twist to any meeting or event with the Mayfair mini spa treatments, which comes in the form of a ‘Reviver Corner’ which can be added in your conference room offering on-site massages for delegates.

PLEASURE WITHOUT A PRICE A major benefit of London’s cultural offering is that many of the events or museums in the capital are free – which is a huge cost saving to any delegate and a perfect way to compliment any business programme or offer a huge cost saving in your own downtime.

Whether it’s watching the Chinese New Year celebrations in China Town, viewing the latest exhibitions at the famous V&A museum or

simply watching the street performers in Covent Garden, there really is the opportunity to get something for nothing. London has over 300 museums, galleries and collections, including some of the greatest in the world, as well as some of the most unusual and interesting. Markets are a good source of inexpensive goods – London has over

300 of them, ranging from the attractive Columbia Road flower market to authentic East London markets like Ridley Road, which sells ethnic goods and food, and Walthamstow Market, which has 450 stalls.

Although prices and variety of goods vary considerably, there are excellent bargains to be had. E

The Victory Services Club is perfectly located in London’s West End. The Club caters for a wide range of events and conferences; from small private meetings to large gala dinners, seminars, exhibitions and parties.

Our Customer Care Promise is to offer Value Service and Commitment, the prices and service you receive reflect this.

Please contact our events team for more information.

020 7616 8305/8354 or email events@vsc.co.uk

No other venue is as flexible as us For more information call us on 020 7798 4426, email info@qeiicc.co.uk or visit our website at www.qeiicc.co.uk

Haven for Heroes – The Victory Services Club enjoys charitable status. Event revenue is used to fund projects that support members of the Armed Services and their families to relieve hardship and distress, through the provision of respite breaks using the Club’s facilities to best effect.

The Victory Services Club 63 Seymour Street, London W2 2HF

www.vsc.co.uk/events

VSC-GovBusinessAD-86x125-v2.indd Volume 1

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21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE 12/12/2013 15:46

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Award-winning conference and event venue.

Located next to Whitehall, we have a range of meeting and event spaces available on a daily, ½ day or hourly rate.

We can provide flexible packages including a variation of catering and audio visual options tailored to your requirements.

Contact us now: www.onegreatgeorgestreet.com, 0207 665 2323, info@onegreatgeorgestreet.com

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

LONDON VENUES  HIDDEN GEMS IN LONDON There are surprises around every corner in London. From historical sites, to areas of natural beauty, to brilliant but unsung shops, bars and museums, the list of things that you can find ‘only in London’ is almost endless.

The Bank of England Museum will allow visitors to hold a bar of gold and see the largest collection of Bank of England notes and associated material in the world.

Whereas Neasden in north-west London is home to the truly jaw-dropping site of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu Mandir outside India.

Kew is home to the Royal Botanical Gardens

Conferences & Events

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

LONDON PARKS London has a huge amount of green spaces including more than 600 garden squares, 148 parks and gardens, 122 heaths, commons and greens, 16 city farms, eight Royal Parks and one historic battlefield. It is one of the greenest capitals in the world. In 2013 the capital’s biggest flower show – The Chelsea Flower Show, celebrates 100 years. Always fabulous – this year’s horticultural spectacular is not to be missed. Kew is home to the amazing Royal Botanic Gardens. Covering 326 acres, they’re an oasis of calm. For those feeling like a surge of adrenaline, the Treetop Walkway is a must. It’s 59 feet high and 660 feet long, taking visitors into the tree canopy of a woodland glade. E

Host your event at Alexandra Palace & help regenerate* a London landmark Where events become extraordinary experiences...

One Birdcage Walk One Birdcage Walk, the home of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is located in the heart of Westminster minutes from the Houses of Parliament, HM Treasury and Horse Guards Parade.

Our event spaces range from smaller more intimate meeting rooms through to our stunning wood panelled tiered Lecture Theatre which can host up to 210 guests.

Audio Visual requirements are fully supported by our in-house AV Technicians and we offer complimentary Wifi access throughout.

*As a charity all money generated from commercial activity goes back into regenerating the Palace

Discover your Ally Pally

alexandrapalace.com

Contact our venue hire team to book: T: +44 (0)20 7973 1248 E: enquiries@onebirdcagewalk.com W: www.onebirdcagewalk.com

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

At the heart of Cultural London Photo © Morley von Sternberg

With its central London location and unrivalled views of the capital’s skyline and the river, Southbank Centre offers a unique venue for your next event, whether it’s an AGM or an awards ceremony, a wedding or a wine tasting.

southbankcentre.co.uk/venuehire events@southbankcentre.co.uk Telephone 020 7921 0702

THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF THE INNER

INNER TEMPLE

Based in the heart of old London, the riverside Inner Temple has been an iconic city site for generations; its Georgian-style building and award winning gardens at the centre of the legal world since the 14th century.

As well as three acres of south facing outdoor space overlooking the Victoria Embankment and the Thames beyond, the Inn also offers access to the stunning Temple Church grounds, recently made famous in the Da Vinci Code.

Beyond this the Inner Temple also has five beautiful and ornate rooms for hire. Able to accommodate 10-600 guests for all events possible from book launches and lectures to garden parties, receptions and banquets; whatever the occasion our experienced team will be on hand to ensure that you have a wonderful time with us.

Each event will be assigned an experienced Event Manager and a dedicated fleet of staff including cloakroom, catering and a security team to make your guests feel at home. Situated near both Temple and Blackfriars tube stations, car parking is also available on site and the venue is fully wheelchair accessible.

As well as bespoke events the Inn offers competitively priced packages on certain popular styles of events such as Daily Delegate Rate offers, awards ceremony packages to include a standing reception or a seated dinner and also summer and festive celebration packages.

For more information on hiring and planning your event at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple please contact the Catering Department: 020 7797 8230 | catering@innertemple.org.uk | www.innertemple.org.uk The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, Crown Office Row, London, EC4Y 7HL Nearest tube stations: Temple, Blackfriars and Chancery Lane.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

 CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE With 2014 marking 450 years since the birth of playwright William Shakespeare, the capital is preparing for a year-long celebration.

Whether it’s watching the world tour of Hamlet which opens on 23rd April at Shakespeare’s Globe or visiting an exhibition dedicated to his life at the V&A, there’s plenty to keep the most dedicated fans enthralled.

Julie Chappell, Director of Consumer Marketing and Digital Channels at London & Partners, says: “London is the perfect destination to celebrate Shakespeare’s anniversary, as it was here that he debuted some of his most famous plays. Hundreds of years later we are still experiencing his astounding legacy through London’s theatres, museums and literary attractions.”

The Globe Exhibition & Tour gives visitors an opportunity to learn more about the unique building and its most famous playwright. Based under the Globe Theatre, the engaging and informative Exhibition explores the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived and the theatre for which he wrote.

Middle Temple Hall is where the first performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is said to have taken place in the

The Globe Theatre is the ideal place for celebrating Shakespeare’s 450th anniversary

Hall in 1602 with Queen Elizabeth I in attendance. Middle Temple Hall remains virtually unaltered since completion in the 1570s and is one of the finest Elizabethan Halls in the country.

From the moment you arrive onto the cobbles of the lantern-lit Middle

Conferences & Events

LONDON VENUES

Temple Lane, visitors will feel as though they have stepped back in time to somewhere very special. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.londonandpartners.com/ convention-bureau

COURTHOUSE HOTEL LOndOn

CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF ASTONISHING EVENTS

Vintage venue Troxy offers a truly flexible events space for conferences and award celebrations in spectacular art deco surrounds. The venue boasts a high-spec, permanently installed sound and lighting system, staging options, professional event management services and a flexible day delegate rate. A popular destination for local goverment, public sector authorities, emergency services and colleges, the venue is conveniently located on the borders of Canary Wharf and the City.

0207 790 9000

enquiries@troxy.co.uk

@troxy_ london

Based in the heart of London, the Courthouse Hotel London is the perfect venue for smaller and medium size meetings with capacities up to 200. Previously the original Magistrate Court, the Courthouse Hotel London offers contemporary flair and historical elegance. Our meeting and event space includes a private cinema, rooftop terrace and various rooms that can be used for private dining including the original court room.

We have 12 meeting spaces.

The Courthouse Hotel London is walking distance from Oxford Circus. £65.00 DDR special for all government related offices, quoting “Government” COURTHOUSE HOTEL LONDON 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7HL Phone: + 44 (0) 20 7297 5555 | Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7297 5566 Web: www.courthouse-hotel.com

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

New year, new conference...

The Conference Centre at Old Thorns offers six modern, spacious and naturally lit rooms, each with WiFi, HD tv’s and projectors.

The rooms are all serviced by our unique conference café and all rates include unlimited tea and coffee welcome pastries and a light buffet lunch or carvery.

Day delegate rates are only £49pp and residential rates are only £149pp.

To enquire about availability, call the conference team on 01428 725 845.

Liphook | Hampshire | GU30 7PE events@oldthorns.com | 01428 725 845 | www.oldthorns.com

Old Thorns

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Fantastic range of venues for 6 - 1600 delegates Call 0151 934 2436 or visit southportconferences.com 72

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

EVENT PREVIEW

A HELPING HAND FOR EVENT BUYERS

Conferences & Events

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Government Business talks to Donna Bushell, event director of International Confex about how this year’s event is shaping up

We’ve had tremendous support this year, and have already got some global brands coming to the show to meet our visitors.

We have some exciting ideas for features that will create an even more immersive experience for guests, and we have a fun social programme so people can get the very most from two days in London.

Last year the show was held at ExCel, what are the benefits of holding the 2014 show at Olympia?

ExCeL London is a fantastic venue but the biggest feedback we got from our visitors was for a move back to Confex’s heritage in the West of London. It’s easier to access for our visitors coming around the country and we have a fantastic space in Olympia London that suits the size and ambition of the show.

The move has been really well received so we’re confident that visitors who have chosen not to come to Confex in the past will be more willing to come this time around.

From 12-13 March 2014, International Confex at London’s Olympia will open its doors to thousands of event industry buyers seeking to discover fresh ideas, the latest technologies, keep up-to-date with trends, network with peers and be inspired by expert keynote speakers.

Government Business talks to the event’s director, Donna Bushell, about this year’s event.

How is the event progressing?

We’re really excited about 2014. It is another massive year for the UK event industry with the Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games and a host of other major events all coming to Britain.

As ever with Confex we want to make sure we’re supporting our industry with fantastic educational content and an environment where people can do business together.

We’ve spoken to our industry and already shortened the show to two days and moved location to Olympia London, two major changes that have delighted our visitors.

The education for the show will be innovative and relevant for our visitors in the government sector. We’ve signed a series of partnerships with organisations that will bring high class, senior leadership figures to talk to our visitors about the industry, share key learning’s, and of course provide inspiration.

We have put in place a brilliant Steering Group who have bought some brilliant ideas and new thinking to the table. I think it’s going to be a great show, and the start of something really special for the brand.

International Confex is a big event, how do you go about organising such a large show?

The team and myself have been organising exhibitions for a long time so know how it all works. Its very much a matter of

It’s been reported that you ‘want to give the show back to the industry’ – what do you mean by this and how will you achieve it?

One of the biggest opportunities Confex has is for its exhibitors and trade partners to take ownership of the show and to bring their own creativity, ideas and of course visitor contacts to the show.

