Government Business 23.7

FIRE SAFETY

FIRST AID

PRINTING

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 23.7

Business Information for Local and Central Government AIR QUALITY

FIGHTING FOR CLEAN AIR

Air pollution is a serious public health problem, but how can local authorities tackle the issue?

AUTUMN STATEMENT

A STATEMENT OF INTENT ON TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE A review of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement with funding for roads and transport dominating

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COMMENT

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FIRST AID

PRINTING

Straightening the road to social care neglect

Comment

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

In issue 23.6, we covered the urgent need for investment in local road maintenance to be included in November’s Autumn Statement.

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | VOLUME 23.7

Business Information for Local and Central Government AIR QUALITY

FIGHTING FOR CLEAN AIR

Air pollution is a serious public health problem, but how can local authorities tackle the issue?

AUTUMN STATEMENT

A STATEMENT OF INTENT ON TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE A review of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement with funding for roads and transport dominating

test The la and ws GT ne orks framew 3 on p4

PLUS: FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | PRINTING | SECURITY | WATER MANAGEMENT

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a funding pot of £1.1 billion, specifically allocated for road repairs and public transport. While the investment is welcome, it overshadowed the absence of funding for health and social care in the speech.

There is an undeniable need for government intervention to tackle the social care funding crisis, and with pressure increasing in the sector, resources are being stretched. The Tories have stuck to their party line that social care has access to extra support via the Better Care Fund and funds raised by the social care precept – but one questions whether that will be enough.

Many councils are having to make increasingly difficult decisions over which services they should scale back or cut, and with no solution in sight, the funded road to social care recovery seems a long stretch.

Read our full round-up of November’s Autumn Statement on page 10.

Follow and interact with us on Twitter: @GovBusiness

We wish all of our readers a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Michael Lyons, editor

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226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk EDITOR Michael Lyons PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Gooding ASSISTANT EDITOR Rachel Brooks PRODUCTION DESIGN Jo Golding PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford WEB PRODUCTION Victoria Casey ADVERTISEMENT SALES Steve Day, Kylie Glover, Neil Haydon, Michael Kennedy, Bernie Miller, David Morgan, Paul Taylor, Jamie Strange, Dean Cassar PUBLISHER Kelly Scott ADMINISTRATION Charlotte Casey, Vickie Hopkins REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

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CONTENTS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS 23.7 07 GB NEWS

10

NICE publishes air pollution guidance; abuse found to be common in care homes; public sector job satisfaction increases; and £800m Cambridge devolution deal

10 AUTUMN STATEMENT

Government Business looks at the announcements from Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement – with good news for roads but little to enjoy for the NHS

12 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Strategic maintenance of buildings delivers valuable resource efficiencies; but the human benefits are even more significant, says Wayne Terry of the Building Engineering Services Association

15 FIRE SAFETY

Continuing their exploration of the 14 sections of Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Fire Industry Association look at the role of enforcement in fire prevention and safety

18 AIR QUALITY 18 21

Air pollution is damaging for everyone, so should councils be doing more to lower pollution in their regions? Harriet Edwards, of the British Lung Foundation, investigates, focusing on child health

21 FIRST AID

John Cavanagh, of St John Ambulance, discusses the importance of first aid training to the public sector workplace, and why it should not just be limited to one selected employee

25 FLOODING

Government Business looks at Sheffield City Council’s proposals to combat the risk of flooding, including proposals to divert floodwater into parks and woodlands, plus land drainage solutions

Contents

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

27 WATER MANAGEMENT

Angus Council has been recognised by the Carbon Trust for exceptional success in reducing their environmental impact.

Government Business looks at why

29 SECURITY

It is becoming increasingly common for workers to be more mobile in their workplaces. Here, Craig Swallow of the BSIA looks at lone worker security

32 LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES

Taking place on 1-2 February, Learning Technologies will showcase organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work

34 FRANCHISING EXPO

The British and International Franchise Exhibition, on 20-21 January 2017, will help delegates discover the world of franchising. Here’s what to look out for

37 PRINTING

The print industry is working to improve its environmental credentials. This article explores paper sustainability, busting many of the misconceptions en route

40 FURNITURE

In its push for sustainability, can the public sector learn more lessons from the private sector? Jim Pendrill reports on building furniture to last in the public sector

43 GT NEWS

Digital Economy Bill passes Commons; tech job support for Londoners; and data breaches for London’s councils

45 CCS FRAMEWORKS

A recap of the service provided and the market response to the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud 8 framework

40

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Government Business

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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AIR POLLUTION

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION

Councils must implement redesigned speed bumps to cut pollution

Public sector job satisfaction reaches four-year high According to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Halogen Employee Outlook, two-thirds of public sector employees were satisfied with their jobs, the highest level since Autumn 2012.

However, despite this being higher than the average employee satisfaction rate which was 63 per cent, 43 per cent of pubic sector workers said they were under excessive pressure at work at least once a week, compared to 38 per cent of all employees.

The report also identified evidence of post‑referendum optimism with 57 per cent of employees confirming they believed it was unlikely they would lose their current main job, and just 12 per cent saying they think it is likely.

Claire McCartney, associate research adviser at the CIPD, said: “There was a great deal of uncertainty before the referendum, so people might be feeling more settled, and many will be happy with the outcome based on their voting decision.

“Another reason for the increase could be that some of the new messages we’re hearing on fairness and equality from government may be resonating with public sector workers.”

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has urged local authorities to consider lower speed limits, clean air zones and a move to redesign speed bumps in a bid to reduce air pollution.

The new guidance claimed ‘smooth’ driving would significantly cut air pollution, linked to 25,000 deaths a year in England.

The health advisory body’s advice put forward a number of recommendations, including: more 20mph speed limits in congested residential areas; re-designing speed bumps to stop cars speeding up and slowing down between them; restrictions on engine idling during short stops such as outside schools and hospitals; more charging points for electric cars in residential areas; placing the most commonly-used rooms in new houses away from polluting roads; and training drivers to be more fuel efficient by driving more smoothly.

Professor Paul Lincoln, NICE guideline committee chair said: “Traffic-related air pollution is a major risk to the publics’ health and contributes to health inequalities. The NICE guidance sets out a strategic range of evidence based practical measures to encourage low or zero emissions transport.

This is very timely given the imperative to meet EU and national air quality standards.”

Meanwhile, air quality alerts have been issued at bus stops, tube stations and roadsides across London after air pollution campaigners called on the government and city authorities to restrict traffic during smog episodes.

E Read the British Lung Foundation article on air quality on page 21

PRISONS

CARE HOMES

Prison suicides hit record levels, charity warns

Abuse in care homes ‘common’, report finds

The Howard League for Penal Reform has raised concerns over the rise of suicides taking place in prisons in England and Wales.

It highlighted that cuts to staffing and budgets had ‘created a toxic mix of violence, death and human misery’, with prison suicides at their highest since records began in 1978.

The figures, published in conjunction with Centre for Mental Health, showed a rise in violence in prisons at a time when inmates were spending up to 23 hours a day locked in their cells.

The report called for incentives and earned privilege schemes in prisons to be scrapped, claiming it could have a ‘detrimental impact’ on inmates’ well-being, with some prisoners having limited family contact, physical activity and access to money and possessions.

Chief executive Frances Crook said: “No one should be so desperate while in the care of the state that they take their own life, and yet every three days a family is told that a loved one has died behind bars. Cutting staff and prison budgets while allowing the number of people behind bars to grow unchecked has created a toxic mix of violence, death and human misery.”

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A new report has discovered that 52 per cent of British adults believe that abuse and neglect in care homes for the elderly is common.

The Independent Age charity is campaigning for new measures to understand the scale of the problem, with the majority of respondents claiming that personal experience has guided their belief.

The Care Quality Commission recently expressed concern that nearly 4,000 care homes in England are delivering substandard care or are struggling to improve, with nearly 40,000 safeguarding risks relating to care homes reported and investigated in England in 2015/2016.

Additionally, the report, Shining a light on care: Helping people make better care home choices, found that: 85 per cent of adults say that they have not visited a friend or relative living in a care home in the past year; and of those adults who have visited a care home in the past year, 45 per cent believe neglect and abuse to be common; while a further 45 per cent of adults would describe the overall quality of care in care homes as bad.

Moreover, 22 per cent say that, if they wanted to find a care home for a relative or friend, they would not know where to go for information, including 19 per cent of over-65s. Lastly, 71 per cent of people who believe neglect and

GB News

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abuse to be common cite media coverage of the care sector as a reason for this belief.

The Independent Age report recommends that the Competition and Markets Authority conduct a full market review of the care home sector.

Simon Bottery, director of Policy & External Relations at Independent Age, said: “While the research finds that most people’s negative view about care homes is based on media coverage, it is worrying that so many say they are basing it on personal experience.

“We are calling for a survey of staff in care homes to better understand the scale of the problem. While we hope and expect that abuse and neglect is less widespread than believed, it is essential we know for sure.”

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Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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HOUSING

LIBRARIES

Scottish Borders Council backs affordable home plan The Scottish Borders Council has approved plans which could see nearly 1,200 affordable homes built in the region by 2022.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan could see up to £163 million spent over a five-year period, with the Scottish government contributing between £8.6 and £15 million.

The balance would be provided and the homes built by Scottish Borders Council’s registered social landlord partners, including Eildon Housing.

Ron Smith, who chairs the council’s planning committee, commented that the announcement, in relation to the expected knock-on effects for jobs in the region, was a case of ‘what’s not to like?’.

Elsewhere, in a further boost for the sector, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell has announced that a new multi-million pound deal to boost housing in key cities, such as Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, will provide more than 2,000 homes for private rent and create thousands of jobs.

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New strategy to help public library service productivity Local authorities are being urged to consider how they can best use libraries when delivering vital public services as part of a new vision to reinvigorate the sector.

Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021, announced

by Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson, encourages local authorities to make use of the buildings, staff and services, and work creatively to help increase reading, literacy and digital access in communities.

Produced by the Libraries Taskforce, the strategy includes a new £4 million Opportunities for Everyone Innovation Fund that will deliver new initiatives for disadvantaged communities across the country.

Managed by Arts Council England, the fund will finance new projects such as literacy schemes, improving access to technology or increasing the number of children visiting libraries.

The Libraries Taskforce is also piloting new ways for libraries to generate income from government initiatives, with plans to explore how libraries can be used as part of the National Citizen Service programme to support the

participation of young people starting in January.

Wilson said: “More people went to a library in England last year than visited the cinema, Premier League football games and the top 10 UK tourist attractions combined.

“Standing still is not an option if libraries are to thrive and work best for communities in the 21st century. Libraries can flourish and prosper but this will take change and new thinking about our service. This strategy provides a blueprint for how libraries can be better utilised, to make them more resilient while still delivering vital public services to the communities that need them.”

Brian Ashley, director of Libraries, Arts Council England, added: “Libraries are there for everyone, but their special role in helping people overcome disadvantage is second to none. They are the gateway to opportunity. So it’s great to have an additional £4 million coming into the sector to fund new activities in libraries. I look forward to seeing a new wave of innovative projects making these opportunities real in their communities.”

READ MORE:

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CHILDREN’S SERVICES

HOMELESSNESS

‘Serious failings’ continue in Birmingham’s children services

250,000 people homeless in England, Shelter warns

The latest Ofsted inspection report has rated Birmingham City Council’s children’s services as ‘inadequate’, marking no change in rating since it faced a damaging inspection in 2008.

The 40-page report, which highlighted ‘serious and widespread failings’, identified too many children as ‘being at risk of immediate harm’, but said that the council was making ‘important steps forward’.

Criticisms highlighted the ‘inconsistent’ work to tackle the sexual exploitation of children, with services for children missing from home or care deemed poor and disabled children in need of help having to wait too long for support.

Additionally, referrals for domestic abuse were found to be ‘high’ at more than 3,000 per month, leaving social workers battling a backlog of 401 cases.

Ofsted added that the multi-agency hub which brings together agencies like social workers, police, and health professionals to make referrals about children’s cases, was not being effectively managed, leaving children unable to receive the right services.

Councillor Brigid Jones, cabinet member for Children, Families and Schools, said: “When we began our three-year improvement journey we said that we would remain inadequate at this stage.

“However there are areas that have improved. I see this as a positive report in the context of where we expected to be.”

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Housing charity Shelter has released analysis showing that more than a quarter of a million people are homeless in England.

The statistics revealed Luton, Brighton, Birmingham, Coventry and Manchester as hotspots for homelessness, in addition to London, which had the highest homelessness rate.

The analysis includes official statistics from four different forms of recorded homelessness: national government statistics on rough sleepers; statistics on those in temporary accommodation; the number of people housed in hostels; the number of people waiting to be housed by social services departments (obtained through Freedom of Information requests).

Commenting on the statistics, Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Shelter’s founding shone a light on hidden homelessness in the 1960s slums. But while those troubled times have faded into memory, 50 years on a modern-day housing crisis is tightening its grip on our country.

“Hundreds of thousands of people will face the trauma of waking up homeless this Christmas. Decades in the making, this is the tragic result of a nation struggling under the weight of sky-high rents, a lack of affordable homes and cuts to welfare support.”

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Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

9

Autumn Statement

ANALYSIS

No Jam in Hammond’s Autumn Statement lunch

be announced shortly in more detail.

The Autumn Statement also included a note on plans to bring in legislation next year to ‘end the compensation culture surrounding whiplash claims’, with government plans expected to save drivers an average of £40 on their annual premiums.

Finally on the transport front, fuel duty is to remain frozen for a seventh year, at a cost of £850 million, despite previous proposals to increase the tax. This will save the average car driver £130 and van driver £350 a year.

Simon Williams, fuel spokesman at the RAC, commented: “The Chancellor’s commitment to freeze fuel duty will be greeted with relief by motorists and businesses at a time when we know drivers are concerned that fuel prices will rise significantly over the next six months.”

There will be r ea a two-y nt first ce 100 per wance for o year all anies who comp electric install points c h a rg e

Most of the talk in the build up to last month’s Autumn Statement centred around Jams – those in the country who were ‘just about managing’. The only letters mentioned less than Jam in Chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech were NHS. Government Business rounds up the announcements, what was and wasn’t mentioned, and what it means for local government The Autumn Statement, which was held on 23 November, saw Chancellor Philip Hammond vow to make the UK economy ‘resilient’, despite its decision to leave the EU, as he forecast higher borrowing and slower growth. In his first major Commons event as Chancellor, Hammond said borrowing would hit £68.2 billion this year and £59 billion next year, compared with the March forecast of £55.5 billion and £38.8 billion.

More interestingly for local government, Hammond made a number of important announcements in his speech covering fuel duty, housing, pay, technology and transport.

A large portion of that funding and focus covered roads and transport, with a total of £1.3 billion promised to spend on improving Britain’s roads. Disappointingly for a very frustrated care sector, the NHS and care homes hardly warranted a breath in the session, despite dominating Prime Minister’s Questions just moments beforehand.

TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE £390 million is to be invested in future transport technology to ‘build on our competitive advantage in low emission

10

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Hammond also announced that there will be £2 billion more per year in research and development funding by 2020-2 for universities and businesses with R&D projects to help the UK remain an attractive place for businesses to invest in innovative research. The funding will support scientific research and development of technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and industrial biotechnology. £450 million will also be spent on trialling railway digital signalling technology which will expand capacity and improve reliability.

Professor Philip Nelson, chair of Research Councils UK, said: “The Chancellor’s announcement today acknowledges the role of R&D in driving the economy and in particular the important role research can have in improving UK productivity.

The challenge led approach offers the potential to deploy the UK research base to work in partnership with UK business and build on our key UK strengths.”

vehicles and the development of connected autonomous vehicles’, including driverless cars, renewable fuels and energy efficient transport.

This will see £100 million investment in testing infrastructure for driverless cars; £150 million to provide at least 550 new electric and hydrogen buses, reduce the emissions of 1,500 existing buses and support taxis to become zero emission; and £80 million to install more charging points for ultra-low emission vehicles.

There will also be a two-year 100 per cent first year allowance for companies who install electric charge-points. This allows companies to deduct the cost of the chargepoint from their pre-tax profits in that year.

