Issue Five - April 2013
Power Electrics Inside Magazine Inside:
+ Corporate Video Update + Celebrating 50 Years + New Staff and HR Updates
50 Years
1963 - 2013
www.powerelectrics.com
In the issue..
4 8
Corporate Video Update
The Power Electrics Story
New Staff at Power Electrics
12 2 Power Electrics
HR Updates
6
10
Staff News Blast from the Past
14
Dear All The year 2013 marks a special times in the history of Power Electrics as it marks 50 Years since the company was first founded in 1963. With just three people, a small yard in Stoke Gifford and a handful of generators the company has today grown into one of the biggest generator companies in the UK. The aim of the next 4 issues of the newsletter is to look back at the history of Power Electrics with facts, stories and pictures. With this in mind we would love to hear your stories of Power Electrics. Do you have any old pictures at home you would like to share? Along with the review of Power Electrics over the last 50 years, we will also be including all the regular information that we have seen in the newsletter over the last year. As always we are ever in need of news stories whether they are personal or Power Electrics related. Please email any suggestions to leighg@powerelectrics.com or come to talk to Leigh Griffiths in the marketing department.
50 Years
1963 - 2013
3 April 2012
Corporate Video Power Electrics
22/02/2013
As everyone will be aware, on Friday 22nd February, we had a film crew in to capture a snapshot of Power Electrics at the Bristol Headquarters. The goal of the video is to have it sitting on front page of the website so that it will give visitors a idea of what Power Electrics offer along with the size and scale of the company. The film crew came to site and captured several snapshots of people working along with scripted and interview sections. With around a total of 120 minutes of footage captured, along with a timelapse video of hire yard and front of factory, the footage was then taken back to be edited into a corporate video which will last around 2 minutes. Taking place in a professional video editing studio the footage will be mixed with an host of graphics to get the message across that we wish in our corporate video. Corporate videos are becoming more commonplace in businesses around the world. Another advantage of having a video sitting on your website is that it adds benefits to your website in getting a better rating with Google, and therefore pushing us up the rankings
4 Power Electrics
with the aim of getting our search results onto page 1 of Google and other search engines. Below is a list of top 5 benefits that an online video will bring to Power Electrics: 1. Customers watch video more than they read text on a web page. Having a video there to supplement the text increases the effectiveness of the web page. 2. Builds brand legitmacy and makes the company appear more authentic, which increases leads. 3. Boosts site traffic because the video will be able to be found on social video channels like YouTube and Vimeo. 4. Adds personality and a personal touch by showing the face of the company’s employees. 5. Educates potential customers to the benefits to our products and services. The new video should be with us very soon! As soon as the new video is edited and ready to view it will be posted on the intranet for all to see along with it being integrated onto the company’s website.
5 April 2012
The Power Electrics Story 2013 marks a special year for Power Electics, as the company is now in its 50th Year of business. Many people probably know the story of Power Electrics, although as the company is growing there may be people who do not. So as part of a series of stories set to feature in the 2013 newsletters the first one will focus on the story of Power Electrics. The company was founded in 1963 by Ambrose Pullin and his brother Patrick in a small yard in Stoke Gifford. They started their business with four ex military Generators. Ambrose as a qualified electrician and Patrick as a time served plant fitter - and together began to build the foundations of the company. With their hard work and common sense approach they turned the new idea of generator rental into a successful business. Ambrose`s wife Christine joined the company shortly after it was formed and soon outgrew their yard in Stoke Gifford to move to Morley Road in Staple Hill.
Power Electrics Stoke Gifford Yard
Following the death of Patrick in 1986 Ambrose and Christine carried on with the business. At this time both Ambrose`s sons, John and Andy, started to work in the company part time while continuing with their education. While keeping in touch with the business both were encouraged to pursue their own ambitions and careers. John joined the Midland Electricity Board and completed an electrical apprenticeship and Andy joined a major retail company and trained as a Manager. In 1989 John started full time at Power Electrics and Andy a year later. John and Andy took over the helm as directors of the company following Ambroses retirement in 1998. In 2002 the company out grew the yard space at Staple Hill and therefore purchased the building next door, knocking down the wall between the two premises to leave a large yard space for the rental generators. This was a short-term measure as the company had already started to look for a suitable piece of land in North Bristol to build a completely new head office and depot.