This is something they have been vocal about, they want more ownership of the show content and see it as their own responsibility to Confex to make it as inspiring as possible. This

From 12-13 March 2014, International Confex at London’s Olympia will open its doors to thousands of event industry buyers seeking to discover fresh ideas, the latest technologies and be inspired by expert keynote speakers orchestrating the stakeholders that make up the content of the show, whether its our brilliant exhibitors, our trade partners that create the educational content and the on show features, or working with visitors to make sure they get what they need from the experience. Our job is to make sure all these groups work together and fuse to create and amazing experience on the show floor.

is brilliant to hear, our job now is to help them do this and to curate the show that reflects both of our ambitions. If we can do this together we know we will create a more immersive and inspirational environment for our visitors, who come for ideas, education and to do business. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.international-confex.com

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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INTRODUCING THE NEW

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26th-27th Feb 2014 - London, UK

Conference & Exhibition - 12th-13th February 2014 - London, UK The event not to be missed. Register Today at www.cipre-expo.com “Although the EC Directive has helped in ‘assessing the need to improve the protection of European critical infrastructures’ in the transport and energy sectors, there is no indication that it has actually improved security in these sectors.”

1

• Are you aware of the future threats and risks to your critical national infrastructure?

• Do you know how to optimise security and implement the latest strategies and technologies?

• In the event of an attack, are you prepared, could you effectively react and how do you best coordinate efforts?

The integrity of critical infrastructures and their reliable operation are vital for the well-being of the citizens and the functioning of the economy.

The ever changing nature of threats, whether natural through climate change, or man-made through terrorism activities, either physical or cyber attacks, means the need to continually review and update policies, practices and technologies to meet these demands.

The Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience Europe conference will deliver debate and discussion on where future threats could arise and how best to manage the changing environment to ensure maximum protection to Europe’s critical infrastructure.

Early Bird Deadline

Register by 12th January save up to 20% on delehgate fees with Early Bird savings.

Book online at www.cipre-expo.com.

• Learn about the latest issues, threats and risk management challenges.

• Share information, case studies and ideas with international colleagues and peers that you need to work with and may rely on in an unforeseen emergency.

• Discover the latest in technologies and techniques for better securing your infrastructure and how to incorporate these into continuity plans.

Topics of discussion include: • Emerging and Future Threats, Identification and Management • Security and Resilience in Design • Modelling, Simulation, Convergence and Standardisation for Improving CIP Solutions • Cyber Threats, Detection and Security on Critical Infrastructure • International Agency Co-operation Delivering Enhanced Command and Control • Energy, Transport & Telecomms Infrastructure Security • Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordination Speakers include: • Olivier Luyckx, Head of Unit, Crisis Management and Terrorism, DG Home, European Commission • Dr Nigel Brown, Lead for Resilient ICT Strategy, Cabinet Office, Civil Contingencies Secretariat, UK • László Szücs, Programme Officer, Transnational Threats Department, Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe • Ms. Paola Albrito, Head of UNISDR Regional Office for Europe, United Nations • Clive Bairsto, Global Head of Business Resilience and Continuity, National Grid, UK • Dr. Evangelos Ouzounis, Head of Unit – Secure Infrastructure and Services, ENISA – European Network and Information Security Agency, Greece • Troels Oerting, Assistant Director, Head of European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), Europol • Andrew Wright, Head of Industrial Resources and Communications Services Group (IRCSG), NATO Operations Division • Hans Das, Head of Unit DG ECHO, A5 Civil Protection Policy, European Commission • Helena Lindberg, Director General, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), Sweden • Phil Chesworth, Head of Infrastructure Portfolio, National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) , UK • Annemarie Zielstra, Director International Relations, Cyber Resilience, TNO, Netherlands • Bharat Thakrar, Head of Business Resilience Services, BT Global Security, UK • Norman Bird, Senior Technical Lead – Nuclear Security, UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), UK • Professor Barry Clarke, President, Institution of Civil Engineers and Deputy Director, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure, UK For further details and register visit www.cipre-expo.com

Owned & Organised by:

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Supporting Organisations:

EVENT PREVIEW

SECURING EUROPE’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe conference, to be held in London on 12-13 February 2014, will focus on the fight against terrorism and enhancing European prevention

5/13/2013 6:37:26 PM

With the number of casualties still mounting from last November’s Typhoon Haiyan, it was another sad reminder of our vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and other natural disasters. Typhoon Haiyan is estimated to have left more than 6,000 people dead and about 1,700 others still missing.

Another reminder of a different sort is the chaos that was caused in Britain’s skies in December by what was described as a “technical problem” by National Air Traffic Service (NATS), the organisation responsible for air traffic control over Britain’s skies.

The problem caused hundreds of flight cancellations, thousands were inconvenienced and there will probably be millions of pounds worth of losses for the airlines, insurance companies and possibly NATS. As it turned out the “technical problem” was not caused by a cyber-attack or a fire in its control centre, but by what sounds like something that would only cause mild disruption at your local 24/7 petrol station: “…a faulty switch between its night-time and daytime operating systems.”

Whilst in this case the cause was a “technical problem”, what if it were caused by a concerted cyber-attack, a solar flare or some well-placed semtex, and they’re not able to get the day shift working again?

Attacks on critical infrastructure sites are a favoured target for terrorist groups, and for good reason. Many offer what is seen by the terrorist as a soft target – that is maximum

effect with minimal chance of interdiction.

The potential effects in terms of damage, the hugely detrimental economic impact, disruption of normal daily life and resulting publicity, can far outweigh the terrorist organisations’ commitment in both manpower and risk.

Manmade and natural disasters, such as industrial accidents, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, storms, pandemics, solar flares and volcanic ash clouds, pose an even greater danger to civil society. The European Commission has adopted a communication on Critical Infrastructure Protection in the fight against terrorism, enhancing European prevention,

CIPRE 2014

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

The integrity of critical infrastructures and their reliable operation are vital for the wellbeing of the citizens and the functioning of the economy.

The implementation of the EPCIP, under Council Directive 2008/114/EC on the identification and designation of European critical infrastructures and the need to improve their protection, has not been completely successful.

DEVELOPING FRAMEWORKS Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe (12-13 February 2014, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel, London) will bring together leading stakeholders from industry, operators, agencies and governments to collaborate on securing Europe. The conference will look at developing existing national or international legal and technical frameworks, integrating good risk management, strategic planning and implementation.

With international speakers from across Europe discussing a range of issues and topics in CIP, the conference will deliver discussion and thought-provoking presentations on many of the serious critical infrastructure protection, management and security issues and challenges facing the government and industry.

Keynote speakers include: David Campbell Bannerman MEP, member European Security & Defence Committee; Olivier Luyckx, head of unit, Crisis Management and Terrorism, DG Home, European Commission, Belgium; and Dr Nigel Brown, lead for Resilient ICT Strategy, Cabinet Office, UK. Plus, a host of key organisations will address topics from emerging threats to agency co-operation.

Key areas for discussion also include modelling, simulation, convergence and standardisation for improving CIP solutions, enabling government and industry policymakers and managers to optimise security and disaster planning, by identifying the threats and opportunities for improvement and how European standardisation could assist the industry in enhancing security solutions. Key speakers for this session: Norman Bird, senior technical lead, Nuclear Security, UK National Nuclear Laboratory, UK; Bharat Thakrar, head of Business Resilience

Attacks on critical infrastructure sites are a favoured target for terrorist groups, and for good reason. Many offer what is seen by the terrorist as a soft target – that is maximum effect with minimal chance of interdiction preparedness and response in the event of terrorist attacks involving critical infrastructures.

The European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) considers measures that will enhance the level of protection of infrastructure against external threats, with the Operator Security Plan for all infrastructures designated as European critical.

Services, BT Global Security, UK; Alessandro Lazari, PhD, and Marta Simoncini, PhD, School of Law, University of Salento, Italy.

International and National Agency Co-operation plays an important role in both how governments and organisations work together to secure critical infrastructure and mitigate potential threats, and how to E

Volume 21.1 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Ideal Catering Consultancy has brought a well organised solution to our cleaning and catering problem at Falck Nutec in Aberdeen.

Graham Gall, Managing Director “I am pleased to have ICC on board and have access to their knowledge of how the Contract Caterers “work”, together with their very professional attention to detail approach both financially and qualitatively.”

Gillian Steele, Director of Facilities Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University “The review and options appraisals completed by ICC on the University’s catering and retail services assisted us greatly in formulating our new catering strategy going forward. ICC have a wealth of experience in the sector and they applied this to substantial benefit.”

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EVENT PREVIEW  co-operate and co-ordinate response should an attack – whether manmade or natural disaster – occur. Key speakers here include: Paola Albrito, head of UNISDR regional office for Europe, United Nations; Hans Das, head of Unit DG ECHO, A5 Civil Protection Policy, European Commission, Belgium; Helena Lindberg, director general, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB); and Andrew Wright, head of Industrial Resources and Communications Services Group (IRCSG), NATO Operations Division.

Energy, transport and telecoms infrastructure are three key elements in any modern industrial nation and are indeed often used as a measure of a nation’s stage of development.

Whether it’s the oil, gas or electricity used to power the transport, heat our homes and power our businesses, national and international telecommunications or passenger travel through airports to rail, or freight through our ports and harbours to road and rail, power, transport and telecommunications are the crucial economic lifeblood of any modern industrial economy.

DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY Therefore, should any of these be damaged – by terrorist attack, natural or man-made disasters – they have the potential to cause damage to the economy far in excess of any physical damage they may incur. The problem for the authorities, operators and agencies is to ensure the right balance of security, safety and resilience in facilities that are widely dispersed and in the case of transport, public places. Clive Bairsto, global head of Business Resilience, National Grid, UK; and Stephen Gregory, chief executive officer, Harnser Risk Group, UK; and Francis Morgan, security director, Heathrow Airport, will lead the discussions.

has been widely publicised and indeed prolific in recent months. From the individual hacker to state sponsored attacks, what are the threats and how do we counter them? Dr Evangelos Ouzounis, head of Unit, Secure Infrastructure and Services, European Network and Information Security Agency, Greece; Troels Oerting, assistant director, head of European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), Europol, Netherlands; and Annemarie Zielstra, director International Relations Cyber Resilience TNO, Netherlands, will lead the discussion in this key topic area.

Protecting critical infrastructure is all well and good, but are operators and agencies ready and co-ordinated should an attack actually occur and be successful?

THE RIGHT PLACE, THE RIGHT TIME Getting the right help to the right place and the right people is about communications, planning and organisation. How best do central and local government and the emergency services co-ordinate their efforts,

The ever-changing nature of threats, whether natural through climate change or manmade through terrorism activities means the need to continually review and update policies, practices and technologies to meet these demands Some threats are well-known and remain a persistent danger, but what are the evolving, emerging and potential threats? How do we identify, manage and deal with the significant proportion of emerging manmade threats?

László Szücs, programme officer, Transnational Threats Department, Action Against Terrorism Unit, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Austria; Phil Chesworth, head of Infrastructure Portfolio, National Counter Terrorism Security Office, UK; and P Gelton, director, Threat and Risk Analysis Department, National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism and Security, Netherlands, will present their findings.

One of the hot media stories recently has been around the challenges with cybersecurity.

The potential for a cyber-attack to compromise our power, financial, communications systems

and co-operate with infrastructure operators, to bring relief to the point of most need when national infrastructure is most challenged?

