Government Business 26.6

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ISSUE 26.6

Business Information for Local and Central Government FIRE SAFETY

POST-GRENFELL: CHANGES NEEDED Several reports have heavily criticised the London Fire Brigade in recent weeks. But what does it mean for fire safety law moving forward?

CLIMATE

THE CLIMATE AND OUR COUNCILS How can local authorities increase what they are doing to tackle the climate emergency?

PLUS: CONFERENCES & EVENTS | FLEET MANAGEMENT | FUTUREBUILD | G CLOUD

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ENERGY

WEB DESIGN

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ISSUE 26.6

Business Information for Local and Central Government FIRE SAFETY

POST-GRENFELL: CHANGES NEEDED Several reports have heavily criticised the London Fire Brigade in recent weeks. But what does it mean for fire safety law moving forward?

General Election 2019: a signal for change?

The results of the recent General Election surprised many people, including the Conservative Party leadership, who now boast a majority of 80 in the Commons.

CLIMATE

THE CLIMATE AND OUR COUNCILS How can local authorities increase what they are doing to tackle the climate emergency?

PLUS: CONFERENCES & EVENTS | FLEET MANAGEMENT | FUTUREBUILD | G CLOUD

Since the landslide victory, the Conservatives best since Thatcher’s 1987 election victory and Labour’s worst since 1935, much of the public attention has refocused on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill that Prime Minister Boris Johnson intends to bring back before Christmas.

But behind the fanfare of the election success many of the same issues remain.

Is a second Scottish Independence vote on the table following SNP gains north of the border? Will an influx of new, northern Tory MPs redirect the focus of Westminster from London to the north? Will polices beyond the Tory heartlands form the staple of the upcoming Queen’s Speech? And will the NHS receive the appropriate attention post-election that it received during campaigning?

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Then there is Labour, with 59 fewer MPs than before and with a leadership contest on its hands, when Corbyn eventually steps aside. But can a Labour challenge realistically be expected by the time of the next General Election, or will the damage of the 2019 election hit harder than the next Parliament? And who will lead them head-on into that challenge? Bookmakers place shadow cabinet member Rebecca Long-Bailey as the favourite, and with Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Angela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and Emily Thornberry also likely to throw their names forward, a female leader seems both likely and apposite.

Michael Lyons, editor

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Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Contents

Contents Government Business 26.6 17

07 News

36 Futurebuild

Conservatives win majority for new government; Northerners urged to be wary of ‘glib’ Tory promises; campaigners urge for electoral reform: and top five ‘environmentally-conscious’ cities revealed

Futurebuild brings together 27,000 industry influencers and shapers to drive real change. A world class knowledge programme alongside an immersive exhibition of 450 innovative and inspiring brands and a host of networking events will combine to create an unmissable experience

17 Energy Fuel poverty isn’t rocket science. It is caused by the interaction of three variables: income levels; the unit price of energy, and the amount of energy consumed. The Energy and Utilities Alliance’s Mike Foster explains why the government and industry needs to do more to tackle the problem of fuel poverty

21 Fire safety 21 36

The long-awaited Grenfell Tower fire public inquiry report was released on 30 October. Conclusions about the fire, which took 72 lives on 14 June 2017, were unsurprisingly critical of the London Fire Brigade. GB looks into the report

25 Fleet management The majority of fleet operators want to embrace a zero emission future, but there is still confusion regarding the cost of ownership, infrastructure, journey planning and driver education.

Peter Eldridge, director of ICFM, gives food for thought for those considering the switch to electric vehicles

28 Road safety

39 51

The number of miles driven on UK roads has continued to grow exponentially, with over 327 billion miles driven in Great Britain in 2017, about 50 billion higher than 20 years ago. Here, the Road Safety Markings Association discuss the issue of poor road markings and how road user safety can be put at risk due to poor maintenance

31 Conferences & events Is it all about location, location, location? Government Business provides a holistic analysis of what the public sector should look for when booking facilities for conferences and events

Government Business magazine

39 Climate emergency In the UK more than 240 local authorities have declared a climate emergency. That sounds like urgency is the order of the day, but they are still words that require action. Mike Childs, head of Science at Friends of the Earth, looks at how local authorities can ramp up what they are doing to tackle the current climate crisis

41 Web design As we head into 2020, we are another month closer to existing public sector websites having to comply with The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations.

Here, Hilary Stephenson explains why digital inclusion for local council is no longer an option, it’s a legal requirement

47 Network Services 2 The Crown Commercial Service has awarded places to 89 suppliers for its Network Services 2 agreement, 58 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises, to help public sector bodies to get the best deal on their telecommunications

51 G-Cloud Why does the public sector struggle to build a compelling business case for cloud? Romy Hughes, director at Brightman, explores the issue

55 Data Centre World Data Centre World 2020 is leaving no stone unturned, no topic uncovered, in delivering the industry-leading event for data centre technology. Government Business looks ahead to the event

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GENERAL ELECTION 2019

Conservatives win majority for new government independence. The SNP won 48 seats, including that of Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, as well as several from both the Conservatives and Labour. Overall, this represents an 8.2 per cent increase in votes compared to the last election. Having narrowly lost her seat of Dunbartonshire East, Swinson has stepped down as leader of the Remain-campaigning Liberal Democrat Party, with Ed Davey and Sal Brinton taking over as joint interim leaders.

The Green Party’s Caroline Lucas has been re-elected to her Brighton Pavilion seat, but remains the party’s only MP, while the Brexit Party remains seatless, and possibly without a purpose given the likely accelerated Brexit plans Johnson is pursuing.

The Conservative Party won a working majority in the 2019 General Election, surprisingly winning 365 seats across the UK, 47 more than in the 2017 election. The victory means the Conservatives will have their biggest majority at Westminster since Margaret Thatcher’s 1987 election victory. Conversely, Labour is facing its worse defeat since 1935.

Now with a majority of 80, Boris Johnson’s party will now pursue its Brexit mandate, bringing the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill to Parliament before Christmas, with plans to leave the European Union by the end of January. It is hoped that a free trade agreement with the EU will then be in place by February 2021. Closer to home, Johnson has pledged more police officers, 40 new hospitals, although money has only been made available for six, funding to recruit more GPs and a new immigration style system for the UK. Among the Conservative victories, Johnson’s

party took Blyth Valley in Northumberland, a Labour seat since the 1950s, as well as Wokington, held by Labour for the majority of the last century. The party was also successful in Wales, notably winning Wrexham, a Labour seat since 1935, with red seats turning blue a recurring theme throughout the election.

Elsewhere, after his party’s worse performance in many a year, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not lead the party in any future election campaign.

Promising a period of ‘relection’, the North Islington MP said that Brexit had polarised British politics, while Labour candidates across the country have criticised Corbyn’s leadership, while many have also blamed Brexit for the party’s poor performance.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has labelled the success of the Scottish National Party in the General Election as representing a clear message on Scottish

GENERAL ELECTION 2019

ELECTORAL REFORM

Northerners urged to be wary of ‘glib’ Tory promises

Electoral reform a priority after the election, say campaigners

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has urged new Conservative voters in the north of England to be wary of promises to invest tens of billions in the region’s infrastructure.

Following the General Election, in which many former Labour stronghold constituencies were won by Tory candidates, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to ‘level up’ the UK by ‘investing in better infrastructure, better education and fantastic modern technology’ across the country, with many pointing to the potential for up to £100 billion in additional capital spending to be released over the next five years - although £78 billion of such funding has not yet been allocated.

On the new government’s to-do list will certainly be spending on Northern Powerhouse Rail, as well as fulfilment on promises made on the election campaign trail, including rail links to remote ports, new nuclear reactors and train stations.

Transport for the North wants the government to fund its £70 billion plan to upgrade road and rail connections, including £39 billion for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

However, while Burnham broadly welcomed Johnson’s sentiment, he warned that such promises were easier to make than deliver. He said he would like the government to commit funds now to reduce homelessness and to subsidise bus services so they are as cheap as in London.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/tr2jg2n

Just before the General Election, the Electoral Reform Society wrote to the main parties in Britain calling for them to make proportional representation a number one priority in any cross-party talks or in government.

Now that votes have been counted and Boris Johnson has returned to 10 Downing Street with a larger majority, the figures continue to make interesting reading and suggest that electoral reform could be needed.

The now former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, said before the 12 December vote that her party ‘will remain committed to proportional representation [STV] and wider political reform, whatever the result of this election’. The result, which has led her to lose her seat and her leadership, has seen the Liberal Democrats win 11 seats, representing 1.7 per cent of those available. This is despite the party gaining 11.5 per cent of votes across the country.

Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry, co‑leaders of the Green Party, recently wrote to the ERS saying that the Green Party manifesto commits Green MPs to introducing a Voting Reform Bill to replace the First Past the Post system for all levels of government with a fair and proportional voting system. Across the country, the Green Party received 2.7 per cent of the vote (864,743), but only one Green MP, Caroline Lucas, will take a seat in the Commons.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/uhnekwe

In contrast to this trend, the SNP, who celebrated unexpected success in the election, have returned 48 MPs to Westminster, representing 7.4 per cent of the available seats. Although only running in Scottish constituencies, this is 3.9 per cent of the votes - a correlation is stark contrast to the Green Party.

Johnson’s new Conservative majority will possess 56.1 per cent of Commons seats, 365 of them, despite only generating 43.6 per cent of the votes. Labour is perhaps the most accurately represented, with their 203 seats reflecting 31.1 per cent of MPs, a result of gaining 32.1 per cent of public votes.

The Brexit Party’s two per cent of the vote (642,303) has garnered a return of no MPs, while Plaid Cymru’s 0.5 per cent of the vote has generated 0.6 per cent of Parliamentary seats, equalling four MPs. READ MORE tinyurl.com/r3mv3ck

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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NET ZERO

Oxford pledges to become net zero in 2020 Responding to the Oxford Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change, Oxford City Council has set out the next steps it will take - including budget allocation - to become a zero carbon council and city.

Formally welcoming and responding to the final report from Assembly, the city council will set a Climate Emergency Budget that commits over £1 million additional operational funding and £18 million of

capital investment to address the climate emergency – on top of £84 million of ongoing investment to tackle the climate emergency in Oxford and countywide.

As part of the plans to become net zero as a council in 2020, the authority will also hold a Zero Carbon Oxford summit in the early new year – involving the major organisations responsible for the majority of emissions in the city to see how collaboration can help

develop a shared vision, forum, and plans to set a course towards a Zero Carbon Oxford.

This will lead to the establishment of a Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership and the creation of new carbon budgets for the city to step down to zero.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/t922qrn

ENVIRONMENT

SCOTLAND

Top five ‘environmentally-conscious’ cities revealed

Scotland commits to net zero transport ahead of 2050

Using local and regional data on recycling, air quality and green spaces, comparethemarket. com has revealed the UK towns and cities which are the most environmentally conscious.

The study looked at the percentage of recycled waste, searches for ‘recycling centre’ and ‘electric cars’, air quality and number of parks (per 10,000). Bristol takes the top spot, followed by Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Manchester.

Bristol came out as the UK’s greenest city for its high level of recycling and air quality and was number one when it came to eco-friendly Google searches, with 47 per 10,000 people. The city was also named the European Green Capital for 2015 by the European Commission and has committed hundreds of millions of pounds to tackle climate change in recent years.

Notably, however, London failed to crack the top ten in any category, scoring poorly on

each of the four factors that were analysed.

Peter Earl, head of Energy at comparethemarket.com, said: “It’s clear that the climate, renewable energy and sustainability is a huge focus right now – and so it should be. We should all be putting combined effort into finding the best eco-friendly solutions. Surrounding ourselves with green space and changing our actions towards energy is a way to improve wellbeing as well as having benefits for the environment and future living circumstances. One in seven households (14 per cent) have already switched to greener tariffs, whilst a third are thinking of switching to one; this shows that we are progressing, but still have some way to go.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/v444smp

RECYCLING

Make Scotland’s deposit return scheme more comprehensive A report from the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee has said that Scotland’s proposed deposit return scheme will have a real and lasting impact on tackling climate change.

The committee has now called on the Scottish Government to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to ensure that the scheme is accessible and available to all who need to use it, and also suggests that the minimum deposit rate of 20p should be set out in regulation. However, there should be flexibility to vary that rate upwards to support the delivery of environmental and social outcomes.

In terms of materials, the committee accepts that the scheme would focus initially on drinks containers, but is calling on the government to consider making the scheme as comprehensive as possible and introduce other materials such as cartons, pouches and other plastics in a phased way.

Gillian Martin, committee convenor, said: “There is no doubting the ambition behind

the introduction of the deposit return scheme in Scotland. And it is clear from those we heard from across the country that there is support for the scheme and its aims to help meet the challenging climate change targets and address the problems of litter, particularly in our marine environment.

“But for this scheme to be effective, we need to ensure that this operates in a way that is understandable and easy to use for the public and businesses alike. We support the initial focus of the scheme but have today asked the government to ensure we can add materials to the scheme, in a phased way, so it is as wide-ranging as possible. We have also heard from many businesses about their concerns about how this will operate in practice. We believe the Scottish Government needs to listen to these concerns and we have asked for more information on the operation of the scheme before this is rolled out.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/vo5h4ne

Scotland has joined a coalition of countries, cities and companies working towards net zero transport ahead of the 2050 Paris Agreement target.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham signed the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDA) Charter at the COP25 UN Climate Summit in Madrid.

The TDA is seeking to pave the way for an accelerated and irreversible worldwide transformation towards a net zero emission mobility, to be achieved ahead of the 2050 targets set by the Paris Agreement.

She said: “I was proud to travel to Madrid to promote Scotland’s new legally binding target to become a net-zero society by 2045, and the efforts we are making to tackle the climate crisis. Scotland is a world leader on climate change and I was pleased to meet many leaders and stakeholders from across the world to share our progress and future ambitions– not least to completely end Scotland’s contribution to climate change within a generation.

“The only way we can successfully tackle the global climate emergency is for all nations to work together to exchange ideas and agree shared actions. That is why I was pleased to represent Scotland at this critical summit and I look forward to deepening and strengthening international relations still further at this critical time for climate action.”

The Scottish Government has set out a suite of ambitious measures aimed at decarbonising the transport system, including phasing out new petrol and diesel cars in Scotland by 2032, and decarbonising public sector fleets by 2030, the rail network by 2035 and internal scheduled flights by 2040.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/svom75y

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PLAY AREAS

CIPFA launches local government Financial Resilience Index

Playground closures are a public health issue

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has released an online tool showing high levels of financial resilience across local authorities in England.

The Resilience Index is a data tool that has been in development throughout this year and measures councils’ resilience against nine key indicators and aims to support their financial decision making.

Indicators used in the Index include levels of reserves, external debt, ratios of income and expenditure, Ofsted judgements and auditors’ value for money assessments.

The measures are intended to provide a rounded picture of an authority’s resilience to financial shocks. Against CIPFA’s indicators, the majority of councils are not showing signs of stress. However, there is a tail of 10 per cent of councils, where there are some signs of potential risk to their financial stability.

The Association of Play Industries has stressed that the inactivity crisis facing children must be placed at the heart of politics, regardless of the recent General Election result.

The association recently joined with 147 other organisations in a major social media event – #ChildrenAtTheHeart – launching its new election manifesto and signing a joint open letter to election leaders asking them to remember that it’s children who will be most affected by the outcome of the election.

The API has also recently joined forces with the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, an organisation comprising leading bodies concerned with children’s mental health.

Mark Hardy, chair of the API, said: “The massive decline in public playgrounds is a public health issue. Our Play Must Stay campaign highlights that children are not playing outside anymore. Unless these playgrounds are reinstated and a commitment made to protect community playgrounds, children will continue to stay indoors on their screens – alone and inactive – at great cost to their physical and mental health.

“It’s vital that we continue to keep the pressure on all political parties to prioritise outdoor play and playgrounds and working with like minded organisations is a key part of our strategy. The mass closure of playgrounds means that outdoor play is being denied to thousands of children. In urban areas playgrounds are the only opportunity children get to play outdoors. There is a national crisis going in our communities as we continue to lose public play spaces at an alarming rate.We are asking for a pledge from the next government to invest in playgrounds before it is too late.”

Rob Whiteman, CIPFA CEO, said: “I am proud to be able to launch the Resilience Index today, following a year of collaboration with the sector. CIPFA has been working in partnership with people who live and breathe financial management to design a product that adds value and supports constructive dialogue around the spending of taxpayers’ money. Tools like the Resilience Index will help to ensure the sector is held to collective and robust standards of governance and financial management.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/s82yng8

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Reset the dial for local government, says Solace Solace President Martin Swales has written to Boris Johnson, the newly re‑elected Prime Minister, urging him to ‘reset the dial for local government’.