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Left to Right - Andy, Roger Berry MP, John, Tony, Christine, Ambrose
Power Electrics
One of the key considerations was to select a location that would not impact on the lives of local residents. Due to the fast growth of the company, the number of heavy good vehicles operating from Staple Hill was increasing along with noise levels. The company was also eager to ensure the move caused as little disturbance as possible to the 70 employees who worked for the company. By 2003 the directors had found a suitable location for the new Head Office and depot at the former Dinkie Heels factory in St Ivel Way, Warmley. The old factory shell and land required major redevelopment, including complete new offices.
After winning a Western Power Distribution contract to supply standby generators to the electricity board, Power Electrics invested in a new Depot in Bridgend, Wales in order to better serve the contract in Wales and in order to win new jobs in the country. Opened in 2007 the depot marks an important milestone in the companies history as growth continued. Soon the site on St Ivel Way became too small for the company again and the Directors started to seek a new location to relocate the headquarters, and that ideal location happened to be just up the road to an old distribution factory. Along with the opening of the new depot, 2007 saw Power Electrics win the Family Business of the Year and Bristol Business of the Year. With over 350 people in attendance the Gala Dinner was an excellent reward of Power Electrics achievements to date. The new facility provided the vital extra space needed to handle the increased volumes of business and customised to enable the company to enhance their renowned customer service and logistic efficiency. The official move into the new site was 2008. Today in 2013, Power Electrics celebrate their 50th Year in business and our proud is still run by the same values and same family since 1963. There is a bright future ahead for Power Electrics and another 50 years down the road will surely see many more milestones for the Bristol born company.
7 April 2012
New Staff at Power Electrics Luke Smart HGV Apprentice Joined: 2nd January 2013 Location: Bristol Depot
Luke is the third apprentice starting at Power Electrics this academic year. His line manager is Alex Harris.
David Wiltshire Welder David has joined Power Electrics as a Welder in the Fabrications Department. His line manager is Lee Zanelli.
Joined: 7th January 2013 Location: Bristol Depot
John Watkins Field Service Engineer Joined: 11th February Location: Field Service
John joined Power Electrics in February and will be working in the field as a Service Engineer. John’s line manager is Graham Hill.
Tomas Pletnicky Temporary Fabricator/Welder Tomas joined Power Electrics in February and works within the Fabrication department. His line manager is Lee Zanelli.
Joined: 21st February 2013 Location: Bristol Depot
Richard Humphries LGV Driver Joining: March Location: Various
Paul will be joining Power Electrics in March and will be working in the transport department in Bristol.
Richard will be joining Power Electrics in March 2013 as a LGV Driver.
Paul Wiltshire Logistics Scheduling Assistant Joining: March 2013 Location: Bristol Depot
Jo Parkes Personnel & Training Advisor
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Joining: March Power Bristol Electrics Location: Depot
Jo will be joining Power Electrics in the HR department in March 2013.
Department Updates COMPANY Power Electrics join IHEEM
QUALITY ISO 9001
Power Electrics has recently become a member of The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM). As we conduct a lot of business in the Healthcare sector especially in our service department. IHEEM’s primary purpose is as a professional development organisation, to keep its members up to date with developing technology and changing regulations. This offers Power Electrics an excellent opportunity to get our name infront of healthcare engineers and managers and present CPD courses around the subject of Generators and Fuel Maintenance.
The certification external audit for ISO 9001 will be taking place in August, all areas of the business will be sampled. Internal audits are currently being conducted throughout all departments to ensure that the high standards we currently have is maintained to achieve the ISO 9001 standard.
HEALTH & SAFETY ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 We have recently undergone a successful re-certification external audit for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, all areas of the business were sampled with some areas of improvement. It is imperative that your continued support is offered on a regular basis to ensure we maintain the Health & Safety and Environmental standards.
TRAINING The Cuban Club In March Power Electrics held a training course for the Technical Works Group at the British Embassy in Havana. The course was held over a week and included the FG Wilson Intermediate level courses on the Gensets in operation at the post. All five of the delegate passed the required level to receive FG Wilson certification. Below is a picture of Neil Shackleton on location in Havana with the delegates.