In the Emergency Preparedness and Response Co-ordination session, Alan Brustrom, head of the Application Business Office (REACT), European Space Agency, France; Michael Fuller, director, SCC Global, UK; Claudio Becchetti, ISITEP project co-ordinator, Selex ES, Italy; and Paul Kiernan, REACT project manager, Skytec, Ireland, will present the discussions.

Peter Gattinesi, European Reference Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Joint Research Centre, European Commission; Professor Barry Clarke, president, Institution of Civil Engineering and deputy director, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure, UK; Anthony Clerici, vice president, Royal Institute

CIPRE 2014

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

of British Architects, UK; and Richard Flint, physical security certification scheme manager, BRE Global, UK, will be discussing how we design and build security and resilience into our critical infrastructure buildings and places without looking like fortress Europe.

Article 196 of the Lisbon Treaty enshrines in law that: “The Union shall encourage co-operation between Member States in order to improve the effectiveness of systems for preventing and protecting against natural or manmade disasters.”

The ever-changing nature of threats, whether natural through climate change or manmade through terrorism activities, either physical or cyber-attacks, means the need to continually review and update policies, practices and technologies to meet these demands.

Whether in local or national government, or an operator of national infrastructure, your attendance to Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe will ensure you are up-to-date on the latest issues, policies and challenges facing the security of Europe’s critical national infrastructure (CNI). You will also gain an insight as to what the future holds for Europe, the collaboration and support between member nations required to ensure CNI is protected from future threats and how to better plan, co-ordinate and manage a disaster.

Supporting organisations of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe include: the Institute of Civil Protection & Emergency Management; National Security & Resilience Consortium; International Security Industry Organization; European Corporate Security Association; and BORDERPOL, the World Border Organization. L

FURTHER INFORMATION For the full conference programme and more details on delegate fees and an early bird discount (when booked before 21 January), visit www.cipre-expo.com.

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29– 30 APRIL 2014 | OLYMPIA, LONDON

WORLD – INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FOR AN EVOLVING WORLD – INTERN

Counter Terror Expo offers the most comprehensive display of technology, equipment and services alongside a high level education programme designed to protect against the evolving security threat.

9,500 attendees and 400+ exhibitors will participate in multiple show floor workshops, new show feature zones, IEDD demo area, high level conference streams, behind closed door briefings and networking events in one secure environment.

CTX 2014 is a must attend event for professionals within; Banking / Finance, Border Control / Immigration, Communications / IT, Emergency Services / Ambulance Services / Fire Brigades, Energy / Oil & Gas / Nuclear, Government / Intelligence Agencies, Health, Logistics / Supply Chain, Maritime / Anti-Piracy, MOD/Military / IEDD Regiments, Police / Gendarmerie, Private Sector, Security Companies, Transport Security, Utilities / Water Visit the event website to discover why you should attend CTX 2014

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NEW ZONES AT COUNTER TERROR EXPO TO REFLECT EVOLVING SECURITY THREAT

Counter Terror Expo 2014

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Counter Terror Expo has grown to become the largest international counter terrorism and security event of its kind. In response to the ever-evolving nature of terrorism, the 2014 NATIONAL SECURITY FOR AN EVOLVING WORLD event – which takes place 29-30 April at Olympia London – will have five new zones

Counter Terror Expo 2013 saw a nine per cent increase in the number of attendees and that pattern of growth is expected to continue into 2014 when some 9,500+ visitors, 400+ exhibitors and 350+ VIP and international delegations are expected to attend.

Last year, the Counter Terror Expo organisers, Clarion Events, introduced new Feature Zones to the exhibition in order to highlight the best products, systems and solutions available to meet emerging threats in specific areas of the counter terrorism and security arena. For 2014, to reflect the evolving international security threat, five new zones are being added.

BORDER SECURITY ZONE & ACCESS CONTROL ZONE Due to the increasing pressure on international borders and the growing risks to large-scale sensitive sites, this zone will feature the latest developments: from new physical infrastructure components to the most advanced biometric, screening and scanning technologies.

INTEGRATED SECURITY IN ACTION The integration of technology allows for a more complete picture of security breaches, incidents and disturbances, enabling law enforcement agencies and security teams to modify their responses. This zone will have the latest range of CCTV, access control, perimeter protection and control-room security technology, as well as providing an interactive educational and technology showcase demonstrating integrated security platforms in action.

SECURE COMMUNICATIONS & CYBERTERRORISM ZONE This zone will showcase the latest technology that has been adopted by Homeland Security and law enforcement teams to ensure the integration of cyberterrorism prevention activities in response to the increasing threat to nations, organisations and the public.

UNMANNED VEHICLES ZONE Reflecting the increasing use of unmanned vehicles for intelligence gathering and to achieve safe and cost-effective access to remote locations and hazardous areas, this zone will display new and established manufacturers of ground and air vehicles.

SMALL ARMS ZONE The role that small arms play in helping Special Forces and Special Operations prevent acts of extreme violence or terrorism from escalating further is absolutely crucial. This zone will showcase the latest prototypes of the weapons being developed by international suppliers, as well as the small arms tactics and techniques that are being adopted to help fight terrorism.

CTX 2014 will also see a free-to-attend workshop programme on the show floor, with sessions focusing on new products, innovations, standards and industry engagement.

The popular IEDD Demo Area is set to return with five new scenarios that will touch upon civilian and field-based operations, CBRN, and a vehicle-borne IED car clearance, which will all link-in police and military teams, both

pre and during the operation, and then post operations forensic analysis.

CTX 2014 will also hold an extensive multi-stream conference, with high-level keynotes featuring within its Global Counter Terrorism conference and dedicated streams on Securing Public Spaces, Emergency Services, Cybersecurity & Electronic Terrorism and Future Policing & Border Security.

Philip Hunter, event director, Clarion Defence & Security, says: “The recent events in Kenya and news of the latest terrorism-related arrests in the UK have shown yet again how the threat from terrorism is not only ever-present but ever-changing. Counter Terror Expo 2014 has been carefully planned to ensure we continue to respond to the evolving needs of all sections of the counter-terrorism and security community.”

Next year’s Counter Terror Expo 2014 will bring together leading experts from government, the military, the intelligence and security services, the police and the emergency services, as well as the developers and manufacturers of the latest counter-terrorism and security products, systems and services. L

FURTHER INFORMATION Pre-register at www.counterterrorexpo. com/register. CTX 2014 is a secure event so visitors must register first to have their attendance approved.

CTX 2014 at Olympia London (29-30 April) will be co-located with Forensics Europe Expo and Ambition, the dedicated UK ambulance and pre-hospital care exhibition.

CTX 2014 visitors will be able to visit all three shows using their CTX 2014 badge

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GT News

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

E-VOTING

BYOD

Surrey University to develop Australian e-voting system

BYOD set to grow as Cabinet Office regulations permit securely managed BYOD, says Socitm report

A University of Surrey team has signed a contract with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) in Australia to develop the ‘back end’ software for a supervised e-voting system for use at the Victorian State election in 2014.

The project is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale verifiable political election.

Victorian law allows the VEC to make e-voting kiosks available for those living with a vision impairment or who have insufficient English literacy skills, as well as those who live outside the State of Victoria. The system includes ‘end-to-end verifiability’ using cryptography to allow independent election monitoring without compromising the secrecy of the ballot. Voters are given a receipt of their vote in encrypted form so they can check their encrypted READ MORE: vote is tinyurl.com/qzb8r8z included.

PUBLIC SERVICE NETWORKS

‘Dark ages’ return for local government without deal Local government will return to the ‘dark ages’ if talks on council compliance with the public services network (PSN) are not resolved, a senior LGA figure has warned.

Chairman of the LGA’s improvement board Cllr Peter Fleming issued the warning as dialogue continued between the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm) and Cabinet Office.

The Cabinet Office has adopted a zero‑tolerance regime and has threatened to disconnect councils that fail to secure their connection to the PSN. Socitm admits that PSN could lead to ‘considerable’ costs for councils and impose restrictions on flexible working. But the organisation insists PSN will ‘substantially reduce the cost of communication services across UK government and enable new, joined up and shared information-based public services for the benefit of citizens’.

Socitm president Steve Halliday said: ‘It is my hope and optimistic belief that the compliance storm will pass and the READ MORE: benefits will tinyurl.com/pp6djxs then flow.

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The trend to ‘bring your own device’ is set to continue in local public services despite the fact that central government regulations, in particular in connection to the Public Sector Network (PSN) are wary of this development, according to local government IT group Socitm.

While discussions continue between Socitm, the Local Government Association and the Cabinet Office on BYOD and other PSN connection issues, Socitm has published a new report that explains the drivers for BYOD and sets out details of the associated risks and benefits.

A balancing act: current approaches to BYOD in local public services says that the consumerisation of ICT has created employee demand to use their own (often superior) technology for work. At the same time austerity is requiring organisations to maximise cost saving and efficiency and increase productivity. Advocates of BYOD argue that it makes employees happier and more productive, enables the cost savings of flexible working, and shifts the costs of acquisition and renewal of devices to employees.

On the downside, allowing employees’ devices on the network presents a huge security headache for organisations. Users tend to focus on performing their jobs, not security, and may inadvertently allow sensitive files to leave the network without encryption, resulting in data loss or corruption.

Others may also download popular apps that contain malware, posing a risk to the corporate network. Users working with open and non-sensitive data may not appreciate why these security issues need to affect them.

A section of the report explains how the Cabinet Office’s current compliance requirements for connection to the Public Services Network (PSN) has created unintended consequences for councils wishing to exploit the benefits of BYOD. Details of changes one county council has had to make to its BYOD practices are set

out, and the report suggests that compliance guidelines have been disproportionally applied and need to be reviewed. Socitm, the Local CIO Council and senior representatives of local authorities are currently involved in dialogue with the Cabinet Office on this issue and the advice to local authorities is to check on the latest situation before making any decisions about BYOD policies and implementations.

The report points out that BYOD is not all bad for security, however: currently, networks are often compromised by users emailing work to their personal email accounts. By enabling BYOD, organisations could better manage this significant challenge to network security.

The report also emphaises that BYOD is not just an issue for ICT professionals. Changing to a BYOD approach should involve HR, finance and legal specialists, and requires the organisation to develop policies and formal agreements to cover usage and practice and to set out procedures to be followed if devices are lost, stolen or otherwise compromised.

What happens when the employee’s device fails is also an issue for consideration.

As well as examining these general issues, the report provides a series of case studies from organisations pioneering BYOD and related practice.

“Individuals have become tech savvy and will look to circumvent ICT policies if they feel they are being hindered from doing their job,” says Martin Greenwood, programme manager for Socitm Insight. “Socitm benchmarking data shows a significant drop in user satisfaction with ICT services where restrictions on flexible practices like BYOD have been imposed to allow connection to the Public Services Network (PSN). Socitm is continuing to work with the Cabinet Office, its members and suppliers to resolve these obstacles to rapid adoption of BYOD by READ MORE: local public www.socitm.net services.”

DIGITAL LEADERS SURVEY

NEW YEARS HONOURS

Mike Bracken gets CBE

BCS Digital Leaders survey sees budgets and security high on the list of concerns Only 10 per cent of digital leaders feel that their organisation has enough resources to address the management issues and IT trends that their company has prioritised, according to the annual digital leaders survey from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. More than half of the digital leaders surveyed (57 per cent) indicated that they need enhanced IT skills among their existing workforce, 48 per cent require additional IT staff that are suitably qualified, and 37 per cent would like a bigger budget.