Furthermore, there will be a major investment in transport infrastructure, as part of the National Productivity Investment Fund: £1.1 billion to reduce congestion and upgrade local roads and public transport; £220 million to tackle road safety and congestion on Highways England roads; and £27 million to develop an expressway connecting Oxford and Cambridge.

Hammond also suggested that there are plans for major road scheme developments in the north of England, to

HOUSING Regarding housing, Hammond declared that there will be a ban on letting agents charging fees to renters. This means letting agents will no longer be able to charge renters fees when they sign a new tenancy agreement and will stop tenants being hit with fees averaging £223 per tenancy.

Whilst the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) criticised the measure as ‘draconian’, Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “Millions of renters in England

have felt the financial strain of unfair letting agent fees for far too long, so we are delighted with the government’s decision to ban them. We have long been campaigning on this issue and it is great to see that the government has taken note.”

In addition, £2.3 billion will be available for a new Housing Infrastructure Fund, which will be used for projects such as roads and water connections that will support the construction of up to 100,000 new homes in the areas where they are needed most. A further £1.4 billion will be used to provide 40,000 new affordable homes, including some for shared ownership and some for affordable rent. An additional £1.7 billion will be used to speed up the construction of new homes on public sector land.

Commenting on the announced investment in housing projects, David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), said: “Increased flexibility and extra investment will give housing associations the freedom and confidence to build even more affordable homes, more quickly, across the country.”

WAGES Hammond also confirmed that the National Living Wage (NLW) for those aged 25 and over will increase from £7.20 per hour to £7.50 per hour. That means over £1,400 a year more for a full-time worker previously on the National Minimum Wage. The Personal Allowance is also set to rise from £11,000 to £11,500.

For 21 to 24 year olds the NLW will rise from £6.95 per hour to £7.05; for 18 to 20 year‑olds – from £5.55 per hour to £5.60; for 16 to 17 year‑olds – from £4.00 per hour to £4.05; for apprentices – from £3.40 per hour to £3.50. £4.3 million will be spent on helping small businesses to understand the rules and crack down on employers who are breaking the law by not paying the minimum wage.

Katherine Champan, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We welcome any pay rise for low paid workers especially now in these uncertain times with speculations about food and other prices set to rise. The reality however is that fifth of UK workers aren’t paid enough to live on. There’s still a gap between the government minimum and our real Living Wage of £8.45 in the UK and £9.75 in London which is based on what family’s need to earn to meet everyday costs. We encourage as many businesses who can to join our movement of 3,000 UK employers who are going further to pay a real Living Wage because a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

BROADBAND The Statement also saw the announcement of a £1 billion investment in full-fibre broadband and trialling 5G networks. The funding will support the private sector to roll out more full-fibre broadband by 2020-21 as well as trials of 5G mobile communications.

A full 100 per cent business rates relief for new fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) broadband network builds for a five-year period from 1 April 2017 to boost rollout to more businesses and residential areas was also promised.

Commenting on the announcements, Andrew Ferguson from Thinkbroadband.com said: “The announcement of five years’ 100 per cent relief on the business rates that fibre infrastructure attracts might actually encourage more pure fibre deployment than the £400 million investment fund would achieve on its own.”

CULTURAL SURPRISES Culture has been one of the hardest struck sectors in austerity hit Britain, with council spending on the industry down 17 per cent since 2010. Recently, Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, warned that councils ‘are choosing’ to make arts cuts.

Therefore, somewhat surprisingly, more than £10 million was announced to support culture and heritage projects across the UK. Most interestingly, Hammond announced that £7.6 million would be made available to cover urgent and essential repairs to the heritage house, Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, with Hammond stating the importance of such repairs, especially considering that the Grade I-listed building was ’the inspiration for Pemberley in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice’. As enlightening as it is to discover the Chancellor’s interest in the literature of Jane Austen, the Jane Austen Society has since said there is no evidence that Austen ever went to the house or that a character such as Fitzwilliam Darcy, the male protagonist in the novel, could ever have afforded to live there.

Nonetheless, a further £850,000 for a Royal Society of the Arts pilot to promote cultural education in schools was announced, alongside £1.6 million to help complete Studio 144, an arts complex in Southampton, including an auditorium, studio, and gallery.

A final £1 million towards the development of a new creative media centre in Plymouth.

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said: “The Autumn Statement contains a number of welcome announcements for art and culture, to help us reach more people from all backgrounds.

There will be a major investment in transport infrastructure, as part of the National Productivity Investment Fund: with £1.1 billion to reduce congestion and upgrade local roads and public transport

“The announcement of support for a number of capital and investment projects, including the new creative media centre in Plymouth and the Studio 144 arts complex in Southampton. We also look forward to working with the Royal Society of Arts to deliver their pilot promoting cultural education in schools.”

Autumn Statement

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

CARE AND THE NHS Most of the country feels that there is an urgent need to tackle the crisis in social care. Many Labour MPs questioned Prime Minister Theresa May at length about her plans to solve the deepening crisis, but have seen their concerns fall upon deaf ears.

Following the Statement, Stephen Dalton, head of the NHS Confederation said that the Treasury had missed a ‘golden opportunity’ and had ‘turned a blind eye to the stresses and strains being felt in the health and social care system’.

The failure to provide the desperately necessary funding for adult social care means that this winter it is likely that more elderly and disabled people are going to struggle to get the care and support they rely upon, increasing pressure on carers, lengthening delays in the NHS, causing care home closures and allowing discontent to grow.

CONCLUSION The Autumn Statement marked good news for some and showered disappointment for others. The focus was undoubtedly on transport and infrastructure – two industries likely to receive further funding and focus as part of the government’s drive towards a Northern Powerhouse.

Likewise, funding for research and development is likely to be broadcasted loudly from Downing Street, with concerns over the UK’s departure from the European Union hindering in court rooms ensuring that uncertainty remains across the UK. Research and development are areas where the government feels the UK can excel outside of the EU, so expect more on this front.

Elsewhere, the cultural funding provided an element of surprise, while the broadband funding was necessary and expected.

However, the lack of mention, nevermind funding, for the NHS and social care sector can be seen as nothing less than disappointing.

Already stretched to its limit, government backing would have been a slight light in the darkness as the health care sector enters the most gloomy of December months. L Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announced the Autumn Statement

11

Facilities Management Written by Wayne Terry, head of business development, Building Engineering Services Association

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

STANDARDS

Building owners aiming for health and happiness Strategic maintenance of buildings delivers valuable resource efficiencies; but the human benefits are even more significant, says Wayne Terry of the Building Engineering Services Association Keeping building occupants happy, healthy and productive should be the main preoccupation of any building engineer.

A number of studies – including those by the highly influential WELL Building Institute in the US – have assessed the operational benefits in pragmatic terms.

On average, improving energy efficiency delivers average savings of around £6 per m2 per year and water efficiency about £1. However, in ‘human’ terms the savings are far more significant if a building is well designed and maintained. For example, studies show that comfortable and stimulating conditions make a major difference when it comes to retaining staff – worth an estimated £18 per m2 annually; and reduction in sickness absenteeism delivers a £26 saving. But the big winner is productivity, with a five per cent improvement as a result of a good indoor environment, estimated to be worth £307 per m2.

A good strategy for operating and maintaining heating, ventilation, lighting and air conditioning is essential for providing optimum conditions – and the role of indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming increasingly important because of the health threats posed by rising outdoor pollution.

SOCIAL ISSUES Commercial workplaces are, naturally, a major focus because the productivity of the individuals is crucial to their employer.

However, the health and well-being of children, as well as their ability to learn, is an even more fundamental social issue.

Research carried out by two major UK health bodies published in 2016 showed that contaminated indoor air caused, or contributed to, 99,000 deaths across Europe in 2012 and had a direct impact on the health of children in schools.

Air pollution causes at least 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK and costs the economy £20 billion. In many urban areas, the concentration of diesel

12

and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is about three times the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with Londoners suffering a 20 per cent increase in mortality rates as a result.

The research from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called for more specific research to be carried out to deepen understanding of the key risk factors associated with poor IAQ, but pointed out that it was already apparent that sealing buildings more tightly to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency was adding to a growing problem.

People spend around 90 per cent of their life inside, often in sedentary activities. School children, in particular, are vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality because their bodies are still growing and developing. If classrooms are not well ventilated, the children’s ability to concentrate is damaged by high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2); and if rising numbers of outdoor pollutants are allowed to come in their health is at risk. This means

Many e av users h avings ds recorde20 per cent of up torunning costs in their pting SFG20 by ado bedding its and emes into their measurocesses pr

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

facilities managers and maintenance staff must be able to provide a well‑managed ventilation strategy that keeps the air breathable and safe.

For good productivity, the air where you learn, live or work needs to be about 20‑24degC with a relative humidity (RH) of about 40-60 per cent. Basically, the ventilation system needs to dilute CO2 levels and replace oxygen, but that needs to be measured on a regular basis to ensure it is still happening.

MAINTENANCE STANDARD The building engineering services industry is making this a key priority in response to the worsening outdoor conditions in a bid to turn buildings into pollution ‘safe havens’. It has a number of strategies at its disposal via the SFG20 maintenance standard developed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).

SFG20 is a dynamic online tool so makes best practice widely available and easy to access. As well as featuring over 500 core maintenance schedules, covering more than 60 equipment types, SFG20 also gives users the opportunity to customise maintenance schedules, including service times, frequency and criticality ratings.

It allows a facilities manager to produce schedules covering all the main types of equipment found in buildings and it is constantly updated with changes to standards and legislation to ensure the building remains compliant. Schedules display how often tasks need to be carried out to avoid over or under maintaining assets and what skill set should be used to perform the work.

COST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES Poorly performing ventilation systems have a direct impact on occupant health, well-being and productivity, but putting them right is not a particularly difficult or expensive task.

Maintenance schedules and tasks can be created within SFG20 to ensure that vital tasks like cleaning or replacing air filters and the regular inspection and cleaning of ventilation ductwork are carried at the right intervals.

Occupant discomfort is often linked to poor energy performance. If the heating and cooling is poorly balanced, people at one end of the office will have totally different conditions to those at the other. This will lead to some people opening windows to reduce overheating and others bringing in additional heating in a bid to warm up cold spots – the dissatisfaction of the occupants will only be matched by the fury of the financial director when he sees the electricity bill.

More and more building owners – including increasing numbers in the public sector – adopt SFG20 to establish a cost-effective strategy that closely matches user requirements to investment in planned service and maintenance. Many users have recorded savings of up to 20 per cent in their running costs by adopting SFG20 and embedding its measures into their building management processes. It is also helping building owners to understand what technologies are appropriate and realistic for their buildings.

Better understanding of the ‘performance gap’, which emerges between what was intended by the building designers and what actually happens during the ‘real life’ operation of a building, has been supported by the emergence of Building Information Modelling (BIM), which aims to ensure many historical design mistakes do not get replicated.

Since April 2016, the government has required all public-sector work to be subject to the Level 2 BIM method of working, which demands that building information is developed in a collaborative 3D environment and with long-term maintenance of assets and operating costs in mind.

The use of intelligent objects and 3D models allows the design team to have a full working visualisation of the project before work begins and can refer this to the end client or building manager so they can make any tweaks well in advance of receiving their completed project.

The need for better co-ordination and the earlier involvement of the specialist trades in building services projects becomes even more critical when working in a BIM environment. The project team has to work with a federated set of models and this requires a change to traditional contracting arrangements.

SFG20 has been adapted so it can now accept building design information imported directly from BIM software via xBIM. This means that ongoing maintenance costs can be based on the SFG20 standard from the point that initial CAD drawings are constructed, rather than later in the process or after project handover.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS Facilities managers must also be involved from the outset and engage with BIM models to establish the type of equipment being installed and how it is to be serviced and maintained throughout the building’s operating life. They should be encouraged to ask questions at each stage of the process.

This is particularly important in buildings that will rely heavily on their building services, such as hospitals with their high demand for heating and hot water as well as widely varying demands for ventilation and IAQ. It is very easy for pre-determined performance targets to slip in these buildings and for energy costs to get out of control.

SFG20 now includes a Healthcare HTM (Health Technical Memoranda) aligned set of maintenance schedules, developed in collaboration with the healthcare industry, including professional bodies and practitioners. This provides maintenance schedules directly drawn from the requirements of the HTMs that underpin the design of all healthcare buildings.

Third party software, such as CAFM systems used to schedule and track maintenance work, can also be integrated into the SFG20 system to ease the planning, scheduling, execution and tracking of planned maintenance activities.

So, a suite of tools is now available to help building owners and managers keep a tight grip on their maintenance programmes; helping them work towards the significant financial and social benefits of operating their buildings with the comfort, health and productivity of occupants in mind. L

Facilities Management

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

ENFORCEMENT

Following on from their Government Business 23.6 article, the Fire Industry Association explain another of the 14 sections of Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – enforcement The Fire Safety Order is actually called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and it is the piece of legislation that covers fire safety within England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation regarding fire safety – the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, in combination with the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 respectively.

Enforcement of this piece of legislation is paramount – it protects buildings and the people inside them from the dangers of fire by setting out what steps should be taken in order to reduce the risk. Steps such as carrying out a fire risk assessment to assess the levels of hazards and risks within a building, and stating who can carry out any of these tasks relating to fire safety.

However, many people still do not understand their responsibilities as defined by the legislation, which is a possible reason why there are still regular reports of breaches of fire safety in the news every week. Better education in the responsibilities towards fire safety will lead to safer communities for all.

WHO DOES THE REGULATORY REFORM ORDER APPLY TO? The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies whether the business employs five or 5,000 people – the size does not exclude them from the legislation. It applies whether the company is a large well-known brand, or a small self-employed family business. The premises could be a charity or not-for profit, or a business focused on profit, whether that is an office, a shop, a museum, or any other building accessed by the public. Whatever the nature of the premises – if the building is not a private residence, then the Order applies. The Order also applies to the communal areas of multiple occupancy residences or blocks of flats.

The legislation applies directly to anyone and everyone that owns or is responsible for a non-domestic premises. This person is called

The legislat applies ion to anyo directly or is res ne that owns non-do ponsible for me a – often stic premises the ‘Resknown as pon Person’ sible

the ‘Responsible Person’ in England and Wales, but the term ‘Duty Holder’ and ‘Appropriate Person’ is used in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively, but they mean the same thing.

In the case of a business, it is almost always the employer. In a public building such as a school or hospital, it could be the trust, academy chain, or local authority.

So when it comes to breaching fire safety law, there are millions of people that can be held responsible for their actions (or lack thereof) to protect people from fire.

These people all need to have a good understanding of how the law applies to their business or premises, so that they can create a safe environment for themselves and for all of the people within their buildings – whether they are employees, customers, visitors, patrons, residents, schoolchildren, or patients.

Written by Fire Industry Association

Enforcement of the Fire Safety Order

and Rescue Service. They can enter any workplace at any suitable hour, without giving notice, though notice may be given when the inspector thinks it is appropriate.

The EO will then conduct an inspection to check out the workplace, the work activities, the management of fire safety, and audit the Responsible Person’s fire risk assessment to ensure that they are fulfilling their duties in respect to fire safety law. The EO may offer assistance or advice to help but they may also talk to employees or their representatives, take photographs, serve notices, or take action if there is a risk to fire safety that needs to be dealt with straight away.

The problem is that there is a huge lack of understanding of the law by Responsible Persons and how it is enforced. Whether this is down to a lack of education on the implications, or simply a reluctance to find out about fire safety law is only conjecture – but what is surmisable is that breaches of fire safety law happen regularly.

In November 2016 alone, 12 cases of prosecutions or fines for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 were brought to the attention of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) when they were reported in the news, which were published on the FIA website. Having 12 offences in one month may not sound like many, the effects of a fire can be both lasting and devastating for businesses and on people’s lives.

These twelve cases are only the ones E

Fire Safety

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

HOW IS THE ORDER ENFORCED? Fire safety legislation is enforced

by Fire Safety Enforcement Officers from the local Fire

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Getting people interested in fire safety and helping them to learn about the legislation is a necessary step towards a future where devastating incidents are greatly reduced  that were reported on by local and national press that reached the newsdesk of the FIA this month alone. Imagine how many more there might be that are happening nationwide, and the horrendous and wide‑ranging devastation that may be occurring due to a lack of fire safety precautions.