The UK’s leading membership network for public sector and local government professionals has specifically asked Johnson to: provide councils with immediate financial certainty for next year and commit to a genuinely sustainable local government funding settlement for your five-year term; implement funding reforms for Social Care to stabilise the system for the long-term; introduce meaningful programmes of reform that put prevention at the heart of government decision-making; and simplify the economic growth governance and funding landscape, urgently consult on the UK Shared Prosperity

Fund and publish the Devolution White Paper.

The letter also highlights the ‘ever‑increasing demand for both Children’s and Adult Social Care’, asking the Prime Minister for ‘a deliverable solution to fund our social care system with reforms that provide a stable financial platform’.

The organisation stressed that there ‘is no limit of ambition, passion and experience amongst local government elected members and officers to improve the places we serve’, and said that the sooner councils are provided with a certain financial platform, the sooner improvements can be made.

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FINANCE

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FLOODING

Six in ten have never checked their flood risk Despite increased incidents of flood events across the country, a survey has showed that people in Great Britain are still not checking the flood risk of their homes.

Revealed only days after more than 100 flood alerts were issued – predominantly in Yorkshire – by the Environment Agency in November, 62 per cent of respondents to the YouGov survey stated that they have never checked the flood risk level of their home.

The survey shows that people in Scotland are the least likely to have carried out any checks with 77 per cent confirming they had never researched their flood risk.

This was followed by those in London (71 per cent), 65 per cent of those in the North West of England and

63 per cent in Yorkshire and Humber.

Additionally, just six per cent of people have a flood plan and would know how to put it into action if a flood was to occur. More than a third admitted that they do not have a flood plan and wouldn’t know what to do if they were to experience a flood, while 49 per cent said they didn’t have a flood plan, yet felt they would know what to do in the event of a flood. Furthermore, only 23 per cent of respondents said they checked the flood risk of their home before moving in, with 12 per cent saying they checked afterwards.

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TECHNOLOGY

London boroughs not ready for 5G New freedom of information data has revealed that local authorities in charge of London’s network infrastructure are far from ready to support the rollout of 5G networks.

Tech London Advocates found that 31 out of 33 London boroughs have no specific strategy for enabling the rollout of 5G networks, despite Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) claiming 5G networks are now available in major UK cities.

As part of a new study into the city’s preparedness for a cohesive rollout, the results show that London boroughs do not have strategies or staff to make 5G a reality.

In fact, not one of the 33 boroughs have allocated any budget to implementing 5G technology in 2019. Additionally, 30 boroughs stated that they have no staff responsible for implementing 5G, whilst six boroughs have a councillor specifically responsible for 5G or broadband, despite having no broader strategy for enabling a rollout.

Of equal concern, not one of the London boroughs could confirm an anticipated date for full coverage in their respective territories, highlighting a lack of collaboration between stakeholders. The City of London, the only one to provide some kind of

estimate, predicts that it will be at least three years before it has full 5G coverage.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/rexxowl

POVERTY

HOMELESSNESS

Childhood crisis this Christmas as basics hard to come by

135,000 children in Britain to be homeless at Christmas

Action for Children has warned that some of the youngest children in the UK are facing a childhood crisis as three pupils in every primary school class will be deprived of the basics this Christmas.

Following analysis of official figures, the charity has warned that almost one million under-10s from low-income families face a festive season with little to celebrate, lacking basics such as a heated home, warm winter coat or fresh food.

New research from the charity also shows that parents below the breadline are able to spend on average just £2 a day per child on food, often struggling to afford nutritious food

vital for health and development. With no free school meals available during the school holidays, this leaves many worse-off families struggling to afford their children’s lunch. With a typical primary school meal in the UK costing £2.30 a day, it means parents can barely afford lunch, let alone breakfast and dinner.

Julie Bentley, the charity’s chief executive, said: “No parent should have to face the awful prospect of their youngster sitting in the cold without a plate of food to eat at the end of a school day, or skip dinner themselves so their child has a meal. Politicians are telling us austerity has ended but every day at Action for Children our frontline services say child poverty levels are at the worst they can remember. While some families will spend the Christmas holidays putting their children to bed early to keep warm because they can’t afford to heat the house, for others it has become the norm not have a winter coat, rely on foodbanks, or for their children to miss out on hot meals.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/yx5xh5su

LIBRARIES

800 libraries closed in Britain since 2010 The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (Cipfa) annual survey of the UK’s libraries has revealed that almost 800 libraries have closed under the Conservative government since 2010.

Not including Northern Ireland, the analysis highlights that there are 3,583 library branches still open in the UK – 35 fewer than last year. Since 2010, 773 have closed, meaning that a fifth of the UK’s libraries forced to close over the last 10 years have occurred against a backdrop of a 29.6 per cent decline in spend.

In fact, national spending on the service topped £1 billion in 2009/10 but dropped

Shelter has estimated that at least 135,000 children will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation across Britain on Christmas day – the highest number for 12 years.

The housing charity claims that a child loses their home every eight minutes, which equates to 183 children each day.

If accurate, it means that 1,647 children will become homeless between now and the general election on 12 December, and more than 4,000 by 25 December.

London has 26 of the 30 British local authorities with the highest rates of homeless children, with the capital possessing the highest concentration of homeless youths, up 33 per cent since 2014. At the start of this year, approximately 88,000 children were homeless and in temporary accommodation.

In Haringey, Newham, Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea the homeless rate is currently one in every 12 children.

Away from the capital, the places worst affected are: Luton (one in 22 children); Brighton & Hove (one in 30); Manchester (one in 47); and Slough (one in 53). In Wales, one in 412 children are homeless, up 28 per cent since 2015, while in Scotland one in 160 children were homeless, up 64 per cent since 2014.

to under £750 million in the last year, with the number of paid librarians having also dropped. There were 24,000 salaried staff working in libraries in 2009/10, but last year there were 15,300 recorded employees and more than 51,000 volunteers.

Rob Whiteman, Cipfa chief executive, said that the figures showed a sustained trend where local councils on tight budgets had been forced to redirect funding to priority services such as social care.

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GENERAL ELECTION 2019

Pupil inequality heightened by parent donation disparity

Slight fall in the number of MPs who attended university

‘Exacerbating unfairness between rich and poor’, BBC News has revealed that pupils in some of the poorest regions of the country are being left behind because parents cannot afford to fill funding gaps with donations.

While the main political parties have all pledged to improve school funding as part of their election manifestos, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme’s analysis of Department for Education data found that the average school in England generated £59 per pupil from donations in 201718 - 1.07 per cent of its overall budget.

The Fair Education Alliance, a coalition of 150 organisations aimed at tackling perceived inequalities in the school system, said that this gap ‘exacerbates unfairness between rich and poor’, after it was discovered that the average school in London raised £43,000 from donations in 2017-18, whilst in Yorkshire it was

just £13,300.

Often raised through events, such as fun runs and school fairs, one school in Sunderland gained just £679 from donations, the equivalent of 43p per pupil, in 2017-18. Meanwhile, schools in London, the east of England (£24,585 per year) and the North West (£20,844) were deemed the most likely to profit. On the other hand, schools in Yorkshire (£13,288), the North East (£13,394) and East Midlands (£17,044) struggle.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/rdl2s3o

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

One in five school buildings need urgent repair The Guardian is reporting that nearly one in five school buildings in England require urgent repairs, leading to warnings that they are ‘crumbling around teachers and pupils’.

An investigation by the newspaper has found that nearly 4,000 schools across the country have been judged by surveyors to be in need of immediate restoration work, and many more were found not to have the paperwork required by law, including electrical test certificates, fire risk assessments or asbestos management plans.

The data highlights how 17 per cent (3,731) were found to have buildings with ‘elements’, such as a roof, wall or window deemed in need of immediate replacement or repair. Of the 21,796 schools for which information was released, 1,313 had elements that were given the worst possible

condition grade D, defined as ‘life expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure’.

As part of the Department for Education’s school condition data collection (CDC) programme surveyors visited every government-maintained school in England to collect data about the physical condition of school buildings and how they are managed.

According to the freedom of information data, 14 per cent of the 20,854 respondents did not have an asbestos management plan; 13 per cent did not have a fire risk assessment; 11 per cent did not have a gas safety test report; and 10 per cent did not have an electrical test certificate.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/s9kpkvh

ACTIVITY LEVELS

Research finds that poorer children missing out on exercise New research from Sport England suggests that, when it comes to getting enough exercise, wealthier children are beating their poorer classmates.

The second annual Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows that children’s activity levels are on the rise, with figures showing an increase of 3.6 per cent in the number of children in England doing an average of 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day.

It means that 46.8 per cent of the nation’s children and young people are meeting the recommended level, with the increase driven by more out of school activity – including increases

in active play, team sports and walking.

However, when analysed further, the data shows that only 42 per cent of children from low-income households do the recommended 60 minutes’ exercise a day, compared with 54 per cent of children from better-off homes. Children from more affluent homes also enjoy exercise more, with 43 per cent of those from poor homes saying they enjoyed being active, compared with 59 per cent of those from wealthy families.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/u7d4mll

News

EDUCATION

The overall number of MPs who have attended university has gone down slightly following the election, according to analysis by studee.com.

Before the election, 86 per cent of MPs had gone to university, but this has now dropped to 85 per cent. There are now 99 MPs who have not had a university education.

The study has also found that a smaller percentage of male MPs have been to university compared to female MPs. The gap between the two has narrowed however, with the percentage of female MPs who have attended university dropping from 90 per cent to 86 per cent, and the proportion of male MPs staying at 84 per cent.

Interestingly, although the number of MPs who have gone to university has dropped by just one per cent, those who attended Oxbridge has dropped by three per cent, from 22 per cent to 19 per cent.

This shows that perhaps the supposed influence of Oxford and Cambridge graduates on UK politics is beginning to slip.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/w6a2qoz

FOSTER CARE

Secondary trauma causing stress among foster carers Following a recent survey, psychologists at Nottingham Trent University have argued that foster carers need more support to combat stress and burnout.

The research explored secondary traumatic stress (STS), which can be caused by the impact of supporting people who have experienced traumatic events, and burnout as two factors that can severely affect well-being.

Findings showed that foster carers experience higher than average STS, suggesting they are affected by exposure to the trauma stories of their foster children.

The 180 carers who took part in the survey also demonstrated high levels of burnout, which made a direct contribution to their STS. Additionally, more than 75 per cent of respondents reported instances of primary trauma - harm or threat of harm to themselves or their family within the context of the role.

Self-care was found to affect STS outcomes, with the main forms of self-care mentioned by those surveyed including spending time with others, exercise and support, suggesting that foster carers would benefit from more assistance in building up resources which help them to withstand the stress of the role.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/tle4hr6

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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How many times have we heard it said: “If Because circumstances change, households we can put a man on the moon why can’t can be vulnerable to fuel poverty, even if we solve this?” This well-used phrase applies they aren’t technically defined as fuel poor. to fuel poverty in the UK. First some facts.

The government, through the Department for According to the Committee of Fuel Poverty, Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) there are 2.53 million households in England understands this and has acknowledged living in fuel poverty; (Scotland, Wales, and ‘fuel poor churn’, a term used to describe Northern Ireland have their own measures). the ever-changing situations people live in.

Overall, it’s fair to say that around eight They accept that between 10-12 per cent of million people across the UK are at any point all households live in fuel poverty, but they in time, living in fuel poverty. This number has are not the same 10-12 per cent each year. remained stubbornly high for a number of Before we look at the three variables in detail, years, despite promises made to eliminate it. a word of warning. One of the consequences Fuel poverty isn’t rocket science. It is of fuel poverty is the real risk of living in a caused by the interaction of three cold home. Doing so raises the risk variables: income levels; the of respiratory disease taking unit price of energy, and hold, itself a disproportionate Reducin g the amount of energy contributor (over 30 per the rate consumed. It is also, cent) of the 50,000 Excess a t which e not necessarily, a Winter Deaths in the consum nergy is static state. You aren’t UK (2017-18). Let’s always in or out of remember at this point keeping ed, whilst a home fuel poverty given it that the UK has the 5th h as to be warm, is a relative measure. largest economy on t

h solution e sensible to f poverty uel

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Written by Mike Foster, The Energy and Utilities Alliance

The Energy and Utilities Alliance’s Mike Foster explains why the government and industry needs to do more to tackle the problem of fuel poverty

Energy

Fuel poverty, it isn’t rocket science

earth. This very real health impact, incidentally one of many, is why health bodies are trialling schemes that issue a ‘prescription’ to upgrade a heating system as part of a treatment package – the so-called ‘Boilers on Prescription’ scheme.

When it comes to income levels, on face value, there is little scope for the energy industry to assist. In 2016, EUA published a first of its kind report, Fuel Poverty: A connected solution, in which we explored the determinants of fuel poverty. It goes without saying that low income, living below the poverty line, is the biggest single cause of living in fuel poverty. Solve this problem and we would be nearly home and dry. It’s worth noting at this point, the valuable work of the gas networks in helping consumers obtain the income they are entitled to.

Schemes such as the partnership between Cadent’s Affordable Warmth Solutions and Citizens Advice in Coventry has enabled 580 vulnerable households access nearly £820,000 in potential financial assistance.

With the acknowledged ‘average fuel poor gap’ at £321 (the reduction in fuel bill that the average fuel poor household needs, in order to not be classed as fuel poor) it’s easy to see how income maximisation helps.

The unit price of energy is something politicians focus on, through policies such as the price freeze and encouraging switching of supplier. Of course, there are merits to both, but in an era when the UK needs to decarbonise and the market mechanism of unit price (with or without a carbon tax) is a means to reduce consumption, the reality is unit prices are only likely to rise not fall. If all other things remain equal, as economists say, that means fuel poverty will get worse over time. E

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Energy

 Energy consumption So we need to look at the third variable, the rate at which we consume energy.

Merely turning down the thermostat isn’t the solution. Making our homes more efficient is. Reducing the rate at which energy is consumed, whilst keeping a home warm, has to be the sensible solution to fuel poverty. This has recently been recognised by the government who propose changing the definition of fuel poverty to include the metric ‘low efficiency’ rather than ‘high cost’ to go alongside low income levels.

The Committee on Fuel Poverty rightly supported tackling the least energy efficient homes as a priority, suggesting that households in F or G rated properties face an average fuel poverty gap in excess of £1,000 a year, three times the overall average.

Exploring how we can improve efficiency, and decarbonise, is the challenge for policymakers.

But I’m happy to share some thoughts on this.

EUA’s report examined other ‘characteristics’ associated with fuel poverty to assess their impact. People living in homes with uninsulated solid walls are twice as likely to be fuel poor.

Loft and cavity wall insulation are both obvious ways to reduce heat loss from a home, aiding efficient energy usage and keeping bills lower than they would be. So schemes like ECO and many others before, have made economic sense and both have relatively short paybacks. But installing solid wall insulation is expensive. It is certainly unaffordable for the fuel poor and has a poor economic payback.

Households without a connection to the gas grid have 1.5 times the risk of being in fuel poverty than those with a gas connection.

Using LPG, oil or electricity is typically more expensive than mains gas and if we are serious about tackling fuel poverty, then a gas connection makes sense. Combining that connection with an efficient condensing

Households without a connection to the gas grid have 1.5 times the risk of being in fuel poverty than those with a gas connection. Using LPG, oil or electricity is typically more expensive than mains gas and if we are serious about tackling fuel poverty, then a gas connection makes sense boiler doubly so. Our study found that people living in homes with a non-condensing boiler are 43 per cent more likely to be in fuel poverty than the rest of the population.

To get some perspective on these measures, we considered the impact on a home with electricity storage radiators compared to a condensing gas boiler, across a range of energy usage. Even at low levels of annual consumption, 10,000 kWhs, loft insulation saved £29 a year; cavity wall £116; solid wall £215 but connection to the gas grid and condensing boiler saved over £900 a year.

Climate emergency The elephant in the room is climate change.

We should not ignore the need to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions but equally, it should not be done at the expense of the fuel poor. So natural gas (methane based) does need to go as it emits carbon when combusted. This does not mean the gas connection solution to fuel poverty falls. Far from it. Currently, industry, overseen by the Health and Safety Executive, is trialling the injection of a 20 per cent hydrogen blend into a gas grid at Keele University.

Plans are now being made to expand the

trial in Gateshead. The government, working with industry, is exploring the option of converting the whole gas network to 100 per cent hydrogen or ‘Clean Gas’. Boilers are being tested and agreements reached on the availability of ‘hydrogen –ready boilers’, enabling a switchover from natural gas to clean gas at some point in the future. Hydrogen contains no carbon, its only emission when combusted is water.

So a gas connection, to an efficient boiler will still play a major role in addressing fuel poverty in the future. Connecting more homes to the grid increases their overall efficiency and reduces the amount of energy required (making it easier to decarbonise) at the same time as lowering bills.

