O U R
C O M M U N I T Y
HER WIN £ 5 0 VOUC
DO THE RIGHT THING...ALWAYS! Every day you show how much you care about our Customers
ISSUE#04 OCT 2023
NICE TO MEET YOU!
Cleaner Jackie Aldridge is an ‘angel’ to one vulnerable Customer
FRONTLINE TALES!
Colleagues continually amaze with their can-do attitudes
DAMP & MOULD!
As we change seasons, this is especially important
CUSTOMER THANKS!
Our Communities love what you’re doing in the field
t
C E L E B R AT I N G
MAGA ZINE
P L AC E S M A N AG E M E N T
WELCOME
INSIDEPLACESMANAGEMENT Hi everyone, and thanks for reading the latest edition of Inside Places Management magazine.
for and how we do things – ultimately, they’re the foundation that underpins all of our activities and interactions.
If you come across examples like that, if you spot ways for us to spend more wisely, let me know.
We’ve got the winter period on the horizon now and, although we enjoyed an unseasonable heatwave in September, I’d imagine there’s a chill in the air as you read this.
If you’ve watched Drop the Mic recently, you’ll have heard Greg talking about taking care of our precious resources so we can reinvest them wisely. That’s part of our Fired Up, Ready To Grow People Promise and it’s something I want everyone to get behind.
I always want you to talk to me and tell me how things are, but now’s your chance to do it anonymously by completing the Big Colleague Survey. It’s so important that you take your opportunity to fill it in openly and honestly (see below).
Winter for us means an increase in demand for repairs, and you all know how important it is for us to do the right thing to make sure that our Customers are living in healthy homes. It’s important to Never Walk By, so make sure you’re familiar with the signs of damp and mould and that you know where to point Customers for support – there’s more on that on page 6. To help us better meet demand, there’s a lot of work happening in the Effortless Repairs space right now, and we’re also making great strides with Salesforce, which is the technology that enables us to make things easier. You can read more about our progress on pages 8 and 13. But remember, we’re still at the start of that journey and there’s a long road ahead. It’s within your gift to spot things that we could do to improve right now and raise those with me. I’ve seen some of you sharing your People Promise Pledges on Yammer. As I said last time, they describe what we stand
ement? Room for improv ! ow kn Please let us
InsidePlacesManagement#4
We’re spending money on things that matter by investing in our People, our systems and our ways of working, but I’m sure you’ll all have seen examples of us spending money where we don’t need to.
In the meantime, grab a cuppa (or a pumpkin-spiced latte, if that’s your thing). Here are some of the things we’re talking about in this edition of Inside Places Management: ■ How Jackie Aldred has embodied Doing the Right Thing (page 3) ■ Salesforce – the road to ‘go live’ (page 13) ■ David Hudson’s mental health journey (page 10) ■ Customer compliments (page 12) ■ You Said, We Did (page 14) …And lots more! Remember, keep sharing your feedback by emailing pm.suggestions@ placesforpeople.co.uk
The Big Colleague Survey is our chance to help shape Places for People by sharing open and honest thoughts, views and opinions about our experiences. Getting things right for our People, in turn, helps us to get things right for our Customers – so please do get involved! The survey is open from Monday 23rd October – Wednesday 15th November. There will be a number of ways for everyone to take part, such as by email or via QR code.
3
NICE TO MEET YOU...
“He calls me his angel” A QUICK CHAT WITH CLEANER JACKIE ALDRED Hi Jackie! How long have you
Q a real difference…
A three years!
I’m coming up to
A own time out of work, I took him to
Do you enjoy working with your Customers? I think the job is more than just cleaning. I try to get on with everyone and be there for them, whenever I’m needed.
the doctors to see if he had any medical issues. It turned out that he had been diagnosed with early dementia two years ago but said he didn’t know anything about it. He’s now on medication for the dementia and generally is doing a lot better health-wise.
Q worked with Places Management? Q A
We hear that you have
Q a prime example of
Do The Right Thing, Always! Well, I’ve taken one Customer under my wing. He was being picked on because of his poor hygiene. I didn’t like that, as I was bullied myself as a kid, so I decided to try and help him as much as I could.
