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News A new brand for a disruptive outdoor estates services company: GRITIT Group Rebrands as OUTCO
GRITIT Group has today announced it is relaunching under a new brand as OUTCO - a name that reflects the company’s evolution into the UK’s leading outdoor estate compliance experts with a new and unique service offering.
Following the recent acquisition of surfacing and engineering business NMC Group Ltd, the OUTCO brand reflects the company’s unparalleled breadth of expertise, which includes a full range of technology-enabled infrastructure, winter and grounds compliance services. An industry first, OUTCO’s unique combined service offering provides a new way for customers to manage outdoor assets by bringing together multiple outdoor services to ensure enhanced outdoor estate safety, compliance and commercial efficiency.
Recently appointed OUTCO CEO, Andy Barry, said: “The effective management of a company’s outdoor estate can be complex and timeconsuming for a business. What we now bring to our clients is a new way of working. A full range of outdoor estate management services procured under a single contract. Having one company managing your entire outdoor estate simplifies the whole process and saves time, effort and ultimately, costs. Beyond this, the synergies between services drives real value. Our clients will benefit from a more joined up and proactive approach to risk management and compliance, powered by our innovative leading-edge technology. This ensures greater transparency of both opportunities and risks across sites, more accountability and better service; ultimately a better and safer experience for our clients, customers and staff.”
Born out of a proven heritage in winter gritting and grounds maintenance, OUTCO will continue to base its delivery platform on smart technology. By offering compliance and visibility, OUTCO will offer assurance to its impressive client-base that their outdoor estates are safe, compliant and accessible all year round. OUTCO’s patented technology provides real time visibility on service delivery, offering data driven assurance that issues are being resolved, with critical detailed evidence to demonstrate compliance, whilst at the same time, generating internal operational efficiency gains.
Under the new brand, OUTCO will continue to manage more than 7500 sites, for some of the UKs biggest organisations, including Tesco, BP and the NHS.
Mark Rogerson, Chair of OUTCO said: “The launch of OUTCO reflects the spectacular transformation of the Group, which under Total Capital Partner’s ownership has gone from strength to strength and is now a significant force within the FM sector. Generating over £55m of revenues, OUTCO is a very credible and efficient business and is proving to be an effective growth and market consolidation platform. Our industry-leading operational performance, driven by our in-house technology solutions has created something very special for our fastgrowing customer base.”
For further information visit www.outco.co.uk
Join the PSSA today!
The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.
Benefits of membership
• Access to up to date info on all issues of sustainability affecting the public sector including the latest news, case studies, legislation, policy and reports • Reminders and invitation to trade events, exhibitions, conferences and seminars involving sustainability • Networking opportunities • Discounted training and education courses • Access to a PSSA Members-Only online forum to discuss issues, problem solve and connect (Launch date TBC)
For more information on becoming a member of the PSSA, please visit www.pssa.info.
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News ABM invests in mental health first aid programme for team members
Leading provider of integrated facilities solutions, ABM, has introduced a mental health first aid training programme across its aviation and business and industry divisions. The investment is one of the first of its kind in the industry and has been created in partnership with TalkOut, a market-leading change and development platform.