Addressing fuel poverty may not be rocket science but the switchover to a hydrogen-based gas grid, supplying clean gas to the fuel poor, living in upgraded, thermally efficient homes, is sound policy, fit for the future. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.eua.org.uk

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Fire safety

Time for a fire safety revamp, after inadequacies highlighted The long-awaited Grenfell Tower fire public inquiry report was released on 30 October. Conclusions about the fire, which took 72 lives on 14 June 2017, were unsurprisingly critical of the London Fire Brigade. Government Business looks into the report With the General Election having now passed, but taken up most, if not all, media attention in the last few weeks, the fire safety recommendations for the next government, released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), went largely unnoticed.

Highlighting fie safety within the larger topic of housing supply as one of the key issues for the next government, RICS says it is imperative that they introduce ‘clear, coherent policy and legislation’ in order to reduce the risk to the public and embed universally agreed fire safety standards and practice.

All of the Hackitt Review recommendations were deemed necessary of implementation, with RICS also suggesting that the newlyformed majority Conservative government needs to support the IFSS Coalition, endorse RICS’ guide to fire safety and amend building regulations to make sprinklers mandatory.

At the start of December, the National Fire Chief’s Council stressed that the threshold for sprinklers should be lower, responding in part to the government’s consultation paper, Sprinklers and other fire safety measures in high-rise blocks of flats. Roy Wilsher, chair of the NFCC, pointed to the fact that there is currently ‘a gap for protection of buildings between 11m and 18m’, saying that the threshold should be lowered to the lesser height, especially given the threshold for sprinklers is now being considered separately from many closely related safety measures.

is ‘one of the worst in the country’. Two The NFCC is calling for legislation to be and a half years after the Grenfell Tower strengthened to ensure that fire-safety disaster, in which 72 residents lost their standards are brought up and to prevent lives, the report claims that incident the building sector from applying a commanders remain inadequately trained, ‘like for like’ replacement, leading to the service is wasting resources and it declining fire safety in buildings. is failing to learn from its mistakes.

The Royal Institute of British Architects A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, (RIBA) discussed the same issue, saying Sadiq Khan, said that the findings were ‘very sprinklers in new high-rise flats cannot concerning’, especially the claim that the UK’s replace other essential fire safety measures. biggest fire brigade was ‘inadequate at Despite widely, and vocally, supporting the getting the right people with the use of sprinklers in high-rise flats right skills’, sometimes sending as a highly effective means of commanders to fight life protection, the institute The blazes who had not been maintains that they ‘should Nationa trained for five years, not be used as a means and employing engine to compensate for other Chief’s l Fire C o drivers had not been essential life safety u n recently cil trained for 20 years. measures or justify s t r essed that the Danny Cotton, reducing minimum t the London Fire standards.’ As well sprinklehreshold for rs s Commissioner in charge as sprinklers, RIBA be lowehould of the highly criticised argues that centrally r response to the Grenfell addressable fire alarm Tower fire recently resigned systems should be required after renewed calls from in new and converted multiple bereaved families and survivors of occupancy residential buildings. the disaster for her to quit. Her planned retirement in June 2020 has been brought London Fire Brigade forward to New Year’s Eve after the public Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and inquiry into what happened on the night of the Fire and Rescue Services has published a fire found serious failings in the London Fire scathing report* into the London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) preparation and response. E Brigade, saying that the organisation

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0800 246 1945 info@dbfiresafety.com

The event itself With more than 250 London Fire Brigade firefighters and 70 fire engines involved from stations all across London in efforts to control the fire and rescue residents, the inquiry said that the first incident commanders at the scene were not properly prepared and failed to seize control of the situation or change strategy.

Moore-Bick said that ‘none of them seem to have been able to conceive a need for mass evacuation’, arguing that the shortcomings were ‘systemic’ and that ‘both personnel and systems were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster’. He did, however, also say that the firefighters who attended the tower displayed ‘extraordinary courage and selfless devotion to duty’, but unfortunately were ‘faced with a situation for which they had not been properly prepared’.

Regarding the evacuation, the inquiry said that, ‘once it was clear that the fire was out of control and that compartmentation had failed’, a decision was needed to organise the evacuation of the tower, which at that point, remained possible. That decision ‘could and should’ have been made between 01.30 and 01.50 and is considered likely ‘to have resulted in fewer fatalities’. Instead, the best part of an hour was lost before the ‘stay put’ advice was revoked. The report also condemned ‘serious deficiencies’ in command and control, including many of the physical or electronic communication systems not working properly.

because CROs had not been trained to handle multiple, simultaneous calls, nor did they know the circumstances in which a caller should be advised to leave the building or stay put.

Furthermore, channels of communication between the control room and the incident ground were reported as ‘improvised, uncertain and prone to error’, meaning that those on the incident ground did not have access to valuable information from the control room.

Regarding the spread of the fire, operators were described in the inquiry report as too often treating what callers were telling them with ‘scepticism, in some cases contradicting

Fire safety

 Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the Grenfell inquiry’s chair, remarked that the way Cotton had rhetorically asked in her evidence ‘how do you get them all out?’ demonstrated that the LFB had never itself sought to answer that question. Also questioned and criticised in the preparedness element of the investigation was experienced commanders having no training in the dangers of combustible cladding and a complete lack of a contingency plan for Grenfell’s evacuation.

Channels of communication between the control room and the incident ground were reported as ‘improvised, uncertain and prone to error’, meaning that those on the ground did not have access to valuable information LFB’s use of the control room also came under inspection, with the service’s policy on handling potentially life-saving fire survival guidance (FSG) calls falling short of what is deemed acceptable. The brigade’s policy on handling FSG calls requires control room operators (CROs) to stay on the line with callers until they are rescued or can otherwise leave the building, but the number of FSG calls received during the fire far exceeded the number of CROs available, putting them in an invidious position. CROs were also found not to have always obtained necessary information from callers, such as flat numbers, the number of people present, or whether people were disabled; nor did they always assess conditions at the callers’ locations and hence the possibility of their escape. Much of this was

the caller’. It concludes that they appear to have been unable to grasp the fact that it had spread rapidly up the building.

Recommendations from the report Sir Martin Moore-Bick has written that fire brigade inspections of high-rise buildings need to be improved and crews trained better to carry out more thorough risk evaluations.

Regular inspections of lifts intended to be used by firefighters are also needed. Discussing communications, the report says that dialogue between fire brigade control rooms, where emergency calls are received, and incident commanders must improve and there must be a dedicated communication link.

The new government, with a Conservative majority, should quickly develop national guidelines for carrying out partial or total evacuations of high-rise residential buildings, and fire doors in all multi-occupancy, residential properties should be urgently inspected.

A law requiring owners and managers of high-rise residential buildings to provide their local fire and rescue service with information about external wall materials and building plans was also seen as an important move, while improvements were deemed necessary to the data links provided by helicopters of the National Police Air Service. Pictures transmitted on the night of Grenfell could not be viewed by the LFB because the encryption was incompatible with its receiving equipment. L

*Of 15 fire services to be inspected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, London, Essex and Gloucestershire were the three to be rated as requiring improvement.

FURTHER INFORMATION https://assets.grenfelltowerinquiry. org.uk/GTI%20-%20Phase%201%20 report%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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With just three words you can change everything This isn’t the start of a romance novel, this is the start of a sales pitch. At Daimler Fleet Management (DFM) we understand the importance of marginal gains. It’s all about the many little one percents that add up to make a big difference.

That’s why we always have our eyes open for new technology and enhancements in automotive that can help to deliver these small but important gains. ‘What3words’, is fast becoming the global standard for communicating locations.

It is a system which is already helping the emergency services save lives as well as aiding companies deliver time savings.

The simple premise of getting people and things to the right location, on time is not always straight-forward.

A postcode could encompass a mile long street, a building or depot might have multiple entrances to choose from.

What3words offer a means of efficiently sharing specific, and exact locations.

By dividing the world into over 57 trillion 3m x 3m grids and giving each square a unique three-word reference, you can now not only identify the correct building

for a delivery or pick up but can highlight the precise point on the map where the rendezvous should take place. Increasing efficiencies by reducing directional ambiguity one destination at a time all adds up, and as the old adage goes, ‘time is money’.

What3words is available online and via a mobile app but following early investment

by Daimler, Mercedes-Benz has the privilege of being the first manufacturer to implement the software directly into their vehicle navigation. Available in cars and vans via an over-the-air update in

the latest COMAND (NTG5.5) models Mercedes-Benz drivers can use the technology today.

What’s more, using the new voice recognition functionality (Mercedes‑Benz UX) available in models like the Mercedes‑Benz A Class, drivers are able to simply quote their three words aloud and the car will navigate to within three metres of the defined destination. If the destination and an appropriate place to park do not align, your onward destination can be mapped via the app on your phone allowing you to complete your journey by foot.

If you are interested in finding the marginal gains in your business get in touch with DFM today to arrange a FleetFit health check.

Or download your very own FleetFit guide today, full of helpful tips on where to find the ‘one percents’ for your existing fleet of vehicles.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.daimler-fleetfit.co.uk dfm-uk@daimler.com 01908 697468

Is your fleet performing at its best?

Get in touch with our mobility experts and get your fleet fit for tomorrow. #befleetfit

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Find out more at daimler-fleetfit.co.uk or call 01908 697468

Making a case for an electric vehicle them understand the range capabilities of (EV) fleet continues to be something of a their chosen EV and how to strike a good conundrum for UK fleet operators given balance between energy efficiency and the broad range of business-critical factors performance usage is a vital first step. involved. The majority of fleet operators want to embrace a zero emission future, Getting the most from an EV but the road to get there remains fraught Continuing with the topic of driver awareness, with challenges and continuing confusion let’s explore a few more key elements involved regarding the cost of ownership, infrastructure, with educating drivers to ensure that they journey planning, driver education etc. get the best from their EV. Driving style has a It is no surprise that many fleet operators significant impact and it is highly advisable simply don’t know what to do for the to maintain steady speeds when best and that, of course, is no basis driving an electric vehicle. to move forwards strategically.

‘Gunning’ the vehicle will Fleet The first golden rule of any rapidly consume valuable change process is clarity battery performance drivers and the problem with the and thus reduce make im will way that EV technology ‘real world’ range. proved environ m is being dealt with in Avoiding harsh e n ta choices the UK is that there braking also pays , but onl vehicle continues to be a great dividends in respect l y benefit i deal of shifting sand of extending battery -in-kindf the tax regi surrounding the subject. charge, since it me is Let’s take a look at some maximises the use b e neficial of the key areas involved. of the regenerative On a positive note, ‘range braking system. Improved anxiety’ is progressively anticipation when overtaking becoming yesterday’s news and in and braking and leaving enough real terms, it is now perfectly feasible for space for routine driving manoeuvres is fleet drivers to successfully fulfil their business another key to maximising energy efficiency. and private journeys with an electric vehicle.

Many EVs are equipped with some form of That said, ensuring that EV choices are economy mode that automatically chooses finely tuned to a specific driver’s journey and mileage profile is critical, as there are still marked differences in the achievable ‘real world’ mileage ranges of available EVs. Providing drivers with information that helps

the most energy-efficient way to drive from A to B. Maximising the use of these systems will ensure that economy parameters are utilised and enhanced battery life promoted.

Encouraging drivers to adopt a frugal approach with the use of the vehicle’s climate control, in-car entertainment, satellite navigation and mobile phone charging systems, will also positively improve range capability. This is particularly important during periods when battery power is low.

Written by Peter Eldridge, director of ICFM

The majority of fleet operators want to embrace a zero emission future, but there is still confusion regarding the cost of ownership, infrastructure, journey planning and driver education. Peter Eldridge gives food for thought for those considering the switch to electric vehicles

Fleet management

What to consider when switching to electric vehicles

Consider the charging infrastructure The current charging infrastructure in real terms continues to be one of the more significant areas of uncertainty as far as the average fleet driver is concerned. There is no question that the situation could be greatly improved if all motor manufacturers and charging point providers were to get together and deliver a more mature and joined up approach to universal plug-in compatibility, the variable charge point capabilities/ timescales involved and the multitude of payment systems in place depending on the charge point provider. E

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CO2 emissions 163 - 205g/km. For full details please visit isuzu.co.uk

Cost of ownership Turning to the matter of cost of ownership, fleet decision-makers require encouragement to introduce and present powerful financial arguments to their boards in order to drive environmental policy change. However, a failure by government until July this year to announce company car benefit-in-kind tax rates post April 2020, although slightly incentivising the take-up of zero emission vehicles, also failed to take account of the lack of availability of those cars in today’s marketplace and further frustrated a proactive switch to an electric vehicle future.

It should also be noted that with the cancellation of the November Budget due to a General Election, the company car benefit-in-kind tax rates post April 2020 have yet to be enshrined in law as the 2020 Finance Bill - usually published postBudget - has been delayed as a result.

One assumes that post the election a Budget will be held quickly – but due to Christmas and the New Year and the Parliamentary recess being 21 December to 5 January that is unlikely to be until the New Year. We must therefore wait and see if the announced tax rates are retained after 12 December.

For fleets and company car drivers to truly embrace the plug-in vehicle revolution, the government needed to take greater account of reviewing benefit-in-kind tax rates in conjunction with model launches and availability.

Fleet management

 Depending on the actual vehicle choice and battery kilowatt performance, a full recharge can take anywhere from circa 35 minutes to 13 hours and this is obviously an unacceptable variable. This is particularly relevant for the latest, high mileage range, manufacturer offerings, which equipped with larger 75-100kw batteries, but are left somewhat exposed as a result of the limited numbers of commensurate charging points available in the UK. These dynamics are also driving a shift from ‘range anxiety’ to real concerns about reported ‘recharging congestion’ at many of the outlets available and this continues to have a real impact on driver and fleet operator confidence regarding EV uptake.

Additionally, EV production lead times continue to frustrate potential buyers and when all the elements are taken into consideration, it explains why the current fleet registrations provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders clearly endorse that although progress is being made towards a zero emission future - it still has a long way to go. Battery electric/ hybrid electric/plug-in hybrid/mild hybrid vehicle registrations represents 9.9 per cent of the market share, while conventional petrol and diesel vehicles take the lion’s share at 91.2 per cent. Petrol is the predominant player at 62.4 per cent and mild hybrids make up the balance at 3.5 per cent.

Once the stakeholders involved stop battling for supremacy in terms of the different technologies and adopt a more universal charging point system and payment mechanism approach, the situation will improve significantly.

Many EVs are equipped with some form of economy mode that automatically chooses the most energy-efficient way to drive from A to B. Maximising the use of these systems will ensure that economy parameters are utilised and enhanced battery life promoted The benefit-in-kind tax changes due in April 2020 promoting a 0 per cent rate, followed by one per cent in 2021/22 and two per cent in 2022/23, coupled with a plug-in grant of up to £3,500, will attract fleet operators and employees to EVs, but lead times must be inline as well. If all the elements come together, then real progress will be made with EVs, but there is also a word of caution that needs to be mentioned. There is a real danger that because of the benefit-in-kind tax changes, drivers will rush to take advantage of the personal financial benefit available and, if not managed carefully, fleet operators could be left heavily exposed by drivers making uninformed vehicle choices, that for the reasons mentioned earlier do not fit for their business use profile.

This is not a new problem and the previous switch to petrol hybrid cars to take advantage of the benefit-in-kind tax benefits, exemplifies how, what was intended to be a positive environmental move, for many, actually had the opposite effect. The reason was simply that for many fleet operators they became a proverbial duck out of water due to poor driver/journey analysis that resulted in hybrids operating predominantly outside of their economic efficiency zone.

The outcome - significantly higher operating costs, specifically fuel bills, compared to their previous (now demonised) diesel counterparts.

In summary, fleet drivers will make improved environmental vehicle choices, but only if the benefit-in-kind tax regime is beneficial; electric vehicle recharging is straightforward at all points in their business and personal travel; and electric vehicle selection is straightforward.

Fleet operators will then be able to get down to business and select the right EVs for the right application; help employees understand the benefit-in-kind tax implications of their company car choice; provide driver guidance on how to run electric vehicles efficiently and responsibly. This will include maximising electric only miles in plug-in hybrids and the effective management of street, home and workplace charging routines and etiquette.

Let’s be completely clear – fleet operators are not averse to change, but they will not expose themselves or their businesses to the potential fall-out of poor or uncertain policy decisions.

Consequently there are presently still too many unknown factors across a sector that remains embryonic in terms of sales. L

This article first appeared in GreenFleet 124.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.icfm.com

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

27

Road safety

Delivering ‘safety outcomes’ in road management The Road Safety Markings Association discuss the issue of poor road markings and how road user safety can be put at risk due to poor maintenance In a world seemingly dependent upon to assess the quality (or lack of it) of our technology it is sometimes easily forgotten road markings at both national and local, that ‘simple’ things can yield significant and how this impacts directly upon our benefit – as is the case with the humble safety as individual drivers, passengers, white lines that we encounter on our motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. roads every single day, often without The RSMA has stated previously that giving them, or their contribution to well maintained road markings are a key keeping us safe, a second thought. component in delivering ‘safety outcomes’.