A
In what way have you
Q helped the Customer? First of all I made sure that he
A showered three times a week, so his personal hygiene was much better. I gave his flat a good clean because it’d been used as a big of a dumping ground by some of the other Customers. It really was in a horrendous state. I also got him to stop drinking, as that was becoming a real problem.
BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
That must have made He says I’ve helped him a lot. In my
And in the other aspects
Q of his day-to-day?
I like to think his life has been
A turned around. The key thing, I think, was to help him to help himself. He’s staying on top of things. For example, we took him into town to buy a new washer-dryer and he’s doing his own washing now. That certainly wasn’t happening before… He must be grateful
Q for all the help…
We have a great relationship
A and he calls me his ‘angel!’
It’s a bit embarrassing because I just wanted to help in any way I could. I’d do the same for anyone else in the same situation.
It was brilliant to see our two Community Fun Days at Clayton Brook (Preston) and Harehills (Leeds) go off so smoothly – and enjoyed by all!
InsidePlacesManagement#4
4
NIBS YOU’RE ON CAMERA!
NEWS IN BRIEF
Thanks to Stuart Ingram for sharing how his team’s smart thinking made Customers’ lives more Effortless.
Our over-55s scheme in Felixstowe is blessed with a stunning location but with it comes an issue – access is difficult because many holidaymakers take advantage of the premium parking spots. So, Brinley Tourie installed a sign and a dummy CCTV camera to deter the parkers and hopefully give our Customers some peace of mind. Nice work!
INTO THE VOID! Sometimes a picture tells a thousand words and here is no different. What a fantastic void transformation in Manchester by Sean McDermott and Thomas Moorcroft!
Before
After
HOME, SWEET HOME!
Congrats to Dennis Abbott and his wife who, after “years and years of saving and working hard,” and being Luminus/ Chorus Homes/ PfP tenants for around a decade, have finally got the keys to their new home. It was also lovely to see how Colleagues marked the occasion by sending the Abbotts flowers and a best wishes card!
SmartTech! A brilliant benefit that allows you to buy white goods and technology products through Our Place Rewards
Don’t forget that SmartTech is a great benefit that makes it easier and affordable to purchase products from over 5,000 items listed at Curry’s PC World. These can be laptops, TVs, cameras, washing machines, cookers and much more – all at the lowest prices on the high street, guaranteed!
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
With a maximum spend of up to 1 £500 per year, SmartTech enables
you to spread the cost of your purchase over 12 months, with 0% interest. InsidePlacesManagement#4
Payments are deducted 2 directly from your net salary. You can also make multiple applications within the £500 limit. To access this benefit, 3 you need to be registered on Our Place Rewards. If you have any questions about SmartTech, please reach out to costofliving.queries @placesforpeople.co.uk
NIBS ACTION STATIONS!
NEWS IN BRIEF
MEDALMARVELS! The 2023 Corporate Games saw the PfP team come a brilliant fifth (out of 28) place in the medal table. The UK’s largest sport event for businesses was
based at the University of Warwick and our People notched up a fabulous six golds, 15 silvers and four bronze medals. Well done, all!
Don’t mess with Gail Greenwood when she’s in the middle of a job! Here, Victoria Square in Newcastle is on the receiving end of a thorough clean-up!
LOYAL LEGEND!
A huge well done and thank you to Landscapes’ Lee Millar who, incredibly, celebrates 30 years with the business. Lee, we salute you!
THE FAMOUS FIVE!
A very warm welcome to the PM family – Jack James, George Bryan, Daniel Hall, Reece Warner and Andrew Brown. We hope you enjoy the journey!
UK’S BEST WORKPLACES FOR WOMEN™ 2023
PfP is proud to have earned a spot on the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women™ List. This recognition is for “exceptional organisations who have redefined workplace culture, setting a new standard for gender equality and inclusion.” We still have work to do, but to receive this accolade certainly shows we’re heading in the right direction! InsidePlacesManagement#4
5
DAMP A
N
D
MOULD
NEWFOCUS!