Perhaps one of the most memorable cases of breaches of fire safety legislation is one that saw a fine of £400,000, which is the largest ever recorded. In 2007, a clothing giant on Oxford Street, London was charged with two breaches of fire safety legislation.

Reports at the time suggested that staff did not have sufficient training to be able to evacuate shoppers of the clothing retailing store, and that escape routes were blocked. Perhaps more devastatingly, these factors were only discovered during a fire that destroyed the store and shut down much of London’s biggest shopping area: essentially disrupting for businesses in the area, dangerous for the estimated half a million shoppers per day that visit.

More recently, a wood recycling centre was

fined £70,000 and ordered to pay another £71,000 in costs for breaches of fire safety legislation after it disregarded advice given by the local fire and rescue services. In this case, a fire burnt for an incredible 16 days, costing Cleveland Fire Brigade £235,000 to tackle the fire. There are hundreds more cases where devastation by fire is rife.

EDUCATION But there is a way to ensure that all responsible persons are aware of their responsibilities: education. Getting people interested in fire safety and helping them to learn about the legislation is a necessary step towards a future where devastating incidents are greatly reduced.

Fire protection is not a subject to be taken lightly – fires can destroy lives, ruin businesses, disrupt services in the vicinity, and release dangerous chemicals into the environment, and the effects can be lifelong.

In light of this problem, the FIA has created a short video to explain to all Responsible Persons what their responsibilities are

Advanced fire protection for Royal National Theatre

Fire Safety

ENFORCEMENT

Following an £89 million redevelopment, the National Theatre in London has chosen intelligent fire panels from industry‑leading manufacturer Advanced to further protect the building.

Located on London’s Southbank, the National Theatre’s site includes three auditoria, the Olivier Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre and Dorfman Theatre, and is open to the general public.

The contract for the new fire system at the National Theatre was awarded to the team at Tri‑Management, who specified a network of 12 MxPro 5 panels from Advanced. MxPro 5 is the industry’s leading multiprotocol fire panel range and is renowned for its world-beating performance, quality, and ease-of-use.

Mark Ward, facilities service manager for the National Theatre, commented: “The National Theatre is used by thousands of people every day for lots of diverse activities and we need a fire system that offers peace of mind to everyone.

The Advanced system specified by Tri-Management provides the most up to date fire protection that can be easily expanded as we grow.”

Tony O’Connell, business development manager at Tri‑Management, said: “With the timescale we had to install the system at the National Theatre, it was an easy decision to select Advanced panels, as they are one of the simplest systems to install and programme. We have used their panels in many of our installations and the new system will provide the Theatre, industry‑leading protection that that can be easily expanded in the future.” and what steps they need to take in order to protect themselves from fire and comply with fire safety legislation.

The video, developed by a team of fire safety experts from across the fire safety industry, took almost a year to create and release, and delivers fire safety information for Responsible Persons in a clear and concise manner.

The video can be accessed on the FIA’s YouTube channel by searching ‘Responsible for Fire Safety? | Fire Safety Explained Video’ in YouTube’s search bar, or by visiting the FIA’s website directly. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.fia.uk.com

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Air Quality Written by Harriet Edwards, British Lung Foundation

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

POLLUTION

Why we urgently need to fight for clean air Air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer and can cause child lung damage. Harriet Edwards, policy and public affairs officer for the British Lung Foundation, explains why air pollution impacts on all our health and what needs to be done to tackle the problem Air pollution is a serious public health problem across the UK. The government divides the country up into 43 areas for air quality measurement, with 37 of these areas currently breaching EU limits on nitrogen dioxide. This affects all of us, but particularly the most vulnerable in society – including the elderly, those with lung conditions and children whose lungs are still growing. These groups need extra consideration and protection from pollution.

Outdoor air pollution has been shown to have a significant impact on the respiratory and wider health of the population, including increasing risk of lung cancer, making symptoms worse, causing hospitalisation among people living with lung diseases, and impairing child lung development.

Particularly harmful are the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) that build up in urban areas. The majority of this pollution (around 70 per cent) is produced by road traffic, particularly that powered by diesel engines.

Each year, air pollution accounts for around 40,000 premature deaths. If the health costs weren’t enough, latest estimates suggest that air pollution costs the Treasury £27 billion a year. Despite improvements over recent years, UK air pollution continues to exist at levels deemed unsafe by the World Health Organisation (WHO), particularly in urban areas, having serious effects on our children’s lung health.

During childhood when they are still developing, lungs are very vulnerable to injury by air pollutants. There is strong evidence that pollution is linked to chronically reduced lung growth, lower lung function, the aggravation of lung conditions like asthma, and increased prevalence of cough and bronchitis in children.

Sadly, such effects don’t always end with childhood and can persist well into someone’s adult life. Their lung capacity can affect their ability to exercise, work and even socialise later in life.

This is something that mum of three, Shazia, knows only too well. She told us: “As a family, we walk and cycle the journey to school. It takes us across a busy, polluted road. My youngest son, Elias, is exposed to a higher level of fumes as his pushchair is at the same height as the car exhausts.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

“My eldest son, Zain, was diagnosed with asthma last summer which I think was partly caused by traffic fumes. It gets a lot worse for him when pollution is high. The harm caused by air pollution could affect their health for the rest of their lives. I’m very worried that pollution levels are not improving quickly enough for my children or any other children across the UK.” Shazia’s school is not the exception. We know that 3,000 schools have been identified in England alone as being in illegally high areas of pollution.

the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), the council helped pupils at a local school carry out experiments with a portable unit they could move around the playground to measure air quality. The educational programme also included lessons on the impact of air pollution, and a short film narrated by the children.

Clearly, a number of local authorities are taking action to monitor and clean up the air around schools. However, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to councils earlier this year we discovered huge discrepancies in the levels of pollution monitoring

r Outdoon has utio air poll wn to have o been shficant impact a signi respiratory on the er health of and widhe UK t ion populat

SOLUTIONS NEED TO ENSURE GROWING LUNGS ARE PROTECTED It is essential we monitor air pollution around our schools. We need to understand the scale of the problem so local councils can take appropriate measures to reduce it, and properly evaluate how effective actions have been. We know that councils want to do more to tackle air pollution and there is some really innovative work going on. For example, councils across London worked with the Cleaner Air 4 Schools project, which helped pupils, parents, teachers and school governors not only understand the importance of air pollution, but be part of the solution.

The project saw students’ measuring air quality around their schools, then running a campaign to encourage their parents to stop using cars on the school run. This saw car travel reduced by 35 per cent with resultant improvement in air quality.

Oxford City Council is launching a similar scheme that will see up to six schools given air quality measuring equipment, along with technical support to use together with a programme of education to tie in to their curriculum.

Another interesting approach has come from Brighton & Hove City Council.

Along with Imperial College London and

outside schools across the country. Nearly two‑thirds (57 per cent) of councils don’t have air quality monitors outside their local schools, yet worryingly, many of them are located within the most harmfully polluted areas, according to the WHO. Councils recognise the dangers that air pollution poses, and are trying to protect the people in their boroughs, but are restricted by lack of funding and guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

As it stands, their guidance doesn’t even mention children’s health. That’s why we are calling on Defra to provide local authorities with both the guidance and funding they need to increase pollution monitoring outside schools, for the sake of our children’s health.

Once councils are aware of a duty to monitor pollution, and the extent of levels outside schools, they will have the knowledge they need to start introducing appropriate solutions for their local areas.

Such solutions could range from anti‑idling policies, to bicycle loan or training schemes, and working with schools to develop School Travel Plans or Safer Routes to School schemes.

Of course, for this to

happen, increased funding and awareness is crucial. If you look further into our FOI data, you can see that generally, London borough councils who have tended to receive more funding for schools projects are carrying out more monitoring.

Ideally, this information will be published and accessible to parents allowing them to make informed decisions. Mums like Shazia deserve to have full information when deciding on a school for an asthmatic child for example. Easily accessible information may even incentivise some parents to change their behaviour in order to protect their children from permanent lung damage.

WE NEED TO TAKE AMBITIOUS ACTIONS ACROSS THE UK Our air pollution petition, which has been signed by almost 20,000 people so far, calls for clean air zones in pollution hotspots and a new Clean Air Act, as well as monitoring around schools.

Evidence suggests an extensive network of clean air zones restricting the most polluting vehicles from the most polluted places would go a long way to helping our air pollution crisis. The government is already planning five clean air zones – we hope they will be persuaded to go further.

For these zones to be successful they will need to ensure that accessible and

Air Quality

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

affordable alternative transport options are available. Given that children and older people are disproportionately impacted by air pollution, solutions should be tailored to protect these groups. This is a huge opportunity to transform our urban areas into healthier communities.

UK-WIDE AMBITION AND GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP But to really tackle the problem we are going to need UK-wide ambition and leadership from the government. We need a new Clean Air Act to set a framework that protects public health across the UK, bringing together all relevant legislation and set the UK’s legal limits in line with those recommended by the WHO. Anything less would mean children in the UK will continue to breathe in dangerous levels of pollution.

Bringing emissions down to safe and legal levels is going to require collaborative, ambitious and tailored interventions.

We look forward to working with local authorities to ensure that children’s lungs are protected across the UK. It’s time for us all to take action that will reap rewards for generations to come. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.blf.org.uk

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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HEALTH & SAFETY

First aid training is not just for one person in the office.

St John Ambulance’s John Cavanagh discusses the importance of first aid training to the whole public sector workforce St John Ambulance believes that everyone who needs first aid should receive it from those around them – no one should suffer for a lack of first aid trainers. Sadly, every year thousands of people die in situations where first aid could have given them a chance to live.

For example, someone could suffer from a heart attack, a stroke, or choke on a piece of food, anytime and anywhere. As such a large proportion of people’s lives are spent in the workplace, every organisation today – regardless of whether public or private sector – has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its workers by putting in place an effective first aid strategy.

Whilst public sector organisations have a duty to protect their staff, they also have the added responsibility of ensuring the safety of members of the public. And that is where first aid training becomes ever more essential, as all members of the public should be confident that they will receive a minimum standard of care if they were in need of medical attention, whether they are in a school, library or police station.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST AID To help inform St

All membe the pub rs of be confi lic should they wi dent that minimu ll receive a m care if t standard of h need ofey were in m attentioedical n

Written by John Cavanagh, director of Workplace Training, St John Ambulance

Working in the business of saving lives

John Ambulance’s strategy on how to better teach and provide first aid, much work is carried out measuring and monitoring the public’s perception of it. For example, some believe learning first aid can be time consuming, with well over a quarter (28 per cent) of 18-34 year-olds stating the reason they haven’t learnt any first aid is because of a lack of time. In fact, learning a simple life saving skill such as CPR via an online video tutorial could take less than five minutes.

Another barrier is the fear factor that can be attached to having to learn how to deal with a potentially life threatening and distressing situation. This requires communicating the need to learn these skills, but in a reassuring, thorough and practical way, giving people not just the skills, but the confidence to apply them when the time comes.

For others, first aid can simply be seen as a method of dealing with cuts, grazes and sprains, rather than an essential way of swiftly treating serious medical conditions or injuries. This is possibly the most worrying misconception that must be addressed by raising awareness of the fact that first aid training can, and does, save lives.

Having someone who is first aid trained and confident enough to act in the first few crucial minutes of an emergency can be the difference between a life lost and life saved.

All NHS Ambulance E

First Aid

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21

Years 1986 - 2016

HEALTH & SAFETY  services must respond to 75 per cent of Red 1 – immediately life-threatening – incidents within eight minutes, but for a person who has a blocked airway, they could be starved of oxygen in just three or four.

This could lead to the casualty suffering irreparable brain damage or, in some cases, death, highlighting just how essential it is for someone to be on hand with the appropriate skills and confidence to carry out treatment. Many first aid situations can be treated immediately, saving a life.

With thousands of people dying annually in situations where immediate treatment could have given them the chance to live, the need for life saving skills cannot be overstated.

UNDERSTANDING FIRST AID LAW Making more people aware of the regulations that underpin first aid in the workplace can only help to foster an environment in which appropriate respect is given to first aid and first aiders. All employers, regardless of business size, have a legal obligation under The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to protect their employees and anyone on their premises. Employers can visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website to view an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) booklet offering guidance on complying with first aid duties.

While specific requirements vary depending on the nature of the business, all employers face a ‘six pack’ of regulation under The Health and Safety at Work Act. These steps are preventative measures to reduce the need for first aid in the first place by making the workplace safer. However, despite the best preparation, accidents do happen and people can fall ill, and this is where first aid training comes in.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FIRST AID STRATEGY The most successful first aid provisions are those that are tailored to the risks and unique needs of an organisation as part of a wider safety management strategy. A school, for example, will have a very different risk profile to a local authority office. This will affect the type of first aid training and equipment needed. In schools, the treatment of bleeds and head injuries is likely to be a priority, whereas office first aiders report that they are often called upon to give initial treatment to colleagues with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart conditions.

The different types of incidents and illnesses that may occur in a specific working environment can be overlooked by a generic approach, so by tailoring their first aid provision to the needs of their employees and the public, organisations can make sure that their first aiders are trained to respond in any circumstance.

Some workplaces also present a higher risk than others; employees working in the police or NHS face greater risks than the

First Aid

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

Having someone who is first aid‑trained and confident enough to act in the first few crucial minutes of an emergency can be the difference between a life lost and life saved

average office worker. The comprehensiveness of the training first aiders take should be appropriate to the level of risk.

BEST PRACTICE The sensible step-by-step approach for a public sector organisation really is very simple. It should begin by setting out the legal framework of responsibilities around the provision of first aid which, as previously mentioned, underpin first aid in the workplace.

Having outlined an organisation’s legal obligation, it is equally important to also develop an environment where there is an awareness of the importance of first aid, moving away from any misapprehensions around simply providing treatment for minor injuries, but instead as a set of skills that address the most likely risks and enable people to save lives. As part of this employee education, all designated first aiders and the significance of their role should be known and understood by the remaining

workforce. In an emergency, every second counts, so understanding the impact a first aider could have on the situation and being able to locate one quickly, is critical.

For this best practice approach to work, it requires an organisation – private or public – to have a sufficient number of people that have undertaken and successfully passed a first aid training course, ideally tailored to the nature of the working environment and the people who work and use the services there.

St John Ambulance holds thousands of training courses across the country every year, including a full suite of first aid, risk assessment, fire marshal, and moving and handling courses, enabling hundreds of thousands of people to be the difference in their workplace – and outside of work – to protect their colleagues, family, friends, and members of the community. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.sja.org.uk

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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RESILIENCE

REVIEW

Flooding

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

Consulting to protect Sheffield from flooding Sheffield was one of a number of regions that experienced severe flooding in 2007, with damage affecting homes and businesses. Government Business looks at Sheffield City Council’s proposals to combat the risk of flooding, including diverting floodwater into parks and woodlands In the government’s National Flood Resilience Review, published in September, Sheffield was selected as the first core city in England to be protected from flooding to the same standard as London by 2021.

Following devastating flooding to UK regions in the winter of 2015, the government undertook research into how cities could be more creatively defended from fluvial and coastal flooding, pinpointing Sheffield to explore and demonstrate what can be achieved. The government highlighted how its aim for the city was to ‘enable the city to identify development of a type that will beautify the city-scape, unlock opportunities for urban regeneration and fit with local development priorities’.

Commenting on Sheffield’s involvement as the pilot city, councillor Bryan Lodge, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We look forward to working with government in developing our plans over the coming months. Ultimately this is about protecting our communities and businesses. If we simply do nothing we leave the city vulnerable to the devastating effects of flooding, like we saw in 2007.

“We have recently consulted on potential options and ideas to protect Sheffield from flooding. This is a great challenge for the city and does include some sensitive options around the temporary use of parks and woodland locations. We’ve had a great response to the flood consultation, in both returned questionnaires and

attendance at drop-in meetings. I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions which will help shape how Sheffield can be better protected from flooding.”

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS The city is consulting on a number of initiatives to prevent flooding, including storing flood water in open spaces by using parks and woodlands that are on existing floodplains.

Endcliffe Park is one such location being considered as a location for providing temporary flood storage. Under proposals, a new embankment would be constructed alongside the Porter Brook, that would hold back water for a short period during significant storm events.