The number of miles driven on UK roads The addition or improvement of appropriate has continued to grow exponentially. Over road markings can bring about significant 327 billion miles were driven in Great Britain reductions in death and serious injury on UK in 2017, about 50 billion higher than 20 roads. Improved or redesigned road markings years ago, and double what it was 20 years can achieve an improvement in road safety before that. National roads enable economic comparable to expensive engineering and activity to all parts of the country. If highway restructuring solutions. the network works, we have an Central hatching, road studs and uninterrupted supply chain audio-visual markings such The to our shops and offices as raised rib lines, rumble RSMA h and enjoy smooth travel strips and turn lanes are stated p as with predictable journey highly effective methods r that we eviously times; but for it to of reducing risk at a work, it must be safe. fraction of the cost road mall maintained The Road Safety of major engineering r k in key com gs are a Markings Association projects. Effective (RSMA), is the trade implementation of the deliverinponent in g body that represents type of road markings outcom‘safety the companies who outlined above can es’ ‘line’ our roads, those that reduce the risk of death manufacture the products and injury on our roads. applied and those that provide While the longer-term the raw materials that make up that investment in our motorways is highly complex product, balancing longevity, more assured, local authorities face ever reflectivity and ‘stopability’. In a process tightening purse strings. The efficiencies that starts with ‘cullet’ (recycled glass that achieved by hard-pressed highway teams shall eventually form the microscopic glass through proper asset management ought beads that allow us to see the lines at night) to be applauded; working smarter, greater and ends with highly trained and dedicated collaboration and improved communications ‘crews’ laying the lines whilst most of us are all contributing to their ability to do sleep soundly. The RSMA is uniquely placed more with less, though there will come a

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

point where no further efficiency savings can be found. Local roads are an asset worth well in excess of £400 billion but currently less than one per cent of their value is being spent annually on maintenance.

The Department for Transport’s recent announcement of a ‘national examination of road markings to help improve road safety’, to be undertaken by the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) and Gaist, a technology company that shall use artificial intelligence to map the condition of road markings across the entire UK, has been welcomed by the RSMA. Such a study is long overdue and will, provide hard evidence of the condition of road markings. Stu McInroy, RSMA CEO, believes the survey will highlight ‘the increasingly poor quality of road markings and the associated increase in road safety risk to the public’.

He adds: “Government, both national and local must stand ready to act on the findings of the LCRIG/Gaist study and provide sufficient funding to reverse the decline in road markings so evident to the public.”

NHSS#7 Line marking contractors working on the Strategic Road Network and most of the Transport for London network must be certified under the National Highways Sector Scheme #7 (NHSS#7). This ensures that work is carried out to the highest standard by professionally trained and qualified individuals. NHSS#7 focusses on among other things, quality as an objective, provides a basis for continuous improvement, reduces costs for client and contractor and promotes confidence in management systems through

Line marking contractors working on the Strategic Road Network and most of the Transport for London network must be certified under the National Highways Sector Scheme #7

vehicles we must provide the infrastructure to support vehicles on all roads to avoid a geographic disconnect. Vehicles are likely to operate smoothly on the SRN but grind to a halt when they hit under-performing, under-funded local roads as they are reliant on high-performance road markings. With an ageing population comes an increase in older drivers, and it is incumbent upon the government that in its desire to embrace the autonomous revolution, the road network continues to work for all. Road markings

Road safety

provision of a robust transparent system.

McInroy is concerned however that at local level, where NHSS#7 is not mandatory, local authorities are making decisions on the basis of cost, which he believes usually means cheapest, and not value for money.

The application and maintenance of road markings by NHSS#7 certified contractors, he says, ‘is the most cost effective way of improving road safety and is something that the RSMA shall be asking the government to mandate for all marking activity on all public highways whether national or local’.

The quality of our road markings shall also have a direct effect on our safety in the future. The increasing emphasis on automated and potentially autonomous vehicles is one area that shall benefit from professionally applied and appropriately maintained road markings, as without them a two-tier system is likely to be created where much of the UK becomes a ‘no-go’ area for some vehicles.

Much of the current capability heralded by car manufacturers is entirely dependent on cars being able to ‘read’ road markings using optical or electromagnetic sensors.

McInroy says: “The UK does not currently have the infrastructure [road markings] to support capabilities such as lane keeping assist once a driver leaves the major network; owning a highly capable automated or autonomous vehicle in the UK is likely to be akin to owning a speedboat in a country with no water – a very expensive driveway ornament.”

If the UK is to embrace the opportunities to be provided by developments in automated

are not only vital to future development and innovation, but also for current drivers and driving environments. Professionally applied to nationally recognised and set standards, well maintained road markings are a key component in delivering ‘safety outcomes’ both now and in the future. The evidence speaks for itself - road markings save lives! L FURTHER INFORMATION www.rsma.co.uk

RETHINK SAFETY At Colas, the safety of communities and our people always comes first. That’s why we embed industryleading safety systems and practices into our transport infrastructure projects. Every time.

But we help to keep people safe in other ways too. Our work on the AEEFAS flood management scheme protects Yorkshire homes and businesses from a repeat of the serious flooding of 2007. It also provides local people with a valuable sports and recreation facility.

Find out more by scanning the Zappar icon or visiting www.colas.co.uk/safety

Download Zappar from your app store. Use the Zappar app on

any mobile device to scan the icon opposite and access our videos, stories and case studies.

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

29

Advertisement Feature

The Grand standard: A look at a gold accredited AIM venue Sitting proudly on the south coast is Brighton’s landmark seafront hotel, The Grand Brighton. For its seventh year, the hotel has maintained its prestigious position as just one of the Meetings Industry Association’s (MIA) 31 gold standard AIM venues for meetings and events As the UK’s nationally-recognised mark of excellence for accredited venues in the MICE industry, the hotel underwent extensive assessments to ensure they met a comprehensive checklist of criteria and were found to exceed their targets. Here we take a look at what made this eponymous hotel quite so grand, and why they’ll be maintaining the standard in 2020…

Moving with the times Central to the hotel’s success with the MICE industry, has been its ability to retain care of its historic identity, whilst moving with the times. At the end of 2018, The Grand Brighton unveiled a major refurbishment project, resulting in new windows, a restoration of the balconies and rendering to its Victorian seafront façade.

The hotel was also commended on its commitment to upgrading and improving its 13 flexible meeting and conference spaces - the majority of which are decked out with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and high-grade AV infrastructure. Further recognised for highlighting the hotel’s uniqueness were the slices of Brighton rock in the conference rooms and interactive ‘Grand Moments’ QR codes, demonstrating the hotel’s pride in their history and their standing in the Brighton community.

The most recent refurbishment project at The Grand Brighton was revealed in November 2019, with the launch of a modern, all day dining space, Cyan. Formerly GB1 seafood bar and restaurant, the space has been made afresh to include an interactive chef’s table and charcuterie demonstration area and will serve nibbles, small plates and sharing platters on an all day dining menu.

The restaurant seats up to 80 people, but

different areas within the space are suitable for individuals or small to large groups.

Solo workers looking for a spot to work remotely with laptops, will find charging spots underneath the iconic 155-year old marbled bar area in the centre of the restaurant. For private dinners and functions, Cyan’s sea-facing terrace can be hired.

Putting people first The hotel was also praised for its guest focused approach and attention to detail, with particular appreciation for the locally designed Gresham Blake concierge uniforms which judges commended for enhancing the ‘excellent welcome on arrival’. Furthermore, the planning process for delegates organising meetings or events is made seamless by the hotel’s Service Commitment Policy which was found to provide a clear understanding of what the client should expect to receive throughout their event journey.

And it’s not just the guests who are given the red carpet treatment. In July 2019, The Grand Brighton won a UK-wide industry accolade as the nation’s best place to work in hospitality. The award is given by The Caterer to employers who recognise and nurture their people to create a healthy, thriving business environment.

Foreshadowing the hotel’s award success were several employment initiatives put in place since the property reinstated its independent status in 2014. From recognition platforms, to development programmes training teams in management, food and beverage skills, and employee benefits packages the hotel has seen overall employee engagement reach 90 per cent (an increase from 82 per cent) which has a

direct correlation to the increase in guest satisfaction reaching an all time high.

Innovative standards for an iconic institution Setting the hotel firmly apart from other venues in the UK are a set of strong brand values held by every staff member. The ‘Grand Culture’ scheme has three areas of focus – ‘Inclusivity’, ‘Individuality’ and ‘Progressiveness’. These qualities are recognised and rewarded among employees with teams nominating monthly ‘Hotel Heroes’ who go above and beyond their duties.

Working groups of charity, environmental and ideas generation teams also underlie the hotel’s progressive spirit; meeting monthly to outline new and innovative corporate social responsibility projects. Here, a Green Team made up of representatives of all hotel departments encourage and explore ways of being more sustainable in all aspects of the hotel operation. The hotel now proudly holds a gold level award from Green Tourism and have a zero per cent waste to landfill accreditation.

Moreover, a ‘Think Grand’ team is part of the staff forum who meet bi-monthly to discuss suggestions on staff welfare, job improvement and guest experience ideas, in addition staff engagement surveys are used to get feedback from the teams for management to review.

The standards set are clear. The ‘original palace by the sea’ is still one of the go-to places for hosting a conference or meeting in a stunning historic setting that has been carefully maintained, but really it all comes down to the people and their passion for service which make events at this iconic hotel truly memorable. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.grandbrighton.co.uk conference@grandbrighton.co.uk

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Feature Heading Conferences & events

Choosing the right location for your next event Is it all about location, location, location? Government Business provides a holistic analysis of what the public sector should look for when booking facilities for conferences and events The Meetings Industry Association has said from mia members for miaTouchstone that a growth in enquiry levels for 2020 will demonstrate that many have had a ‘mixed’ allow the business meetings and and ‘challenging’ 2019, with events industry to start the new data collected to the end year with optimism after of September 2019 also a challenging 2019. highlighting contrasting Enquiry According to figures trends in rates and l e vels are gathered for the business activity used as a ke latest edition of levels at the UK’s y i n d future p icator o miaTouchstone, business meetings meetin rospects for f enquiry levels rose and events venues. g t h s e i n by five per cent in Jane Longhurst, d u is why 2019 compared to the chief executive the miastry, which is looki ahead t same period in 2018. of the mia, said: ng o 2 Enquiry levels are used “Despite the fall in 0 2 0 c w autious as a key indicator of meetings numbers, it optimis ith future prospects for the is encouraging to hear m meetings industry, which is that rates have proved why the mia is looking ahead resilient and are likely to to 2020 with cautious optimism. achieve modest growth over While the industry can look ahead the year. The industry and the to 2020 with some positivity, figures gathered economy as a whole, has continued to face

ongoing challenges this year driven by the outcome of Brexit and the General Election, which is what makes sources of data like miaTouchstone so valuable to those looking to compare activity levels and forecast for the future. With so much uncertainty around us as we move towards the end of the year, it is heartening to see that enquiry levels are higher than they were at the end of 2018.”

Financial constraints Many cities claim to be the ideal venue destination, and many facilities encourage clients to look no further than their array of offerings – but what exactly should someone be looking for when seeking to book an event for their company or organisation? It it all about best value for money? Is simple best?

Can scenery be overlooked? Or are the views all that matter? The answer comes down to the purpose of the meeting and the rest becomes easy. E

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With so much uncertainty around us as we move towards the end of the year, it is heartening to see that enquiry levels are higher than they were at the end of 2018  The days when clients were happy to sign off expenditure without question of its relevance are over. Every penny has become accountable, especially within the public sector, and there is a determination to optimise every minute of venue hire time.

For the events sector, this has led many to make their offerings cheaper. For others, it has meant singling in on one aspect of its offerings that will make future clients book their facilities – and it is these specialities which you should be encouraged to seek.

The scenic route With many eyes focused beyond the wintry nights of December, January and February, there is an understandable appeal to conferencing venues which have just as much to enjoy outside as in. A Spring setting can be a weighty appeal. While the event or meeting can take place inside or outside, depending on weather, purpose and preference, there is something about a picturesque setting that draws in clients, particularly if the event is being hosted over a number of days with spare time allotted for exploring the surrounding areas. Price and availability are key factors in decision making, but research has shown that, more often than not, location is given higher preference when choosing a meeting venue.

Places to walk, explore and spend time outside of the venue lead many clients to places such as Brighton and other seaside locations. Frequently heralded as the sunniest place in the UK, Brighton’s Eastbourne setting presents a premier conference destination on the south coast.

Just an hour and a half from London, the iconic white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and the acres of spectacular South Downs National Park countryside that surround it

are just two images that come to mind.

Peter Hampson, director of the British Resorts & Destinations Association, also explains that: “According to the United Kingdom Tourism Statistics (2008), the volume of overnight business trips to the UK coast is estimated at around 3.3 million a year, bringing with it an estimated spend of just under half a billion pounds. Of course, coastal resorts have not been immune to recent economic pressures but nonetheless, these figures clearly illustrate the scale and worth of business tourism in seaside resort towns.”

The promise of fresh sea air and a relaxed ambiance has always been a natural draw for visitors to the British coast. Much of the popularity stems from the connotation of coastal areas as relaxing, a trip of escaping the busy normalities of daily work.

Many less formal events will involve staff undertaking fun, social and interactive activities – such as team building exercises.

Considering culture If the seaside is not quite the location that is desired, there is plenty to be gained from choosing to have a meeting, conference or event in a cultural hot spot. Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool (ACC Liverpool) is a state-of-the‑art, international conference centre situated at the heart of Liverpool’s Waterfront and just a stone’s throw from the popular Albert Dock area, which has revolutionised the city’s conference offering since it opened in 2008.

As the city of The Beatles, UNESCO World Heritage site and host of the International Festival for Business in 2014 and 2016, culture is one thing that Liverpool has never lacked.

Liverpool is a world-class destination for both leisure and business travellers, with more

Conferences & events

national museums than any other UK city outside of London. What is less well known is that all of these museums can be hired for meetings and conferences, offering some truly unique backdrops for your event. One of the most visible is the Museum of Liverpool itself, a stunning £72 million structure at the heart of the waterfront, which, with its modern galleries overlooking the Mersey, can host up to 1,000 for a drinks reception or 200 in theatre style.

Comparitively, Glasgow, not short of culture itself following the Year of Food and Drink and the upcoming Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, is host to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and the SSE Hydro, two of the most recognisable destinations across Scotland.

The pull of the Capital London has a unique environment that nurtures talent, a work ethos that supports business growth and a unique diversity that allows innovation to thrive – there is no denying that London has all the key ingredients to allow every person or business to excel to new extraordinary heights.

Many are attracted by London’s dazzling culture and its unparalleled heritage whilst others are drawn to London’s constantly changing physical and economic landscape.

But why does London have such a pull over event planners? Many businesses, local, national and international, have there offices or headquarters in London and are therefore already aware of it’s array of meeting spaces, buzzing media industry and catering capabilities. For those residing and working away from London, the capital can be something of a treat – from sightseeing to shopping, and green parks to eating out. London offers visitors the best of the old and the new. Historic landmarks and contemporary venues sit side-by-side and many can be hired for meetings or private events. The Shard, the London Eye, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kew Gardens and the Olympic Park are just some of the headline acts. Another major benefit of London’s cultural offering is that many of the events or museums in the capital are free – which is a huge cost saving to any delegate and a perfect way to compliment any business programme or offer a huge cost saving in your own downtime.

With ever-rising numbers of business and leisure visitors to London, a variety of new hotels are opening across the capital.

Going green Following the success of the Olympic Games in London in 2012, the events industry took a bold approach to creating their own legacy.

Large events now have ISO 20121 to help them bring sustainability to their supply chains and event planning – considering energy output and monitoring waste and water usage. The ‘green tourism’ brand is becoming increasingly well-known across the country, with venues reducing the environmental impact of the meeting for their clients. For organisations aiming to reduce their energy output on a day to day basis, such an incentive can be very appealing. E Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CONFERENCE CENTRE

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all meeting rooms and public areas with T daylight 020 8596in5151 and versatile breakout space. The venue is Eunrivalled EVENTS@CEME.CO.UK accessible by rail, underground and road with Weasily WWW.CEMECONFERENCE.CO.UK parking (discounted rates are available Conference Centre guests) for over 500 vehicles with a hydrogen refuelling point and electric vehicle charge ports.

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

Conferences & events

 As such, since it was first set up in 1997, the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has been championing the cause of sustainable tourism in the UK, and with over 1,800 UK based members, it is the most successful scheme of its type in the world.