Adam Thilthorpe, director of professionalism for the Institute says: “These results reinforce the impact IT has on business today. The digital leader or CIO needs the right people with the right skills to enable an organisation to improve productivity, increase efficiency and maximise competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

The survey also reveals that business change is high on the agenda for 2014.

Digital leaders were asked what they considered to be their organisation’s top three management issues over the next 12 months.

64 per cent rate business transformation and organisational change as a priority, followed by strategy and planning (49 per cent) and operational efficiencies (47 per cent).

Respondents were also asked what they consider to be their organisation’s top three IT topics or trends for the next 12 months. 57 per cent rate mobile computing, followed closely by information security (53 per cent) and cloud computing (49 per cent). Yet while these can bring operational cost savings and employee satisfaction, it can mean increased headaches for information security professionals – security emerged as the thing most likely to keep digital leaders awake at night.

Thilthorpe adds: “It’s probably not surprising that security is the issue most likely to keep digital leaders awake at night. Cyber security is high on everyone’s agenda from issues around BYOD, cloud computing through to data management, loss and intellectual property – it’s an important issue for organisations to get DOWNLOAD THE SURVEY: to grips www.bcs.org/dlsurvey with.”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES

GT News

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

The new years honours list reveals that Mike Bracken, head of the Government Digital Service, will receive the CBE for ‘services to Digital Public Services and voluntary service in the London Borough of Hackney’.

Bracken joined the Cabinet Office in June 2011, prior to which he was director of digital development at Guardian News & Media.

On his website, Bracken writes: “Whether it is the work of the Department of Work and Pensions team on Carers Allowance in Preston, the Ministry of Justice teams in Birmingham and Nottingham who are making Lasting Powers of Attorney a digital service or the team in Glasgow who are making Student finance a truly digital transaction, its their teamwork and commitment to user needs which enables me to receive this award.”

A leading figure in the open data campaign, Jenifer Tennison, technical director, Open Data Institute, receives the OBE for services to technology and open data.

Rotherham ICT chief advocates COUNCIL ICT a shared platform for local iPad responsible government websites for Microsoft Councils should abandon their existing websites in favour of a shared platform similar to the .gov.uk website (right) serving central government departments, according Richard Copley, Head of ICT at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

In a blog posting, Copley calls for the creation of a Local Government Digital Service (LDGS) to oversee the standardisation and improvement of digital services in councils. He said creating standardised services could reap significant savings by reducing up to 25,000 software applications currently run by authorities across England.

In his Digital by Default blog, Richard Copley writes: “GDS certainly seem to have no appetite to attempt to tackle local gov – they have too much on their plate already. They have offered to share code, standards, APIs, frameworks etc – the philosophy being that we create a service of ‘small pieces loosely joined’ (a phrase which was originally used as an analogy to describe the Internet) – this means that responsibility for implementing this stuff would be devolved to individual Councils.

“It’s nice of the GDS to offer to share this knowledge, but I don’t think it’s quite

the right approach – we’re already a community of small pieces, loosely joined and we’re in a mess, we’re fragmented.

Rather than being handed a set of tools and the message – “This is how we did it for Central Gov – knock yourself out!”, I would like to see the creation of a Local Government Digital Service which oversees the standardisation and improvement of all things digital in Councils.

“If each council agreed to subscribe to an LGDS and paid just £3,000 per year we’d be able deliver a local.gov.uk platform which would remove the need for individual council websites, significantly reduce software support and maintenance costs for a range of systems, allow for headcount reductions in web/digital/IT teams and begin to move away from local data centres.”

Copley also said that public sector IT representative body Socitm should lead the initiative, as it has “a ready made team of experts in digital government who know what is needed to transform local government and who are champing at the bit READ MORE: to get tinyurl.com/o6yvaln cracking.”

shut-out at South Cambs

A review carried out by South Cambridgeshire District Council has concluded that iPads offer advantages including portability, ease of use and potential cost reductions.

The Council will now no longer offer support for Microsoft devices used by its councillors and it will offer incentives for them to switch.

It said that councillors would pay £10 a month for their full four year terms to be provide with a new iPad, which would be fully supported by the council’s ICT service.

Support for members’ own devices would be available only for iPads, but for other tablet devices only on a ‘best endeavours’ basis.

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G-CLOUD

PUTTING HEADS INTO THE CLOUD

ensure that they are delivering the best service possible in order to stay ahead of the game.

G-Cloud services are available to over 29,000 public sector organisations and the Framework is already delivering tangible benefits. With the fourth incarnation going live in October last year, and the fifth expected in the first half of 2014, Government Technology looks at the programme’s perceived successes and failures so far

The G-Cloud programme has come a long way since it was launched in February 2012, but there is still much more to do to deliver the levels of change that the government is aiming for in its commitment to invest in technology as a way to facilitate positive changes for the over-stretched public sector.

The project has forced the re-appraisal of the UK public sector ICT market. To date, the programme has delivered a number of benefits to public sector organisations and has tackled the numerous problems associated with traditional methods of procurement – delivering more efficient, cost-effective, scalable and secure services and a greater and better informed choice.

The programme has also succeeded in facilitating a behavioural change, by allowing organisations to turn servers off during evenings and weekends, resulting in significant energy and cost savings as a direct result.

The far-sighted approach that the government has taken to improve public sector IT deployment is also leading the way in Europe. The initiative additionally supports the government’s target to transact 25 per cent of its business with SMEs, by giving them a low-barrier route into the ICT market.

INCREASED COMPETITION The only ones for whom the Framework hasn’t been good news is the incumbents, who have for too long remained complacent, inflexible and expensive. Instead of offering easy-to-adopt, easy-to-use and easy-to‑leave services, many incumbents have for far too long been delivering services that not

Cloud Computing

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

MARKETING CONCERNS The fourth instalment of the programme went live in October last year. With the fifth set to swiftly follow in 2014, the initiative is set to continue delivering positive change to the UK public sector. However, resent research by Six Degrees Group suggests around 90 per cent of UK councils have not used G-Cloud yet.

In the survey of 300 UK councils and local authorities by G-Cloud accredited managed service provider Six Degrees Group, 87 per cent of respondents said they are not using the procurement framework to purchase cloud-based services at this time. Furthermore, 76 per cent of those surveyed said they had no idea what the G-Cloud framework is for.

Six Degrees Group claim its survey results bring to light concerns about the way G-Cloud is being marketed to public sector organisations, with the firm’s group strategy and marketing director Campbell Williams citing communication issues: “Cloud services have the potential to be revolutionary for the public sector and G-Cloud is a framework specifically intended to make sourcing these services simple,” he said.

“However it’s clearly not doing its job for a huge number of councils and local authorities in the UK, which could otherwise be benefiting from the expenditure savings, innovations, agility and security of cloud computing.

“We’re disappointed G-Cloud is still failing both customers and suppliers alike. If those behind G-Cloud don’t educate the public sector soon, government procurement for IT will continue to be handled by the same old faces delivering the same poor outcomes for the taxpayer,” Williams added.

AT THE HELM Back in May 2012, Denise McDonagh took over from Chris Chant as head of the Government’s G-Cloud programme as suppliers readied themselves for the second incarnation of the G-Cloud Framework.

Six Degrees Group claim its survey results bring to light concerns about the way G-Cloud is being marketed to public sector organisations, with the firm’s group strategy and marketing director Campbell Williams citing communication issues only lock-in customers but fails to deliver, either in terms of performance or cost.

In a bid to create a superior end-user experience, which directly impacts the general public, the G-Cloud initiative has driven competition among vendors to deliver the best cloud services at the most competitive prices. Even the best suppliers will have to continually evaluate their offerings and

McDonagh is seen as another of the reformers in Whitehall IT. In an interview with Computer Weekly soon after her appointment, she said: “We’ve got to the point where things have to change. We can’t continue to deliver IT in the way we do. I have many examples of frustrated customers, as they can’t get IT quickly enough and at a price they can afford.”

McDonagh has worked in government IT E

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G-CLOUD  for over 30 years, beginning her career at one of the most junior levels to eventually take one of the top Whitehall IT roles. During the last 10 years she has been focused on dealing with big suppliers - one of her key roles was director of outsourcing at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, before moving to the Home Office.

EXTEND AND BLEND McDonagh implemented an ‘extend and blend programme’ in 2009 for the Home Office, which broke up supplier duplication on a number of systems management contracts within the department, including desktops, hosting, and networks. That activity rationalised and improved hosting capabilities and took out more than £100m in costs over the life of the contracts. The experience positioned the department to become one of the government’s Foundation Delivery Partners for its G-Cloud strategy.

McDonagh left the post in June 2013 to focus her efforts on her role as head of IT for the Home Office. Her departure came at a turbulent time for the G-Cloud, which was placed under the control of the Government Digital Service (GDS), a body tasked with various initiatives designed to make Britain a ‘digital by default’ nation.

Leaving the post, McDonagh said: “I can now hand over G-Cloud to GDS, safe in the knowledge that we have started such a groundswell of support and momentum for change that G-Cloud is here to stay and can only continue to spread and evolve, ensuring better, cheaper and more responsive IT in the public sector. “This has been the most enjoyable rollercoaster ride ever,” she said.

A NEW LEADER Tony Singleton, chief operating officer at GDS, took over the reigns to lead on G-Cloud, and the fourth iteration of the framework went live in October.

G-Cloud 4 attracted over 40 per cent more suppliers than the previous procurement, taking the total number of suppliers with services in the CloudStore catalogue to 1,186, 84 per cent of which are SMEs. In all, CloudStore now features more than 13,000 services. Cumulative sales from CloudStore reached £78 million barrier, with 58 per cent of the total spend going to SMEs. Tony Singleton said: “We are constantly working to improve G-Cloud and the CloudStore, making it more straightforward and less expensive for suppliers wanting to join the marketplace and for public sector customers to purchase the technology they need.

“For G4, we have fed in valuable intelligence and opinions from buyers and suppliers. But the job of lowering barriers to participation and making the process as easy and open as possible goes on.”

The list of suppliers that have won places on the G4 framework includes names such as IBM, Capita, Amazon Web Services,

Cloud Computing

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

In all, CloudStore now features more than 13,000 services. Cumulative sales from CloudStore reached £78 million barrier, with 58 per cent of the total spend going to SMEs Computacenter, Hewlett Packard, Capgemini and Atos as well as gov.uk hosters Skyscape and Carrenza. Atos said it had ‘dramatically’ expanded its portfolio of cloud services on G4, and together with its specialised cloud entity, Canopy, it will have 97 services listed, including offerings in partnership with SMEs.

public beta. Together with CESG, we are looking at how the accreditation process can be made simpler, clearer and faster.”

ACCREDITATION Accreditation is a crucial consideration for public sector buyers looking to procure assured cloud services through G-Cloud. Vendors should endeavour to understand and meet with the government assurance standards, certifications and accreditations regarding quality, information security, IT service management and the environment in which data is hosted.

Tony Singleton writes: “Since the launch of G-Cloud in February 2011, accreditation has been an integral part of delivering cloud services securely to Government and the wider public sector. During that time we have reviewed the accreditation process once already. We initially took all of the services registered onto a G-Cloud framework and sorted them into tranches for accreditation.

In August 2012 we adjusted our approach for accreditation prioritisation in order to give more suppliers the chance to start the process.