The potential volume of storage created would be 40,500m3, which is the equivalent of 16 Olympic sized swimming pools.

One of the programmes put in place to evolve the city’s flood resilience was an £83 million investment programme, involving suggestions that propose temporarily flooding open spaces to protect homes and businesses, building new flood defences and opening up underground sections of rivers.

The cou is curre ncil consult ntly the She ing on Alleviat af Flood which a ion Scheme, i the risk ms to reduce o from thf flooding e Ri Sheaf ver

The council is also currently consulting on the Sheaf Flood Alleviation Scheme, which aims to reduce the risk of flooding from the River Sheaf and its main tributaries including the Porter Brook whilst delivering wider regeneration, environmental and social benefits. The catchment, which has an area of 71km square, has a history of flooding and was the location of a tragic loss of life in the 2007 floods.

Additionally, the Three Brooks Environmental Scheme is located to the east of Sheffield city centre covering a large area including the Manor, Manor Park, Darnall, Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park. The scheme aims to improve protection from flooding to nearby homes and businesses, providing sustainable drainage systems and other environmental features for new housing developments and for improving water quality.

PROGRAMME BENEFITS Sheffield’s Flood and Water Management Capital Investment Programme is planned to run from 2015-2021 and aims to deliver over 32,000 existing jobs, protection for 6,000 homes at risk of flooding, protection for 1,760 businesses and potential flood damage costs avoided of around £1 billion.

It will also hope to grow the economy by enabling development of 46 hectares of land, creating the potential for 15,000 new jobs, 27,000 new homes, 40 new businesses, and £150 million annual economic growth into Sheffield. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.floodprotectionsheffield.com

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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ENVIRONMENT

Recognising innovation in water management

Water Management

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

Angus Council has been recognised by the Carbon Trust for exceptional success in reducing their environmental impact. Government Business looks at the council’s water management policies After becoming the first UK local authority to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard for Water earlier in the year, Angus Council was recently presented the Best in Water Management award at the Carbon Trust Standard Bearers Conference, which was held in central London on Wednesday 12 October.

The Scottish authority was recognised for a reduction in water use of 22 per cent over the previous certification period, as well as demonstrating a robust approach to water management and stewardship.

The council has delivered a series of capital investments focused on water use minimisation, such as urinal controls and improved metering systems for accurate monitoring. There is also an identified list of projects for ongoing and future investment.

Responsibility for water management has been integrated alongside energy management and other sustainability activities. The importance of water efficiency has also been highlighted more widely among staff at key sites, through a programme of training and communication.

Ian Lingard, senior energy manager at Angus Council, said: “Angus Council is delighted to receive this Carbon Trust Award in the Water category. The award reflects the dedication of our water management team and the council’s commitment to reduce our water footprint, in this instance through the introduction automatic metering and other water saving technologies.”

WINNING ORGANISATIONS The other winners were Capital & Regional (Best in Carbon Management), PwC UK (Best in Waste Management) and Pompeian (Best Performance in Product Carbon Footprinting).

Capital & Regional, a specialist property investment company managing a large portfolio of UK shopping centres, won Best in Carbon Management with a reduction of 27 per cent in its emissions over the previous certification period, alongside an impressively high qualitative management score.

This was achieved thanks to considerable investments into low carbon technologies.

These included updating inefficient boilers, replacing conventional air conditioning with passive cooling strategies, retrofitting LED lighting and the energy efficient refurbishment of properties. These investments have taken place alongside constant

adjustments to operating procedures to improve the management of energy.

PwC UK, a professional services firm, was the winner of the Best in Waste Management award thanks to a reduction in the total waste generated by the firm of 29 per cent over the previous certification period, which is the result of a robust waste minimisation programme.

The business set itself a challenging target in 2007 to reduce its total waste generated by 50 per cent by 2017, which was achieved ahead of schedule in 2014. Investments have been made across offices to set up user-friendly waste segregation areas.

There have been further interventions such as eliminating desk-side bins and setting the printers to double-sided as default.

The company also ensures that no waste goes to landfill, working with its waste management contractor to divert general waste to an incinerator that generates energy.

Lastly, Pompeian Inc., a US-based food company that sells olive oils, vinegars and cooking wines, received the award for the Best Performance in Product Carbon Footprinting.

Over its past two certification periods, the company has delivered an average reduction of 21 per cent in the carbon footprint of its olive oils.

Reductions were primarily achieved through improvements to the olive oil extraction and distribution process. This involved a change in the mix of olives used, as well as a reduction in packaging and the weight of the pallets used for transportation.

the Scottish Court and Tribunal Service.

Darran Messem, managing director certification at the Carbon Trust, said: “Angus Council has shown a strong commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations by becoming the first local authority in Scotland to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for Water.

“To their great credit the council has at the same time recertified to the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon for continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local authorities can be very influential at driving positive change in their areas, setting an example for businesses and communities and helping deliver central government’s greenhouse gas emission targets.

“We are therefore delighted to be able to independently recognise Angus Council’s progress, helping them to effectively communicate their successes.”

Angus was also recertified to the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon for work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. L

Angu recogni s was reducti sed for a use of 2on in water plus de 2 per cent, m robust onstrating a water mapproach to and steanagement wardsh ip

FURTHER INFORMATION www.angus.gov.uk

Caren Webster, senior energy technician at Angus Council, receiving the Carbon Trust Standard Bearers’ Award

STANDARD FOR WATER The Carbon Trust Standard for Water, awarded to Angus Council in March 2016, recognises the council’s commitment and achievements in the management and reduction of water use. The only other public bodies in Scotland to be have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for Water are the Scottish government and

27

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

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

LONE WORKERS

With it becoming increasingly common for workers to be more mobile in their roles, Craig Swallow, chairman of the British Security Industry Association’s Lone Worker section, discusses the place of lone worker security in today’s world In modern day society, it is becoming increasingly common for people to be more mobile in their roles, which can often mean in many cases that they are working alone. There are over six million people in the UK that work either in isolation or without direct supervision across a wide array of industries including transport, healthcare, retail and hospitality.

range of roles, including security officers, front-of-house hotel staff, motorway services personnel, engineers and delivery drivers.

Working in isolation can either be a regular or occasional occurrence for an employee, but if there’s any chance they will be working alone then it is essential that they are adequately

If th any chaere is an emp nce that workingloyee will be it is ess alone then they ar ential that e adequ protect ately ed

protected. Lone working can be intimidating and also, at times, dangerous, being faced with a number of dangers, including physical violence, verbal threats and even armed robberies. As such, lone worker safety is not just about safeguarding employees but also offering peace of mind to those involved.

The lone worker section of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is still a relatively young section, comprised of E

Written by Craig Swallow, British Security Industry Association

BS 8484: raising the standard of lone worker security

Security

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

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY Employers have a wealth of responsibilities, particularly when it comes to the health, safety and welfare of all their employees whilst at work.

Under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers have a general duty to provide a safe place of work, a safe system of work, competent fellow employees and a common law duty to ensure they take reasonable care for the safety and health of their employees. On 1 February this year, the sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences were revised, with higher penalties being issued to those who do not comply.

As a direct result of this, we have seen more organisations, particularly larger ones in both the public and private sector, taking into account the importance of lone worker safety.

There have now been many companies fined for health and safety breaches within larger companies, which are defined as those with over £50 million revenue, seeing multi-million pound fines. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are also being fined £100,000s, which is also a big hit to businesses of their size. In addition to this, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have also pursued individual directors and senior managers, with many fines and custodial sentences being levied. Needless to say, it’s serious business and there is no room for error when it comes to employee safety.

Lone workers can be found in a wide

Volume 23.7 | 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 23.7

LONE WORKERS  companies that recognised the growing need for businesses to consider lone worker risk. With the implementation of stricter health and safety legislation, coupled with the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act in 2007, the market has accelerated over the last five years, with a growing awareness of the cost of reputational brand damage, the cost to insure workers operating out of hours and the desire to recruit and keep quality staff meaning credible employers are taking the subject matter seriously.

The UK is the most advanced market in the world when it comes to understanding the topic of lone worker risks and the deployment of dedicated lone worker devices. The UK also benefits from a very joined up relationship between industry providers and the police, which, in a large part, is thanks to the work of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section.

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES The development of technology and practice in the field of lone worker security has

Security

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

When it comes to lone worker safety, one of the most important factors to consider is whether or not the supplier is certified to BS 8484, the Code of Practice for the provision of Lone Worker Services focused on encouraging and enabling lone workers to consider the risks they might face in their roles and subsequently provide them with the means both to summon aid in the event of emergency, but also to collect vital information that can be used as evidence should the situation call for it.

As a result, there is now an array of lone worker devices on the market, including applications on smartphones and GPS/ GSM devices, which connects employees quickly and discreetly with an emergency response system. Such devices are connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), which receives and manages activations and can quickly request emergency services or another appropriate response if required.

If a lone worker feels that they are entering an area with a potential risk, they can send a pre‑activation message to inform the ARC, if any problems then occur, the device can be activated to summon help. Activating the device triggers a voice call to the ARC, where trained operators monitor the audio channel in real time, enabling them to assess the situation and alert the police if necessary.

BS 8484 – ENSURING AN EFFECTIVE POLICE RESPONSE When it comes to lone worker safety, one of the most important factors to consider is whether or not the supplier is certified to BS 8484, the Code of Practice for the provision of Lone Worker Services which was updated and re-published this year. This is absolutely essential as it is the basis on which the police respond to lone worker systems and how they do it. Put simply, if you want the fastest response from the police, you must have a BS 8484 compliant solution from a supplier accredited and audited annually to the standard. A priority police response cannot be guaranteed by a supplier who doesn’t meet with BS 8484. It is also important to be sure that the chosen supplier can prove they comply by way of certification against sections 4, 5, and 6 of the standard.

As mentioned before, lone worker devices are linked up to an ARC. Therefore, it is essential that the ARC also meets with essential British and/or European standards around the physical security of the building, staff security vetting and call handling response times. A compliant ARC must be in operation 24/7 and have the ability to reinstate services following a catastrophic event such as a fire or flood. Certification of section 7 of BS 8484:2016 and BS 5979

Cat II are the current standards that an ARC must meet as a minimum, although any ARCs applying for new accreditations are expected to meet requirements for BS 8591 or EN50518, both of which replace BS5979.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Security Systems Policy permits these accredited ARCs to be granted a Unique Reference Number (URN) by each UK police force. A trained and certified ARC operator will listen in to audio received from a lone worker device activation, if safe to do so speaks to the user, and then considers this, alongside other information, to determine whether requesting a level 1 police response would be appropriate. The URN system enables an ARC to bypass the usual 999 route, thereby ensuring a quicker response by police.

One on-going challenge that will affect both employers of lone workers and suppliers of lone worker services is the continued focus from the police on when they should be involved in a response to an incident. In the last year, members of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section have worked tirelessly with the NPCC to ensure that appropriate rules of engagement are used for when a police URN (level 1 response), 999 or 101 escalation is used. All section members have unanimously supported the work of the police here, as we recognise the need to avoid their time and resource being wasted. Employers of lone workers need to take heed in this regard and stick to suppliers who comply with BS 8484, as that is their guarantee that a URN police response can be managed.

Overall, the key message here is that effective lone worker security can only be ensured when sourcing a solution from a credible supplier. The BSIA recommends that the choice of provider should be based on their ability to demonstrate compliance with BS 8484, which can be confirmed by a copy of a certificate from either the NSI or SSAIB. Members of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section all comply with BS 8484 and are well-established reputable suppliers with certified ARCs. As a section, we are focused on helping employers of mobile, lone working staff, by delivering highly professional service offerings and supporting managers and business owners alike in reducing risk. All section members subscribe to a belief that reducing such risks genuinely help deliver our clients true value and cost reductions. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.bsia.co.uk/lone-workers

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Learning Technologies

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

EVENT PREVIEW

Europe’s leading L&D exhibition and conference Learning Technologies, incorporating Learning & Skills, Europe’s leading showcase of organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work, will be returning to London on 1-2 February 2017. Government Business reviews the show Learning Technologies, now its eighteenth year, continues to grow in importance as European businesses seek innovative ways to develop people in light of unprecedented change in how we work and learn. The event attracts 7,500 organisational learning professionals, 250 learning provider companies exhibiting the latest learning technology and hosts the Learning Technologies Conference – a unique and exciting environment for those seeking to hear from workplace learning experts and practitioners.

practical steps and ‘how to’ approaches for getting started with new learning technologies. There are insights from a whole host of practitioners. The conference is chaired by learning technology veteran, Donald H Taylor and will hear from 70 learning industry experts and practitioners at leading European businesses, including: Barclays, BSI Group, Countrywide, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Halfords, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Jaguar Land Rover, KwikFit, Lloyds Banking Group, Npower, One Housing, Plymouth University, PSA Peugeot Citroën, The Institute of Leadership Management, Transport for London, Ufi, Vodafone Group and Virgin Atlantic.

The event looks at technology in detail. There are some

ogy Technolantly is const nge and cha driving option in its ad ntinues L&D co w at a to gro enal phenome pac

NOTEWORTHY SPEAKERS Thimon de Jong, strategic foresight expert, runs Wheston, a think tank for future human behaviour, societal change and business strategy and will open Learning Technologies 2017 on 1 February. In his keynote address, de Jong will share an inspiring blend of research and eyeopening business cases from around the world that illustrate how the world is changing and how the world of work and learning is being reinvented. How will people respond to the next wave of tech – the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, wearables, robotics, automation? How digital are the needs of the modern learner? How can organisations strike a perfect digital balance in learning?

Deborah Frances-White, comedian, screenwriter and executive coach, opens day two of the Learning Technologies Conference and, in her own inimitable, engaging style, will help the conference understand the need for compelling and gripping storytelling at the heart of learning.

Frances-White’s BBC Radio 4 comedy storytelling series Deborah Frances‑White Rolls The Dice won The Writers’ Guild Award in 2016 for Best Radio Comedy and her hit podcast The Guilty Feminist was described in the Guardian as ‘hilarious, irreverent, eternally surprising, classy as hell, genius’.

The event provides learning and development (L&D) professionals with

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

extraordinary new systems and approaches using virtual reality and artificial intelligence, which are ready to transform the way we live and learn. And it will look at the fundamentals of learning – of memory, of trust and helping people to learn better.

Donald H Taylor points out: “Technology is constantly driving change and its adoption in L&D continues to grow at a phenomenal pace. As technology continues to develop new, exciting and increasingly effective ways of reaching and engaging learners, its integration has become vital to the success of every organisation and L&D department.

“Since Facebook ploughed $2 billion into buying Oculus Rift in 2014, virtual reality has been the coming thing. 2017 will be the year it arrives – at least as far as mainstream L&D is concerned.

“And it is difficult to overstate the likely impact of artificial intelligence on the way we live and learn in the future, and

WHAT’S ON? The Learning Technologies Conference has five tracks. Delegates can either follow one track or mix and match sessions of particular interest.

Track 1 contains the conference’s major sessions about new technology. But it’s not all about tech. Expect to find other provocative issues here too around how we work and learn together.

Track 2 explores some of the key issues of learning today – from models of learning through to how to make learning engaging, showing value, and having the systems in place to support it all.

Track 3 concentrates on how to accomplish learning goals. Beginning with leadership training, it explores business-alignment, scenarios, games, collaboration and the crucial issue of rebooting elearning in organisations where it’s grown a little jaded.

Track 4 provides hour-long interactive examinations of one practical topic for a learning and development professional. On day one these focus on issues around learning design and on day two examine learning and the mind, and learning and performance.

Track 5 is a place where the conference is okay with being provocative. Social engagement, cultural change, building better

Learning Technologies

the way we carry out our roles as L&D professionals. If you’re freaked out by Amazon guessing what you’ll read next ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’. We are only just beginning to see and practically explore and build new forms of artificial, machine-based, collective intelligence.”

organisational learning and the problems of professionalism are all there to be picked over, debated and discussed in detail.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SESSION There are different types of sessions, ranging from: keynote addresses, case studies, café sessions, theory presentations, practical debate, hangouts and a wide range of collaborative and networking opportunities.