The training programme will equip team members, such as security officers, train station cleaning teams and those working in airports and shopping centres, with the right skills when faced with difficult situations while working. The training rollout began in March and due to the overwhelmingly positive response from those involved, ABM has invested further. With the support of its clients, ABM will invest in training more team members across its clients sites and across all job roles. This means that by the summer, 75 team members across the ABM UK business will be trained in mental health first aid. John McPherson, Managing Director at ABM UK, says: “Our teams are working amongst the public every day and we recognise the positive role that they can play in identifying those who are struggling with poor mental health and dealing with critical situations. As we emerge from an extremely challenging time, this has never been more important. “It is our duty to support our teams and equip them with the right skills and knowledge to manage these situations. It’s also vital that we help and support them to process those difficult experiences afterwards.” The mental health first aid training is provided by TalkOut over a series of sessions and focuses on developing the skills needed to help in a moment of crisis. On completion of the course, all individuals will be qualified as mental health first aiders. Antony Marke, Managing Director at ABM Aviation, says: “Similar to colleague teams from Business and Industry, the Aviation sector has seen significant challenges over the past thirteen months. Many of our team have been on extended periods of furlough and, as a result, they may find returning to the workplace gives them varying levels of anxiety. Having access to ‘in-house’ subject matter experts in their places of work, will ensure they feel fully supported and build their confidence in the early days’. Leanne Stant, Head of Mental Health at TalkOut, says: “Mental health problems can present lots of difficult moments of crisis. Suicide and selfharm are big problems and should be treated carefully and compassionately. It’s so important that we equip those people on the ground being faced with someone in a moment of crisis with the right skills to manage the situation. “ABM is leading by example here. Its commitment to supporting good mental health and wellbeing within the facilities management and aviation industry is commendable.”
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News UVC can light the way to a clean and safe return to work
Leading UK lighting and electrical contractor, Powercor (www.powercor. co.uk), says technology which has been used for decades to protect hospitals and public buildings from viruses can be the answer to staff and visitors staying safe in the office, gym or other workplace as restrictions are lifted.
With 17 May viewed as the date when hospitality venues re-open their doors for the use of internal spaces and with gyms and leisure centres set to continue to welcome visitors, many firms will look to invite staff back to the office. However, fears remain over an end to remote working and the potential spread of COVID.
But the solution is at hand says Powercor with the use of UV-C lighting systems providing a cost effective and proven solution to kill COVID on both surfaces and in the air and keep internal spaces safe.
Some of the country’s leading business and sports teams have already recognised the benefits of UV-C systems with Powercor having recently equipped parts of The Stoop, home to Gallagher Premiership rugby union side Harlequins, with UV-C lighting systems and are working with international transport firm Abellio to fit UV-C protection in three of the firm’s London Transport bus depots.
The return to work after a year of remote operation remains fraught with concern for millions of staff, with employees citing concerns over how clean their workplaces will be as the number one issue.
In April a study of 1,000 employees, currently working from home, carried out via OnePoll for cleaning firm ICE Cleaning, found two thirds still feel uncomfortable
air, surfaces and objects
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about going back into their workplace full time.
Worries included lack of personal space, not enough communal cleaning and colleagues not using hand sanitizer or soap.
Powercor Managing Director Richard Grace explained: “The disinfection of offices via the use of detergents and rigorous clearing will undoubtedly be a popular response, but the nature of a virus is that it can exist in the air along with being found on doors, windows and worktops. It can make physical cleaning a challenge, but the answer can be as simple as switching on a light.
“For over four decades hospitals and government buildings have used UltraViolet (UV) light to safely and effectively to neutralise viruses and bacteria.
“While we all know that UV-A and UV-B rays are contained in sunlight a third UV light is also emitted and one that can make a major difference to the fight against germs.
UV-C lighting products use ultraviolet light to inactivate microorganisms like viruses and bacteria, making them harmless to humans. UV-C disrupts the DNA or RNA that enables those viruses and bacteria to multiply.
Like UV-A and UV-B rays, human and animal exposure to UV-C can be damaging. In the case of UV-C direct exposure for humans can cause damage to the eyes and skin in a matter of minutes. However, the systems are designed with safety with wall mounted systems and air filters designed to be operated while the areas are occupied.
As a Philips Certified Value Added Partner, Powercor, provides a growing number of customers with the full range of UV-C lighting solutions created by Signify, part of the Philips group.
Grace added: “The benefits delivered with the use of UV-C system are significant and have the ability to provide a clean and safe space be it in the office, a gym, swimming pool, retail outlet, pub or restaurant.”
“UVC can make a real difference to the ability to reopen knowing that your staff, customers and visitors are protected,” added Grace.
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