“We have had some great successes as the first few services have achieved pan‑government accreditation. As more services achieve accreditation status, we need to support competition in the marketplace.

We must also ensure that our accreditation processes fit with new Government Security Classification. In addition some new guidance for Cloud service security principles was recently published as a

TEN FOLD INCREASE Phil Dawson, ceo of Skyscape Cloud Services sees a massive increase in uptake by the end of next year. He writes: “It has been a momentous and largely successful year for public sector IT. The latest recorded spend via G-Cloud was just under £63.5m up until the end of November – a substantial sum given that the spend was just over £2m in January 2013. Various other Government initiatives have had great success in growing the public sector take up of cloud technologies and in tackling the overly risk-averse culture that exists in the public sector. Judging by the rapidly escalating spend via G-Cloud last year, we predict October 2014’s spend will be ten times that of October 2013.”

“As a Framework supplier, we are keen to see more transparency around the opportunities that are now available in the market. We hope to see GDS tackle some of the rather tenuous myths that surround cloud computing.

Additionally, while the G-Cloud programme has without doubt succeeded in broadening the market to smaller suppliers, there is more to be done to increase competition in the higher Impact Levels (ILs) – at IL3 and above, for instance. At present, there are relatively few suppliers that are accredited to IL3 and above and we hope so see an increase in competition at this end of the market moving forward, with suppliers upping their game when it comes to accreditation, without the bar being lowered.” L FURTHER INFORMATION http://gcloud.civilservice.gov.uk

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EVENT PREVIEW

TAKE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE CLOUD TO THE NEXT LEVEL Get all the inside advice you need to help you move forward in cloud exploitation at the multi-award winning Cloud Expo Europe (CEE) conference on 26-27 February 2014, ExCeL London

You don’t need to be told that wherever you are on the cloud learning curve – early adopter, already reaping the multiple benefits or smaller business just beginning the journey now – it always feels like there is so much more to do and so many more opportunities to exploit. But how do you sort the grand promises from the practical realities? And where can you find inside advice on what to do, how to do it and who to do it with?

Get down to Cloud Expo Europe, taking place on 26-27 February 2014 at ExCeL London. At the event will be a mind-boggling 300 speakers in a massive, multi-streamed FREE conference programme.

Learn from dozens of real-life case studies, including the biggest of blue chips, the public sector and the smartest SMEs. Featuring genuinely cutting-edge and innovate technologies from a record number of international suppliers, including: NetApp, Amazon Web Services, Digital Realty, NaviSite, HP, Interxion, Interoute, Rackspace, Dell, SSE Telecoms, Telstra Global, Savvis and Vodafone – to name just a few.

Cloud Expo Europe will cover everything from hybrid cloud to software-defined networks and datacentres, open-source cloud to IaaS, from security and governance to cloud applications and from complex hosting to development platforms.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to network with thousands of peers, industry visionaries and leaders, as well as people who have faced – and overcome – the same or similar challenges.

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The conference features an enviable line-up of the cloud’s biggest names and brightest brains. The event will feature the following speakers: Adrian Cockcroft, cloud architect, Netflix Inc; James Stewart, head of technology, Government Digital Services, Cabinet Office; James Thomas, ICT director, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust; Jonathan Galore,

CTO and VP Technology, Wonga.com; Joan Miller, director of Parliamentary ICT, Houses of Parliament; Peter Ransom, chief information officer, Oxfam GB; James Thomas, ICT director, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust; Stavros Isaiadis, assistant VP of Electronic Trading Technology, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; James Stewart, head of technology,

Whether you are an early adopter, already reaping the multiple benefits or a smaller business just beginning the journey, it always feels like there are more opportunities to exploit. At CEE, find out what to do, how to do it and who to do it with Government Digital Services, Cabinet Office; David Ogden, project director, Education Funding Agency; Cameron Craig, partner, co-chair EU Data Protection and Privacy Team, DLA Piper; David Bulman, director of Information Technology, Virgin Atlantic Airways; and Chris Kemp, CEO, Nebula. L FURTHER INFORMATION To register for FREE entry, visit www.cloudexpoeurope.com/govtech.

For the programme and to book FREE tickets, go to www.cloudexpoeurope.com.

Tickets for the event also allows you FREE entry into Data Centre World, co-located with Cloud Expo Europe. See www.datacentreworld.com for details.

EVENT PREVIEW

GAIN KNOWLEDGE IN THE DATA CENTRE INDUSTRY

Data Centre World & Expo

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

The entire Data Centre and Cloud ecosystem will gather at ExCeL London in February for Europe’s premier Data Centre event The broad spread of exhibitors, comprehensive conference programme and opportunities to network with industry colleagues at Data Centre World Conference & Expo (ExCeL London on 26-27 February) is the perfect environment for the data centre professional to gain the tools and knowledge to deal with the ever-increasing complexity of the industry.

It’s the UK’s largest and fastest-growing exhibition and conference for data centre managers, professionals, distributors and channel partners and all key aspects of managing a data centre – including big data, cabling, the cloud, connectivity and telecoms, cooling, design and build, IT security and physical site security, power and power management, servers and hardware software and applications, storage and virtualisation.

Data Centre World was acquired by CloserStill Media, and 2014’s event will be bigger and better than ever. The major change is that Data Centre World will be co-located alongside Cloud Expo Europe, ensuring that Data Centre World will deliver an industry-led free-to-attend conference and seminar programme.

TWO NEW KEYNOTE THEATRES Plus, in response to feedback from attendees, there are other new changes taking place for this year’s programme. Data Centre World 2014 (DCW 2014) will be introducing two new Keynote Theatres: Data Centres of the Future and Data Centre Infrastructure Management.

These dynamic theatres will feature real case studies as well as key industry figureheads and their major supporting partners, adding scope to an already expansive programme.

This year, the number of free-to-attend conference sessions has swelled to over 80 and these are to be held in five theatres, covering every aspect of Data Centre Management.

The Analyst Theatre, Facilities and Infrastructure Theatres will return for DCW 2014. The Analyst Theatre, run by IDC, will have analysts presenting on legal, management, training, recruitment and market data.

The Network and Infrastructure Theatre features data centre design, build, property/ real estate management, cabling, networking, cabinets, racking and flooring whilst the Facilities Theatre focuses on power and cooling, UPS, energy efficiency and energy provision, physical security, and business continuity, relocation, and data centre cleaning.

Delegates who attend a session in the

IT, Cloud and Outsourcing Theatre will hear experts share their experiences on virtualisation, DCIM, software, applications, outsourcing, managed services, web services and the Cloud. The IT Hardware and Big Data Theatre covers servers, storage, IT security, BYOD management and Big Data.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS This year’s confirmed speakers include: Tom Furlong, vice president, site operations, Facebook; Ian Dixon, VP operations, Colt Data Centre Services; George Slessman, CEO and product architect, IO; Geoff McGrath, managing director, McLaren Applied Technologies; Robert Potts, business development director, MITIE Technical Facilities Management; Grant Kennedy, managing director, MITIE Compliance; Peter Gross, Bloom Energy; Huw Owen, CEO, ARK; Kobi Haggay, Rit Technologies; Dominic Phillips, managing director, Datum; John Noakes, director of product marketing & partners, Attenda; Mark Collins, sales director, Excool; Adam Smith, director, Paragon Internet Group, Key Source; Jay Park, data center design engineering, Facebook; Ian McVey, director of marketing and business development, enterprise and systems integrator segment, Interxion; David Gauthier, director of data center architecture and design strategy, Microsoft; Steven A Watt, CIO, University of St Andrews; Vijay Mistry, executive director enterprise infrastructure, Morgan Stanley; Paul Jennings, head of ICT, Surrey CC; and Andrew Roughan, commercial director, Infinity.

SPEAKERS’ PRESENTATIONS Speakers will be delivering presentations on the following: The Data Centre Crossroads; The Software-Defined Data Centre, Foundation for Advance Analytics; Challenges of the Modern Data Centre; Distributed Generation in Mission Critical Applications; Data Centres – Their Place in the World and Influences on Their Future; The Data Centre of the Future is Not the Data Centre of the Past; Indirect Adiabatic and Evaporative DC Cooling – 100 per cent Free Cooling, Lower Cost, Increased Resilience; Data Centre Design for Cloud Computing and Big Data; How Data Centres Will Drive the Cities of Tomorrow; Designing and Operating Cloud-Scale Data Centers; Bridging the Gap Between IT & Facilities; and Making the Data Centre Part of the IT Solution, Not the Place Where it Resides.

THE EXHIBITION Another integral part of the event is the exhibition, which grows bigger every year. In February, it will host around 150 exhibitors, many with launches and announcements to make as Data Centre World is one of the best platforms for exhibitors to communicate from with a captured and engaged audience.

DCW aims to give attendees information on all aspects of running a data centre.

Content is aimed at IT executives including chief information and technology officers, IT directors, data centre managers, information technology and infrastructure managers, network managers, network, cabling and communication engineers and integrators.

There’s also a lot for corporate executives who are responsible for any aspect of their organisation’s data centre. Past delegates have also come from third-party data centre operators, distributors and channel partners and companies involved in the design, build and maintenance of data centres.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Visitors to DCW can: learn from case studies; network with their counterparts in other organisations; meet the leading suppliers to the market and see their latest offerings; find out if outsourcing is an option for their organisation; learn how to save on power consumption; gain advice of physical and virtual security; see how data centre location costs vary; view demonstrations and discuss business needs; and keep abreast of industry developments.

Register early for a place and to be kept up-todate with event developments, updates to the conference programme and the latest exhibitor news. You will also be notified of when to book a place on any of the sessions. Conference bookings are first-come, first-served. L FURTHER INFORMATION Visit www.datecentreworldexpo.com for details and to register for your free ticket

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Geographic Information Written by Chris Rhodes, Association for Geographic Information

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IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

IMPROVING PLANNING WITH GIS TECHNOLOGY

Geographical Information Systems can provide local authorities with the knowledge needed to make important decisions. Chris Rhodes looks at the major innovations in this area and describes the challenges councils face when adopting these systems The utility sector is increasingly using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to better manage and deliver their services. There is an increasing amount of innovation in this sector and much of it is transferable and useful to the public sector.

Traditionally the main role of GIS in utility provisions has been as an asset management tool. Utility companies have a considerable amount of geographically disparate assets many of which may not be easy to access. A≈GIS system allows the utility companies to combine datasets like site assessments and maintenance records with a spatial location. This allows for simple efficiency savings like better routing of inspecting engineers. However the addition of the spatial element also makes it easier to asses risk and model the impact of the failure of any given asset. Being able to combine data on the location, state of repair and surroundings of a given asset enables the implementation of a much more targeted and efficient maintenance schedule.

Clearly the challenge faced by the utilities sector in terms of asset management has strong similarities to the challenges faced by both central and local government. Both are required to maintain large, complex and often geographically disparate networks whether this is a water main or a local road network. Secondly failure or reduced performance of any particular component of these networks can have significant negative effects on both the economy and the citizen.

A GIS SOLUTION FOR MANCHESTER Manchester City Council faced just such a challenge with managing flood risk throughout their administrative area. The council wanted to create a register of structures likely to have an effect on flood risk if not performing properly (such

as culverts, debris filters, storm drains) and then assess the potential impact of a failure.

The overall aim was to enable better informed decisions to be made about relative risk and therefore budget allocation and maintenance scheduling. It was decided that a GIS solution would be the best option as this allowed a more effective way to model and visualise risk and visualise the location of the assets.