DAMP AND MOULD M.O.T.S ARE A CRUCIAL S P E C I A L PART OF DOING THE RIGHT THING
As we always say, our People in the field really are the eyes and ears of PfP. And there’s no better example of that, than how we identify where Customers’ homes may have damp and mould. Following a successful trial carried out by our Cambridgeshire and North East Gas teams earlier in the year, all 150-plus of our nationwide Gas Colleagues are now carrying out checks for damp and mould during annual gas servicing visits. We’re calling these checks, Damp and Mould M.O.T.s, so now, when they’re
DID YOU ? e KNrOaW ge hom
carrying out a service, the Gas Colleague will complete a short form prompting them to look for signs of damp and mould and take relevant photos. Anything they identify is passed on to the relevant team to address.
To allow Colleagues to spend the time they need with Customers, we’re recruiting six extra Gas Engineers to help us with this additional activity, which we think is essential for our aim to never walk by.
With responsibility for gas services on 50,000 affordable homes, our Damp and Mould M.O.T.s are an opportunity to learn if this issue is occurring but also check in on potentially vulnerable Customers and flag any other concerns, such as safeguarding or cost of living difficulties.
AND THERE’S MORE! Around 17% of our affordable homes properties don’t have gas, so we’re now working on how we can broaden out our checks to include Customers who rely on electricity, or don’t have individual boilers in their homes – watch this space!
The ave s s 21 pint produce r u o p r va of wate ay! r e ev y d
The Newcastle Gas team who trialled Damp and Mould M.O.T.s
InsidePlacesManagement#4
7
FAB FOUR!
Your whistle-stop guide to damp and mould support available for Customers
with finances 3 Help Colleagues can refer Customers
and they mention an issue, or if you see something of concern, please take it seriously, own it and report it.
for financial support, including energy vouchers, if it will help them to heat their homes and tackle damp and mould. More details are available on Our Place. Customers can also access financial support directly through our website placesforpeople.co.uk.
2 Minimising condensation
Warm packs and spaces 4 Warm spaces are places such as
walk by 1 Don’t If you’re speaking with a Customer
All Customer-facing Colleagues have leaflets that contain information for Customers about help with damp and mould. There’s also a guide to minimising condensation on Our Place.
libraries and community centres that are open for anyone to go to during the day. Find a full list on the Community Projects page on our website. During the winter months, we can also provide warm packs. More info: inclusion@placesforpeople.co.uk
FEEL THE COURSE! By now, all Colleagues should have completed their damp and mould e-learning on Places Academy. It takes you through the different types of damp, the impact damp and mould can have on our Customers and how you can report any instances you may come across. It also outlines some of the help available to Customers if their homes are affected. Check out Places Academy or email placesacademy PLACES ACADEMY @placesforpeople.co.uk if you’ve yet to enrol...
HURRAH FOR VRA! THE FIGHT CONTINUES!
We won’t let damp and mould beat us… Plumber Colin Collingham was called out to do a toilet repair but discovered a much worse problem. Thanks to Colin, we immediately sent out a team to sort it out. Cheers Colin!
To assist with the numbers of damp and mould reports – and the resultant backlogs of work – we undertook a VRA (Visual Remote Assistance) trial.
Cleaner Jolanta Kluszewska didn’t walk by when she spotted damp and mould on a property. She reported what she’d seen and work is now underway to treat the issue. An incredible transformation shared by Painter and Decorator Ryan Wood, who says he’s been seeing an increase in damp and mould repairs. After
Af ter
VRA allows us to remotely inspect damp and mould-related issues in our Customers’ homes, using their devices, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop. A surveyor simply takes the Customer through the process and conducts a virtual inspection which should speed up communication as well as short-cut diagnosis, prioritisation and resolution. The trial was a success, so we’re hoping to bring in VRA later this year. Watch this space!
Before InsidePlacesManagement#4
8
EFFORTLESS REPAIRS! WE’RE MOTORING WITH OUR DRIVE FOR EFFORTLESS. HERE’S THE LATEST…
As a reminder, Effortless means making things easier for both our Colleagues and our Customers.