The conference provides the opportunity to listen to – and interact with – some of the leading thinkers, visionaries and practitioners in workplace learning today.

Lunchtime doesn’t mean downtime at the Learning Technologies Conference.

As well as the opportunity to visit the exhibition there are special sessions available over the lunch break. Designed to be interactive and of general interest to learning professionals, they offer delegates the chance to come in and leave at any point and still get value from what’s going on.

There are also public areas and dedicated breakout rooms for use by conference delegates throughout the event for informal discussions exploring the topics and issues being covered.

LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES EXHIBITION Running alongside the conference is the Learning Technologies Exhibition, an exhibition designed around the needs of L&D professionals and packed with the latest technologies, hands-on features, innovation and best practice as well as boasting the largest free L&D seminar programme of any learning event in the world. The exhibition attracts 7,500 L&D professionals and is free to attend.

The Learning Technologies exhibition hall has been expanded to accommodate the growing number of learning providers choosing to show their wares at the event, which reads like a Who’s Who of technology supported learning. Visitors will be the first in Europe to view the latest technologies with many launching new products at the exhibition.

The Learning & Skills exhibition, now incorporated with Learning Technologies, features a huge array of traditional learning methods, products and services – from the latest advances in training environments to unique and sometimes quirky, learning solutions – all offering ways and methods to make workforce learning varied, fun, informative and effective.

Across the exhibition are ten theatres hosting 150 seminars for visitors to attend over the two days covering workplace

learning and learning technology. Each of the seminars is free to attend.

THE SEMINAR PROGRAMME A huge range of learning topics are covered by the seminar programme, including: emerging technologies; collaborative learning; content authoring and design; e-learning strategy, technology and implementation; gaming, simulations and virtual worlds; learning management infrastructure, methods and systems; mobile learning; virtual classroom technologies; management and business skills; leadership development; IT training and skills; culture and language; specialist skills; transformational learning; business aligned learning; developing high performance teams; coaching and mentoring; learning engagement; organisational development; change management; integrated learning; learning resources; venues and training spaces; presentation equipment; learning aids; learning systems and services; talent management; assessment and appraisals; support systems; specialist learning systems; and learning infrastructures.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? The event is suitable for all L&D professionals involved with any aspect of organisational learning and learning technology, including: heads of L&D; L&D managers; organisational development directors; elearning directors and managers; IT directors and managers; HR directors and managers; chief learning officers; heads of talent management; performance improvement managers; business transformation managers; and change managers.

Learning Technologies is the most important event in the calendar in the learning sector in Europe, attracting every type of learning‑related job role and responsibility.

Visitors receive membership of the Learning and Skills Group, an international community of 9,000 L&D professionals who get access to the host of resources provided by Learning Technologies and its related programmes throughout the year, including webinars, conference video resources, publications and networking opportunities. L FURTHER INFORMATION learningtechnologies.co.uk

The event attracts 7,500 organisational learning professionals, 250 learning provider companies exhibiting the latest learning technology and hosts the Learning Technologies Conference Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

33

The Franchise Exhibition

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

EVENT PREVIEW

Starting your career in 2017 with franchising The British and International Franchise Exhibition, taking place on 20-21 January 2017, will help delegates discover the world of franchising. Government Business previews the show Traditionally, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to reflect and commit to making a change. In 2016, one in four people in the UK were considering starting a business, according to a survey conducted

by Cause4. The survey also highlighted London as the region with the highest concentration of prospective business owners.

The franchising industry is currently worth an estimated £15.1 billion to the UK

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

economy and offers attractive business opportunities for people of all ages and capabilities. With the flexibility of running your own business alongside the security of a strong, reputable brand name and experience, franchising is growing increasingly popular.

The basic premise of franchising is to replicate a proven business model’s success by capitalising on a well-known and recognised company. The company (franchisor) gives rights to an individual (franchisee) to run and own a business under the umbrella of the brand and the proven systems of the franchise.

Franchising’s incomparable success stems from having a solid business model that is transferable, teachable and fundamentally profitable. It is becoming an increasingly popular option for entrepreneurs, as with these elementary pillars in place, a stable business can grow and thrive in any industry.

In fact, commercial failure rates for the over 44,000 franchisee-owned businesses in the UK have remained below five per cent for over 20 years, despite the recent recession.

The average annual turnover continues to rise.

Ninety-seven per cent of these businesses are reporting profitability, according to research by the British Franchise Association (bfa) and NatWest, with over half turning over more than £250,000 per annum.

The on-going success of the franchise industry is clearly evident at the bfa’s officially supported exhibitions, including The British and International Franchise Exhibition taking place at Olympia, London on 20-21 January. The bfa works closely with the organisers in their capacity as sole

The future of franchising?

One of the biggest recent changes in franchising occurred during 2012, with the advent of Franchisee Membership to the bfa. Franchisees, for the first time, have the opportunity for direct representation on the board of the bfa, and therefore are able to contribute to the future evolution and governance of their industry. It was the first membership scheme of its kind for any franchising association in the world, and ensures all stakeholders of ethical franchising can continue to move the UK industry forwards as it grows further in size, stature and importance to the economy.

From its feudal roots to becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy, franchising has come a long way. With many more people now looking to take charge of their careers and family life by running their own business, it looks set to go a whole lot further in the years to come too. regulators and governors of ethical franchise practices. This ensures that every exhibiting brand has attained accreditation or membership.

THE EXHIBITION At London’s largest international franchise exhibition, a wide array of leading franchise brands will assemble to showcase opportunities and recruit their next batches of capable franchisees. Global fast-food giant McDonald’s will be running its consistently popular feature, the McDonald’s Insight Sessions. The 75-minute in-depth sessions give attendees a unique look into one of the world’s most successful franchise brands and offer a chance to meet the McDonald’s recruitment team face‑to‑face and learn more about the brand’s first‑class franchisee training programme.

Visitors can also take advantage of face‑to‑face engagement with a vast range of franchisors, seek free advice from industry experts and attend dynamic presentations.

Specialists in international trade, franchise decision makers, and entrepreneurial keynotes will inspire a new generation of business owners, whilst the industry regulators, the bfa, will host a series of highly anticipated seminars covering the fundamentals of franchising. The ‘Real Franchise Stories’ panel

sing’s Franchi arable incomp stems successng a solid vi from ha model that is s le businesrable, teachab transfe undamentally and f fitable. pro

Global fast-food giant McDonald’s will be running its consistently popular feature, the McDonald’s Insight Sessions at the show

The franchising industry is currently worth an estimated £15.1 billion to the UK economy and offers attractive business opportunities for people of all ages and capabilities sessions will give attendees direct insight into the day-to-day activity of running a successful franchise. A panel of current franchisees will be on hand to give detailed accounts and answer questions about their personal journeys to successful self-employment.

Another instrumental feature returning to The British & International Franchise Exhibition is the Growing Your Own Business conference that aims to equip entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to create and develop a successful business. Interactive workshops on the latest business trends, including SEO, digital marketing, the power of PR, financing a business and crowd funding will broaden the skill sets of the audience and help them to develop new business expertise.

A handpicked selection of high-profile keynote speakers will deliver an essential mix of advice and inspiration to benefit any business, new or old. Joseph Valente, the winner of the BBC’s The Apprentice and business partner to Lord Sugar will discuss the three-step success philosophy that has worked in his favour since he was fifteen years old. Meanwhile, founder of the Startups Retail Business of the Year Award winner 2015, Andrew Reeve, who founded HonestBrew back in 2014, will also share the story behind his startup success.

HonestBrew deliver craft beer tailored to its customers’ personal tastes directly to their door, and the company has gone from strength to strength winning multiple awards since its establishment.

Business support and start-up specialists will be on-hand in the Growing Your Own Business hub to guide those just starting out and those looking to develop an existing business.

A DIVERSE OFFERING Franchising is an attractive prospect, because of the diversity it offers – there are opportunities for all, from young entrepreneurs to retirees looking for a new income source. The events provide a great source of inspiration to those who are unsure which direction they want to take because the exhibition houses a huge variety of franchise opportunities. However, for those that already have their objectives in mind, The Franchise Exhibitions can be the starting point of a real career change.

Adrian Goodsell, franchise sales director of the exhibitions, commented: “The Franchise Exhibitions are so important for prospective franchisees. It’s not just about meeting the brands – though the chance to network with over 100 quality businesses

Franchising Today Franchising has since flourished into an industry which now has nearly 1,000 brands in a multitude of different sectors.

Long-gone are the days when it revolved around cars and catering, and nowadays its eclectic mix of businesses includes everything from hairdressing to photography, pet care to children’s sport coaching.

There’s something to suit your passion whatever it may be.

Franchising has never been in better health than it is now. The authoritative annual research into the state of the industry, the NatWest/bfa Franchise Survey, has shown both short and long-term growth trends to be very strong in the sector, including prior to and since the economic downturn in 2008.

After a slight downturn in that year, every year following has shown growth in terms of numbers of brands franchising, numbers of franchisees, numbers employed in franchise businesses and the overall turnover of the franchise sector.

These figures combine with impressive trends going back to before the turn of the century, uninterrupted by the recession, which consistently show around 90% of franchisees reporting profitability and less than four per cent of franchise businesses failing for commercial reasons each year.

Those statistics compare favourably to figures estimating that between half and two-thirds of all independent start-ups close within their first three years. It’s clear that the advantages inherent within a franchise business, including economies of scale and support of a large brand combined with local marketing and business owners, make them particularly robust and statistically much more likely to succeed.

The Franchise Exhibition

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

is a huge attraction – it is also about making our visitors feel supported, giving them access to free expert advice. It’s a big decision buying a business, and we are here to help franchisors and franchisees to create effective, symbiotic relationships that really work for everyone.” L

The British and International Franchise Exhibition takes place at Olympia London on 20 & 21 January 2017.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.frachiseinfo.co.uk

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Business Information for Local and Central Government

Published by

020 8532 0055 www.psi-media.co.uk

SUSTAINABILITY

Printing

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

The corporate responsibility of sustainable printing In our digital world paper is often given a bad press. But many of the beliefs surrounding the sustainability of paper are based on false information, and the print industry is working to improve its environmental credentials. Here, Government Business explores the paper sustainability trail The printing industry is reported to be the fourth largest industry in the UK, with over 6,000 printing companies operating across the country. With many organisations taking stock of their environmental responsibilities, the demand for climate neutral products has been steadily rising. Printing companies have refined their systems, minimised waste and maximised process automation and efficiency, streamlining process management, based on a renewable resource, to make print a highly sustainable, as well as effective, medium.

In June 2016, Two Sides, an initiative set up to address some of the inaccuracies surrounding the print and paper industry, released the outcomes of a survey into how UK customers view the environmental impacts of digital versus paper-based communications. It considers the ongoing switch from paper-based communications to digital by corporations and governments, and reveals that many consumers want to retain the choice of using print and paper at no additional cost.

The attractiveness and sustainability of Print and Paper – The UK consumer’s view highlights how many customers feel misled by companies green incentives, such as emails detailing the company’s desire to ‘go paperless – go green’.

While respondents commented that paper based communications are easier to read and access than digital counterparts, with all age groups reacting more positively to the physicality of print on paper, they also suggested a recognition that paper-based communications have the potential to be sustainable, with the correct recycling initiatives in place.

With regards to the ‘go paperless – go green’ messages used by a large proportion of companies, respondents offered a level of cynicism in understanding this to be less of an environmental push, and more of a way for companies to save costs. Two Sides found that 40 per cent of respondents felt misled by such claims, while 50 per cent questioned their validity. In November 2015, a campaign by the initiative found 240 of the world’s largest

Europ forests ean by 44,0 grew kilomet 00 square re 2005 ans between equatin d 2015, g larger an area Switzerthan land

organisations to be using greenwash statements in their marketing communications. 70 per cent of those companies changed or removed these misleading messages as a direct result of intervention by Two Sides.

Online billing is commonplace for most, with banks leading the way in delivering paperless statements. However, the survey found that 41 per cent print some or all of their financial services bills and statements at home, with 38 per cent printing some or all

of their utility bills and statements at home.

There is a clear resistance to being unwillingly moved to online communications, at least without an alternative paper option, with 74 per cent of respondents desiring the option to continue receiving printed information as it provides a permanent record for important documents. Furthermore, 56 per cent expressed discontent that the responsibility to print valuable documents was being passed to consumers.

PAPERING OVER FALSE CRACKS The main concern expressed by respondents to the survey as to why print and paper E

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Respondents offered a level of cynicism in understanding the go paperless – go green’ messages used by a large proportion of companies to be less of an environmental push, and more of a way for companies to save costs  communications were unsustainable related to the effect that paper production was havingon forests. However, according to Two Sides, consumers remain unaware of the fact that European forests have grown by more than 30 per cent in size over the last 50 years. In fact, 76 per cent of those surveyed believed that European forests have reduced in size or stayed the same.

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015.

How are the World’s Forests Changing?, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, showed that European forests grew by 44,000 km2 between 2005 and 2015, equaling an area larger than Switzerland.

Furthermore, in northern Europe, where almost all ancient forests are protected, paper comes from managed semi-natural forests where the cycle of planting, growing and logging is carefully controlled.

Historical concerns in northern Europe and Canada have now been largely resolved through co‑operation between legislators, campaigners and forest industries to protect ancient forests.

ELECTRONIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT Despite the common understandinf g that electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than traditional, paper-based communication, the renewable and sustainable aspects of paper should not be ignored and neither should the environmental impacts of electronic methods. According to a 2014 Greenpeace report, entitled Clicking Clean: How Companies are Creating the Green Internet, the Cloud would rank 6th in the world compared with the electricity demand

of countries in the same year, with demand expected to increase 63 per cent by 2020.

Two Sides found that the ICT industry accounts for approximately two per cent of global emissions, which is equal with emissions from the global aviation sector. On top of this, more and more businesses and individuals are utilising Cloud services with a United Nations Environment Programme report in 2015 claiming that each year ‘the electronic industry – one of the world’s largest and fastest growing – generates up to 41 million tonnes of e-waste from goods such as computers and smart phones’. Waste Crime – Waste Risks: Gaps in meeting the global waste challenge showcases how the environmental impacts of our ever‑increasing digital world cannot be ignored.

SUSTAINABLE PRINTING IN THE OFFICE There are many easy-to-do actions that can lead to savings in an office environment, such as printing documents on both sides of the paper and using recycled paper. Paper remains one of the most recycled products in the world, with the European recycling rate for paper reaching 72 per cent in 2014.

And with local collecting systems improving, the European paper industry is likely to increase its recycling rates even further.

Buying in bulk saves millions of households across the country hundreds of pounds every year in grocery shopping. The same attitude can be used in office purchasing, buying toner or recycled paper in bulk.

When combined with high efficiency and high capacity items, the per-print or per-unit cost price of printing lowers dramatically.

Returning toner bottles and cartridges for

Printing

SUSTAINABILITY

The paper recycling rate in Europe reached an impressive 71.5 per cent, according to the European Recovered Paper Council’s (ERPC) final monitoring report for 2015.

Compared to 2010, collection and recycling has increased by almost one million tonnes of paper.

The 2015 European paper recycling rate of 71.5 per cent is 1.5 per cent higher than the target set by the ERPC in the 3rd European Declaration on Paper Recycling for the period 2010-2015.

In addition to the quantitative progress, a lot of qualitative work was done, particularly with initiatives to facilitate the recycling process and increase recycling activity. These notably include collection and applying ecodesign to paper products.

For the commitment period of 2011 to 2015, EY has independently verified the recycling rate calculations. Currently, a new ambitious commitment for 2016‑2020 is being prepared.

This will keep the industry moving on its path towards ever-higher recycling rates.

Henri Vermeulen, ERPC chairman, said: “The efforts of the ERPC perfectly complement EU policy on Circular Economy. The paper fibre loop can serve as the perfect model for circularity. All 13 ERPC associations are proud to be part of a value chain ‘Made in Europe’, prolonging value creation and job opportunities.”