The council contracted out to JBA Consulting to collect the data and integrate it into a GIS solution. The result was a collection of maps for each structure modelling different water depths, velocities and return periods. This enabled users to easily assess the impact area and therefore the risk for any given structure and this has since been used to schedule maintenance of the structures in an informed way making better use of resources and improving the management of risk. It is important to note that the solution was delivered as a series of linked .pdf documents allowing users to drill down from the ward level to the specific asset. This made the solution accessible to a much wider range of users as no hard GIS knowledge was necessary.

MAKING INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE Alongside the general principle of creating geospatial asset registers (in this case with additional layers for risk), which has long been prominent in the utilities sector, this project raises two other interesting points. The first is that the output of this project was deliberately designed

Smart re cities a t the nex tion va big innosent an and pre ity and a n opportuge for GIS challen e public in th or sect

Geographic Information

to be as accessible to as many potential users as possible. The linked .pdf format chosen allows users with little specialist knowledge in the field of GIS to access the information. This drive to increase access to geospatial information is something that is increasingly seen in the utility sector. The desire is to put this kind of information into the hands of the technicians and engineers in the field maximising its value right through an organisation.

THE DANGERS OF OUTSOURCING The other point of interest is that this project was outsourced to an external consultancy rather than carried out by an internal GIS team. Reports from the public sector members of the AGI (Association for Geographic Information) suggest that the current budget constraints faced by central and local government agencies mean that internal GIS services are being reduced. These organisations are increasingly contracting out to small and medium sized GIS companies for the necessary expertise. Interestingly the observation about the increasing drive to output geospatial information in a more accessible way could be a symptom of a reduction in GIS literate staff. The danger is that GIS is seen as an area for reduction rather than an area that can help deliver efficiencies and reduce costs. Of course on a project by project basis it is possible to contract out for the expertise but this puts a holistic and joined up approach at risk.

INNOVATIONS IN SMART CITIES Another innovation in the utilities sector is smart metering which will soon be rolled out across the UK. This will provide utility companies with a huge amount of real time data with a spatial element to it (the location of the meter). The utilities sector (particularly energy) also already uses smart monitoring to produce real time data on the condition and status of their assets. The principles of smart metering/monitoring, basically real time data collection have been taken up by the public sector to help manage complex urban environments. Real time spatial data such as traffic flows, air quality and noise pollution come together in the form of smart cities, often considered to be the logical extension of GIS and geospatial information generally at a local government level.

Smart cities are the next big innovation and present an opportunity and a challenge for GIS in the public sector, particularly within local authorities who manage urban areas.

Smart cities are all about integrating different data streams and information sources to provide a unified and comprehensive set of information about an urban area. This in turn allows the authority managing that area to make better decisions informed by this data, to the benefit of the citizen. The concept of smart cities can also empower the citizen both by providing them with information (traffic

flow, status of public transport networks etc) and allowing them to help collect information (for example reporting on the state of pedestrian and footpath assets).

with a holistic approach to data and spatial information and a focus on the citizen.

FOCUSING ON THE CITIZEN Glasgow City Council (GCC) have been chosen by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to champion the Future Cities Demonstrator project and have received £24 million funding to support this. Key to the winning bid was that the project would bring together expertise from the private, public and academic sectors in order to deliver real day to day benefits for the city. GCC have decided to focus on four key areas, Travel, Energy, Health and Public Safety. At the heart of all these areas is the creation of a Big Data Store. This connects information from previously unconnected data sources allowing it to be more easily analysed and accessed by different organisations.

Outputs from this will include a data portal and a map portal making a large number of datasets open to any interested parties.

Another key element of the Future Cities Demonstrator project is its focus on the citizen.

One of the major outputs of the project will be a city wide dashboard that contains real

MEETING CHALLENGES The technologies and practices displayed in the Future Cities Demonstrator and other smart cities around the world represent a great tool in meeting the challenges of managing finite resources in growing urban areas. However this is not to say that they do not come with challenges of their own.

Integrating datasets requires consistent data standards and well maintained metadata, collecting and analysing real time data requires significant resources. Finally a project like this needs clear leadership, expertise and most importantly clear goals. As with any new technology or methodology there is a danger that it will be implemented simply because it is new without a clear plan as to the benefit it will deliver. GCC have started their project with clear limited (but still ambitious) aims and clear goals for what this will achieve for the city and its inhabitants.

With these requirements in mind a major challenge to adoption of smart cities practices could be the loss of internal GIS staff discussed earlier. Whilst contracting

Real time spatial data such as traffic flows, air quality and noise pollution come together in the form of smart cities, often considered to be the logical extension of GIS and geospatial information at a local government level time information like traffic flow, weather alerts, accident and emergency waiting times, rail and bus services and roads gritting.

All of this will be accessible by the public through web and Smartphone applications.

The public will also be heavily involved in data capture particularly on the transport project. The map portal will also encourage the public to contribute to better data by annotating and amending spatial datasets.

The Glasgow project is an ambitious one but one that highlights well the potential benefits and challenges of the changing technologies and practices available in GIS. It combines real time data gathering, interpretation and display (as seen in the utilities sector)

out to SMEs for expertise can be a good value solution for specific projects like the Manchester City Council flood risk assessment this model can become problematic when running a major long term scheme like the Future Cities Demonstrator. In house GIS expertise is important for the organisation to be able to identify the goals and develop a strategic vision for the project. There is a danger that the potential of GIS to benefit the public sector and improve service provision and efficiency will be hampered by funding restrictions and a loss of expertise. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.agi.co.uk

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Advertisement Feature

IT AND COMPUTING FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR – www.governmenttechnology.co.uk

INFRARED TECHNOLOGY

GET TO GRIPS WITH THE LATEST IN TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY VIA PC OR TV

Transform your existing monitor into a new touchscreen and experience all the wonders of Windows 7 and Windows 8 with an easy-to-install and simple-to-use Soladapt Touchscreen Overlay

The Soladapt Touchscreen Overlay is simple and easy to use. The Overlay’s frame needs to be strapped on to the front of any desktop monitor or TV and plugged into a personal computer through a USB connection. The unit is plug and play, so there is no software drivers required. The Overlay comes in a range of sizes, from 17” to 159”, offering two to 40-point multi-touch function.

The Touchscreen Overlay allows the user to experience the full functionality of Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Android, Vista and XP on their existing monitors, all from an affordable £99.99. Simply put, Soladapt’s Touchscreen Overlay is a pane of toughened glass you put over the front of your display and plug in via USB, giving you touchscreen capabilities. Using infrared touchscreen technology, small LEDs are built into the frame, which can register multiple touch points.

With such a simple design it’s not surprising that it is also extremely strong and will even offer protection to your existing display.

COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE Richard Plaskow, co-founder Soladapt, says: “With endless applications in the home, office, private and public sectors we are aiming to establish the Touchscreen Overlays as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to all those who have a non-touchscreen monitor already.

“We are delighted to introduce the Touchscreen Overlay to the UK consumers and trade at the Ideal Home Exhibition and Bett Fair.

As a business, we are striving to bring unique, high-quality and cost-effective products to our customers and the Touchscreen Overlay hopefully demonstrates our efforts. With endless

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GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE | Volume 12.1

applications in the home, office, private and public sectors we are aiming to establish the Touchscreen Overlays as an alternative to those who have a non-touchscreen monitor already.“ Soladapt’s Touchscreen Overlay presents the unique and cost-effective opportunity to experience the full functionality of touch-based systems like Windows 8. Simply put, it’s a pane of toughened glass you place over the front of your display and plug in via USB, giving you touchscreen capabilities.

well as Android products. The overlay fits on top of existing monitors and can be fixed permanently by being strapped on by Velcro.

“This solution connects to the computer via USB and is a cost-effective way of providing a touch experience in the office, and also means that if you have or intend to upgrade to Windows 8 – which is all about the ‘touch experience’ – it no longer means that you have to buy new hardware, also. Starting from £100, this really does prevent waste from the disposal of unwanted monitors.”

UK EXCLUSIVE Soladapt is pleased to be launching a global exclusive product that will allow the conversion of a Windows 8/8.1 laptop to a touchscreen.

This unique and exciting overlay comes in a range of colours and sizes to suit all customers.

Launched at the Ideal Home Show this November and at Bett Fair in Jan 2014, visitors can see this innovative piece of hardware in action. Offering 10 touch points via its

Using infrared touchscreen technology, small LEDs are built into the frame, which can register multiple touch points. With such a simple design, it’s not surprising that it’s also extremely strong and will offer protection to your existing display An independent review by Connected World, April 2013: “If you are looking at the new OS from Microsoft Windows 8/8.1, we all know that it is really designed for touch interaction.

But what if you don’t have a touchscreen monitor for your PC? What should you do? Go out and buy a new touchscreen for Windows 8?

I have the answer for you from the good people at Soladapt, which has designed an overlay for your monitor to turn it into a touchscreen monitor, that works on 17” to 159”.

An independent review by Computer Weekly, April 2013: “Soladapt is a company that produces a touchscreen overlay for computer monitors. The start-up company uses a framed screen to provide touch functionality to Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 computers, as

capacitive overlay, the product sits in front of your laptop screen with the use of the two gripper stands provided. Simply position to your requirement, plug in to the USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports and your Windows 8 programme will come to life. But not just for the Windows OS, use your overlay to power Office and design software, games and web browsing. This is a unique opportunity to upgrade your laptop for under £100 and have a touchscreen overlay for life. L FURTHER INFORMATION Soladapt is exhibiting at Bett Fair, ExCeL London, 22-25 January 2014.

Tel: 020 7748 5203 sales@soladapt.com www.soladapt.com

OUTDOOR PLAY

ALERL: distributor of high-quality educational toys and resources Active Learning & Educational Resources Ltd (ALERL) is a relatively new company, importing and distributing high-quality educational toys and resources.

The company sources innovative products from around the world and all are carefully selected and tested within the market.

ALERL supplies leading catalogues and other educational companies in the UK. It has international selling rights on some brands, as listed on www.alerl.co.uk.

It specialises in early years products, but also sells some specialist products through to secondary age. ALERL is constantly looking at new products and developments within the education market.

A number of its products are sensory and cover special needs.

This is a growing market for the company. ALERL has exclusive rights for some of its key brands,

including: Active People, Anatex, Didicar, Scrunch, Morphun, Numenko, Quut, Sunpet Industries and Wacky Practicals.

ALERL’s Active Kids Furniture range contains resources suitable for entertaining children in nurseries, business, leisure and waiting-room environments.

The products encourage social interaction and creativity in a safe surrounding. These include: mirrors, play cubes, tables, wall panels and flexi-play barriers.

RESEARCH

Expert fraud investigations and tracing services Anna Willson & Co has a wealth of experience, having undertaken fraud investigations and tracing enquiries for a broad range of business sectors for 17 years.

The company has a small team of dedicated and professional investigators. Its reputation has been established through recommendations by clients who know Anna Willson & Co’s discretion, integrity, confidentiality and its focus on achieving consistently good results.

In every fraud-related investigation, the business owner has a personal involvement, ensuring that clients’ needs and expectations are met and exceeded in a timely manner.

Competitively priced, Anna Willson & Co works within a budget

agreed with the client to achieve a cost-effective solution. With regular progress reports, clients are in control of expenditure.