This is exclusively for Colleagues and we have more Scheduling resource on hand ready to answer your calls.
wasted appointment slots, complete more repairs, and ultimately increase overall Customer satisfaction.
We want to make it easier for Colleagues to do their jobs; make it easier for Customers to interact with us, and remove friction and the things that get in the way. Since we spoke to you at the Roadshows in June:
For our Scotland Colleagues, there’s no change – you still contact us on 0131 657 0659.
With this approach, it’s even more important to remember to click ‘on route’ on the system, add the ETA, and call the Customer ahead of setting off to the job.
■ We’ve introduced a dedicated phone line for PM Colleagues to contact the Scheduling team – 01772 666060.
■ A pilot in Scotland kicked off to streamline the process around empty properties (voids), with the aim of reducing the amount of time it takes to turn them around and hand the keys over to a new Customer. Colleagues will trial new ways of working and collaborating with each other, including improved visibility of progress via our new ‘voids tracker.’ ■ We started trialling the offer of full day appointments. This means that we’ll have greater flexibility to avoid
WE NEED YOU! InsidePlacesManagement#4
■ We have also begun our ‘flex approach’ trial in North West North with a dedicated team for emergency and P1 jobs in the area. This will free up other Colleagues to concentrate on other repairs. ■ Fully fix first-time: when you need to go over your regular working hours to achieve a first-time repair, we’ll now pay overtime so you can completely resolve the issue.
■ We’ve closed 20,400 jobs by bringing forward appointments and data cleansing open orders we have in the system. To help us reduce the number of open orders further, it’s important that on every job you attend, you record the outcome codes correctly for the work you’ve carried out. ■ Insight has revealed that we may not always do this, which impacts your productivity as well as increasing the number of open repairs we have in our system. If you need any assistance, speak to your manager. Thank you to all the Colleagues involved in the work we’ve been doing to make repairs Effortless – look out for more on Effortless Repairs in the next issue of IPM magazine!
repairs
“I want to showcase how great our teams really are!” Some quick questions for our new Director of Field Services David Boden
Our People Promises say “We recognise, appreciate, and celebrate each other. We say thank you, a lot.”
Hi David! How are you
Q settling in at PfP?
I’ve been very busy in my first few
A weeks with meeting and greeting
A great way to put this into practice is sending a thank you E-card, which is part of our brand-new recognition programme. These E-cards are hosted on Our Place Rewards and are really easy to use – so over to you!
Colleagues across the business. It’s been great understanding everyone’s roles and how we can support each other. Now I’m looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and helping progress the service offering to our Customers. What I really like so far, is how positive people are to make a difference to our Customers’ lives and the local communities. There’s a real buzz across PfP. What are your key priorities
Q for the near future?
Making a difference is why I am here. I want to supply homes that our Customers can feel proud of, that are safe and a pleasure to live in. Before I officially started working at PfP, I was invited to the Roadshows and was so impressed with the attitude, dedication and commitment of our trade operatives and their line managers.
A
I want to showcase how great these teams really are and the important role they play within
NIBS SAY IT WITH AN E-CARD!
NEWS IN BRIEF
SCHOOLS’ GOLD! “Here to make a differe
nce”
PfP. I know by working closely together in a one-team approach, we can further improve our service offering. Tell us something we
Q might not know about you!
David loves the Villa!
I’m a big football fan,
A and I have supported Aston Villa since I was 12. There have been mainly low points, but I always live in hope of some future success! I also used to practice mixed martial arts (having dodgy feet has ended this hobby) but I still go to the gym in an attempt to try and keep fit!
An appeal to supply Ukrainian refugee primary school children with school supplies – launched by our International Director Corne Koppelaar – has been a genuine success. Our People, along with a number of our suppliers, really pulled it out of the bag (pun intended!) with the drive to provide at least 1,000 school kits. Director of Business Transformation, Kara Stickland and Supply Chain Manager, Cameron Baptie met with our Edinburgh-based supplier Scott Coppola, who kindly donated 100 filled school bags!