Sustainable venues can be spotted in a number of ways. It may originate in the menu they supply, with local, seasonal foods being cooked, or it could be the sponsor or donation that they recommend. ACC Liverpool, completed in 2005, was designed to produce half the CO2 emissions it would without any environmentally-friendly measures, whilst using 20 per cent less electricity. The venue has been a GTBS Gold holder since 2008. Lighting is high efficiency and controlled by motion detection, while the rainwater collected on the roof is used to support flushing toilets, accounting for about 40 per cent of the water used for toilets in the venue. Furthermore, five, 20-metre low noise wind turbines on the river side of the venue contribute to their electricity supply. This means that they have a reduced impact per attendee and they continue to develop projects to ensure all events have sustainable features.

Corporate responsibility is influencing the market, and a lot of clients will book again the following year, or even later that same year, if they find the venue to their liking.

When people buy into events and venues it’s often because of the stories they can share or become a part of. We see this regularly with concerts, sports events or high profile restaurants. Being part of an ongoing

success story can be very good publicity for a company, and green tourism thrives on that particular aspect of their venue.

Known as the ‘home of inspirational events’, Olympia London is one of the capital’s busiest venues. In addition to a diverse portfolio of over 220 events, it welcomes more than 1.6 million visitors each year. Taking a conscious approach to running events and the long-term future, the venue is firmly established as a sustainability leader.

The Grand Plan is a grassroots staff-led initiative which, within a year of launching, has been shortlisted for a national sustainability award, competing with industry giants such as Sky and the National Trust.

Releasing its first annual report this month, the group shared a clear mission to ensure a

sustainable future focusing on three areas: ‘Community’, ‘Environment’ and ‘Engage, Educate, Empower’. The goal is to make a positive impact in every area of influence.

Nigel Nathan, managing director, explains: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and we look to lead the way in the event industry. From being one of the first to achieve the industry ISO 2012:1 standard back in 2012, we launched our Grand Plan in 2017: our vision for continuing to improve, build on and share the inspiring work developed by our team.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.governmentbusiness.co.uk/features/ where-look-when-you-are-about-book

Eastwood Park conference centre has a secluded setting, magnificent views and unique, relaxed character Eastwood Park is one of the few dedicated residential conference centres in the South West, ideally situated just minutes from the M4 and M5 and 25 minutes from central Bristol.

However, the moment you travel up the winding driveway, you’re in a world of your own.

Set in the beautiful South Gloucestershire countryside, with ample free parking, Eastwood Park is experienced in hosting conferences, training and events for a number of public sector organisations including government, NHS and local authorities.

The facilities offer the charm and character associated with an 18th century country house, yet are coupled with modern, wellequipped conference and training facilities.

With a large choice of rooms - all located on the ground floor and accessible - there are options for all size and type of corporate event.

Or you can host your training at Eastwood Park – after all, it has been delivering training of its own for 50 years so knows a thing or two to help with yours!

It’s not all about work though. Whether you are looking to unite a team, evaluate management prospects or just have good honest fun, Eastwood Park has 200 acres of grounds to play with and plentiful indoor spaces, so there’s room for all manner of team building activities, no matter what your requirements, budget… and the glorious British weather!

If you’re looking to relax and let your hair down, then let Eastwood Park host your party or event too. This versatile

venue is suitable whether your team is 15 or 150 in size.

Or why not hold your sales launch or celebrate successes with exclusive private dining – Eastwood Park has its own team of chefs ready to create the menu that suits you and a large hospitality team to support.

It’s likely your guests will be located around the South West, even the country. However, travel needn’t be an issue at Eastwood Park, there are 70 bedrooms to rest your head at night, ensuring you enjoy yourself whatever the occasion and without the worry of time pressures; you can all leave refreshed and ready for the day in the morning.

Get in touch via the details below and Eastwood Park’s expert team will be happy to assist.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: +44 (0)1454 260207 reception@eastwoodpark.co.uk www.eastwoodpark.co.uk

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Futurebuild

Futurebuild: the leading built environment event Futurebuild brings together 27,000 industry influencers and shapers to drive real change. A world class knowledge programme alongside an immersive exhibition of 450 innovative and inspiring brands and a host of networking events will combine to create an unmissable experience Futurebuild is the leading built environment programme, across the entire exhibition floor event to meet and learn, be inspired and do and showcase innovation like never before. business, taking place from 3-5 March 2020.

The knowledge programme and exhibition The event will focus on exploring and tackling will unite to provide education and solutions the biggest challenges impacting the industry to address the biggest challenges facing and is a unique destination for visitors to gain the built environment, in six sections unrivalled insight and hands-on experience Buildings, Energy, Infrastructure, Interiors, around the latest innovations, products and Offsite and Resourceful Materials. materials in order to address these challenges.

Developed in conjunction with renowned, Energy industry leading partners, Futurebuild The Energy section within Futurebuild provides over 200 hours of unites all professionals engaged structured learning across in designing, specifying, an inspiring conference supplying and installing The programme, six keynote services and products challen stages – all completely involving energy on to b ge is a free and CPD accredited. production and use. l a n c e the environ In addition, Futurebuild With the demand against ment crisis is bolstered by a range for energy products t h e of new and exclusive higher than ever n e eds of the pop partnerships and before, this section u l a t io more b features. The show brings at Futurebuild will uildingsn for together 27,000 industry feature all energy related a i n n d frastruc influencers and shapers to products from across the ture drive real change. A world sector including renewables, class knowledge programme solar, district energy, alongside an immersive exhibition energy storage and more. of 450 innovative and inspiring brands and The government’s Clean Growth Challenge a host of networking events will combine intends to halve the energy use of new to create an unmissable experience. homes/buildings, as well as the costs of The 2020 iteration of the event will remain retrofitting to a similar standard to new true to the roots of ecobuild by standing builds, by 2030. This challenge, supported out as the only event to have a higher by millions of pounds of funding, seeks purpose, to be a catalyst for change. The to accelerate clean energy innovation passion for innovation and real change will and decarbonisation of energy and extend beyond the world class knowledge heat, and improve energy efficiency.

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

The Energy Keynote stage will deliver the latest thinking on the technologies which will decarbonise the built environment – shining a light on the interconnections between energy generation, demand management, EVs and charging infrastructure, storage, behaviour change and energy reduction in buildings, the decarbonisation of heat and the delivery of a smart and flexible energy system.

Key topics will include conversations on: what mass electric vehicle roll out will mean for the built environment; the role of community energy in enabling a decentralised energy system; the active building framework; and reducing energy consumption in existing (non domestic) buildings.

Buildings The Building section of Futurebuild will cover all aspects of building including new build, refurb and retrofit across domestic and commercial projects. Explore the latest building technologies, legislation and products showcased by the leading manufacturers and builders’ merchants from across the industry. You will find a wide spectrum of building products including roofing, claddings, renders and bricks, insulation and glazing.

The review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety by Dame Judith Hackitt signals an imperative for change and improvement in the design and delivery of all buildings. In addition, there are challenges of delivering on net zero targets, the government’s Clean Growth Challenge ambitions, and the closing of the performance gap.

Futurebuild

The Buildings Keynote stage will focus on the latest thinking and initiatives in building quality and performance – learn about updates to Building Regulations Part L and F and the planned Future Homes Standard 2025, the latest thinking around energy efficiency and retrofit, and how to deliver a low carbon-built environment.

Key topics will include conversations on: how demand for quality domestic retrofit is growing and why; how social value can drive better practice; understanding standards and updated building regulations for new homes; and all the information concerning the Future Homes Standard 2025.

Resourceful Materials New for 2020 is Resourceful Materials, where you will be able to find the very latest advances and expertise in materials used in the structure of buildings, that will help reduce the lifetime carbon footprint. The challenge is on to balance the environment crisis against the needs of the population for more buildings and infrastructure. By switching to greener materials that go into construction and improving efficiency, lifetime emissions for buildings can be slashed 44 per cent by 2050.

This major new hub will showcase innovative materials and low carbon closed-loop strategies from across established and emerging sectors.

From low carbon versions of familiar materials such as concrete, glass and steel, as well as emerging natural materials that are beginning to offer viable options to plastics and other commonplace materials that have become an environmental challenge.

The Resourceful Materials Keynote Stage programme will bring together experts in material and design innovation from across Europe.

It will include a keynote from a world-renowned innovator, a daily ‘Big Innovation Pitch’ where six start-ups/ innovators will pitch their innovations to a panel of judges plus additional sessions presenting up-to-date new research and good practice examples.

Topics will include: how conventional materials can reduce their carbon footprint; organic alternatives to plastic; rules, regulations and standards – what you need to know; and how ‘circular thinking’ needs to be embedded into all aspects of the built environment.

all these elements as having equal value to ensure viability and resilience and ensure that multiple opportunities are explored and taken to enhance the urban metabolism.

What we do with our critical infrastructure – physical, social and economic - is where we can deliver many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 according to the UK government’s commitments. Infrastructure is also critical for another reason, it is integral with our response to the climate and ecological emergency and for this we need to act now. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.futurebuild.co.uk

Critical Infrastructure The Critical Infrastructure section will explore all aspects of the city and surrounding city influences, acknowledging that increasing percentages of the population will live in urban areas and so these must be places that work for people. Sponsored by ACO, the Critical Infrastructure section will demonstrate and showcase available solutions and innovative products for all aspects of infrastructure including green, blue, grey and social infrastructure.

Why ‘critical infrastructure’ in the context of this programme?

Infrastructure systems are highly interdependent. Terms such as ‘green, blue and grey infrastructure’ are now seen as slightly outmoded as we cannot provide these without also considering utilities and transportation. The Futurebuild knowledge programme also includes ‘social infrastructure’ as a critical factor and it is important to consider

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Climate emergency

The climate crisis and local authorities Mike Childs looks at how councils can ramp up what they are doing to tackle the climate crisis

Creating a vision for the area Local authorities can’t do this alone.

Industry, businesses, the wider public sector, communities and individuals all need to be active in this agenda. But local authorities are uniquely placed to convene these different actors in their area to come together and develop a shared vision and agenda.

Friends of the Earth has compiled and analysed a range of datasets to help in the development of a vision for a local authority area. This includes comparing current progress on this agenda between similar areas. This comparison rests on groupings of local authorities produced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which considers geographic, economic and demographic characteristics. The ONS data helps illustrate how similar areas are doing, and what might be a realistic goal for

different types of areas (e.g. urban areas can not do as much as rural areas on renewable energy generation but can do much better on public transport, cycling and walking).

Using this data, we scored local authorities on how well they were doing in a range of issues compared to similar areas. Local authorities in areas that scored very well were very pleased, while local authorities that scored poorly were less happy. But the message is the same, all local authority areas, even the best performing, need to do so much more to address the climate emergency. No area can rest on its laurels. We will update this data as new data is published.

This data can help inform a vision for an area covering issues such as housing, transport and renewable energy.

Housing Two-thirds of homes are poorly insulated in England and Wales. All need to be properly insulated by 2030. Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of well insulated properties at 69 per cent whereas Pendle has only 19 per cent. Achieving 100 per cent requires significant government investment, including training and skills development. Alongside this energy efficiency programme needs to be a shift away from gas-fired heating in homes and businesses to eco-heating options such as heat pumps. Work on this has barely started.

Transport Electric cars and vans are already available. A rapid shift to these will help substantially reduce emissions. But alone they are not enough.

To meet the scale of emissions cuts required will also require at least a doubling of public transport, cycling and walking. Even in rural areas we need to see around 40 per cent of journeys by these modes, whereas in urban areas we need levels as high as 70-90 per cent.

While this sounds a tall order, we can take inspiration from across the channel. Dunkerque introduced free bus travel a year ago with the result that bus use has increased 85 per cent.

Half of the new bus users previously drove, and it’s been reported that 10 per cent of new bus users have sold their second car. The reason Dunkerque can afford to make buses free is because – like most other French towns – it can raise funding from a local transport payroll levy on businesses. Why not here?

Renewable energy As we shift to electric for heating and transport, we need to produce much more renewable power. Renewable energy has dramatically fallen in cost over recent years and analysis shows that if every local authority area

produced the same amount of renewable energy as the best of similar areas there would be four times more onshore renewable energy.

Coupled with a very large increase in offshore windfarms the UK could easily produce all the energy it needs and even export some to neighbouring countries. Why aren’t we?

Any area vision also needs tree cover, climate adaptation, waste, and food, but the issues above are the big-ticket, big-win items.

Council action As well as collaborating, local authorities also need to do more to reduce emissions.

Friends of the Earth has produced a 50-point Climate Action Plan for councils that outlines practical actions within existing powers, for example, requiring a proper assessment of the climate change impact of recommendations before deciding on them, it identifies action on homes, transport, energy, waste and more.

We want every local authority to go through this 50-point checklist and identify to residents and others which it will take forwards immediately, which it will do later and which if any it won’t do and why. To help councils prioritise what to do first we have worked with the charity Ashden to identify the carbon impact of many of the actions, alongside the cost to the council (some actually bring in income), and any co-benefits such as improved health, equality or economic growth.

Most local authorities have rightly called a climate emergency. These words need turning into action, both through convening others to develop a vision for the area and delivering it, but as importantly through the council itself acting. Councils can’t do everything - Friends of the Earth is committed to campaigning alongside the LGA and others to get local authorities more powers and resources – but they can do something. And they must. Starting right now so that, like Darebin, ‘the maximum protection can be afforded to UK communities, and for people, civilisation and species globally, especially the most vulnerable’. L

Written by Mike Childs, head of Science, Policy and Research at Friends of the Earth

In the UK, more than 240 local authorities have declared a climate emergency. That sounds like urgency is the order of the day, but they are still words that require action. To achieve this, Friends of the Earth has produced guidance to help local authorities develop a vision for their area and identify what they can do using their powers, and let’s face it, not un-limited resources. More on this later.

But one of the first actions local authorities can do is to observe the adage ‘when in a hole, stop digging’. Many local authorities have declared a climate emergency but continue to promote high carbon infrastructure such as new roads or airport expansions. This must stop.

For those suffering more frequent flooding, more powerful hurricanes, prolonged droughts, and wildfires, ‘emergency’ isn’t too strong a word. Climate scientists are clear that the more the planet warms extreme weather will worsen and it is the poorest who will suffer most.

But that’s only one dimension of the climate emergency. Even more worrying is that if we don’t slam the brakes on now there is a very high chance that we will go past tipping points in the climate system that will cause devastating and unstoppable damage in the future. The result of this is runaway climate change with escalating temperatures that are impossible to stop.

Avoiding certain tipping points, such as the loss of coral reefs and destroying the Amazon, requires global action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around half by 2030 and to zero by 2050. Wealthier countries like the UK will need to move faster and where better to start than at a local level because so far central government haven’t done anywhere near as much. You may have been reading about Venice, but don’t think this won’t affect the UK.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.friendsoftheearth.uk

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Compliance Is Mandatory Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 All public sector websites and apps must comply • Assess your website to WCAG 2.1 Level AA • Resolve non compliances • Publish your accessibility statement

For assistance, contact Test Partners, acknowledged specialists in Accessibility Testing and Consultancy EMAIL: hello@testpartners.co.uk TEL: 020 8102 9500 WEBSITE: testpartners.co.uk

Web design

Step closer to truly accessible public sector websites Digital inclusion for local council is no longer an option, it’s a legal requirement, writes Hilary Stephenson

As we head into 2020, we are another month certain areas of their services. However, the closer to existing public sector websites difference is that this is no longer an optional having to comply with The Public Sector change and they must find the funds to Bodies Accessibility Regulations. In September increase accessibility or risk prosecution.

2019, these regulations came into force for As the deadline fast approaches, it will be newly built websites, and existing websites welcome reading to the hundreds of local will have to follow, by 23 September 2020. councils that currently fall short, that the cost The good news is this means we are another of making a website accessible can be modest, step closer to truly accessible public sector and that it isn’t as complex as it can seem in websites, a feat which we should already have the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. achieved in our digital age. For context, as many as one in five people, and 13.9 million people in Addressing the gap in public the UK, are disabled – a number which includes sector digital accessibility 45 per cent of pension aged adults and 19 Despite an increased awareness in accessibility per cent of working aged adults. These people issues, there is still a delay in public sector live with some form of disability or condition organisations and local councils implementing which may prevent them accessing the same aids and considerate design elements. This is in online information or services as the part due to a digital skills gap in the rest of local council service users. sector, as research found that In an ever connected and 40 per cent of public sector digital world, it is important organisations do not have A recen t that no individual or the right skills in place to study fo u demographic is excluded adapt in the digital age. n d t hat just 67 from public services In fact, a recent study p er c disable and information

by Ofcom revealed d peop ent of le sources, especially as just how widespread interne t, comp use the they do not have a and inaccessible ared to 92 per physical alternative. technology can c The directive covers be for those with non-dis ent of abled the whole public disabilities. Just 67 people sector but there could per cent of disabled be specific issues in this people use the internet, legislation for local council and compared to 92 per cent of authority websites, as they can non-disabled people, illustrating be slower to embrace digital change that a third of service users could get due to budgetary or capacity constraints. left behind by further technological advances.