The company’s trace work is usually carried out on a ‘no result no fee’ basis. Anna Willson & Co is often successful in tracing fraudsters and debtors who have moved address or who are not living as claimed, are difficult to locate and have remained elusive to other investigators.

Data protection registered.

References are available from existing local authority clients.

Products & Services

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01442 399343 Tel: 07802 886113 info@annawillson.co.uk www.annawillson.co.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01453 731 724 info@alerl.co.uk www.alerl.co.uk

OUTDOOR PLAY

OUTDOOR PLAY

BUGLO’s priority is to build exceptional, safe and high-grade outdoor playgrounds with materials of top quality.

The company sets fabulous places where all children can have great fun and get some benefits to their health and physical development.

The aim is your satisfaction with BUGLO products for a long time. The company’s energetic team comprises professionals from different fields who are very flexible to satisfy the biggest challenge.

BUGLO will advise you on development plans of green, selection and modification of playing equipment as well as how to obtain funds for playgrounds.

It specialises in construction of either small playgrounds or large-scale investments in Poland and abroad. Regardless of investment scale, it always makes its best efforts and feels obliged to realise projects according to the highest international standards.

With over 40 years of combined experience in the horticultural industry, CPA Horticulture is a friendly and reliable nationwide supplier of play bark, mulch, woodchip, composts, aggregates and rock-salt to local authorities, landscaping, public and private sector industries.

CPA Horticulture draws from a national network of depots allowing the company to provide good-quality play-grade and mulch materials all over the country at competitive local prices.

The company offers a wide range of play-grade surfaces to suit your needs and budgets, including play-grade barks, woodchips, economy play-grade wood-fibres and play-grade sand.

All play-grade materials sold by CPA Horticulture are deemed safe by the relevant BSEN 1177:1998 accreditations and are available through from manageable 70-litre bags scaling up to loose articulated lorry loads.

Modern BUGLO playgrounds: Quality garden products from CPA Horticulture the best way to have fun

Each of BUGLO’s products is manufactured according to all EN-PN 1176:2008 safety standards from the initial phase of concept, design to manufacturing process and installation.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact BUGLO. The company hopes that its offer will help you to plan your investment.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01992 620 450 Tel: 07891135358 sales@buglo.co.uk www.buglo.co.uk

The company also offers an extensive variety of bark mulches: from pine nuggets to an economic medium mulch.

Its aim is to supply you with the product and price most amenable to your requirements.

For advice, enquiries or samples of its play-grade materials, bark mulch and rock salt, call CPA Horticulture to discuss your needs.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01994 231121 www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk info@cpa-horticulture.co.uk

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Products & Serrvices

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

ARTIFICIAL GRASS

Edventure: helping everyone to play Did you realise that the time children spend in the playground during their primary school years equates to 260 full school days?

This is why school playtime policies are essential for the wellbeing of children and the management of schools.

It is unsurprising that the provision of playtime games is the cornerstone of many such policies.

Edventure originated the concept of playtime resources to support these policies and specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of suitable games that are robust, safe and appropriate for a high‑use environment and are a major supplier to schools throughout the UK. A positive playtime experience enables children to develop social and creative skills, expend energy through active play, let

off steam and de-stress whilst having fun. Co-operative and inclusive play significantly reduces anti-social behaviour and bullying.

Play and exercise is good for everyone: children become re-energised and work better in the classroom; children and adults with special needs require mental and physical stimulation; the elderly benefit from play – physically and mentally; resources help children’s centres, clubs and social development projects.

Edventure specialises in games and offers outstanding value together with a price promise. Call for a catalogue or request one via the website.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01323 501040 www.edventure.co.uk

OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

ARTIFICIAL GRASS

Artificial grass solutions from Perfect Grass Perfect Grass is an established supplier and installer of artificial grass. With an unrivalled reputation, the company offers the highest standard of workmanship and customer service.

Its 10 years of installation experience has seen Perfect Grass offering artificial grass solutions to residential and commercial sectors throughout the UK. Whether you are looking for a small, simple area to be covered, a roundabout, a grass verge or perhaps a larger more complicated area, the company can help.

Perfect Grass works in partnership with a company with over 15 years experience of installing synthetic sports surfaces, including sand-filled, sand-dressed, needle-punched, woven and 3G surfaces. With products that are used extensively for sports, such as football, hockey, tennis, cricket, netball and golf.

Perfect Grass’ products are manufactured in the EU and tested rigorously to high

standards, making them the safest and most durable on the market.

Whatever your requirements Perfect Grass can drastically improve the aesthetics of your local area, allowing 365 days a year accessibility to outside spaces with the added bonus of reduced maintenance costs.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 020 8166 4168 Tel: 07930 904861 info@perfectgrassltd.co.uk www.perfectgrassltd.co.uk

LONDON & PARTNERS

Suppliers of outdoor and Brewers’ Hall: a unique environmental equipment City of London venue Established 10 years ago, Forest School Shop is part of Oaks Online Shopping Company and is the sister website to the highly respected and well-known GreenmanBushcraft.co.uk.

Forest School Shop has been supplying the outdoor sector for many years and – due to its excellent customer service, huge range of high-quality

outdoor products and large stock holding – the company is the preferred supplier to many education centres, councils, charities and other leading outdoor education providers.

All Forest School Shop staff has a background in environmental work and outdoor education, so is able to offer you expert advice

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on all your outdoor needs, as well as providing outdoor professionals with trade accounts and flexible payment terms.

Staff will always endeavour to help you meet your budgetary requirements, too.

The brand operates out of several UK-based (Essex) warehouses and offices, and because every aspect of your

ordering process is controlled, it can offer you the best possible prices and speed of service.

Forest School Shop appreciates how important outdoor education is, so don’t hesitate to contact the sales and customer services team.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01245 201041 www.forestschoolshop.co.uk

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

In the heart of the City of London, Brewers’ Hall is a unique venue that offers a magnificent sense of style and tradition for your bespoke events. It is one of the City’s most sought-after venues and is superbly situated in Aldermanbury Square.

The Brewers’ Company is one of the oldest of the City of London Guilds or Livery Companies, with origins dating back to the medieval period.

Whether you are organising a meeting or a bespoke lunch, dinner or reception, this exclusive venue guarantees the service

and style you would expect from a traditional Livery Hall. It boasts a rich historical past yet is contemporary and flexible.

Brewers’ Hall’s principal rooms interconnect to form an adaptable space, consisting of the Committee Room, the Court Room and the Livery Hall.

It has a capacity for up to 120 guests for cocktails and up to 100 for theatre-style meetings.

FURTHER INFORMATION 020 7600 1801 events@brewershall.co.uk www.brewershall.co.uk

GROUP TRAVEL

EVENTS

Continuous Improvement Historic coach tours Week – 10-14 February 2014 offered by Galloway Continuous Improvement (CI) Week is an opportunity for employees to participate in activities and events aimed at helping them understand the role they play in creating more effective and efficient public services.

The week culminates with a conference and awards ceremony on 13 February 2014 at York Racecourse in North Yorkshire, with an impressive line-up of speakers including mountaineer and motivational speaker Andy Cave. The event is free and there are few places left.

Debbie Simpson CEO of Institute for Continuous Improvement in the Public Sector (ICiPS) explains: “It is with enthusiasm and excitement that ICiPS is launching CI Week.

We invite as many organisations

as possible to join in as the more we share ideas and knowledge, the more benefit we will all gain. I am looking forward to the award submissions that will showcase improvement initiatives being introduced by the public sector.

In this age of austerity, CI plays an increasingly important role and the week provides time to reflect, improve understanding, and have fun. I would like to thank organisations who have supported the initiative, including Capita and the University of York.”

To take part, attend the conference or sponsor CI week, email ICiPS. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01904 215620 www.icips.org info@icips.org

The first world war has now passed beyond living memory but, 100 years on, the events of 1914-18 continues to stir emotion among young and old alike.

The programme of international events marking the centenary is about to begin and already people from all over the world are visiting the battlefields of the Western Front in increasing numbers. Many want to walk in the footsteps of a relative or follow their local regiment’s progress through the war.

If your community is considering a commemorative event to mark the Centenary, Galloway can help organise a group coach tour based on your own local history. It has a resident historian on hand to help you research your itinerary or to join you on an expertly guided tour to bring your community’s past to life.

With over 50 years’ experience delivering commemorative WW1 and WW2 tours, Galloway’s

ICT

LEADERSHIP

services, helping clients navigate the minefield of risks when implementing new systems and integrating existing applications, since 2004.

Centre4 Testing’s experts improve processes, support test management and help leverage test automation to underpin the quality assurance of critical programmes. The company has an unblemished record in engaging hundreds of testers to work on successful public-sector projects.

Engagements are on a consultancy basis, long-term managed service or the hugely popular OnDemand Cloud Testers solution.

What devices, operating systems and browsers are used to access your website or application? How will it perform? With over 400 Android devices, it’s impossible to maintain a test lab or use simulators to prove real-world compatibility testing on the possible permutations. Instead,

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the only Chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards of management and leadership excellence.

The organisation has over 60 years’ experience championing good management and helping businesses transform their workforces and organisational performance through management and leadership development.

As a membership organisation, CMI has been providing practical support and advice to individuals and businesses for decades. It continues to give managers and leaders the tools they need to improve their performance and make an impact. As the only organisation to offer qualifications from Level 2 (GCSE) to Level 8 (PhD), CMI is committed to equipping individuals with the skills they need to be exceptional managers and leaders.

knowledge and understanding ensures your tour is professionally managed from booking to travel.

The company has a modern fleet of well-equipped touring coaches, maintained to the highest standards by its own technicians, in its own workshop.

Galloway drivers are fully trained, CRB-checked and chosen for their skill and experience. As a member of the School Travel Forum and holder of numerous quality assurance marques, you can rest assured that your safety and wellbeing is paramount.

Products & Serrvices

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01449 767778 www.travel-galloway.com/ ww1centenary

Reduce software risks and Promoting the highest plan for a world of devices standards in management Centre4 Testing is a specialist and leadership excellence UK provider of software-testing clients use the company’s fully managed Cloud Testers solution, where test scripts are designed and Centre4 Testing’s burstable cloud of expert testers use every combination of device, operating system and browser required.

Accessibility Compliance can be included and, as the UK leader in using the SOASTA Platform, one million concurrent users can be simulated at any time. Centre4 Testing will produce real-time dashboards and comprehensive test results, proving the quality and performance of your software and systems.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 020 3697 1444 mail@centre4testing.com www.centre4testing.com

Qualifications and accreditations such as Chartered Manager, combined with products like CMI’s Continuous Professional Development scheme and the online support resource ManagementDirect, support the development of management and leadership excellence across the UK. Through research and policy surveys of its 90,000 individual and 450 corporate members, CMI maintains its position as the premier authority on key management and leadership issues.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01536 207404 employer.engagement@ managers.org.uk

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Products & Serrvices

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

ASBESTOS TRAINING

SECURITY

For those in the healthcare NATAS: 24/7 online asbestos sector, Saturn cares about awareness training NATAS provides a full portfolio the people who care of asbestos e-learning courses Founded in 1991, Saturn Sales & Services has specialised in the care, assisted care and healthcare sectors. Its core products include NurseCall, WardenCall, fire systems, staff security, access control, door entry and CCTV, all backed-up by a 24-hr maintenance and service provision.