The ERPC was set up as an industry self-initiative in November 2000 to monitor progress towards meeting the paper recycling targets set out in the 2000 European Declaration on Paper Recycling. The commitments in the Declaration are renewed every five years. recycling is another way of saving money, with some manufacturers offering pre‑paid shipping labels to return empty toner cartridges. Collected toner cartridges are partially recycled for use as Environmental Contribution Toners (EC Toners). Some companies also implement Used Product Collection Systems, whereby customers can take advantage of the system to recycle used supplier machines in an efficient way. L FURTHER INFORMATION Download the The attractiveness and sustainability of Print and Paper – The UK consumer’s view report at bit.ly/2gOqHo0

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Furniture Written by Jim Pendrill, British Contract Furnishing Association

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

SUSTAINABILITY

The importance of building furniture to last In its push for sustainability can the public sector learn more lessons from the private sector? On behalf of the British Contract Furnishing Association, Jim Pendrill reports Given today’s unceasing focus on sustainability, the ‘built to last’ mantra makes both sound environmental and commercial sense. Take the example of Morgan Furniture, a designer and manufacturer of contemporary chairs, sofas and tables, and a company which makes a virtue of building products to last.

Rodney McMahon, managing director, said: “For us, it is really quite simple. The starting point is always to come up with a high‑quality, well‑designed, differentiated product which will stand the test of time.”

However, he admits that how long products actually last is ultimately down to the quality of housekeeping: “I could take you to a venue where we delivered a product 20 years ago but I would be able to persuade you that piece of furniture had only been there for a year or two because it had been so well maintained.”

But given the rapidly changing tastes and trends swirling around us, do clients - both public and private sector - actually want products that will last for 20 years or more? Is there any point designing, say, a hotel carpet for 10 years if the client is then going to change the look and style of a hotel within three to five years?

McMahon says this strikes to the heart of a wider question around sustainability. He said: “In my view a more general issue is that the UK has this culture where everyone always wants something new. If you travel around European hotels or restaurants you don’t notice that same urge to constantly change furniture. If anything the trend here in the UK seems to be accelerating.”

The oint is p g n i t r p sta come u y, s y a w l t li to a igh‑quad, h a h t i w signe well-de ed product tiat differenwill stand the which t of time tes

PUBLIC SECTOR APPLICATION Alan Whittle is sales director at Wilton Carpets which supplies approximately 20 per cent of its products to local authorities, Whitehall departments, the Parliamentary

40

Estate, the Supreme Court and other High Court premises. He says that, to an extent, the public sector does think longer term than private sector clients.

Whittle comments: “If we supply a carpet to a pub chain the expectation will be that the carpet only needs to look good for five years, after which it will be changed because interior fashions change. It’s

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

a similar story with hotels, although the refurb cycle will be more like seven to ten years.

“However, when we supply to the Parliamentary Estate, the designs will be well established and Pugin-inspired in keeping with the building’s original architecture and interior. The emphasis will be on a spec which will deliver maximum longevity.”

Whittle adds that while the demands of the public sector in terms of product performance are no different to the private sector, demands in terms of the procurement process are different with the tender/documentary demands heavier.

He said: “The public sector is more diligent in demanding documentary evidence for things like sustainability whereas clients in other sectors are already aware, for instance in our industry, of the green credentials of wool products and so don’t need a document to tell them about it with every order.”

McMahon agrees that the public sector is inevitably very tender-based, but says that ‘everyone’ in the public sector is now signed up to the sustainability agenda and has to adhere to various sustainability criteria while demonstrating best value.

He continues: “Like any commercial organisation the public sector will build things to last and there is still that overriding motivation. The difference is that there is

Technology will continue to be a significant driver of changing design and one can only see that accelerating. Trends such as hot‑desking and mobile communication are fundamentally redrawing the design map a more bureaucratic approach to it. While the private sector may focus more on the overall ‘greenness’ of a building, the public sector is more concerned about ticking the boxes of sustainability and has a more specific commitment to sustainability rather than this broader approach. Yes there is still box ticking in the private sector too, but someone at the top of a private company or organisation may ultimately make a decision that may not always meet the original criteria. There is more flexibility.”

Budget constraints are another consideration, adds McMahon. “It can be very noticeable in some instances in the public sector. Provided something fits ‘in budget’ then all seems to be well.”

TECHNOLOGY But does the level of sustainability in a product also depend on what type of product it is?

Karl Anderson, head of design at Gresham Office Furniture, says in terms of the private sector much depends on what specific piece of furniture you are talking about.

Anderson says: “There is a definite split. Everyday items like storage are becoming commodity items where people will buy for the longer term and want longevity in the products. But with key pieces of front-of-house furniture then fads are key and design will change.”

Anderson says design changes driven by technology complicate the picture further.

“Technology will continue to be a significant driver of changing design and one can only see that accelerating. Trends such as hot-desking and mobile communication are fundamentally redrawing the design map. Design is being driven as much by how people are actually connecting with the rest of an organisation.”

Furniture

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

Wilton Carpets is a good case in point. The company says as technology develops and people’s lives change what it will actually put on floors will change with it, but it says this needn’t be to the detriment of sustainability.

For instance, the company is seeing the increased use of recycled fibres in carpets and is literally shredding a carpet back to its basics and remaking it. It says that in the future you could actually end up with a carpet that has been recycled three or four times.

REFURBISHMENT Indeed the process of refurbishment is becoming increasingly key as companies seek to design products that are timeless, but which also have the flexibility to be refurbished, particularly given that traditional upholstery can also take a long time to replace.

Anderson says his firm is constantly looking at ways to fine tune the use of materials and its processes. For instance, it recently invested in a machine to help cut fabrics for upholstery, making the process much more efficient and cutting down on waste.

As he explains: “If you take the upholstery of chairs, rather than stapling covers into seats we now employ a drawstring method. Rather than using lots of staples you might now have only one which locks the draw string into place and gives you consistent quality throughout.”

McMahon concedes that tastes have changed dramatically over the past generation. “I would say there has been a distinct shift towards people wanting a more eclectic and brighter look. Thirty years ago people would have produced very straightforward and traditional furniture.”

But he remains sceptical over how much the wider market will really change over the next 30 years: “If you take the home environment in particular, people still want chairs that are nice and comfy and nicely upholstered.

I do actually wonder quite how significant the impact of technology will be on future trends in this market. The more technology you have in your life the more you retreat at home wanting something a bit softer.”

McMahon says over the last 25 years a lot has changed superficially and a lot has actually not changed: “People still want nice comfortable furniture but what they also have is a lot more choice now. As consumers talk more about sustainability they will become more focused on where things come from and what they cost.”

And if you want proof that building products to last can still pay dividends many years later just talk to Andersen.

He concludes: “We are a family business which is built on the very principle of building to last. We still get customers coming back to us with a product they bought 20 years ago on a lifetime guarantee asking us for our help. That says an awful lot.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.thebcfa.com

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Advertisement Feature

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

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

HELPING YOU DEEPEN YOUR CONNECTION WITH CUSTOMERS Sitel, experts in outsourced customer experience innovation and omnichannel contact centre services, is pleased to announce the recent contract award for the provision of contact centre services for the National Citizen Service (NCS) The contract will see Sitel, who were recognised as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for customer management contact center BPO for the sixth consecutive year, providing multichannel services, in support of the programme, from their new location in Newcastle-upon-Tyne NCS is a youth empowerment programme delivered by providers across the country, with multiple programmes taking place throughout the school holidays. The flagship summer programmes last three to four weeks; there are also shorter NCS programmes running in autumn and spring that last for a week. More than 200,000 young people have already taken part in this life-changing experience – the fastest growing youth movement in nearly a century, with the aim that by 2020, over 50 per cent of teenagers will be taking part.

Karl Brough, general manager of Sitel UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be involved with helping this great British Institution focused upon supporting and developing our young people. Public sector outsourcing is a growth area and we are seeing many opportunities to provide world-leading public service.”

SUPPORTING CHANGING TRENDS IN CUSTOMER CARE Continued growth of digital channels of communication and changing contact behaviours, driven by increased contacts from Generation Y and Millennial customer groups, have set expectations for traditional telephony volumes to decline to be below 65 per cent of total contact centre interactions by 2020.

Research now suggests that many customers younger than 40 would much rather use social media and web chat than any other way of achieving their desired service outcomes.

Karl, commented further: “In the last 12 months we have seen phenomenal growth as organisations increasingly outsource their customer service in order to meet continued pressure on cost, customer expectations for higher quality and rising levels of complexity.

There is huge demand for multi-channel, mobile and digital solutions as customers demand more ways to engage and Sitel are well positioned to support organisation’s on this journey.”

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

In order to keep pace with changing contact trends, a need to communicate seamlessly across channels and the rapid changes in technology necessary to meet these demands is leading many organisations to consider outsourcing their customer care needs to industry experts like Sitel. Cathy Murton, NCS head of Contact Centres said: “The government is committed to supporting all young people to take part in NCS, so they can gain life skills and give back to their local community. We needed a partner with a digital and social culture to align with and Sitel UK has provided that.”

government and public sector organisations.

Leveraging a combination of local experience of the UK and the public sector, combined with our global expertise supporting many of the world’s largest and well-known brands, provides us with the proven ability to deliver a reduced TCO coupled with improved experiences and outcome based measures.”

To learn more about the ways in which Sitel UK is supporting government, public sector and private sector brands in enhancing their customer experiences, interested parties should visit www.sitel. com or contact ian.conduit@sitel.com.

ENHANCING GOVERNMENT‑TO‑CITIZEN INTERACTIONS Sitel is one of only four contact centre providers to have been awarded a Framework Agreement, by Crown Commercial Service and currently employs over 6000 people in its network of UK-based contact centres.

The award for the National Citizen Service marks another key milestone in Sitel’s growing presence within the public sector.

Ian Conduit, business development director for the Public Sector at Sitel, commented: “Sitel UK is highly experienced in understanding government-to-citizen interactions and experiences through trusted partnerships with, for example, the Home Office, Cancer Research and, most recently, the National Citizen Service. Sitel is keen to expand its service portfolio and operations to support improving experiences across

ABOUT SITEL As caring for customers becomes the differentiator that drives consumer engagement and spend, Sitel is advancing its position as a world leader in outsourced customer experience innovation. With over 30 years of industry-leading experience, Sitel’s 75,100 passionate and talented associates support more than 400 clients in 48 languages from 146 facilities strategically located in 22 countries. Combining comprehensive customer care capabilities, leading omnichannel solutions and unparalleled expertise across industries, Sitel collaborates with some of the best known global brands to help consistently deliver outstanding customer experiences.

Sitel is a subsidiary of Groupe Acticall. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.sitel.com

DIGITAL BILL

Digital Economy Bill passed without vote The House of Commons has passed the Digital Economy Bill, without a vote, meaning it is now up to the House of Lords to decide if the Bill will become law.

If approved, the new legislation would mean pornographic websites considered inappropriate by the government will be blocked without warning, with internet service providers (ISPs) forced to pay a fine if they don’t implement the restriction. The government would also have the power to add more content types to the list of banned material without consultation.

Part of the legislation also gives the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which typically issues age classifications to films, responsibility to decide which sites ISPs should block, even if they don’t contain pornographic material, but other content that could be viewed as inappropriate.

However, there has been considerable criticism about the bill, particularly from ISPs who are concerned the legislation could have a negative impact on their business.

In a statement, the BBFC said: “The requirement to block websites would apply to all sites in the UK and overseas. Where websites originate in the EU the process will be compatible with country of origin rules.”

“The government previously said web blocking is a policy that is ‘disproportionate’, that technical measures can be easily circumvented and legal content could be

blocked my mistake, so we are concerned and disappointed it has gone down this path,” the Internet Service Providers Association said in a statement.

“This change in direction has been agreed without any consultation, with no assessment of costs nor is there any certainty that it will comply with judicial rulings on interference with fundamental rights.”

The Open Rights Group has also opposed the plans, it argued: “We believe the aim of restricting children’s access to inappropriate material is a reasonable one. However, placing age verification requirements on adults to access legal material throws up a number of concerns which are not easily resolved.

“Our concerns include whether these proposals will work, the impact on privacy and freedom of expression, and how pornography is defined.”

£7m to prepare young Londoners for tech industry Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has unveiled a £7 million programme to equip young Londoners with the necessary skills to access jobs in the capital’s digital and technology industries.

The Digital Talent Programme will help Londoners access tech jobs by offering work placements, creating tailored learning opportunities, assisting university students and helping businesses to access the skills they need.

This will be done through: increasing the number of high-quality learning opportunities for young people aged 15-24 years old to study industry-designed courses in technology that will lead to employment; supporting 1,000 young Londoners to access new, industry approved learning opportunities; assisting 500 university students to gain work experience through small business placements; helping 400 start-ups and small businesses to access higher level skills that will support business growth; and supporting 400 teachers to deliver industryrelevant digital skills learning and qualifications.

There are now around 40,000 tech businesses in London, employing almost 200,000 people, 3.5 per cent of the capital’s total workforce.

London is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading technology hubs, having recently been crowned the best EU city for digital entrepreneurs for the second year in a row, and it is estimated that the sector will contribute £18 billion to London’s economy this year.

READ MORE:

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DATA

Councils should include data scientists In its latest report, Nesta has called on the government to ring-fence £4 million to enable data scientists to sift councils’ ‘data goldmines’.

The report, Wise Council: Insights from the cutting edge of data-driven local government, recommended that one per cent of the government’s £450 million digital budget should be spent on embedding data analysts in local government.

It argued that co-locating data analysts and scientists in front-line council teams could improve day-to-day services such as recycling and council tax collection by ‘speeding up processes, minimising replication and making existing information more easily accessible’.

The innovation foundation also suggested that city regions bidding for devolved

TECH INDUSTRY

power should be required to create an office of data analytics as part of any deal.

Tom Symons, principal researcher in government innovation at Nesta, argued: “Councils are sitting on a treasure trove of potential insights on the communities in which they operate.

While many councils are already using it to make services more effective and targeted many more are only just waking up to its potential.

“Embedding experts within these councils could be the catalyst for the culture change we need to see if they are to stay one step ahead of budget cuts and meet people’s evolving needs.”

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GT News

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tinyurl.com/zcu3y7x

PHISHING

300 million phishing emails slashed

by HMRC Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) head of cyber security Ed Tucker has said that the department is on track to block half a billion phishing emails each year.

Phishing emails imitate a domain name to access and take a person’s personal and financial details. Writing on the HMRC Digital Blog, Tucker said that HMRC was one of the ‘most phished brands in the world’, with the most common phishing email found to be headed as a ‘Tax Refund Notification’.

However, through the use of an email security protocol, DMARC, that alerts the domain owners to the malicious emails and allows them to take back control of their domains, the technology prevents them from reaching users’ inboxes. This has enabled HMRC to reduce phishing emails by 300 million in this year alone and take down more than 14,000 fraudulent websites.

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PROCUREMENT

Making Cloud computing as easy as ABC Following the exploration of the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud 8 framework in Government Business 23.6, we provide a recap of the service provided and market response to G-Cloud August 2016 saw the eighth version of G-Cloud go live on the government’s Digital Marketplace. Targeted at easing the procurement of Cloud computing based information technology services by public-sector bodies, the G-Cloud consists of a series of framework agreements with suppliers, from which public sector organisations can buy services without needing to run a full tender or competition procurement process. It aims to offer simplicity and ease the procurement burden.

The supplier list is split into four categories: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which is limited to the physical environment such as the network or compute; Platform as a Service (PaaS), a cloud platform which allows consumers to run, develop and manage applications without having to build their own infrastructure; Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud based on demand software, typically subscription based software allowing access to business applications; and Specialist Cloud Services (SCS), which are Cloud based services that do not necessarily fit in any of the above.

The development of the G-Cloud was the government’s response to the potential efficiencies of the Cloud and the need for the public sector to achieve more while spending less money. According to the latest government statistics, G-Cloud 8 has

attracted the largest number of suppliers since the creation of the G-Cloud, with 94 per cent of the 757 new suppliers being a small or medium‑sized enterprise (SME). Over half of the £1.3 billion spent through the G-Cloud has gone to SMEs as of June 2016.

SERVICES OFFERED Lot 1, IaaS, will see suppliers provide processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the buyer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The buyer does not manage or control the underlying Cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, and deployed applications; and possibly limited control of select networking components – such as hosting firewalls.

Lot 2, PaaS, will allow suppliers to provide users with deployment onto the Cloud infrastructure – buyer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the supplier. The buyer does not manage or control the underlying Cloud infrastructure including network,

servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly configuration settings for the application-hosting environment.

