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REDUCING FOOD WASTE How can authorities reduce food waste and recycle more where food waste is unavoidable?

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AIR QUALITY

TECH AND INTEGRATION Exploring how the technology sector can be involved in a place based approach to local services

PLUS: FLEET MANAGEMENT | LIGHTING | PARKING | RISK MANAGEMENT

Shared service success: collaboration key The LGA has reported that more than a billion pounds has been saved by councils sharing services. Last week, the Health and Social Care Committee stressed that collaboration, rather than competition, is a better way for the NHS to respond to the challenges it faces. The same argument can easily be made for the wider public sector, and the way councils can operate with less money and fewer resources. The latest shared services map outlines the 626 individual shared service arrangements currently operational across the country, which have so far resulted in £1.34 billion of efficiency savings. As Lord Porter said alongside the launch of the latest map, councils have embraced efficiency and innovation to tackle growing concerns, and collaboration is now evident within every aspect of the wider public sector. As ongoing Brexit uncertainties threaten to prove as divisive as the original referendum vote, the benefits of working together cannot be stressed enough.

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Lastly, we now know that either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt will be the new leader of the Conservatives, and de facto the new Prime Minister. Will the victor call a general election before the end of year? How will Labour respond? Do we face another referendum? The same questions we have faced for the last few years remain as unanswered as ever. Michael Lyons, editor

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Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Contents

Contents Government Business 26.3 07 News

£1 billion in savings from shared council services; further cuts to care services warning made; and MPs warn that new housing target is in jeopardy

15 Air quality

Many local authorities have been ordered to get their air pollution levels down to legal limits. ClientEarth’s Dominic Phinn discusses the progress made so far and what more is needed from local and national government

19 Fleet management

While the electric vehicle evolution is global, the impacts will be local, and local authorities will be expected to play their part in delivering a robust charging infrastructure, says the Renewable Energy Association’s Daniel Brown

23 Parking

The government has revealed new national parking data standards, hoping for all parking data released by local councils and companies to support the development of apps to make parking easier for drivers. We take a look at the plan, as well as the eclectic list winners from the British Parking Awards 2019

27 Fire safety

If a fire detector isn’t installed correctly, it might work when tested, but not actually activate in the event of a fire. The Fire Industry Association discuss the issue

33 Risk management

READ MORE tinyurl.com/y4d9jgp3

The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) North has said that the Northern Powerhouse is being ‘undermined’ by austerity despite signs of economic growth. Five years after its launch, the think tank said that the economy had ‘moved in the right direction’ but more children were living in poor households. Andy Burnham, mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said the project was at risk of ‘fizzling out’, despite the government pointing to record numbers of people were in work across the north. The Northern Powerhouse has seen success in devolving power by creating five new metro mayors and a regional transport body - Transport for the North. However, IPPR North claims that the government had undermined the project while making cuts in public spending, with the north having seen an overall £3.6 billion reduction in real terms since 2009-10, while south-east and south-west England saw a £4.7 billion rise. In its analysis, IPPR North found positive changes, including: 34,520 more jobs in professional, scientific and technical jobs in 2019 compared with 2014, plus a further 54,523 jobs in manufacturing roles; ‘marginally’ higher economic growth in the north than the national average – a 10.7 per cent rise between 2014 and 2017, compared with 10.6 per cent for the UK as a whole and 9.7 per cent for the UK excluding London; and employment in the north increased about seven per cent, compared to the UK average of just over six per cent. Nonetheless, among the negative changes, the think tank highlighted how 800,000 northern children are living in poor households, a rise of about 200,000 since 2014, and how weekly pay across the north has risen by £12 (2.4 per cent), against a national average increase of £19 (3.5 per cent) in real terms. READ MORE tinyurl.com/y4uzx89k