Based in Somerset, Saturn has completed assignments throughout the UK. These include new builds and upgrades for existing establishments, whereby the company provides a full design, supply, installation and commissioning service, or part thereof.

In-house CAD design experts will provide detailed drawings, to assist when you adopt the supply and commission route. For your convenience, see Saturn Sales & Services’ website for its online shop.

For fire alarm systems, Saturn is BAFE-registered (SP203-1) and approved providers for the full range of Hochiki detection with advanced electronics fire panels.

Adopting an ‘open protocol’ policy ensures the client the optimum maintenance support flexibility.

Communication and staff safety are paramount. Saturn is a national distributor for the ‘Guardian’ range, which conveniently interfaces with the ‘InterCall’ NurseCall system.

Finally, Saturn encompasses a varied range of access control systems from a simple keypad to fully networked proximity and biometric systems. Door entry and CCTV are also available.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0844 846 8335 mail@saturn-sales.co.uk www.saturn-sales.co.uk

recognised by such organisations as Asheela, BOHS and IATP. NATAS leads the asbestos awareness training market by way of innovation, namely its award-winning e-learning courses, compliant with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 that provides highly economic, on-demand access, allowing training to be taken precisely when needed.

NATAS introduced e-learning to the asbestos market in 2007 to provide a solution to increasing demand and limited supply. With an estimated three million people requiring asbestos awareness training alone, classroom courses could not provide a solution to achieve this target for many years.

E-learning technology allows delegates to train around their own schedule, whilst receiving the highest quality, consistent training with support from

SOUND & LIGHTING

HEALTH & SAFETY

specialist electrical contracting for fit-outs in technical theatre and live event venues.

Northern Light installations can be found the length and breadth of the UK and Europe.

The company is the market leader for the installation of sound, lighting, AV and stage technologies, in venues such as theatres and concert halls, schools, colleges and universities, including BSF and PFI programmes.

Northern Light specialises in installation for auditoria, theatres, TV and radio recording studios, rehearsal rooms, dance studios, public areas, conference and exhibition centres and leisure facilities.

As a sub-contractor for construction projects, Northern Light aims to work in partnership with clients and its collaborative approach is fundamental to the way it carries out its business.

Do you have a playground on-site? Is it regularly inspected? Is it maintained?

Rynat has been trading for over 12 years, working with numerous schools, manufacturers, construction companies, landscape architects and authorities.

It is a specialist in inspections and training of playgrounds and personnel involved at all levels: routine, operational and annual. Offering only externally accredited courses through nationally recognised providers, RPII and BTEC and H&S courses (CIEH).

Rynat is the sole provider of the BTEC Level 3 Advanced Award in Playground Inspection, Operation and Maintenance.

Bespoke inspection and maintenance systems can be established to suit your equipment, ensuring that you are covering your legal obligations

competent tutors with years of asbestos training experience.

A spokesman says: ‘’We are thrilled with the product – it is easy-to-use, user-friendly and the menu to recheck on any of the aspects is brilliant. The cost of this is also cheaper that anything currently on the market. So far, 100 per cent of our employees have passed the assessment. ‘’ …those having taken part now have a far greater awareness of asbestos and it’s dangers within the workplace.’’

For details of how you and your clients can benefit, contact NATAS. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0870 751 1880 info@natas.co.uk

Installation of sound, Meeting the growing lighting, AV & stage systems demand for health & safety Northern Light works within the training in the playground construction industry to provide

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Whether contracted directly to the main contractor, electrical contractor or venue itself, Northern Light aims to create a network between all stakeholders to ensure that its project delivery remains of the highest level.

Northern Light is qualified for construction, operates a policy of continuous improvement and holds the following accreditations: OHSAS 18001; ISO 9001; ISO 14001; Achilles Building Confidence; IIP; CHAS; and Constructionline.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0131 622 9100 www.northernlight.co.uk

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

and that your facility remains safe for use. Services available include: post-installation inspections; accident investigation; maintenance and inspection systems; equipment procurement; RPII routine and operational training; CIEH H&S training; risk assessments of play areas; and school and local authority annual inspections.

Rynat is a member of the British Safety Council, Charter Institute of Environmental Health, Registry of Playground Inspectors International and it has full Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 07887 791834 jbc@rynat.demon.co.uk www.rynat.co.uk

RESEARCH

DEBT MANAGEMENT

A consistent approach Dealing with debt collection with Panther Investigations in an ethical, experienced If your department needs to Panther has been retained by a and professional manner back its decisions and actions number of local authorities, such with watertight information, then Panther Investigations will provide the solution – discreetly and effectively.

Panther’s portfolio of work for individuals, organisations and local authorities amply demonstrates its capacity to undertake investigative and surveillance operations that achieve the best possible results.

This can embrace activities ranging from fraud investigation to tracking down missing persons, and to the assembling of evidence for court cases. In particular, Panther is highly experienced at undertaking the most complex and sensitive briefs, and mounting surveillance across the United Kingdom. Its approach is consistent: it operates discreetly, professionally and ethically. The outcomes are outstanding and, as a result, the company is regularly retained by many large companies and professional practices.

as: Wiltshire Council, Department of Environment, Newport City Council, Gwent Council Human Resources department, and Bristol City Council Environmental Enforcement Department. With impeccable credentials, Panther Investigations is headed by Peter Beasley, a former Metropolitan Police Officer who has spent some 20 years in this field.

If there is a matter, whether local or national, that you would like to discuss in confidence, then contact Panther Investigations.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01454 228310 peter.beasley@panther investigations.co.uk. www.pantherinvestigations.co.uk

FENCING

UK Debt Recovery is an established debt collection and trace investigation company, managing debt portfolios across a variety of business sectors for private and commercial clients in the UK and Europe.

The company delivers bespoke solutions, tailored to client’s individual requirements. The service it offers includes: credit control; debt collection; tracing absconded debtors; status reports; and litigation.

UK Debt Recovery’s aim is to maximise recovery and achieve this through a combination of its experienced personnel, comprehensive collection methodologies and use of advanced DCA technology and systems.

Given its wealth of experience, UK Debt Recovery is fully aligned to the issues facing its clients and has the necessary skills and expertise

Products & Serrvices

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

to deliver a quality service.

In the current economic climate, there is increased pressure to collect overdue debts. Financial and resource constraints mean that parties need to be more proactive when tackling their debt portfolio.

UK Debt Recovery is a fully licensed and regulated agency and active member of the Credit Services Association. Strict codes of conduct are adhered to in order to ensure full compliance and set higher standards of best practice and ethical standards.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01494 473325 enquiries@ukdebt recoveryltd.co.uk www.ukdebtrecoveryltd.co.uk

DRIVER MANAGEMENT

Steelway Fensecure: for Licence Bureau: are your your steel fencing solutions drivers a business risk?

Nelson Mandela once said: “Sport has the power to change the world… It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

Steelway Fensecure may be experts in steel, but no one said it better than Nelson Mandela.

Whilst we live in an age where compromise will do, if it saves money and is the cheapest, is this the best option? Steelway is proud to build products that last.

With the largest variety of sports goals and fence systems available in the UK, the company can find a product in its range to suit most budgets and still leave you feeling proud of your uncompromising choice.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived,

it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will define the significance of the life we lead. He [Nelson Mandela] reminds us that we have a duty to stand up for what is right,” said David Shearer at the Wellington Memorial Service for Nelson Mandela.

If you want a sports facility that will unite the youth in your community, talk to Steelway Fensecure today.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01902 490919 sales@fensecure.co.uk www.steelway.co.uk

The service offered by Licence Bureau™ enables you to quickly perform driver licence checks for all your drivers against current DVLA and DVLNI records. Then, continually and automatically rechecks them for you.

This unique approach minimises your risk of employing disqualified drivers, while ensuring your business complies with complex driver management legislation, reducing your corporate risks and your insurance premiums.

Licence Bureau was the ‘first’ company to develop a unique driving licence verification system based on a three-year consent accessing the DVLA driver database.

This entitles the company, with your drivers’ permission, to access their DVLA driver record at any time during the three-year term with no further recourse to the driver. The service provided complies with requirements of the DVLA and the Data Protection

Act providing you with clear concise and meaningful reports.

Licence Bureau’s systems keep you informed of relevant compliance issues, so you’re in control of managing your drivers, vehicle, fleet, costs and risks. The company’s services are used by over 23 per cent of the FTSE-100 – and hundreds of smaller businesses.

To reduce the risks, costs and hassle of managing your drivers, contact Licence Bureau to check drivers licence status’ online.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01442 430980 info@licencebureau.co.uk www.licencebureau.co.uk

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Advertisers Index

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service 2 Collect 18 Active Learning and Educational Resources 93 AH Jones 18 Alexandra Palace 69 Alscient 84 Anna Wilson & Co 93 Arcelor Mittal 24 Armstrong 16 Arsenal Football Club 58 AS 24 Fuel Card 49, 98 Aspull Catering 12, 50 Blackheath Products 38 Brewers Hall 94 Buglo 93 Business Doctors 56 C & L Investigations 18 Cadline 36, 86 Call Credit 8 Canon 6 Caremark 56 Catlin 10 Centre 4 Testing 95 Charter Insurance Brokers 12 Chartered Management 95 Chessington World of Adventures 60

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Clarion Events 80, 81 Closerstill Media 88, 89 Commulite 40 Countrywide Signs 56 Courthouse Hotel 71 CPA Horticulture 93 Creative Resins 38 Crowne Plaza 64 Damson 32 Debt Solve UK 20 Eco Service UK 36 Edventure 94 Energy Facility 34 Expense Reduction 56 Fensecure 97 Fire Eye IBC Forest School Shop 94 Gallowaycoach 95 Gladwood Design 32 Green Acorn 40 Greenright Homes 28 Haymarket 20 Hilton Worldwide 62 Historic Royal 66 ICAEW 66 iCore 4 Ideal Catering 78

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 21.1

Institute of Directors 65 JLT Speciality 12, 42 Lafarge Tarmac BC London Insulation 33 Mail Box Etc UK 52 Marmot Resources 42 Marmox UK 36 Millar Europe 46 Monodraught 32 Morello Digital 86 Natas E-Learning 96 National Maratime Museum 68 Northern Lights 96 OKI Systems UK 74 Old Thorns Manor 72 One Birdgate Walk 69 One Great George Street 68 Palletline 44 Panther 97 Perfect Grass 94 PSP Insurance & Financial 12 Queen Elizabeth II Conference 67 Rynat 96 Saturn Sales & Services 96 SB Components 46 Scarab Sweepers 50

Scott & Mears 20 Shell UK Oil IFC Sign-Up.To 84 Signs Express 54 Sirs Europe 14 Six Degrees 38 Soladapt 92 South Bank Centre 70 Southport 72 Sustainable Homes 30 Technomek 22 Tenthmatric 50 Terramar 46 The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple 70 The Intelligent Network 86 The Lincolnshire Road Safety 47 The Stable Company 26 TheOfficeSupplies SuperMarket 40 Torch Marketing 76, 77, 79 Tree Box 37 Troxy 71 UK Debt Recovery 97 Victory Services 67 WM Investigations 97 Wymark 42

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Lafarge Tarmac is a leading UK construction materials and services company. Comprising of aggregates, asphalt, cement & lime, readymix concrete, road surfacing, maintenance services, and recycling, Lafarge Tarmac provides a sustainable, high quality and diverse product offering with innovative, value-add solutions for customers across the UK.