GAS THE WAY TO DO IT!
We’ve loved all the Yammer images of you working on your People Promise pledges – and here is the NWS Gas team doing their bit! #FiredUpReadyToGrow
IT’S GOOD TO TALK! A great pic from Finance Director Kirsten Thompson’s visit to Gas Supervisor David Blair and his guys’ Team Talk!
InsidePlacesManagement#4
9
10
MY MENTAL HEALTH...
My journey with mental David Hudson health began when I was a young dad. I felt like I'd failed as a man, husband, and father. I'd put on a smile on the outside but I was falling apart. I was almost losing my home and juggling job uncertainty. One night, I drove aimlessly for hours, lost in my thoughts. I didn't really want to end things, but I didn't want to keep going either. Then I noticed a string of missed calls on my phone. I finally broke down and opened up about everything that I was going through to my mum, whose support pulled us back from the brink. Eight months later, we managed to get back on our feet and find a new home. But life's punches didn't stop – my mum was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Her passing brought me down once again, and there's a five-year gap in my memory that I can't recall. Having now dealt with mental health difficulties, I taught myself to be ready for whatever comes my way and to recognise when depression starts creeping in. I learned how to deal with it and not let it control my life. Everyone faces challenges and it's okay to talk about it.
Resetting doesn't mean you're weak; it means you're accepting what's happening and building from there. Once you accept that tough periods are normal, you can find the positive side of things. It isn't how many times you fall, it's how many times you stand up again, and you don't have to do it on your own. Don't give up – keep searching, and you'll find the support and tools to guide you through the tough times. Businesses like PfP have the resources to help you. If you’re struggling with mental health, please reach out. Our Mental Health First Aiders are here for all of us. David Hudson is a Contracts Manager in Landscapes. A full version of this blog can be found on Our Place InsidePlacesManagement#4
A well-deserved shout-out to Lewis Price, who didn’t think twice when a fire broke out, endangering some Customers. Lewis spotted that some cardboard boxes had been set on fire near an electrical sub station in a street near Raglan House. It was starting to spread quickly and
heading towards an electrical box outside the building. He immediately called 999 and started alerting Customers in the block of the situation. With the Fire Brigade in attendance, Lewis then helped with the evacuation. Thankfully, no-one was hurt. Not all heroes wear capes!
TRADINGPLACES! A fantastic initiative saw Landscapes and Place working on site together to better understand one another’s role. It seems there was plenty of information shared, along with a laugh or two! Contracts Manager Teresa White said: “A massive thank you to Lisa Rodgers, Hayden Rogers, Jack Draper, Michelle Walters, Daniel Fahey and Ashley Brown for being on site today. “Another huge thank you to Callum Fisher and Leanne Wilkinson for going through your roles with us and mucking in! We’re certainly looking forward to what the future holds…”
NIBS
11
NEWS IN BRIEF
COMMUNITY BUILDING!
COMPLAINT TO DELIGHT!
Before After
Landscapes Contract Manager Bradley Turner (left) wanted to thank Bartosz Jamnic and Lukasz Bacewicz for some sterling work turning around this front garden. Our Customer had complained about the mess – exacerbated by their inability to maintain the area due to health problems – so Bradley arranged for our team to get cracking. Pathways were jet washed and the grassed areas replaced with stones – what a transformation!
Before
Here’s Hatton Gardiner helping Michael Blastland and Jaime Gunson build a memorial planter for Customers who wanted to mark the passing of a fellow resident. Keep up the good work! #OneCommunity
LINKEDIN LEARNING!
Bartosz Jamnic
Lukasz Bacewicz
After
All Colleagues are now able to access LinkedIn Learning, giving you the power to smash your personal, professional and technical development goals. LinkedIn Learning offers over 16,000 courses available in bite-sized modules and lessons – all accessible from your computer, tablet and mobile. You can find tips and tricks for using software like Microsoft Excel and Outlook, how to develop your writing and interview skills, or even learn photography and how to speak Spanish!
A TEAM EFFORT!