Local councils are often short of funding, With an increasing number of core public and may struggle to commit funds towards sector services moving online, it could

Four areas of focus The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations specify four key areas of focus in its new legislation. It says local council websites must be ‘perceivable, operable, understood and robust’ for all users. On top of this, they must all incorporate a published accessibility statement, which identifies all aspects of the site which do not meet the accessibility criteria. Therefore, local councils need to think about what these four areas mean in practice.

Perceivability means information shown to each user must be presented in a way they can easily understand and identify. For example, providing text alternatives for any non-text context, such as videos or images, so that it can be interpreted by software which transfers text to large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language. Adding subtitles to videos also boosts their level of accessibility, as does making more thoughtful choices about the layout of text and images. Adding audio descriptions to web content is also a useful way of allowing content to be absorbed by people with visual or aural impairments.

Operability requires improvements to the navigation and usability of a website. Think, can each page, from homepage to deeper content, be navigated by keyboard? Is the user journey for each function and piece of content clear and logical? Add navigation arrows to a website to indicate where content and key web forms are situated.

Pages must display titles, section headers and labels clearly to ensure navigability.

If any content on a website is moving, blinking or scrolling, then a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it is essential. This also applies to content that is time limited or expires. Moving and flashing content should also be removed as it may cause seizures or physical reactions. Remember that the digital knowledge of users, especially in older demographics, can be limited and ensure that barriers to engagement are removed. Web forms should be accessible with each field possessing a descriptive label, with additional information if it cannot be described in five words or less. E Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Written by Hilary Stephenson, managing director at Sigma

present an even greater problem for the 13.9 million Britons with a disability.

The government’s own resources, define making a website or mobile app more accessible as ensuring it can be used by as many people as possible, including those with ‘impaired vision, motor difficulties, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and deafness or impaired hearing’.

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Nimbus supports and provides solutions for both the public and private sector organisations, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services that can assist and support you as an individual or a company, at whatever stage you are with your journey.

Nimbus’ approach is based on the following five key principles: One: to work with you in partnership – Nimbus work as an extension of your in-house teams, winning the trust and buy-in of your staff and working together to achieve agreed goals.

Two: To work with you to embed agile and DevOps cultures – Nimbus works with you to embed the principles and practices of the agile manifesto in-line with a DevOps culture. Nimbus has a firm commitment to the automation of delivery processes wherever possible to increase efficiency and repeatability.

Three: To embrace your methods and structures – Nimbus adheres to your chosen project and programme governance processes, including their underpinning principles, ethos and associated practices. Nimbus maintains all expected SLAs and reviews its progress at regular service review boards.

Four: To apply knowledge to your organisation – Nimbus pass on and impart broader knowledge and experience, gained from many other directly related services and projects.

Five: To transfer knowledge and skills to your organisation – Nimbus fully recognises the need to pass on its skills and expertise to your in-house teams and therefore provides living documentation and undertakes knowledge and skills transfer from the beginning of its engagements.

Nimbus’ mission is to deliver industry leading digital and technological innovations that empower our customers and our vision is to be your reliable, trusted and valued innovation partner of choice.

If you are considering migrating to the cloud, or improving your cloud offering. Nimbus can help you to transform and modernise your IT services.

The company has expertise in leading migration programmes for large government departments, including the Department for Education, where it has successfully migrated 2,190 server workloads to public cloud platforms and migrated and transformed 179 applications to run on public cloud platforms.

Paul Martin, Department for Education Technology Group Delivery Director, said: “Nimbus have a good mix of technical skills and business acumen. They have managed the successful delivery of two physical datacentres’ migrations on to the Microsoft Azure platform for the Department of Education.”

FURTHER INFORMATION www.nimbusdti.co.uk

nimbusdti.co.uk Nimbus lead the way in providing collaborative, agile and adaptive digital and technological innovations that enables our customers to benefit from running their business and IT services in the cloud.

For further information please contact: Jack Hazell, Director of Operations: m: +44 (0) 7517 996 934 +44 (0) 7615 8712 t: e: jack.hazell@nimbusdti.co.uk

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Review, improve and implement To navigate the legislation, councils can use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a helpful framework for navigating the requirements necessary after September 2020, for existing local council websites. The guidelines also helpfully show that

digital accessibility requires the interaction of several different components, including content, assistive technology, and web browsers, which means a fragmented and phased approach will not work. Local councils must tackle all aspects of their digital presence, including website and app, concurrently, considering how they work alongside each other.

There are free accessibility tools that are able to instantly audit webpages on accessibility issues such as contrast settings, and highlight issues with code, content and design. One such free tool is WebAim’s Wave, which will give an immediate report on simple accessibility criteria. However, larger organisations and local councils will need a more comprehensive accessibility audit, which covers the discussed four areas of focus, and gives recommendations on improvements. Ideally, organisations would embrace inclusion and involve people with ranging abilities and access needs in the design and testing of their products and services.

It’s all in the accessibility statement The final point of the legislation is the accessibility statement, a body of plain html text which identifies the shortcomings of a website and the areas that do not meet the legislation, with an explanation as to why they have not been met. Therefore, the shorter the accessibility statement, the better.

The statement must be linked from an accessible location on the website, such as the footer or sidebar, and published as an html page. It is used to identify any aspects of the

website which do not meet the accessibility standards, and explain why this is the case.

It should also include instructions for the user on how they can access the inaccessible content, should they need to, and provide clear instructions for reporting accessibility problems.

The accessibility statement shows that you take the issue seriously and acts as a form of guidance if anyone experiences an issue. It should also make reference to relevant laws and policies, as the legislation is legally binding, and councils that fall short will be in breach of This means they will be in breach of the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and face potential prosecution. It acts as proof that the website has been tested and audited and therefore should also be updated with every change made to the website.

Digital accessibility is a legal requirement This therefore illustrates the importance of digital inclusion for local councils, and why an inadequate web accessibility offering is no longer an option, but a legal requirement from September 2020. Those that want to stand out and offer an exemplary service will already have considered these criteria and have started the transition of their existing website to complete accessibility. Support and facilities for all sections of the public is paramount, and inclusivity in the digital age makes a difference to the quality of life for almost 14 million people in the UK. L

Web design

 Understandability simply means the use of clear language. Ensure that website messaging and language is not technical and doesn’t contain idioms or jargon – this can particularly effect users with cognitive impairments. Local councils should also employ consistent navigation across a website.

Keeping the positioning of buttons consistent and in the same order each time they are repeated in a form improves accessibility considerably for those with impairments. The use of descriptive links also makes it much easier to navigate a page as they allow the user to make informed choices more quickly, rather than ‘click here’, which provides little information and can even cause confusion.

Robustness means a website’s content can be interpreted by a wide variety of agents, including assistive technologies, such as voice recognition programs, screen readers, and screen enlargement applications. A website should be responsive across an array of devices, considering 53 per cent of disabled people have a smartphone versus 81 per cent of non-disabled people. Also consider a website’s accessibility adaptations with CSS and images switched off or not supported, as this can alter accessibility.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.wearesigma.com

Concerned about the new Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations?

NEXT DEADLINE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2020

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Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Building a smarter future The 2020s promise new opportunities for public services – if they embrace intelligent connectivity, says BT’s Ed Stainton The Government is facing challenges from all angles. But there are three that never change; demographic forces, security threats and economic unpredictability. And with citizens expecting more than ever from their public services, the pressure is on to deliver more for less.

Technology has driven social change over the last decade, and that’s affected how the Government has tackled these three challenges. From automation and process improvements to faster, more reliable communications, the benefits of technology have been felt by us all. And it’s spurred public service improvements that often lead the way in the developed world.

But there’s a long way to go. We might be used to tapping away on smart devices, but truly intelligent connectivity – where multiple devices connect seamlessly – is still in its infancy. When we bring together tech like the cloud, 5G, machine learning and artificial intelligence, it’ll change the relationship between state and citizen, corporation and customer.

But just as we solve some of the problems of the last decade, the next ten years will present brand new challenges to overcome. Public services will have to evolve to reflect economic and demographic forces. Health and social care will need to change to accommodate an ageing population. And we will all start to expect personalised services in everything we do.

Doing all of this with a shrinking budget is as tough as it sounds. And the only solution is to embrace the connected technology revolution.

It might be using 5G to give emergency responders more useful information, faster. Unlocking petabytes of data to deliver more focused and personalised services in everything from education to healthcare.

Or embracing wearables to improve our health and reduce the burden on the NHS. It’s all up for grabs.

As we see new connected tech platforms, we’ll also see an explosion of creative innovations. From simple ideas like Uber-style scheduling to improve the workflow of hospital porters, or more advanced technology like haptic feedback and robotic surgery, these kinds of innovations will change our lives for the better.

With so much change on the horizon, there’s one constant – the need for secure, reliable connectivity.

Without it, every device would be an island, unable to leverage the power of the network. That network is the foundation of our future evolution, and the Government needs to invest in the network to create a platform for change.

The promise of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and a lower carbon footprint are all reachable. We just need to build on our ability to connect to each other.

Six public organisations unlocking their digital potential with BT Developing 5G-connected ambulances in Birmingham “5G to us in healthcare is much more than a faster 4G. It allows us for the first time to use high-definition video to transport images of patients and their conditions… I think it will be a game-changer. It’ll be part of a process in which the NHS… start adopting new technology to improve the delivery of healthcare to very large numbers of patients.”

Using shared services to cut procurement costs “By using the UNICORN Partnership, we made sure that we got the best value-for-money out of a restricted procurement. Because UNICORN ordered the kit, prioritised it, tracked progress, and delivered it we were able to roll out a significant programme of all-new equipment – and get it up and running – in record time.”

Dr Tom Clutton-Brock, University Hospitals Birmingham

Mike Brett, Enterprise Infrastructure Design Manager, East Sussex County Council

Keeping Police Scotland officers on the streets “We want police officers across Scotland to do their job differently as a result of [launching mobile services], so they can better meet the needs of their communities. One colleague with 29 years’ of police service, said to us that it’s the best bit of kit he’s ever been supplied with.”

Superintendent Stevie Dolan, Police Scotland Securely connecting the Armed Forces with family “It’s very important for [service personnel] to keep in contact with family and friends as well as conduct personal business. The internet is a lifeline, so the MOD Wi-fi solution from BT is hugely popular. In fact, BT has had to increase available bandwidth to cope with growing demand.”

Lieutenant Commander Louise Wooller, Royal Navy

Enhancing public transport with smart bus stops “People can get their tickets when they want to and see when the next bus is coming. And they can rely on that information to be there every day, at all hours of the day – which gives an excellent service to the customer.”

Verity Heal, Senior Project Manager, South Gloucestershire Council To find out more visit business.bt.com/public-sector/

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

Network Services 2

Purchasing mobile, voice, video and data services Suppliers have been chosen for a new government procurement agreement designed to help public sector bodies to get the best deal on their telecommunications The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded places to 89 suppliers for its Network Services 2 agreement, 58 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. The deal will provide public bodies with access to mobile, voice, video and data telecommunications services including Wi-Fi, security and email.

The new agreement, which will run for three years, was designed following engagement with telecommunications suppliers and public sector customers from across the UK, including workshops hosted in partnership with trade body Innopsis and Tech UK. Network Services 2 features an expanded roster of suppliers in key areas such as Internet Access & Unified Communications, and three new telecommunications lots; for radio, CCTV and contact centres.

Ieuan Trigger, Deputy Director for Technology at the CCS, said: “Network Services 2 has the capacity to help change the way government bodies and the wider public sector communicate with – and for – the public they serve. By working with customers, suppliers and industry bodies throughout its design and construction we have arrived at an innovative solution which will drive successful transformation across government.”

Voice services connecting local traditional An innovative solution telephony equipment with public network Worth a reported £5 billion, the agreement is covered in Lot 3, which has 25 suppliers has 13 lots. Lot 1, covering data access and includes traditional voice connectivity, services, contains 37 suppliers. Connectivity voice call packages, SIP trunks, DDI ranges, services: site-to-site or site-to-cloud. Includes CPS services and equipment maintenance terrestrial, wireless and satellite solutions, and support for legacy estates. software designed networking, network

For inbound telephony services, Lot security, connectivity circuits, 4 provides services for established IP connectivity, ISP and local call centre functions internet services, and The including non-geographical associated equipment C rown numbers such as 03xx, mainteinance.

Comme 05xx, 08xx and 09xx and Lot 2 is for local r c Service ial associated equipment connectivity h places t as awarded maintenance and services and LAN support services, connectivity for its N o 89 supplie rs etwork and contains 25 services for 2 agree S e r suppliers, whilst IP a single site, v i c e cent of ment, 58 pe s telephony services multiple sites r w are covered in Lot 5. in the same and mehich are small Internet Protocol (IP) place etc, and dium-si zed Telephony services with includes SAN enterpr ises the ability to make and equipment, wired or receive telephone calls by the wireless connectivity, transmission of voice over an plus specialised power IP based network service, including solutions, managed equipment breakout to PSTN. Voice call packages, direct rooms. This Lot has 36 suppliers. dial (DD) ranges and associated equipment.

Lot 6: Mobile voice and data services, includes voice calls and voicemail, SMS, mobile email, mobile data connectivity and applications, value-added mobile services and mobile device management and associated equipment maintenance and support services.

Paging, mobile messaging and alerting services are covered in Lot 7, including bureau services and associated equipment maintenance and support services. E

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COST EFFECTIVE CONTACT CENTRE TRANSFORMATION WITH NETWORK SERVICES 2

With a place on lot 13: contact centre services, Britannic delivers affordable, transformative solutions that are quick to implement for government organisations.

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Complete Communications Solutions Complete Communications Solutions Currently working with public sector professionals helping them create efficiency and productivity by offering cost cutting future proof solutions for their day to day communications.

Currently working with public sector professionals helping them createDigiquip has recently been awarded Lot 5 (IP Telephony) onand theproductivity nationallyby available Crown Commercial Network 2 Framework and are keen to promote efficiency offering cost cutting future proof solutionsServices for their Understandably, day-to-day communications. hasindustry recently been lot services. for thoseDigiquip not in the it canawarded be a minefield to understand, we look forward to working 5 (IP Telephony) on the nationally available Crown Commercial Service’s together and helping it all make sense. and are keen to promote services.

(CCS) Network Services 2 framework Understandably, for those not in the industry it can be a minefield to understand,

we look working and just helping it all make sense.

Digiquip canforward providetoso muchtogether more than a phone system.

Business continuity in the event of disaster by instantly redirecting calls to another site or device.

Digiquip can provide so much more than just a phone system. Business continuity in the event of disaster by Answer your redirecting business calls any device, - instant management fordevice, smart anywhere businesses.

Whether instantly calls on to another site oranywhere device. Answer yourcall business calls on any - instant call you want to use inbound call for business continuity or need as to where can answer your business calls, management forrouting smart businesses.

Whether you want to useflexibility inbound call routing for you business continuity or need flexibility as to where your business calls, solution. inbound can provide an easy to use effective call routing inbound can provide an you easycan to answer use effective call routing solution. Integrate with your CRM using phonelink - a simple to use application that fully integrates the power of your Integrate with your crm using phonelink a simple to use application that fully integrates the power of your phone phone system onto your desktop computer. Click to dial from outlook, screen pop your CRM system records. system onto your desktop computer. Click to dial from outlook, screen pop your crm system records.

The latest technology voip / pbx/ /hosted hosted -Digiquip -Digiquip isisable thethe veryvery latest telephone systems, using using voip The latest technology voip / pbx abletotooffer offer latest telephone systems, voip technology and traditional pbx to adapt to your requirements and any future growth. Reduced monthly technology and traditional pbx to adapt to your requirements and any future growth. costs -in our experience most businesses pay far more for their calls and line rental than they need to.

Reduced monthly costs -in our experience most businesses pay far more for their calls and line rental than they need to.

Digiquip to reduce your costsand andimprove improve your at the same timetime to help from thefrom latestthe Digiquip aim aim to reduce your costs yourcommunications communications at the same to you helpbenefit you benefit Fast efficient support teams - the dedicated technical team are on hand 24/7 as they understand the importance latestfeatures. features. of keeping your phone system working. In-house engineers ensuring a smooth transition are also available for urgent call Fast efficient support teams - the technicalaccount team are on hand 24/7directly as theywith understand the importance of outs and maintenance work and dedicated your own dedicated manager to speak for any queries and enquiries. keeping your phone system working. In-house engineers ensuring a smooth transition are also available for urgent call Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when outs Crown and maintenance work and your own dedicated account manager to speak directly with for any queries and procuring common goods and services. In 2018/19, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial enquiries. benefits worth ÂŁ945m - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

Contact us today, always here to help.