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Many local authorities have been ordered to Illegal air quality plans get their air pollution levels down to legal and the ask of local authorities limits. But without national coordination Over the last twelve months, we’ve seen and adequate funding, a patchwork of the publication of the long awaited Road to plans is emerging across the country. Zero strategy and, more recently, the Clean Every year, air pollution across the Air strategy. Such national attention is well UK contributes to the equivalent of overdue and welcome but these strategies 40,000 early deaths and affects the lack ambition, binding targets and ultimately lives of thousands of people who have fail to illustrate how illegal and harmful no choice but to breathe dirty air. levels of air pollution will be addressed. Polluted air affects us all, but particularly As a result of successive government failures the young, the elderly and other vulnerable to deliver a lawful air quality plan, ClientEarth members of society. The link between air has been forced to take ministers to court. It has pollution and a range of chronic health launched three successful legal challenges over conditions such as strokes, cancer, heart the past eight years. As part of court-ordered and asthma attacks are well established. national plans, government has directed 36 We have recently seen reports English local authorities to come up with published linking poor air their own proposals to tackle illegal quality to other forms levels of pollution in their areas The lac of illness such as in the shortest possible time. of lead k ership premature births In 2016, the High Court laid from ce and stunted out the legal tests for air quality n govern tral lung growth plans. These included the aim in children. A to achieve compliance as inexcus ment is a b study published soon as possible; to choose le bu shouldn last month in a route to compliance which ’t be us t it ed by local au the Journal reduces human exposure thoritie of Psychiatry, as quickly as possible; r e a s o n to jus s as showed links between exposure inaction tify to air pollution and mental health issues. As the mountain of evidence exposing the ways that air pollution negatively impacts on our health continues to grow, it is inexcusable that air pollution remains at illegal levels across the country.

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Written by Dominic Phinn

ClientEarth’s Dominic Phinn discusses the progress so far and what more is needed from local and national government

Local authorities – what have we seen so far? Given the implications of delivering measures to meet these requirements, national coordination and significant funding is essential. Instead it has all been left to local authorities that are already under strain and in many cases do not have the resources, expertise or policy levers to address the problem. Without national coordination and adequate funding, we are seeing a patchwork of plans emerging across the country. For example, Oxford has backtracked on plans to ban private vehicles in their planned zero emission zone. Southampton has reneged on its commitment to establish a Clean Air Zone. Greater Manchester has announced that its Clean Air Zone will not include cars. There is concern that it will not meet legal limits in ‘the shortest time possible’. Elements of the Clean Air Zone will only come into force by 2023. Derby submitted its business case to government recently and confirmed that it will not implement a Clean Air Zone. A large number of local authorities, including those in Derby, Southampton, Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol and Bath, seem to have missed legal deadlines for the production of final plans. Bath has backtracked on its commitment to a Class D Clean Air Zone and is proposing a Class C Clean Air Zone for the city centre instead. Rotherham and Sheffield have proposed a Class C Clean Air Zone. Birmingham is showing leadership, opting for a Class D Clean Air Zone. Leeds has committed to introducing a Class C Clean Air Zone. Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside consultation opened on the 4 March and includes consideration of a number of options including a Class D Clean Air Zone or a city centre Low Emission Zone with bridge tolls. E

Air quality

Cleaning the air: what’s been done and what more is needed?

and ensure that compliance with the limit values is not just possible, but likely. Furthermore, it ordered that ‘the determining consideration has to be the efficacy of the measure in question and not their cost’.

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Responsibility lies with national and local government It is clear that we need urgent action to tackle illegal levels of air pollution that are harming people across the country. Clean Air Zones are one of the most effective ways to