9 April 2012
HR Updates
Parental leave entitlement will increase from 13 weeks to 18 weeks on 8th March 2013 and can be taken up until a child’s fifth birthday or fifth anniversary of an adoption (18th birthday if a child is disabled). Currently, eligible employees with children are able to take up to 13 Maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay increase: weeks of unpaid leave to care for their children until their child’s fifth birthday, the fifth anniversary of an adoption or standard rate of maternity, theThe 18th birthday of statutory a disabled child. paternity and adoption pay will incr
The Government has announced the following incr
from 1st April 2012. Statutory sick pay will increase from £81.60 to £85.85
An employee must have at least a year’s service with the company before they qualifyincrease for unpaid parental leave and Minimum Wage Rates from 1st October 2012 to unfortunately foster parents do not qualify. No more than four weeks of unpaid parental leave can be taken in one * £6.19 - the of main for workers aged 21 and over year, in blocks onerate working week, with employees needing * £4.98 -written the 18-20 rate A ‘week’ equals the length of time to provide notice. £3.68 - the 16-17 rate for workers abovesoschool age but under 1 an * employee normally works in a week, if anleaving employee normally daysrate, a week, one ‘week’ * £2.65works - the three apprentice for apprentice underwould 19 or 19 or over and in comprise of three days. STATUTORY PAY
(next review April 2013 - rates from April are in brackets)
Maternity/Adoption pay - SMP/SAP is paid for 39 weeks. Pay rate for first 6 weeks of SMP:
90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings. SMP remaining weeks/SAP: £135.45 (£136.78) or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is less. Sick pay - £85.85 (£86.70) per week providing employees meet criteria
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REDUNDANCY PAY
(next review February 2014) Pay rate - 0.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged under 22 (1 week’s pay is calculated at £450 or the weekly amount if it is less). 1 week’s pay for each year of service for employees between the ages of 22 and 40. 1.5 weeks’s pay for each year of service for employees aged 41 and older.
reases:
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE (Next review October 2013)
rease from £128.73 to £135.45 per week per week from 6th 2012. Hourly pay April rate £6.19 for workers aged 21 and over, £4.98
o:
18 n the
for workers aged 18 to 20, and £3.68 for workers aged 16 to 17. Apprentice minimum wage £2.65 per hour.
AUTO-ENROLMENT PENSION SCHEME Further information on Auto-enrolment and how it may affect employees in April 2014 can be found in the Works Council Minutes published on the intranet. However if you would like information on joining Company Pension Scheme then please contact Personnel. first year the of their apprenticeship
11 April 2012
STAFF
news
APRIL 2013 Issue 5
Retiring There are two members of staff retiring very soon. We wish both of them all the best in their future plans for a relaxing time away from Power Electrics. John Pettit, Parts Supervisor is retiring at the end of March and has been working at Power Electrics since 22nd August 2005. Pam Beattie, Personnel & Training Advisor is retiring at the end of April 2013 and has been working at Power Electrics since May 2010.
Neil Shackleton Not too Cool for School Mr Shackleton has returned to school to teach children the importance of maths in the workplace.
Pam Beats Personal Best Congratulations go to Pam Beattie for recently beating her half marathon personal best by finishing the Bath Half Marathon in 2 hours 8 minutes, knocking 13 minutes off last years time.
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Lionheart Cyclosportive On 17th March Guy Elliott and Derek Clew took part in a 100 kilometer cycle event from Longleat House all in the name of fun. Prior to the event Guy’s goal was not to fall off his bike infront of the other 1500 riders whereas Derek aimed to get up the 2 Cat 4 climbs without having to get off his bike to push. As you can see from the picture below - the weather wasn’t exactly like a warm spring day - both did excellent and finished the event in around 5 hours.
Feedback
“I would personally like to thank you and Rob and all the Power Electrics team that helped with Winter Wonder Land at Hyde Park. Thanks once again and look forward to working together in 2013.� Power Logistics
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Blast From
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14 Power Electrics
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15 April 2012
Brr. There’s nothing quite like a brisk midmorning dip to get your heart rate going. Other health insurers might say, “well done.” But we’ll give you more than a pat on the back. From things that make staying healthy cheaper
and
easier
-
like
National
Trust
passes
and
half
price
gym
memberships’ - to motivating rewards like discounts on fun ways to entertain the family and even luxury cruises. And we’ll always ensure you have access to the best possible medical care. So isn’t it time you were rewarded for living life well?
rewarded Power Electrics offer Private Health Insurance with Pruhealth after successful completion of the probation period. For further information please contact Personnel.