We marvelled at how John Heron, Tam Ross, Russell Webb, Steven Knight and Ian McFarland came together to replace
a bathroom for a Customer suffering from a serious leak – within just 48 hours! As Regional Maintenance Manager Michael Rohan says: “This is a perfect example of one of our People Promises – Do the Right Thing. Always!”
We know you’re all Fired Up, Ready to Grow – so to get going with LinkedIn Learning, please contact Molly.Innes@placesforpeople.co.uk
TEST MASTER! Congratulations to Thomas Walmsley who recently passed a PAT testing course. Congratulations Thomas!
InsidePlacesManagement#3
12
NIBS
NEWS IN BRIEF
DEREK’S DEBUT!
This was Derek Dargue’s first-ever Yammer post – and what a corker to kick off with! An assisted living home in South Shields received this Dargue makeover…
CUSTOMER COMPLIMENTS!
COLLEAGUES GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Before
After
FROM THE HEART!
A double tribute for Graeme Vetch! One vulnerable Customer said her “experience of the professional person’s visits was first class.” Meanwhile, another Customer reported that Graeme was “polite, helpful and efficient.” Customers were so grateful to Mark Wallis and Daryl Ashton for clearing out their bin store and also cutting and pruning back on a scheme, that they supplied them with plenty of tea!
Keith Green took on a gruelling solo kayaking task, all in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Keith, who had open heart surgery in 2019, paddled a whopping 30 miles along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire in just over eight and a half hours! Keith raised £200 for the charity and said: “I did it! Not bad for a little, fat 54year-old bloke!”
PICKERS PASSES!
Congratulations to Andrea Pickersgill for successfully completing the probationary period in Landscapes!
InsidePlacesManagement#4
Huge credit to Kevin Livesey and Adam Porter who recently completed a large bathroom fix at short notice in Oldham. A very impressed Customer said: “They worked tirelessly to complete my repair, which may I say was excellent. They were very proficient and left the bathroom in a super state after cleaning up behind them. I would like to thank the boys for the very professional way they worked and for their excellent Customer relations.” We received a phone call from a Customer who wanted to officially thank Dean Ormonde and Matty Connor for being so polite and friendly when mowing her and her neighbours’ grass. Although they “never stop working” the Customer said she managed to interrupt them to give them a cup of tea and some biscuits!
Ashton Mark Wallis and Daryl y! bus y ver y, have “bin” ver
Robert Wales clearly made an impression on one Customer in an older persons’ development, after, not only fitting a new extractor fan, but also helping with another unrelated issue that he had been trying to solve for five years! The Customer told us: “He was extremely good and is a real credit to your company.” Jason Farrow and Farzam Moazenny’s efforts prompted a Customer to get in touch to say she was “chuffed” at their “amazing work” and that they did “a thorough and proper job.”
Brilliant stuff from Daniel Fahey and Ashley Brown who were thanked by a Customer for doing a great job on their site, despite it “not being an easy job sometimes.” The partnership made in heaven strikes again! This time Michael Blastland and Jaime Gunson were fed tea and toast as a thank you by one very happy Customer.
Before
After
13
“I love that we have a strong purpose” SOME QUICK QUESTIONS FOR OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING LISA LIVINGSTONE Hi Lisa! How are you
We’re making great progress on Right Tools for the Job. Our investment in new technology is certainly underway. Yes, delivering into a complex organisation like ours takes time and support but I’m confident we can work together to drive forward and deliver better results for our Customers.
Q settling in at PfP?
I’ve had a great few weeks spending
A time with Colleagues in our Preston and Edinburgh offices – and also a day with Gas Engineer Jonny Colley! I also want to say thank you to Stacey Baldwin for her fantastic support since I joined. I love that we have a strong purpose which inspires our People to work together and do great things for our Customers and our Communities.
Tell us something
Q we might not
know about you! I’m a fan of Lisa is already making ss! ine bus the strength sport friends across and competed myself I’ve also been reading for a few years. Now, I’m more of an through the feedback from the observer from the sidelines but I’m still team from the last Big Colleague an advocate for raising awareness of Survey and also spending time getting more females into the sport. with my team understanding their If you see me around in the Preston feedback and opportunities to continue gym, please make sure you say hello! making this a great place to work.