Contact us today, always here to help.

Tel: 0344 499 4810 Ns2@digiquip.co.uk www.digiquip.co.uk

Tel: 0344 499 4810 Ns2@digiquip.co.uk www.digiquip.co.uk

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

Network Services 2

 In Lot 8 traditional and IP based audiovisual conferencing services are covered, including consultancy and training services, software management tools, call recording, analysis tools, peripheral equipment, transcribing and translation services. Audio conferencing services head Lot 9, with services including call recording, playback, analysis tools, the ability to reserve and prebook, coded access references, peripheral equipment, software, management tools, security access products, collaboration tools, transcribing and translation services.

Lot 10 contains unified communications services, covering the provision of unified communications to provide a consistent user interface across multiple devices providing a cohesive end user experience in accessing two or more of the Primary Services from the following lots: lot 5, lot 6, lot 8 and lot 9.

Lot 11 is for radio services, including a voice communication solution utilising UHF, and/or VHF radio frequency bands and associated equipment maintenance and support services. Lot 12: security and surveillance services, includes the provision of CCTV and physical security monitoring equipment, including services to access real time audio and video activities and associated equipment maintenance and support services.

October also saw the CCS announce that Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 was open for business, with 3,475 technology companies having been handed places on the latest iteration for digital specialists Lastly, the provision of call/contact centre services for the use of buyer employees only is included in Lot 13. With the ability to make outbound contact and respond to an incoming contact and route the contact to a predefined destination and associated equipment maintenance and support.

Framework benefits The scheduled end date for the Network Services 2 framework is 16 August 2022, although there is an optional one-year extension. The contract notice, first published in November 2018, estimated the lifetime worth of the deal to the chosen suppliers as £5 billion.

Listed among the agreement benefits are flexible contract lengths – up to 10 years for some services – and savings

from lower cost and or more efficient technologies. Network Services 2 supports your organisation’s technology upgrade programme, with option for both direct award or further competition to meet your needs.

DOS4 October also saw the CCS announce that Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 was open for business. According to the government’s procurement arm, 3,475 technology companies have been handed places on the latest iteration for digital specialists, with 94 per cent of awarded suppliers on Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 deemed small and medium-sized enterprises.

The new agreement helps public sector organisations find suppliers that can buy, design, build, test and deliver software, supporting the delivery of world-class public services that meet the needs of citizens.

Public bodies have so far spent £1.5 billion through the three previous Digital Outcomes and Specialists agreements, with 32 per cent going directly to SMEs. More than £200 million has been spent with micro-SMEs. Niall Quinn, CCS Technology Director said of the announcement: “DOS 4 will continue to help facilitate digital transformation for our customers while creating opportunities for collaboration with a wide range of suppliers. For this new version we have been able to enhance the framework and make some improvements to the Digital Marketplace in line with customer and supplier feedback, to improve their experience.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/ agreements/RM3808

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As the attack surface expands, securing data where it lives is vital.

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G Cloud

Cloud First and the business case for cloud Why does the public sector struggle to build a compelling business case for cloud?

Romy Hughes, director at Brightman, explores the issue For nearly a decade, ‘Cloud First’ was the In the right context mantra by which all new government IT This is not to say the cloud is the wrong contracts were to be judged. If your new solution. In many instances it is still the right project was not in the cloud, you had to approach for the public sector. Cloud makes give a good reason for doing so. But despite absolute sense if you are thinking about true Cloud First’s dominance since 2013, the transformation. If your data is in the cloud policy is now under review. While specific and you can use the power of cloud compute reasons for the review have not been made to improve productivity, then it absolutely clear, I strongly suspect that the challenges makes sense. But this is about having a of measuring the ROI of cloud projects may long-term business plan and strategy first. be a significant factor in this decision.

Successful cloud transformation (and ‘Cloud Forcing the public sector to use the cloud First’) in public sector only occurs when it is for every project, come-what-may, has approached strategically. Unfortunately, always seemed like a strange we don’t see this very often! approach. The ‘cloud’ is Instead, Cloud First has nothing more than a encouraged public sector Cloud deployment decision. decision makers to be First ha It is not a strategy lazy in their decisions b een a distra in its own right. making process many o ction from No project – IT because it has taken or otherwise away the need to start questio f the very rea l n – should start with with the business s t h a t should be aske a predetermination case.

They certainly d of an of how it will be cannot be blamed y n e w IT proje implemented. You for this. If you are told ct define the problem first, you must use the cloud, build a business case for and you have no strong solving the problem, scope feelings why the cloud would out the objectives and then not meet the objectives of the evaluate various solutions to achieve project, why would you spend all those objectives. The cloud could be one of that extra time building a business case the proposed solutions, but only if it meets which evaluates non-cloud alternatives all the objectives of the business case. which might not be any better?

A distraction?

Cloud First has been a distraction from many of the very real questions that should be asked of any new IT project – questions like ‘Is this the right project at all?’ What is the objective of the project? What is the business case? Or more fundamentally, ‘What is the role of this organisation and how can I advance its objectives?’ These questions are far more pertinent, and should come far earlier than ‘is this a cloud project or not?’

Too often I have seen cloud projects in the public sector mobilised for their own sake, instead of taking the customer-centric view and building the business case first. But this is not because the business case is not there; it is simply because it is much more challenging to build a business case for a cloud project versus a traditional one. There are a few reasons for this: 1. Cloud projects needs iterative funding, not ‘Big Bang’ One of the major benefits of moving to cloud is ‘evergreen IT’ and the ability to leverage Infrastructure/Platform or Software-as-aService approaches. With I/P/SaaS you can move away from the traditional, high risk ‘big bang’ approach and make more iterative, lower-risk improvements instead. The challenge is that iterative improvements need iterative funding, which is very different to the ‘whole life cost’ ROI analysis typically required by a traditional business case. E

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Leaders in Government Software Cost Optimisation & Management Helping the Public Sector save up to 38% on its software Spend

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

G Cloud

 2. Cloud requires a ‘as a service’ mentality and funding structure Building on the above point, traditional capex expenditure on hardware etc. becomes an opex cost, that may, in the long run, increase the overall cost of running a service. These potentially higher costs are all-too-often glossed over if your mantra is ‘Cloud First’.

3. Overall cost improvements are difficult to measure The increase in Operational expenditure is often not measured against resulting improvements in productivity and efficiency (i.e. people costs may be lower as a direct or indirect result of the cloud, but this may be overlooked).

Cloud First principles When compounded together these three points make the creation of a business case for cloud projects very difficult, but not impossible. But with Cloud-First now under review, it will be important for new cloud projects to take account of these nuances so they can build the business cases needed to get their projects over the line.

Fundamentally, you need to go back to First Principles. Why are you doing the project at all? If you cannot answer WHY you should not move to the WHAT (i.e. an IT project) and HOW (i.e. cloud or non-cloud). If you cannot identify and articulate the WHY, you will never be able to build the business case, and if you can’t build the business case, why are you raising funds for the project in the first place?

The review of Cloud First does not mean the public sector should turn away from the cloud. Cloud transformation remains a worthy goal for the public sector to pursue, but only when it forms part of a broader, strategic transformation plan.

Cloud transformation remains a worthy goal for the public sector to pursue, but only when it forms part of a broader, strategic transformation plan Is G-Cloud fit for purpose?

What else can the government do to accelerate the digitisation of public services and improve its G-Cloud offering?

From our analysis of the government’s procurement approach last year (Taking the brakes off: How SMEs can be unleashed to drive the rapid digitisation of the public sector), we shared our criticisms of the numerous framework agreements that have been established in recent years to make it easier for businesses to bid for government contracts.

The UK public sector currently spends in excess of £200 billion on procuring goods and services from third parties every year, but despite its efforts, a disproportionate amount of this is still spent with the same large outsourcers. The government has committed to spending 33 per cent of public sector procurement directly with SMEs by 2022, and has launched numerous framework agreements to support this aim.

The government can also be applauded for creating the Government Digital Service (GDS) – the Cabinet Office ‘centre of excellence’ which aims to drive the digital transformation of government across all departments.

The government’s commitment to the digitisation of public services, and the democratisation of its procurement

procedures are beyond question. However, with many businesses – and SMEs in particular – still locked out of most public sector contracts, we believe there is more work to be done. Improving the G-Cloud framework is a good place to start.

The problem of design Now in its 11th iteration, a stated aim of the G-Cloud framework was to improve access for SMEs. While it started well – with 80 per cent of its suppliers said to be SMEs, this has not necessarily translated into proportionate sales for SMEs. From our analysis, the fundamental challenge of the G-Cloud framework is a technical one – it doesn’t support the way in which SMEs actually generate business (and likewise, how government customers like to find suppliers).

As a platform, the G-Cloud is unwieldy, difficult to navigate, has an ineffective search engine and often fails to match contracts to the most relevant suppliers.

At the same time, there is not enough of an incentive for public sector purchasers to use it, so a lot of business is still awarded outside of the framework anyway. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.brightman.uk.com

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Fire Protection Solutions for Data Centres Viking, your fire protection partner, is proud to be one of this year’s exhibitors at the Data Centre World 2020, where we will demonstrate our OneU fire protection system for use in closed 19” racks.

Viking is also a CIBSE CPD course provider. Our training curriculum covers many topics around fixed fire protection.

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

Data Centre World

The UK’s largest gathering of data centre expertise Data Centre World 2020 is leaving no stone unturned, no topic uncovered, in delivering the industry-leading event for data centre technology. Government Business looks ahead to the event For more than a decade Data Centre World IoT London, Big Data & AI World and has been delivering the future vision for the Blockchain Technology World. industry. Now in its 11th year, it continues The 2020 Data Centre World Streams to probe all the trends, all the opportunities, include: automation and emerging all the challenges for data centres technology; design, build and investment; IT everywhere. Whatever level of data centre strategy and regulation; innovation at the you run, this is the place to run it better. edge; thermal management and advanced The event, running on 11-12 March 2020, will cooling; power, renewable energy and fuel bring you an unrivalled line up of world-class cells; cyber and physical security; skills, suppliers to the data centre sector, thousands talent and training; DCIM, integration of hours of free content from over 700 of the and intelligence; the impact of 5G; and industry’s leading practitioners and first class commissioning, decommissioning and ITAD. peer networking opportunities. Data

This year, show organisers CloserStill Centre World 2020 sits at the will be taking the data centre to heart of the most complete the next level with the addition The 20 and exciting technology of The 6th Generation Data 2 Data C 0 event gathering on Centre, which will address e the planet, alongside new technologies that are World S ntre treams its co-located pushing back the boundaries include : autom events Cloud Expo in today’s market. All this, ation and em Europe, DevOps plus the Data Centres of techno erging Live, Cloud & Cyber the Future Theatre, a Data logy, as Security Expo, Smart Centre Design & Build and w a

s IT stra e tegy an ll d regulat ion

Physical Security Theatre, an Energy Efficient Cost Management & DCIM Theatre, and a Facilities & Critical Equipment Theatre. Plus, a VIP lounge and Schneider Bar providing you with endless opportunities to network.

Hosted Buyer’s Day The Hosted Buyer’s Programme 2020 returns to Data Centre World on 11-12 March 2020 at the ExCeL, London for its second edition. CloserStill is inviting carefully selected international businesses and data centre professionals to attend round-table appointments with key global data centre suppliers at the Hosted Buyer’s Programme.

Attending this two-day event in March, your company will meet directly with the right exhibitors and sponsors, carefully chosen because they are delivering the latest, best and most innovative data centre products and services available right now. Hosted Buyer’s Day gives you fast-track VIP access to the right connections, the perfect solutions and E

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Advertisement Feature

Zero cost property security for commercial and residential buildings 24/7 Our live in property guardian solution prevents squatting, fly tipping, arson, anti-social and criminal behaviour and is the most effective deterrent to would-be opportunists signaling that properties are fully occupied Case Study 1: The Challenge In November 2017, after a two-year consultation process, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracted Blue Door Property Guardians to secure a former Officers residence in Berkshire.

The property is a Grade II listed residence with 62 bedrooms and suites, dining and kitchen facilities, common rooms and extensive outdoor areas. The property had been discontinued as a military residence for years and spiraling manned guarding security costs were being highlighted within MOD budget reviews.

The site was used as a pilot study for future property guardian partnerships across MOD’s estate and Blue Door Property Guardians implemented a solution that mitigated risk to the valuable site and offered, not only six figure savings to MOD by discontinuing manned security provision, but also generated a surplus that contributed to ongoing maintenance of the site for the foreseeable future.

The Solution Blue Door appointed an experienced Head Guardian to oversee the project and immediately recruited 18 property guardians to secure the large site.

The Head Guardian ensures that security is paramount, building maintenance is maintained and the property is inspected on a daily basis to identify any risk or new security threats. The site guardians also ensure the property is kept clean and tidy and our terms and conditions of acceptable behaviour are adhered to.

With our community focused approach, the team of guardians have taken it upon themselves to establish a workshop with shared tools, an art room, a sustainable gardening project and work with local charities and organisations to incorporate a guardians’

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by Blue Door Management ensure the client’s best interests are uppermost and the site is kept safe and secure at all times.

The Benefits The value to MOD that Blue Door Property Guardians have created include: a sixfigure saving on traditional manned security; Revenue share to mitigate costs of buildings and ongoing maintenance costs; Weekly fault reporting to MOD property services to safeguard a high value asset; Low cost affordable accommodation for key workers, young professionals and post graduates; Rural community-minded initiatives by guardians who are sensitive and appreciative of their surroundings.

Blue Door Property Guardians was established to provide a community-based security solution for a range of commercial and residential properties. Specialising in the management of vacant or void properties, Blue Door provide 24/7 - 365 days a year live in zero cost security service that is much more cost effective compared to traditional manned or electronic security. Property Guardians also provide additional sources of revenue for property owners and are engaged effectively with local charities and community groups to optimise the use of previously under-utilised community resources.

Case Study 2: The Challenge In 2014, a former plastics warehouse had been unoccupied for three years attracting squatters, drug use, arson and ‘rave’ parties that caused substantial damage to the property and disturbance within the local community. London Borough of Waltham Forest were facing increasing costs from internal water leaks, electrical problems and repeated legal actions.

The council needed to find a security-based solution and, although it retained approved security contractor, wanted to try a new approach using Blue Door Property Guardians to eliminate rising costs and safety risks.

The Solution Blue Door presented a range of options to secure the premises, invest in modernisation

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

of internal spaces, implementation of a professional 24/7 security guardian service and shared revenue streams to benefit both organisations. Led by the council, Blue Door attended the formal eviction process and immediately installed property guardians to prevent further unauthorised site access.

Blue Door brought in a team of local tradespeople and invested over £30,000 to create 25 living pods, plus conversion of office and storerooms into one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom flats. Temporary building works also created an open plan kitchen, TV area, utility and bathroom facilities, bicycle storage and an outdoor garden space.

Blue Door simultaneously recruited 26 property guardians and one head guardian within six months.

All guardians were subject to professional and personal reference checks and a detailed financial assessment.

The guardians work within industries such as: creative and media, hospitality, journalism and teaching. After three years the property has not attracted any further unauthorised access or damage and provides a steady revenue share to The London Borough of Waltham Forest.

The Benefits Some of the services Blue Door Property Guardians provide include: local guardians, local tradespeople and local investment in your community; maintenance and risk assessments to safeguard your assets and reputation; revenue share options to mitigate property costs until sold or re‑developed; personalised, flexible service from an SME that cares about its environment; and a 24/7 security presence that complies with industry and ISO9001 standards. L FURTHER INFORMATION admin@bluedoorpropertyguardians.co.uk

 unparalleled results. In a fast-changing data centre environment, this is the perfect way to do business, providing the perfect solutions and unparalleled results for your data centre.

Cloud Expo Europe Technology enabled change is on the boardroom agenda for businesses of all types and sizes. Cloud Expo Europe is the UK’s leading event for connecting technologists, business leaders and senior business managers with experts, solutions and services to help accelerate digital transformation plans.

Whether you are cloud-first, scaling up, refining, or just getting started, Cloud Expo Europe is an unrivalled opportunity to meet with leading technology innovators and service providers. Network with your peers. Access a wealth of knowledge and advice including emerging trends, tech deep dives, lessons learned and market forecasts.

DevOps Live The last 18 months have been a defining period for DevOps and the Fast IT landscape, with the utility and value of the DevOps workflow now understood and recognised by the majority of IT leaders responsible for optimising the efficiency of IT systems, and adoption booming.