We’ve seen the publication of the long awaited Road to Zero strategy and, more recently, the Clean Air strategy. Such national attention is well overdue and welcome but these strategies lack ambition do this but they need to be complemented by help and support, particularly to those on low incomes and small businesses, to move to cleaner forms of transport. Responsibility lies with central government to provide funding and support to businesses and individuals. The scrappage scheme announced by the Mayor of London will help people and businesses to adjust to restrictions through the ULEZ. The £25 million that the mayor has committed to help low income families switch to cleaner vehicles needs to be matched by national government and scaled up as a national means tested scheme that is part-funded by the car industry. It should help businesses to purchase ultra-low or zero emission vehicles, or pay for a public transport season ticket, car club membership, bicycles, and so on. We know that people are ready to consider low and zero emission alternatives if the price is right. Nearly two-thirds of motorists (61 per cent) say they would consider purchasing an electric or hybrid car when they next look to buy, according to a survey of over 20,000 AA members. However EV sales are not

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 A wider problem Air pollution is not of course an issue that only affects those regions that have been formally directed to deliver plans. There remain many areas across the country that fall outside the scope of these plans but where local authorities continue to measure pollution at levels above existing national air quality objectives. Furthermore, the vast majority of towns and cities in the UK suffer from levels of pollution that are above World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline levels. To ensure that everyone’s health is protected, action is needed to reduce pollution across the country. In July last year the Prime Minister committed to introduce new clean air legislation as part of the upcoming Environment Bill. This is a once in a generation opportunity to introduce new law enshrining stronger binding objectives on air quality that act to better protect people’s health and are at least in line with WHO guidelines. The legislation should establish clear duties to ensure that binding targets are not simply set and subsequently ignored, with responsibility lying with those most able to deliver pollution reductions at scale rather than simply relying on individual local authority commitments.

increasing at the rate predicted, according to AutoTrader. We need to see changes to taxation such as to VED and company car tax to increase take up of cleaner vehicles. This has worked in Norway and the Netherlands, it is time that the UK showed the same leadership to match ambition with action. While responsibility lies ultimately with national government, the plans from local authorities are also subject to the legal test set out by the courts in 2016. The lack of leadership from central government is inexcusable but it shouldn’t be used by local authorities as reason to justify inaction and a watering down of measures that will result in plans failing to meet what is legally required of them. The months ahead will be crucial and attention will be focused on all levels of government to make sure that plans submitted are effective in finally protecting people’s health. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.clientearth.org

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State of play The diseases associated with poor air quality in buildings are more developed than we think. Respiratory complications, allergies, eye irritation and fatigue are the most common symptoms. Statistics show that millions of people are affected every year in the UK, so many hundreds of thousands are permanently off work. This corresponds to several million days lost per year. We are talking about damage amounting to more than one billion pounds including the processing costs.

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Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

THE AWARD WINNING ISUZU D-MAX. THE NO.1 PICK-UP FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

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Plus, in addition to the core Isuzu D-Max range, Isuzu are proud to offer diverse potential with customised fleet vehicles too. The CV Show in Birmingham saw the unveiling of a whole host of collaborations, including vehicles for SSE – one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing energy companies, the RAC, BT and Amey.

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THE AWARD WINNING ISUZU D-MAX. QUITE CLEARLY, IT JUST WORKS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISUZU D-MAX RANGE, VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK OR YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. #Over 40 MPG figure applies to manual transmission models. MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Official fuel figures for the Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 30.4 - 38.7 (9.3 - 7.3). Extra Urban 40.9 - 50.4 (6.9 - 5.6). Combined 36.2 - 45.6 (7.8 - 6.2). CO2 emissions 163 - 205g/km. For full details please contact your local Isuzu dealer or visit isuzu.co.uk *3.5 tonne towing applies to all 4x4 models. **125,000 miles/5 year (whichever comes first) warranty applies to all new Isuzu D-Max models. Terms and conditions apply. Visit isuzu.co.uk