What are your key priorities for the near future?
Q off it is about my team and A First getting ready for winter – along with our field, contractor and Customer Hub Colleagues – to ensure we have we have the right support to deliver consistent service for our Customers and our Colleagues across our operation.
GO Live!
A
In the past few months, you've no doubt heard or seen lots about Salesforce and, in particular, Salesforce Field Services. And now we are gearing up for Go Live! The full release schedule is below – your trade or region will determine when you start to use the system. In the meantime, here’s what to expect throughout the Salesforce roll out:
5. EARLY LIFE SUPPORT
1. BRIEFING SESSIONS
We’re committed to ensuring a smooth transition with ongoing assistance. To ensure the system beds in as effortlessly as possible, we’ll also be available after we Go Live.
This is a mandatory step before your in-person training. You can easily access this module through Places Academy.
For more info, contact your Change Champions or visit the Synergy SharePoint site via Our Place.
Non gas, electric or Compliance North West
Oct
Nov 2023
Scotland & North
Dec
Jan 2024
Central
Feb
South
Mar
4. GO LIVE! The official launch of Salesforce Field Services where you’ll start to use the system in your day-to-day job.
Your managers have been conducting sessions to get you up to speed. If you haven't already booked your slot, please reach out to your line managers.
UPCOMING INTERNAL 2.ONLINE SALESFORCE MODULE TECHNOLOGY RELEASE YOUR SALESFORCE FIELD SERVICES UPDATE…
3. IN-PERSON TRAINING Look out for an Outlook invite for your face-to-face training session. If you have any queries, please contact your line manager or your trainer Stacey Thomas.
Apr
May
Jun
Gas, Electric & Compliance
Landscapes Voids & Planned
North West, Scotland & north, Central, South
TBC
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan 2025
Feb
Mar
Apr
InsidePlacesManagement#4
14
YOU SAID WE DID!
THANKS
...to eve ryone who too k part in our Com ms Surv ey. We’ll be in touch with the results soon!
A QUICK UPDATE ON HOW YOUR FEEDBACK IS DELIVERING GENUINE CHANGE
Your all-important feedback – through things like your emails, Roadshows and our surveys – directly channels into You Said We Did. The work continues but here are some of the changes we’ve made, based on Colleagues’ views and insights.
NEW COLLEAGUES You told us that we needed new People to deal with workloads and also take the business forward. A whole range of Colleagues in the back office and in the field have since been brought on board.
NEW PHONE LINE As outlined as part of our Effortless Repairs initiative (page 8), there is now a new direct phone line to schedulers outside of Scotland (01772 666060).
REWARDS & RECOGNITION You wanted more appreciation of the fantastic work you do each and every day, so PfP introduced a brand-new rewards and recognition scheme that can be accessed on Our Place Rewards.
VAN STOCK Over 300 new vans – complete with impressive specs – are currently on order. They may take a while to arrive due to global shortages of parts, but we’re doing all we can to get them here as soon as possible.
TRADE CARDS An increase to the limit on Travis Perkins cards was introduced to allow you to go about your work more effortlessly.
PHONES You told us you wanted better phones to replace the outdated Nokias you were using. Taking this on board, all Colleagues should now have new iPhones. InsidePlacesManagement#4
RACI You wanted better skills and career progression. So far, over 40 People have signed up to our Reward and Competency Initiative (RACI).
UNIFORMS Your concerns about delays and stock resulted in a revamp of how uniforms are supplied to Colleagues. Delivery times have improved and a better range of items is now available.