Lot 3, SaaS, enables suppliers to provide access to applications running on a Cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various buyer devices through either a thin buyer interface, such as a web browser, or a program interface. The buyer does not manage or control the underlying Cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

In Lot 4, covering Specialist G-Cloud Services, suppliers will provide one or more of the following: onboarding services for Cloud Services only; business analysis for Cloud Services only; Cloud project specification and selection; deployment of Cloud services; transition management to Cloud services; user management of Cloud services; Cloud Service Integration and Management Services (SIAM); and Cloud information management and digital continuity.

Framework Agreements

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

OPPOSITION AND USAGE IT services company Streamwire has said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still face an ‘uphill struggle’ despite having access to G-Cloud. Included in the G-Cloud 8 framework, Streamwire chief operating officer Kevin Timms explained on a company blog post that sourcing contracts is currently a complex process – and the firm needs to make itself stand out from the competition.

He said: “We are now one of 2,726 suppliers providing 26,000 services on the G-Cloud, so the biggest challenge we face is how to get noticed. We can’t expect to just sit on the framework and wait for public sector organisations to come to us – the pool is too big for that to happen. Deploying a E

Develop of the G ment is the g -Cloud respons overnment’s for the e to the need pu to achie blic sector while s ve more pe less mo nding ney

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PROCUREMENT

Technology Products 2

At the end of October 2016, the Digital Marketplace blog shared a post, detailing the Government Digital Service’s stage progress, moving from what the organisation calls the discovery to the alpha  large direct sales team is not an option either so the only way we can secure opportunities to tender is through the portals where requirements are posted, which we can then proactively put ourselves forward.

“The challenge is that for too many public sector procurers this process is still an academic exercise. They already have their preferred shortlist and this means that many SMEs never get a look-in. Traditional sales approaches are winning out, so the G-Cloud is less competitive than it could be.”

This uphill struggle is not an anomaly either.

In 2015, it was reported that 83 per cent of public sector employees were not aware of the G-Cloud framework or knew how it worked, while an estimated 92 per cent of civil servants reported that they did not trust Cloud services.

Of a further worry, the confidence variation between central and local government is vast, with confidence in the Cloud sitting at 37 per cent in central government, compared to 75 per cent at local government level.

Despite the rise in adoption for G-Cloud 8, awareness may remain an issue. In September, non-profit technology firm Eduserv released a study entitled Up In The Air: The State of Cloud Adoption in Local Government in 2016. The research polled 408 Welsh, Scottish and English authorities to gather ‘a comprehensive assessment of Cloud adoption and procurement policy’ in the sector. The report investigates how far councils have developed and adopted Cloud strategies, the extent to which Cloud

strategy and procurement policy are aligned, and where councils are storing their data.

Dos Creese, principle analyst of the Eduserv Local Government Executive Briefing Programme (EBP), emphasised that the standout finding is the general perception that ‘UK councils still have a long way to go in understanding how Cloud can or should play a role in local public services modernisation’. The report found that half of local authorities are using Cloud, but Creese warns that there is ‘a widespread absence of IT strategies and policies which support its adoption among the majority of smaller councils and half of the largest ones’.

In more detail, despite 69 per cent of councils having a corporate policy which supports use of G-Cloud, 21 per cent of large councils and 37 per cent of smaller councils reported that they do not have a procurement policy in place which allows them to use G-Cloud, which can limit their access to best value solutions.

Again we return to the confidence variation between central and local government, with the Up In The Air report suggesting that ‘smaller councils are more reticent in their use of Cloud than the largest councils’.

This could be because a lack of confidence, a lack of necessary controls and skills to use Cloud securely and effectively.

There also seems to be disparity between the speed of growth in Cloud services and council IT policy. Over 70 per cent of smaller councils reported that they have no current

In November, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) announced the award of the new and improved Technology Products 2 agreement (TP2). The agreement offers customers a flexible and compliant route to market for all their commodity technology product needs – whether it is a single cable or entire corporate infrastructure.

By listening to the market and gaining feedback from customers and suppliers, TP2 has been redesigned and restructured in line with buyer and supplier needs.

Improvements include: dynamic direct award catalogue; reseller lots for hardware, software and combined solutions; simplified terms and conditions for user friendliness; and direct contracting with manufacturers for aggregated hardware requirements.

Featuring a mix of quality suppliers, the agreement is comprised of six lots: hardware; software; combined hardware and software; information assured products; volume hardware requirements; and catalogue.

Terry Betts, managing director of one of the successful suppliers on lots 1, 2 and 3 for hardware, software and combined hardware and software, said: “It’s one of the best tenders we’ve seen from the government. They followed a process and they got it in on time before the expiry of the old framework.”

Going forward, the CCS reports its commitment to continued engagement and bringing buyers and suppliers together through monthly Tech Reference Groups, regular newsletters and quarterly eAuctions.

Framework Agreements

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

FURTHER INFORMATION tinyurl.com/jbqzwp4 policy for Cloud use, compared with 45 per cent in the top 100 councils. Perhaps more concerning is the discovery that less than half of those smaller councils using Cloud for data storage and information sharing have a Cloud use policy – meaning that councils may be unknowingly mishandling citizen data.

Current IT policy within smaller councils is also leading to a lack of adoption of third party data houses, with 52 per cent of councils choosing to run all services in-house, and 26 per cent of councils not holding any data off premise. Only a small minority, 13 per cent, host the majority of their data off-site.

This is concerning to GDS, as being E

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

GOVERNMENT APPROVED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Local and Central Government departments continue to come under enormous pressure to do more with less. But finding £20M or more in efficiency savings seems an impossible task without affecting public services.

T-Impact can deliver efficiency savings of up to 40% in your organisation, and are currently working with public sector organisations including the NHS to make these savings a reality.

Find out how we can help you today: www.t-impact.com | 01235 854044

Our services are transparent and easy to buy via G-Cloud, the Government’s procurement portal.

BECHTLE & TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS 2 (RM3733) In 2016, Central Government announced that they would be increasing their use of small to medium businesses for IT from 20% to 30%.

Technology Products 2 was designed to meet the aims of central government and local government ICT strategies. This framework is for the procurement of all commodity hardware requirements, whether as simple commodity only requirements or as part of overall solutions.

How can Bechtle support you?

We have been through a rigorous process to ensure our credibility and suitability to provide IT hardware to the public sector. This success relieves you of wasted time on vetting procedures. We have already been checked and approved, therefore saving you time and money.

Bechtle has secured a place on the CCS framework for: Lot 1: ICT Hardware Lot 6: ICT What are the benefits of working with Bechtle through Technology Products 2?

Transparency of costs and invoicing - Prices, terms and services are provided up front Proof of concepts - Available through the majority of products that Bechtle provide Support – IT manufacturers ‘road mapping’ exercises free of charge and pre-engagement consultancy

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

FOR MORE INFORMATION Email: publicsector@bechtle.co.uk Twitter: @bechtle_uk

PROCUREMENT

Less than half of those smaller councils using Cloud for data storage and information sharing have a Cloud use policy – meaning that councils may be unknowingly mishandling citizen data  able to store, move and share data securely and flexibly is key to cost reduction and service improvement in local government.

The study concludes that the Cloud First agenda announced in 2013 has still not ‘meaningfully taken hold in local government’.

REACHING A HIGHER CLOUD G-Cloud 8 is expected to run through until July 2017, and we have already seen the focus drift towards G-Cloud 9. At the end of October 2016, the Digital Marketplace blog shared a post, detailing the Government Digital Service’s stage progress, moving from what the organisation calls the discovery to the alpha. In a bid to better understand users needs for buying and selling cloud services and technology, GDS spoke to organisations and individuals, both local and central government working in sectors such as healthcare, education and policing to gain there views.

In doing so, users expressed a desire for clearer guidance, in that although there is already G-Cloud guidance information online,

it is often difficult to find as it exists in more than one location. For example, when looking to for contact information it was unclear whether to contact the Digital Marketplace team or the staff at Crown Commercial Service.

The Digital Marketplace recently resolved to clarifying the difference between the G-Cloud and Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) frameworks because suppliers were getting confused between the two. G-Cloud 9 is subsequently expected to have an improved ‘user journey’ where it will be easier to source relevant guidance information.

Furthermore, the discussions highlighted how searching the G-Cloud catalogue frequently returns unexpected results.

There is no shared terminology for the way G-Cloud products and services are being described, with suppliers often describing the same types of services in a variety of ways.

Users emphasised how this inconsistency in language can make it more difficult for buyers to find what they need. In relation to this, the way in which products and services are

categorised (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS and Specialist Cloud Services) does not always align to the way buyers and suppliers talk about these technologies. An investigation into the current categories will therefore be undertaken, and whether these should change to be more in line with how users define their services.

Buyers are finding it difficult to compare service listings and evaluate the differences between similar services, and, as a result, they are using manual methods of comparison, which is time consuming. Lastly, buyers need to create an audit trail as a part of the procurement process, but existing G-Cloud functionality doesn’t help to create this.

Users are therefore frustrated that they have to resort to a manual process of taking screenshots and creating spreadsheets to do this. The wish is for G-Cloud 9 to facilitate maintaining an audit trail.

During the alpha phase, the Digital Marketplace will be exploring new solutions to resolve the current challenges users are experiencing, as well as continuing with its research to better understand where further improvements to the user journey can be made. L

Framework Agreements

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

FURTHER INFORMATION www.gov.uk/government/publications/ g-cloud-8-framework-agreement/gcloud-8-framework-agreement

IT services provider XMA maintains its position as a supplier to the Crown Commercial Service XMA, the IT services provider, has successfully maintained and extended its offering of products on Technology Products 2 (TP2), the Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) IT Commodities public sector framework agreement.

XMA has been awarded a place on five of the six lots which make up this framework offering hardware products, software, combined hardware and software products, volume products (OEM) and a range of products through the CCS catalogue.

XMA Framework director, Ann O’Shaughnessy, commented, “We’re delighted at our success in securing the agreement as part of the tendering process as this will help us to maintain our strong position and long term relationships with both local and central government departments. The CCS frameworks are vital to the public-sector market as they demonstrate value for money and we support the CCS framework fully.”

The TP2 agreement, which is the largest IT procurement framework in Europe, will run

for an initial term of two years extendable to four years and offer central and wider public sector bodies an easy and cost effective route to buying IT products and closely associated services. Changes to the framework’s previous iteration include a new lot and contract structure for buyers and suppliers and the right mix of suppliers, products and associated services, enabling a flexible route to market and unrivalled value

for money for buyers. The securing of these services will also support XMA’s continued public sector growth strategy.

XMA is a value added service supplier providing IT products and services to business and public sector organisations all over the UK. Established in 1982, it is one of the UK’s leading IT suppliers, employing over 500 staff from purpose built locations across the country. XMA develops, delivers and maintains innovative IT solutions that enhance how people engage with technology to increase productivity and reduce overheads within public sector environments. The company believes that one size does not fit all and delivers tailored solutions and services to suit an organisation’s individual needs.

For further information please visit the website.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel:0115 846 4000 info@xma.co.uk www.xma.co.uk

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Products & Services

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

IT CONSULTANTS

PAPERLESS SOLUTIONS

In 2016, the government announced that it would be increasing its use of small to medium businesses for IT from 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

Technology Products 2 was designed to meet the aims of both central government and local government ICT strategies. This framework is for the procurement of all commodity hardware requirements, whether as simple commodity only requirements or as part of overall solutions.

So how can Bechtle support you? The company has been through a rigorous process to ensure its credibility and suitability to provide IT hardware to the public sector. This success relieves you of wasted time on vetting procedures. Bechtle has already been checked and approved, therefore saving you time and money.

Bechtle has secured a place on the CCS framework for:

The award winning, BoardPacks from eShare is more than a paperless meeting solution.

G-Cloud approved and used by NHS trusts, local and central government bodies, it is the most userfriendly software out there.

All meeting management software will move your meetings online so your agenda can be shared and updated quickly, you can find what you need faster, and the security of your most sensitive documents is better protected.

BoardPacks is really simple to use and has the power to transform governance, starting at the top of your organisation: more efficient meetings with features like presenter mode, quick minutes’ creation and shared or private notes and annotations; more informed members, with everything they need at their fingertips; and more transparency,

Bechtle introduces Technology Products 2

Lot 1 - ICT Hardware; Lot 6 - ICT; and Catalogue.

What are the benefits of working with Bechtle through Technology Products 2? Transparency of costs and invoicing - prices, terms and services are provided up front; proof of concepts - available through the majority of products that Bechtle provides; support – IT manufacturers ‘road mapping’ exercises free of charge and pre-engagement consultancy To find out more information about Bechtle’s services please call to speak to an adviser, or visit the website.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: +44 1249 467900 publicsector@bechtle.co.uk shop.bechtle.co.uk/en

EVENTS

SOFTWARE TESTING

Green Elephant ECS believe that ideas are sometimes better shared and worked on collaboratively. That is why it works to bring together the best minds from government, enterprise and SME’s to work collectively in sharing vision. The company likes to drive forward ideas from conception and push them on to becoming a full fledged working practices.

The firm’s staff have many years of experience working with government, enterprise and SME’s both from the inside and partnering with these organisations.

Green Elephant ECS offers a host of services which include helping enterprises through the G-Cloud application process. This enables enterprises to work with and sell into government. It also provides business consultancy, sharing experience of government and enterprise to enable seamless integration of working practices.

The company supplies event

Test Partners is a UKbased independent software testing company with a test lab in London. Founded in 2001, the company provides test lab and test consultancy services to private and public sector organisations of all sizes.

Test lab services include functionality, compatibility, accessibility, usability, security and load testing. Its consultancy division provides on-site test execution, test management, test process reviews, consultancy and automation. Its in-house UX lab is available for hire.

In addition to traditional test methodologies, Test Partners specialises in exploratory testing, which is especially suited to agile development projects.

Test Partners’ services are available via the G-Cloud and Digital Outcomes and Specialists frameworks.

Test Partners is proud to

Tailor made strategies for digital organisations

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Better governance, better boards, better meetings

management, creating events which bring government and enterprises together to share ideas. Green Elephant ECS’ next event is in Sheffield on 30-31 January and is free for public servants to attend. The company brings together a broad range of speakers and provides time for networking.

It also realises the potential of the North and this is why Green Elephant ECS chose Sheffield to host this prestigious event.

More details can be found on the website.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.digitalgovevents.org.uk

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

accountability and auditability The company’s client services team make the transition to digital meetings really easy.

They help you to migrate your data, train the administrators and attend a board meeting to help even the busiest, or most technology averse person to embrace online meetings.

Once you are all set up, our 24/7 support team will always be on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.

To find out how eShare could help your organisation, get in contact now.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0845 200 7829 info@eshare.co.uk www. eshare.co.uk

Test Partners – specialists in software development

have been chosen by Crown Commercial Services (CCS) to conduct business acceptance testing of its major new initiative, Crown Marketplace (CMp).

For the first time in the arena of centralised government procurement, spanning OGC Buying Solutions (OGS) and Government Procurement Services (GPS), intelligently negotiated common goods and services will be offered to central government departments and the wider public sector through an Amazon style, intuitive website, to make purchasing far easier than has been possible previously.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 020 8102 9500 www.testpartners.co.uk

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

PRINT SERVICES

As local and central government departments come under ever increasing pressure to do more with less, how can public sector organisations continue to find significant efficiency savings without impacting vital public services?

T-Impact design, automate and improve business processes and workflow. It works with public sector organisations to revolutionise their back-office processes, delivering a full endto-end digital transformation. By identifying savings of up to 40 per cent, T-Impact enables you to take cost out of your organisation and deliver an improved service to your customers.

T-Impact is currently working on a multi-million project with NHS Blood and Transplant to revolutionise organ transplantation operations in the UK by 2020. Today, this

If you’re looking for a print company that prides itself on consistent high quality lithographic and digital print, delivered with first class results and coupled with excellent customer service, then look no further. Black Swan Printers is a family-run business established in 1977, based in Dawlish in Devon, near Exeter.

Black Swan Printers has many clients from large multi-national corporations to self-employed traders and always provide them with the same attention they deserve from the start to the finished product. All products are printed on high performance Heidelberg presses or digital machines, manned by highly trained and experienced staff.