Fleet management Written by Daniel Brown

Support for local authority EV goals While the electric vehicle evolution is global, the impacts will be local, and local authorities will be expected to play their part in delivering a robust charging infrastructure. The Renewable Energy Association’s Daniel Brown shares some advice on how local authorities can champion electric vehicles Do you know what the councils of Watford, supporting developers, and the consumer Westminster and Dundee all have in common protection schemes that are in place. with the cities of Fremont in California, That’s why the REA’s EV group developed Hangzhou in China, and Wrocław, Poland? a report last year, called ‘Taking Charge: It’s that they all are playing key roles in the How Local Authorities can champion electric electrification of the UK’s car and van fleet. vehicles’, which is designed to support Change is coming fast. The Committee council officers, councillors, developers, on Climate Change’s analysis that 60 and engaged individuals who seek to per cent of car sales need to be electric support this important transition. by 2030 to meet our carbon targets The development of the right types of could well be achieved earlier as the infrastructure, particularly in terms of where manufacturing hubs that are home to it’s located and operated, is critical to both Tesla, Geely and Nissan alike continue to ensuring that the consumer experience of champion battery powered transport. this shift is preferable to the current system But while this great electric vehicle – EVs needs to save our citizens money as evolution may be global, the impacts well as improve our local environment. will be local, and local authorities will be Our Taking Charge report puts into the public expected to play their part in delivering domain a host of pragmatic proposals, the affordable, reliable, and the product of interviews with a accessible EV infrastructure range of local authorities and that will allow us to charge point developers Numero reduce emissions and cut by the REA – and the us costs for consumers. paper is finding support local in many corners, from authorit Supporting local parliamentarians doing s ies are authorities to councillors and u b amoun stantial Consumer demand local government t s for EVs and a growing trade groups. improvin of work g central government t h e EV infrastru push for the deployment Taking action cture of infrastructure will The report proposes a impact local authorities in range of actions, including a host of ways. Officers need appointing an ‘EV Car Czar’ to be thinking ahead about the from the council body to make grants and tax breaks in place, how to it easier for charge point developers to encourage complementary technologies such rapidly install the equipment needed. as solar and energy storage, and both sharing It urges local authorities to make the and learning from best practice in terms of ‘Milton Keynes Promise’ to ensure

that on-street charge points are made available near to those who own EVs. Other recommendations include making it easier for residents to request on-street charge points, investigating how solar and energy storage technologies can power our cars, and creating an ‘EV Plan’ within the local authority, which allocates a budget and identifies clear deliverables. Giving benefits for early EV drivers, such as free parking or allowing EVs to use bus lanes is also proposed, as is commiting to purchasing EVs as part of the council’s transport fleet, and working with bus service operators and contractors to encourage their fleets to go electric. The report also suggests establishing an ‘energy board’ of councillors and staff that looks at how the local authority can reduce costs from sustainable energy technologies, and how to introduce new income streams as funding from central government falls. Education is key Numerous local authorities are doing substantial amounts of work improving the EV infrastructure but if people don’t know then the uptake will not follow. A major example of this is the installation of onstreet charge points, if these charge points are not heavily promoted and visible for the public to see then the benefits of installing the points are reduced. Campaigns to promote awareness are therefore a must. It must also be ensured that residents can find charge points by making them visible and signposted, and connecting local authority websites with the ZapMap API, which lists the charge points and their status across the UK. Car clubs The second large scheme that councils and local athorities should consider is starting a ‘Car-Club’ with EVs. This can be an efficient way of getting more EVs on the road and getting more private investment involved. E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Fleet management

 The most significant commitment to an EV Car-Club is currently one which was set up by Transport for Scotland in 2016 and is run by Carplus. The programme has supported the introduction of 82 EVs to car clubs which was more than the rest of the UK combined at that time. Investment to provide charge points at hubs for multi-modal journeys including installations at Park & Ride sites and 11 ferry sites has also been provided. This can be scaled down to a smaller level by councils. An example of a smaller scheme is in Oxford. The North Oxford E-car club currently charges £4.50 an hour including insurance and power. The cars are available 24/7, 365 days a year and are placed in convenient locations. The range for the north Oxford car is 75 miles which is sufficient for local journeys. Best practice The REA and its members – not just in the EV group but in our solar and energy storage sectors as well – are seeing remarkable initiatives from local government already. Dundee is championing charging hubs with on-site storage and solar, and others are also realising that it’s not just about environmental progress – this historic shift is creating scope for new local authority revenue streams in an era of declining funding. Other groups are also highlighting the opportunity of new technologies for local authorities, such BRE whose recent Solar Carport Guide highlights how revenues can