BIG COLLEAGUE SURVEY Your views are important all year round but taking part in the Big Colleague Survey is a brilliant way to get your voice heard. See page 2 for more details. As always, if you have any questions or feedback on how we can improve things, please email pm.suggestions@ placesforpeople.co.uk
15
HELPING HANDS! A CUSTOMER CONTACTED CEO GREG REED, SO THANKFUL THAT OUR PEOPLE COULD TURN AROUND A REALLY DISTRESSING SITUATION
A Customer, who lives on her own, was alarmed one evening by an intruder accessing her garden through a broken gate. She confronted the individual but in doing so left her dinner unattended, which, in turn, caused her kitchen to fill up with smoke. Worryingly, none of her three smoke detectors went off.
repaired, smoke
After the matter with the intruder was dealt with by the police, the Customer was really upset by both the lack of security in her garden but also the potential fire hazard she felt she was now living in. She then contacted Regional Maintenance Manager James Hall (above).
After this flurry of activity, the Customer emailed Greg Reed to say: “All the team were totally professional but caring, concerned and showed empathy.
repaired, smoke detectors replaced and various other outstanding jobs around the property (which also should’ve been dealt with previously) completed.
“It’s very noticeable the changes within your employees – they seem to be doing things a wee bit differently, and it certainly shows! Thank you!”
James recognised that the gate repair was something that we should’ve already addressed and acted quickly to allay the Customer’s other fears.
MENTAL HEALTH ROUND-UP ■ Another call-out to any Colleagues who are interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider! We’ve already had some fantastic interest – and are on our way to reaching the target of one MHFA for every 50 Colleagues – but we need to keep up the momentum! If interested, please get in touch with Amy.Nathan@ placesforpeople.co.uk, Rachael. Atherton@placesforpeople.co.uk or visit the I&B Yammer community. ■ By the time you read this, PfP will have celebrated National Inclusion Week. Part of this initiative was a Team Talk by Andy’s Man Club, which was open to everyone in PM, not just men. AMC has groups up and down the country that meet every Monday at 7pm. Check out andysmanclub.co.uk for more details.
So a fantastic team effort from Adam Cox, Liam Rossiter, Keith Marriott and Ryan Moughton (above right) saw the gate immediately
Colleague Hardship Fund When times are difficult, we are here for you… What is the Colleague Hardship Fund? This provides support to Colleagues who are facing, or at risk of facing, significant financial issues. Help could be needed for rent payments, unexpected costs or bills, essentials for home, food or children’s school uniforms etc.
How much does the fund provide? Colleagues can apply for a one-time payment of up to £500.
Do I need to pay it back? No, you do not need to repay any amount from the fund.
How do I apply? Please go to Our Place and search “Colleague Hardship Fund.” InsidePlacesManagement#4
16
THE BEST OF YAMMER
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES! WOODYOU BELIEVEIT!
We always love seeing the great work that Krzysztof Ploszaj gets up to. Need a brilliant new fence? Why not give Krzysztof a call?!
TRAININGDAY! Here’s apprentice Charlie McAndrew being trained on the “big kit” by “proper mower man” Gary French!
We love he aring your sto ries, big or small – pleas e keep po sting th e m on Yam mer!
DYNAMICDUO! GREENFINGERS!
Jody Holden completed his endpoint assessment in his multi trade apprenticeship, while Matthew Poyser did the same for level 3 CMI leadership and management. Well done both!
JEFF’SBACK! The NWS Gas team were certainly delighted that Jeff Johnson was able to return to work after “ten weeks of medical investigation and uncertainty.” To the massive relief of everyone, Jeff is fully on the road to recovery! Stay well Jeff!
Cheers to Chris Stringer for showing us the fruits of the team’s hard work. This tremendous veggie patch was only installed last winter – now look at it go!
SAYHELLOTO…!
A very warm welcome to the PM family for three new starters, Will Cook, Ryan Moughton and Michael Scott!
SPOTTHEDIFFERENCES! HER WIN £ 5 0 VOUC
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO… Find the eight differences between these two pictures and circle them. Once completed, take a picture of this page and (using your work email address ) send it to PM.suggestions @placesforpeople.co.uk Terms and conditions: Closing date is 10-11-2023. Editor’s decision is final. No alternative prizes. One winner will be picked from successfully completed pages. Only open to Places Management Colleagues.
CONGR A
TS! ...to Sim on Watt s who wo n last issue’s A mazon Gift Ca rd comp!