The firm strives to be the ideal printing supplier, working hard to help you create the right impression by producing professional business stationery, marketing leaflets and an assortment of other printed items.

Supplying quality print backed

Helping you improve the Providing first class litho efficiency of your business and digital print services

life-saving work is improving the efficiency of NHSBT’s core systems, allowing them to deliver more as demand grows.

All T-Impact’s services are all available to buy via G-Cloud, the government’s own marketplace for suppliers of digital projects, you can find out more about the company including its methodology, terms and pricing before you choose to engage.

Find out howT-Impact can help you make significant savings a reality in your organisation in 2017 by calling today.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01235 854044 tim.pinchin@t-impact.com www.t-impact.com

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Causeway FM Facts CAFM software solutions for facilities managers and estates managers improve visibility of key information and facilitate efficient management of everyday FM processes.

The FM Facts software modules encompass all key CAFM functions, including helpdesk, asset management (PPM), compliance, resource booking including outlook integration and room signs, visitor management, and space management. In addition, with mobile app and intranet solutions for requesters, engineers, technicians and suppliers, FM Facts is a fully integrated FM solution and is deployable in the Cloud or as a local installation.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of software for the

With Wi-Fi as standard in all dBAir sound meters, Castle has had unparalleled success since the launch earlier this year.

Now, with the introduction of Castle’s new trade in offer, you can upgrade to a brand new dBAir sound meter with WiFi at a fantastically discounted rate.

The Castle Trade In programme will accept any sound meter and use it as payment towards a new dBAir. This means that no matter what make or age your current meter is, Castle will still offer you a fantastic saving off the price of any of the new dBAir sound meters.

Simon Bull, managing director of Castle Group, said: “Our dBAir sound meters are proving to be a popular choice with busy professionals, who are making the most of the time saving WiFi data transfer which is built into all dBAir models.

“Adopting the dBAir’s simplicity and forward thinking Cloud software is a smart investment,

Solutions for facilities and estates managers built environment, Causeway solutions play a key role through the design, build, operate and maintain phases of the built environment.

It provides in depth functionality at each stage of the process, helping its customers increase their delivery, profitability and environmental performance.

The software is at the heart of the design and construction of major building and infrastructure projects, driving efficiencies in supply chain management, supporting day-to-day facilities and estates management and managing service and maintenance resources.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01628 552 000 www.causeway.com/ cafm-software

Products & Services

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

with a highly experienced service team is the key to its success, and the success of its clients.

Black Swan Printers also offer individually tailored price lists.

The company is proud and passionate about its environmental policy, offering many recycling options. Wherever possible Black Swan Printers use paper from a sustainable source and can offer customers recycled papers printed with vegetable inks helping to reduce the impact that businesses have on the environment.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01626 865463 sales@blackswanprinting.co.uk or blackswan.printing@ btconnect.com www.blackswanprinting.co.uk

A great way to upgrade your sound meter

especially now with our limited time Trade In offer. Speak to us today to discuss with an expert exactly how much you could save.

You can find out exactly how much you could save by visiting the website.

In addition to this, Castle are offering to come and demonstrate the dBAir at your place of work. Contact Castle Group Ltd today and speak to an adviser for a no obligation quote.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01723 584250 sales@castlegroup.co.uk www.castlegroup.co.uk

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Products & Services

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

FRANCHISING

FRANCHISING

Clarriots Care offers the most comprehensive, most competitive and most diverse franchise package in the UK’s health and social care market.

Positioned as one of the market leaders within this exciting and rapidly expanding sector, 2017 will see Clarriots bring in more investment and bigger developments than ever before!

It has been predicted that this year will be the company’s biggest and best yet. There are five ways Clarriots help its franchisees succeed. It provides: your own exclusive territory with assistance creating a business plan and obtaining funding; a dedicated support team with specialist industry knowledge; access to fantastic marketing resources to create a strong presence in your community from day one; specialist sales support to handle your care enquiries so you can focus on delivering the highest quality care; and £10,000 of free training equipment plus

The Gallone family have been making amazing ice cream for over 100 years from its traditional family recipe.

In 1935 the ice cream was manufactured and then sold via the firm’s three ice cream vans in Northampton, by 2013 Gallone’s had over 30 vans and was distributing to parlours and supermarkets all across the UK. In July 2013 Aldo and Cathy Gallone opened its first parlour next to the factory. The parlour offers customers the chance to treat themselves to one of the fifty plus flavours of ice cream, enjoy a specially roasted for Gallone’s coffee or even book a birthday party for children where they can design their own sundae and visit the factory to see where ice cream is being made. In addition to in-store sales Gallone’s Ice Cream Parlour’s also sell one litre tubes of their own ice cream for enjoyment at home. The success of the brand (see John Lewis 150 anniversary television ad) and the parlour led to several enquiries from

Franchise with Clarriots Care, secure your future

a £1000 cash donation to a launch event of your choice.

Zahir, Clarriots’ franchise owner for Birmingham North, sums the opportunity up best: “I believe Clarriots Care has the potential to change the landscape of the care industry.”

It’s now easier than ever to discover more about the Clarriots franchise opportunity.

Call the firm anytime, attend a roadshow event at a location near you, book a one-to-one meeting at Clarriots’ head office or visit the company at the National Franchise Exhibition in autumn 2017.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0333 200 5820 franchise@clarriots.co.uk

FRANCHISING

FRANCHISING

PetStay has been trading successfully since 2005 and is now looking for more franchisees to join the team in 2017. Working from home with flexible hours, running your own home dog boarding service will enable you to provide an alternative to kennels and match customers to one of your network of local dog carers. PetStay is a growing company with 34 branches throughout the UK. PetStay is one of the leading ‘Home Dog Boarding’ companies and leads the way in its field thanks to the firm’s expert knowledge of this growing market place. PetStay franchise is a life‑changing choice for you and your family, giving you the opportunity to work from your own home office with low overheads in the growing market of dog home boarding.

Dog owners are looking for a professional service that can provide a home-from-home environment for their beloved pet.

SmartPA is the leading PA, secretarial, and administrative brand. It delivers world-class support to businesses globally through expert outsourced services, training, and technology. As the industry benchmark, SmartPA prides itself on setting standards, best practice and excellence.

Benefit from SmartPA’s experience and expertise, alongside the company’s triedand-tested business model.

SmartPA’s franchise opportunity gives you the freedom to be your own boss, whilst being part of a wider network of over 100 SmartPA partners nationwide.

Not only does SmartPA guarantee you an income, you will also undertake an expert training programme, equipping you with the knowledge and

Home dog boarding franchise opportunities

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Franchise with Gallone’s

PetStay provides this and more.

Once you have had your initial three-day training from PetStay, it doesn’t stop there – ongoing bespoke training is available to you. PetStay believe that its training, support and backup are key features of its franchise offer.

PetStay’s franchise fee of just £11,995 is one of the lowest in the pet industry within the UK, but please be under no illusions, the company has very strict criteria and extraordinarily high standards and it wants to open up this amazing opportunity to anyone with the right skills and desire and passion to succeed in this ever-expanding industry.

FURTHER INFORMATION info@petstay.net

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

customers and friends seeking to open their own ‘Gallone’s’ via some form of franchise. As a consequence, after piloting the concept in the nearby town of Market Harborough, with some success, expansion across the UK, through franchising, began.

There are now Gallone’s ice cream parlours in Kingsthorpe, Market Harborough, Northampton, Bedford, Leamington Spa and Bournemouth. This year will see the company opening in Inverness.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01493 850388 www.gallonesparlours.com

Be your own boss and benefit from homeworking

skills to support clients at the highest standard. You will also receive on-going support from head office and have access to innovative technology, allowing you to grow your business to its full potential. What’s more, SmartPA will support your clients when you are on holiday or outof-office, allowing them to enjoy a seamless, world-class service.

If you are bright, ambitious and want to be part of a leading global brand, then SmartPA Franchise is for you!

Gain access to your all-inclusive business-in-a-box for only £12,500 + VAT! Funding options are available.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0845 872 2262 contact@smart-pa.com www.smartpafranchise.com

SECURITY

FRANCHISING

Founded in 2000, Skyguard offers a range of exclusively-designed, state-of-the-art personal safety devices linked to its own purpose built UK based, 24/7 Incident Management Centre, certified to the highest lone working industry standards.

Skyguard’s lone worker alarms incorporate two-way audio as well as GPS technology so that it knows your precise location, and is ‘Secured by Design’ accredited.

As the UK’s only end-to-end service provider Skyguard can tailor its solutions to suit any organisation’s requirements.

Skyguard’s service is so good, over half of all the UK’s police forces use its devices to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Skyguard has developed Europe’s smallest and lightest GPS enabled device – the MySOS, which can be worn as an ID card holder, pendant, or attached to a belt or keyring. It also offers smartphone apps for all operating systems, featuring

My Window Cleaner offers customers a convenient, quality service. With 26 million households in the UK, the demand for window cleaning is growing!

Whether you are looking to try something new, fancy a career change or just want to take control of your life by becoming your own boss, My Window Cleaner’s proven business model can help you on your way. North London packages include franchises with a ready-made customer base so you are earning from day one You only need from £5,000 + VAT of your own funds to get started with our franchise.

Working in partnership with My Window Cleaner will provide you with: fantastic earnings potential – rewards for hard-working franchisees are unlimited, depending on your ambitions, our proven franchise model offers the opportunity to turn over £75,000 in the

Premier personal safety services for lone workers

a single button press SOS alarm which overrides keypad and PIN locks. At the touch of a button, Skyguard will identify who you are, where you are and be able to summon the emergency services and guide them to your location. The company is able to utilise Police Unique Reference Numbers (URNs), bypassing the 999 system and saving valuable time in an emergency.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0845 0360 999 sales@skyguard.co.uk www.skyguard.co.uk

SECURITY

Experts in confidential shredding and archiving

Established in 1978 as a paper recycler Russell Richardson has evolved into one of the UK’s leading confidential shredding and document archiving companies.

With a varied fleet of mobile shredding trucks and collection vehicles operating daily throughout the UK, Russell Richardson offers a flexible, reliable service.

For customers’ security and peace of mind, Russell Richardson is a member of the BSIA and accredited to ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001 and ISO27001 standards. All members of staff are trained in data protection and BS7858 security vetted,

ensuring your confidential material is in safe hands.

Having recently invested in state of the art shredding equipment, document management software and a new archiving facility, Russell Richardson is the perfect partner for all your secure shredding, archiving, media destruction and recycling requirements.

For further information please call to speak to an adviser, or alternatively, visit the Russell Richardson website.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 294 6552 info@russellrichardson.co.uk www.russellrichardson.co.uk

Franchise opportunities with My Window Cleaner

Products & Services

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

first year; unrivalled training and ongoing support; exclusive territory fully profiled territory which is dedicated and protected, providing you with access to tens of thousands of home owners; no experience necessary – cleaning windows is easy to learn; and expansion opportunities – the options are limitless.

The total franchise investment is from £10,000 + VAT, but with the various pricing options on offer, you only need £5,000 + VAT of your own funds to get started.

Get in contact to find out more.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.mywindowcleaner.co.uk

SECURITY

Provider of lone worker protection solutions Delivered by Reliance High-Tech, Reliance Protect is the UK’s leading BS 8484 lone worker protection solution. It safeguards staff potentially exposed to aggression and environmental risks faced in the course of their working day.

The service offers a range of the latest lone worker devices that link to the dedicated and BS 5979 Category II approved Reliance Monitoring Centre using mobile phone and GPS technology.

When activated, trained Reliance Protect operators listen to and capture everything that takes place during an incident, and responds appropriately — including calling out the emergency services, alerting colleagues/supervisors and archiving recordings as evidence for any legal action. For a fixed monthly all-inclusive fee, the solution comprises a device or smartphone application, 24/7 manned monitoring and help-

desk, face-to-face training at customer sites across the UK, all airtime and comprehensive customer management support and reporting. Reliance High-Tech specialises in the design, delivery and management of electronic security and remote monitoring solutions and is the partner of choice for organisations where security is mission critical. It operates nationally with private and public sector organisations across all markets helping customers secure their people, brand, data and physical assets through the application of market leading software and hardware technologies.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.relianceprotect.co.uk

Volume 23.7 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Advertisers Index

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

FIRST AID

SIGNAGE

With over 40 years’ experience, Kays Medical is one of the UK’s largest independent trade suppliers of first aid, medical supplies and emergency response.

The company also provides a range of OFQUAL accredited first aid training qualifications that can be delivered at its head office or, for organisations wishing to train larger groups, at your premises.

With more than 10,000 products available, you can choose from top brand lines or if you prefer to keep costs down, we also offer a wide range of lower priced alternatives.

Kays Medical’s aim is to work with you to make ordering supplies and equipment as easy as possible. Its high usage supplies are always in stock and can be delivered to you within 24/48 hours, so there are no long delays for you, your

From signage directing the public around the interior of the premises through to car parking signage, from large scale high level ‘name of premises’ signs right down to nameplates on doors, the public service environment hosts a huge number of signs of every description. It can be a little surprising therefore to discover that it is sometimes difficult to change signage quickly when a need arises. For example, maybe a damaged sign needs replacing, maybe there’s a change of name or a reorganisation of departments, maybe there’s a large requirement for major rebranding. It is good to know that there is a one stop solution at Cygnia Maintenance Ltd. Cygnia has operated since 1995, providing precisely this service to the retail trade on a national scale throughout the UK, and

Occupational health, safety Supplying the ultimate and workforce wellbeing sign management service

business or your customers when you place an order.

All of Kays Medical’s customers have a dedicated customer service advisor to support its business, so you can have confidence in knowing that a member of the firm’s team is always on hand to help you find the products you need and to guide you through the ordering process.

For more information, please get in contact and quote GovBusiness16.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0843 504 7886 sales@kaysmedical.com www.kaysmedical.com

ADVERTISERS INDEX The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service Ballyclare 16 Bechtle UK 48, 50 Black Swan Printers 51 Britannia Fire 14 Brokk UK 24, Camelot 28 Castle Group 51 Causeway Technologies 51 CFH Docmail 38 Clarriots Care 52 Cygnia Maintenance 54 DevineAir 19 Eshare 46 Gallone’s Ice Cream Parlour 52 Green Elephant ECS 44,50 Hoyles 13 ISS Mediclean 8 Iveco 6 Kays Medical 20, 54 Knect 365 IBC Lightening Fire Safety Systems 16 My Window Cleaner 53 Nationwide Hygiene Supplies 22 Patol 14 PetStay 52 Reliance High-Tech 28, 53 RGL Electronics 28 Russell Richardson & Son 30, 53

Safety Technology 14 Scarab Sweepers 30 SEAT OBC Sitel (UK) 42 Skyguard 53 Smart PA 52 SNF 26 Sterling Safety Systems 16 Syntinex 4 T-Impact 48 Test Partners 46 Toyota IFC XMA 49 Xtralis 14

for years has provided an allembracing signage maintenance and repair service within that demanding environment, where no job is too small and no major refit too large. Taking your lead from that retail world will ensure you tap in to the best service available.

Cygnia is the UK’s largest provider of sign maintenance and repair services, its network of directly employed maintenance teams throughout the country means that your service is from a local depot regardless of where you are based.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01843 862944 www.cygniamaintenance.com

PATOL AD QUARTER PG_Layout 1 15/11/2016 12:07 Page 1

As quiet as...

Although the ASD 535 is equipped with a high-performance fan, it is whisper quiet. In fact, it’s one of the quietest aspirating smoke detectors on the market.

■ Patol is the UK distributor for Securiton ASD systems &

has extensive experience in fire safety solutions ■ Securiton has been manufacturing ASD systems for

over 40 years ■ The ASD 535 is the fastest growing unit in the world ■ Extremely fast detection & alarm response ■ Scalable, cost-effective monitoring of small single

premises up to large facilities. The ASD 535 can monitor up to 5760m2 ■ Simple commissioning

AUTHORISED BUSINESS PARTNER T: +44 (0)1189 701 701 • E: info@patol.uk.com • www.patol.co.uk

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE | Volume 23.7

3000+ 150+ 175+

Critical Communications Professionals

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