The Committee on Climate Change’s analysis that 60 per cent of car sales need to be electric by 2030 to meet our carbon targets could well be achieved earlier be increased from council parking spaces. The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill compels the government to report on the progress of charge point roll out and that would empower the government to compel stakeholders beyond fuel forecourts (forecourts are already in the Bill) to install charging points, such as commercial properties with public car parks. Numerous amendments relate to empowering local government or combined authority mayors. Others also relate to building standards – the REA agrees with the view that new homes and new commercial properties should be built with the appropriate trenching, ducting, and wiring in place so as to make charge point installation in the future faster and cheaper. We would go a step beyond and also make the case for three-phase power supplies to be installed to the door in new homes. Permitted development rights is another issue, which relates to expediting the development of rapid charging hubs, particularly alongside major motorways. A number of developers are developing, or preparing to develop, ‘charging hubs’ across the UK.

National Grid has it’s own plans for 50 ‘ultra‑rapid’ charging hubs strategically located across the UK near major motorways. Commenting on the guide, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, chief executive at the Renewable Energy Association, said: “While the drivers of this historic shift may be global, the impacts will be local and local authorities will be on the front lines. The expectation that a reliable, accessible, and affordable charging infrastructure will be in place is, in the eyes of much of the public, the responsibility of local government. “We hope that this pragmatic action plan can equip all local authorities, even those with constrained budgets, to tackle the challenges and opportunities of electric vehicles head on. Ultimately, the goal is improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions, and reduced running costs for consumers.” L

This article first featured in GreenFleet 120. FURTHER INFORMATION www.r-e-a.net

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

E Q U I P M E N T A N D S O L U T I O N S M A N A G E M E N T, PA R K I N G

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Contemporary and 1960s car parks, school streets schemes, charity fundraisers, cycle hubs and digital payment systems made up the eclectic list winners at the British Parking Awards 2019 As part of the British Parking Awards 2019, Making progress with presented annually by Parking Review parking technology magazine since 2002, a number of public As mentioned, Canterbury City Council picked sector and local authority organisations drove up two prizes at this year’s prestigious British away with awards, particularly Essex County Parking Awards. The council won in both the Council, collecting three trophies, while categories it was nominated for – Parking as a Canterbury City Council won two awards. Service, and Parking Technology. The Parking as Over 600 people from the world of a Service award was for the council’s new parking gathered at the Royal online, paperless permits system, Lancaster on 8 March to learn which, in partnership with New who had won the coveted software company Imperial, standar glass trophies. As well as saw the development of data co dised Essex and Canterbury, an ‘end-to-end’ digital other local authorities process to replace hard to smo uld lead other a collecting trophies copy permits that were nd easier p included the London stuck on windscreens. method ayment Borough of Waltham Residents can now s for pa Forest, Manchester fully apply for and r right ac k City Council, Newcastle manage on and offross theing City Council and street permits and visitor country Southwark Council. permits online, removing Waltham Forest Council the need to go to the scooped the Green Parking council’s offices, which they Award at the ceremony, having had to do with paper permits. also been awarded the Transport And in the Parking Technology Borough of the Year Award at the London category, it was the council’s new ANPR Transport Awards the day before. The awards system that scooped the award, in partnership were recognition of the work of the council’s with software firm Sagoss. ANPR is currently highways team who have delivered the Enjoy being rolled out to 16 car parks across the Waltham Forest programme in recent years. The programme, which has been funded by Transport for London’s Mini-Holland initiative, has seen the council reprioritise the borough’s roads to encourage more walking and cycling and improve road safety in the borough. Through the scheme the council has introduced two part-time road closures, built more than 22km of segregated cycle lanes, improved 104 pedestrian crossings, introduced 43 road filters to motor vehicles and provided almost 300 Bikehangars on residential streets as well as 472 secure cycle parking spaces beside the borough’s Tube and train stations.