The spinal properties of DevOps - speed, agility, teamwork and economies of scale – make this practice and culture a dream for every professional involved in application development and delivery, software updates and infrastructure change. In 2020, the DevOps methodology has begun to transcend software development and delivery with the framework becoming a watertight enabler for IT teams building, developing and operating rapidly-changing resilient systems at scale.

There is no surprises then that both enterprise and service providers are increasingly relying on DevOps and supporting technology to boost their competitive edge and enhance offerings. DevOps Live is officially partnered by Docker, who demonstrate an exclusive container showcase addressing the latest developments and programmes in the container eco-system. Furthermore, in 2020 we are delighted to host a dedicated cloud native stream that will address the full lifecycle of cloud native applications.

Cloud & Cyber Security Expo 2019 Last year, Cloud & Cyber Security Expo was a record-breaking event, which welcomed 21,097 security and IT professionals (BPA audited), more than 700 expert speakers and over 700 technology suppliers to London’s ExCeL. The 2019 London event saw an increase of 2,039 more visitors than in 2018, and a significant increase in vendor numbers, which is indicative of the UK’s stratospheric growth of the cyber security market. CCSE 2020 will connect thousands of security and IT professionals, visionaries and leading global suppliers, to safeguard a secure digital transformation agenda.

Whether you’re a visitor, security supplier or channel partner, please look through the CCSE website to find what opportunities are available to you for 2020! If you are unable to find what you would like, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the show organisers who will be happy to assist.

Smart IoT Smart IoT signposts how connecting things drives business value from connecting people, process, data and things. We are on the verge of global digital transformation as billions of unconnected devices become connected, allowing tapping into otherwise unused data, which is leading to a surge in value for the global economy.

Data Centre World

Whether you are cloudfirst, scaling up, refining, or just getting started, Cloud Expo Europe is an unrivalled opportunity to meet with leading technology innovators and service providers Whether you are trying to develop an entirely new connected product, or implement IoT technology within your own operation, the project should be led by customer needs and how can you use the IoT to deliver them. Smart IoT, led by case studies, the most current content and a vast array of suppliers exhibiting, provides a market environment where this happens.

Big Data World London In 2019, Big Data & AI World saw a staggering 51 per cent year on year increase in attendees. In total, 21,097 data, AI and IT professionals attended our seven co-located UK technology events. Big Data & AI World 2019 was a record-breaking event, which welcomed 763 expert speakers and 526 technology suppliers to London’s ExCeL. Whether you’re a visitor, big data or AI supplier or channel partner, look through the website to find what opportunities are available to you for 2020. If you are unable to find what you would like, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the show organisers who will be happy to assist. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.datacentreworld.com

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Designed to make collaboration easier, these trolley solutions offer users the ability to move their work, presentation or project from one room to the other effortlessly. Featuring built-in cable management to keep cables together when moving, and a rear fold down shelf that keeps your kit clear when rotating the screen, these solutions offer unrivalled efficiency for team members and managers alike.

To find out more, visit; unicol.com/avecta-stands-and-trolleys

01865 767676 | sales@unicol.com | unicol.com

TRANSLATIONS

PARKING

Romanian interpreting services in the UK

Real digital parking enforcement has arrived

Providing legal and public service interpretation and translation services, as well as in private sector contracts, general, administrative, technical and literature, Maricica Cotu offers English-Romanian and Romanian-English interpreting solutions throughout the UK. Providing professional simultaneous and consecutive interpreting services for the Courts of Justice, Police and Social Services, Cotu provides proofreading, subtitling, translation and interpreting as a public service interpreter, accredited by the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.

As a translator, Cotu has

An increasing number of cities in UK are optimising their parking enforcement process with the PARKIUS Platform. PARKIUS invented and developed the concept of digital parking enforcement and built the first scan car with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) in Amsterdam. Then, the company added an intelligent data handling and business intelligence platform.

Many councils want to cut costs and increase compliance.

PARKIUS’ approach to digital parking enforcement dramatically increases the enforcement intensity and cuts costs at the same time by applying a highly efficient Spot-and-Follow-up approach.

PARKIUS is the leading advisor and solution provider of digital parking enforcement working with the London Boroughs of Kingston Upon Thames, Richmond Upon Thames and Barnet following successful projects in cities such

offered translation services for private entrepreneurs and Metropolitan Police since 1998.

FURTHER INFORMATION mariacotu6@gmail.com

FIRE SAFETY

as Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Lisbon, Stockholm and Antwerp. The PARKIUS promise is to share its knowledge and experience to guide organisations through the transition into public-friendly and highly profitable parking operations.

Want to know how PARKIUS does it? Contact using the details below.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: +31 (0)6 2189 8901 peter@parkius.io www.parkius.io

ENERGY

Professional fire safety training and guidance

Business energy, made simple!

Fire safety is an important aspect in the management of buildings and passive fire protection (PFP) is a key component of any fire safety strategy.

PFP is built into the structure of buildings to ensure they do not collapse and to prevent the spread of smoke and fire, allowing time for occupants to escape. PFP includes fire doors, walls, protection to the structural frame and fire-stopping.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) offers a range of training courses and guidance documents to assist specifiers, building owners and installers.

The ASFP Online Introduction to Passive Fire Protection provides a basic introduction to PFP and its role in the overall fire strategy of a building. The course consists of video modules covering key elements of

Fidelity Energy has been changing the way businesses procure energy and empowering its customers since the company was founded in 2014. Using a bespoke portal and working with a wide range of suppliers means Fidelity Energy can gain access to the best market pricing available.

Prices can vary by 28 per cent between the highest and the lowest quote for each customer, so this saves businesses from having to trawl the market looking for the best deal.

Fidelity Energy’s skills and pedigree in energy and technology allows them to also provide many other services you would expect from one of the UK’s leading utilities and energy consultants, including 100 per cent renewable energy tariffs that come with a zeroemissions rating and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points that can be customised with a

design, installation and inspection. It offers an excellent insight into the vital role of PFP systems.

The ASFP Foundation Courses in Passive Fire Protection offer modules in fire science and different forms of passive fire protection, leading towards Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications provided by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and recognised by regulators Ofqual and CCEA. Learners who obtain the IFE Level 3 Certificate are eligible to apply to join the IFE at Technician level enabling them to gain professional recognition and use the post nominal TIFireE.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01420 471612 info@asfp.org.uk www.asfp.org.uk

company’s specific branding.

Fidelity Energy removes the stress of dealing with energy contracts by managing the process from start to finish and thousands of businesses from all over the UK rely on Fidelity Energy for their energy needs.

Most importantly, Fidelity Energy helps its customers get the best value from their energy contracts.

Dedicated account managers seek to find tailored solutions to help businesses reduce their energy consumption, minimise their carbon footprint and ensure that their bills are always right.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 08000 48 48 00 partners@fidelity-enery.co.uk www.fidelity-energy.co.uk

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59

RECRUITMENT

What is the Disability Confident Scheme?

Car park surfacing and maintenance specialists

PCLR recruits staff across many areas, with an ethos on finding work for those with disabilities.

Company director Chris has Cerebral Palsy. Being a disabled person, Disability Confident is very close to his heart, meaning that the company sees strengths not weaknesses within disabled people.

The company works closely with companies that believe in its ethos and would like new companies who share the same passion as PCLR. PCLR Ltd, along with the Disability Confident scheme, wants to get people with disabilities into work. Everyone has a skill and the company wants to find it, pledging to work with companies every step of the way.

Working and growing as a person is the best medicine, and Chris is living proof of that.

PCLR finds appropriate jobs for appropriate people, helping at

NMC is a leading independent surfacing, drainage and civil engineering contractor, providing a 24/7 nationwide car park turnkey solution across the UK for the government, councils and some of the biggest brands in the UK, particularly within the retail and petrochemical sector.

NMC’s commitment to safety, quality, and service culture from its senior management right through to operative level, makes the company the ideal choice for partnering to protect brand equity with its key clients.

As specialists with vast experience in dealing with high priority prestigious projects, NMC plays a key role in its clients stakeholder management while delivering project with minimal financial or operational disruption.

The NMC surveying team is on hand to assist you with often

all stages of the process, giving you the best chance to enhance your skill and not be defined by your perceived ‘limitations’.

PCLR is always ‘working hard for hard working people’.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01706 418223 hello@pclrecruitment.co.uk www.pclrecruitment.co.uk

FIRE SAFETY

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RESURFACING

complementary site condition surveys, with surveyors able to visit your site and analyse its current condition before detailing, with a colour coded report that incorporates its findings, evidence of it’s condition, which can assist clients when controlling a budget, prioritising maintenance works and creating a planned maintenance works for the next five years.

FURTHER INFORMATION nmcsurfacing.co.uk

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Doors and screens for better fire protection

One of the most versatile venues in the South West

LFS manufactures, installs and maintains fire doors and screens.

The company provides its passive fire protection products and services to the construction industry in both the public and private sectors. As well as manufacturing and installing fire doorsets and screens, LFS also provides a one-stop, long term solution of ongoing service maintenance and support.

This aspect of the company’s service is particularly relevant to the government sector as LFS is backed up by all of the leading fire industry accreditation bodies which ensures continual compliance beyond door installation.

Regular contract customers benefit from LFS’s bespoke PASSIFIRE app with barcode and handheld technology to carry out efficient and thorough fire door and fire stopping surveys.

The organisation’s latest

Every major resort will tell you they can solve all your conference needs; in Torquay, the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC) knows that it can.

The beautiful surroundings are often compared to the French Riviera, with the region boasting unrivalled sunshine hours, the finest range of hotels, venues and attractions, all suitable for any event.

Torquay’s purpose built conference and exhibition venue, the RICC offers three multifunctional meeting and exhibition halls, accommodating up to 1,500 delegates, banqueting 1,200 guests, and combined can offer 3,600sq m exhibition space, plus seven smaller meetings room.

Now having been awarded UNESCO Global Geopark status there is a wealth of history, culture and stunning scenery to be experienced!

A free accommodation booking

initiative is to launch an e-commerce site which provides online access to a range of fire rated ironmongery and fire stopping products from leading manufacturers such as Lorient and Dorma. Products range from door seals to rubble sacks and threshold plates to door closers.

LFS promises excellent levels of service and competitive pricing.

LFS has made it a priority to stay at the forefront of passive fire protection through continual testing and certification with all of the major fire industry bodies such as Exova BM TRADA and FIRAS.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 035 6827 www.lfsfireshop.co.uk

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

service for delegates with a full range of hotels in all grades.

In addition to The Andrew Brownsword Imperial Hotel 4 Star, The Richardson Grand Hotel 4 Star, and the newly opened Hampton by Hilton, the RICC has an array of three star, budget and self- catering accommodation.

Discounted rail fares are available through Great Western Railway with anytime tickets from £49 return from London Standard and £99 return First Class.

Conference English Riviera, is the dedicated conference bureau, to bring it all together!

FURTHER INFORMATION www.rivieracentre.co.uk

ENERGY AND CARBON

A multi-proffesional carbon and energy consultancy Specialising in local and central government energy and carbon work, whilst offering a wide body of such services to business and industry and professional interests, Civic Planning & Design, Energy & Carbon Group now provides Discursive Preassesments for Energy and Carbon in addition to the full range of services.

Civic, an active member of ESTA, assesses best efficiencies, energy and carbon issues and displacement solutions. The company also provides an evaluation of targets and specific operational cost-effectiveness.

Priority searches and selective controls are also provided, alongside energy and carbon graded best solutions and research of all scales.

Monitoring best practice and new solutions, Civic provides

Buildings Energy Performances Certificates; and can help with comprehensive and detailed approaches for waste and recycling. All Public Consultations and Stakeholders Forums Services, Energy, Waste and Carbon.

Civic is an independent consultant and service provider in professional planning, property development, energy and carbon advice, plans, architectural drawings, applications, regulations and law.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01242 513284 Tel: 0744 253 2658 headoffice@civicplanning.com https://civic-planning.co.uk

SECURITY

VEHICLE RENTAL

Enhance your fleet without the upfront costs Nexus Vehicle Rental is the largest corporate vehicle rental provider in the UK enabling mobility through its awardwinning, online rental booking and management platform, IRIS. With the largest vehicle supply chain in the country, Nexus Vehicle Rental offers daily, short, medium and long-term rental with access to over 550,000 vehicles, including 100,000 specialist and commercial vehicles and 50,000 HGVs across 2,000 UK locations. Nexus sources any vehicle, anytime, anywhere with unrivalled delivery lead times and is an approved vehicle rental provider on the CCS RM6013 framework for lots 1, 4, 5 and 6.

Outright vehicle purchase is becoming less popular as legislation, such as the 2040 petrol and diesel ban, Clean Air Zones (CAZs) and Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZs), come into force.

Rapid depreciation in asset value and additional tax charges are

compounding the ability to plan for the long-term. Rental is becoming increasingly popular as it provides the option to scale fleet capacity up or down quickly, enabling costs to be reduced as there is no commitment to longer contracts.

Nexus’ unique rental system IRIS provides complete visibility of the entire rental journey from initial booking to final invoice, along with real time reporting, user profile management, costcentre split billing, customer service case handling, and full damage and fines management.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0871 984 1947 enquiries@nexusrental.co.uk www.nexusrental.co.uk

NATIONWIDE ENFORCEMENT

Remsdaq: Extending the boundaries of technology

Constant & Co: Ethical Effective Enforcement

Remsdaq is a leading UK manufacturer of integrated security products, including the Entro access control and Sabre perimeter intrusion detection systems.

EntroWatch is the management software at the heart of the Entro series. The software is easy to set-up and features intuitive screen layouts from which to configure, monitor and control up to 800 doors and 250,000 credentials.

EntroWatch is designed to work with EntroStar and EntroNet access door controllers which provide two-door/four-reader and eight-door/16-reader in/out functionality. They are easy to install and allow fast and costeffective expansion using ‘plug n play’ modular technologies.

Up to 100 EntroStar and EntroNet access door controllers can be connected on an IP network to provide door management up to 800 doors.

Established in 1973, Constant & Co Ltd is a nationwide enforcement company specialising in the removal of travellers, squatters, rough sleepers, trespassers and tent encampments under High Court and Common Law. The company also provides a full range of clearance and security services to deliver a complete package to clients. An extensive client list includes solicitors, local authorities, commercial land agents, management companies and commercial landlords.

The company is built on reputation and is well known in the industry as a leading provider of enforcement services. Over the years Constant & Co Ltd has been contracted to work on many high-profile evictions and has consistently met clients’ expectations. The organisation provides a fast-reliable service and the company ethos is Ethical Effective Enforcement.

The installation can be single site or span multiple buildings.

EntroPad readers, desktop readers, management kits and EntroPass secure credentials complete the Entro series. The Entro series integrates with HIKVision CCTV, IEVO Biometric readers and Sabre PIDS. Remsdaq is a Microsoft Certified Gold partner and manufactures products certified for government use by the CPNI (Centre for the Protection of Critical National Infrastructure).

Company management systems are certified to ISO9001/14001/18001 and 27001.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01244 286 495 www.remsdaq.com

Constant & Co Ltd certificated enforcement officers have a wide range of experience to draw upon from their backgrounds including former members of the police, armed forces, prison service and public sector. All employees are DBS checked, first aid trained and issued with full uniform and PPE. The company is ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO18001, Safe Contractor and IIP accredited.

Constant & Co is a corporate member of the Civil Enforcement Association and is subject to the code of conduct contained within the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01234 340091 admin@constantandco.com www.constantandco.com

Issue 26.6 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service 15Hatfields 32

Inspired Efficiency

Abilitynet 43

ISS 6

Association for Specialist Fire

59

Isuzu (UK)

Blackthorn GRC

10

KEHF 34

Blue Door Property Guardians

56

LFS Fire

Britannic Technologies

48

BT Enterprise

44,45

Caterpillar (NI)

4,16

CEME Conference Centre

34

Civic Planning and Design

61

CloserStill Media

14

18

26

60

Liskandas 37 Livingstone Technologies

52

Miss Maricia Cotu

59

Nexus Vehicle Hire

61

Nimbus 42 NMC Surfacing

60

Colas 29 Ogel IT Cross Guard

OBC

54 Orchard House Solutions

Daimler Fleet Management

24

Datalec Precision Installations

57

DB Fire Safety

22

46

Parkius 59 PCL Recruitment

60

Ram and Sons

54

Riveria International

60

Safety Technology

22

Diqiquip 48 Durable UK

12

Eastwood Park

35

Eland Cables

54

Ergochair IBC Eurotech 22 Evac Chair International

62

8

Sime 18 Simmbiotic IFC Test Partners

40

TG Escapes

38 30

Fidelity Energy

59

The Grand Brighton

Generis Technology

18

Trustwave 50

Hamworthy Heating

18

Unicol Engineering

Ideal Drop

52

Viking 54

Independent Fire Safety

20

Wyboston Lakes

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

58

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