Parking

Parking excellence and increased use of innovation district, including the three park and ride sites. It follows a successful trial in four car parks over the last two years that received positive feedback from customers and saw more than 10,000 online parking accounts created. This success led to the development of the new system with Sagoss, and once the rollout is complete, Canterbury district will have more council-run car parks with ANPR than any local authority in the country. Ben Fitter-Harding, chairman of the council’s Regeneration and Property Committee, said: “Both of these projects have seen us using the latest technology to totally transform the way residents, businesses and visitors use our parking facilities. A lot of careful planning, invention and hard work has gone into them and it’s great to have this formally recognised with two awards. “I’d like to thank our respective partners, Imperial and Sagoss, for their commitment and support, along with Peter Davies and the whole team at Canterbury City Council for making it happen. Even though Canterbury is now one of the leading and most innovative councils for providing parking services, it is our intention to both continue improving them and also to digitally transform other council services, building on everything we have learned and striving to pick up more awards along the way.” Among other winners, the Parking in the Community Award was given to Manchester City Council & NSL for the Wythenshawe Action Plan, Priory Street Car Park, Colchester, was recognised in the Special Projects Award; E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Helping to secure your assets by adopting an Evergreen IT strategy OGEL IT assists customers in reducing the potential operational impact of upgrading systems and take steps towards better data security and asset management

Companies are becoming increasingly concerned about the threats to the security of their data assets and are looking for help in ensuring they have taken appropriate steps to mitigate the risks. Some organisations are still reluctant to patch or upgrade their systems as they are so worried about the potential operational impact that they end up not doing it at all! With the modern cloud commodity services that are updated and maintained by established organisations the decision to upgrade is often taken out of the consumers hands which can be worrying but helps ensure exposure to new vulnerabilities are minimised across back end systems. This however does not resolve the same issue with client operating systems and associated software packages.

Office 365 With the introduction of Office 365 those back-end servers providing Exchange, SharePoint and file storage has removed the associated problems with management and patching away but these issues remain for the devices and their operating systems accessing the services. Windows 10 and Office 365 click to run goes a long way to extending this evergreen IT model out to the desktop and with the right implementation and operational procedures can create a secure and easily maintained environment. Evergreen IT strategy OGEL IT has transitioned several customers to Window 10 and Office 365 helping them to embrace the ‘Evergreen IT’ strategy resulting in a significant increase in the

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

update compliance of their end user devices estate and a reduction in the overhead on operational teams to patch and maintain the environment. We work with our customers to design an autonomous pathing cycle for their Windows estate that works for them by maximising exposure to early release issues and minimising the potential impact on business operations. We encourage our customers who have previously outsourced the management of their end user estate to external providers to take a more active role in the management of their devices which improves the quality of the service to the end users and reduces cost. Where organisations don’t have the capability in-house we work with them to help build it up by providing a flexible support service that can adapt overtime as the internal capability grows or where they just don’t have the headcount or desire to take on the management we have done that for them. The team Our entire team started their careers in IT support and have been in receipt of poorly designed solutions and services that don’t consider the associated operational overheads and therefore everything we design and deliver takes this into account and we take great pride in the quality solutions and services we deliver to our customers. If you would like to find out more about what we do and how we can help you then please get in touch via email, phone or our website. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.ogelit.com 01438 567551

Parking

 elsewhere, Marion Fisher, Dorset Councils Partnership, won the The MiPermit Inspiration Award. The Communication Award was presented to Essex Parking Partnership, with the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) winning the Parking Partnerships Award. The Best New Car Park Award was awarded to Lincoln Central Car Park, while David Taylor, of London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham & Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, won the Parking Person of the Year Award Lastly, the Parking Team of the Year accolade was taken home by Newcastle City Council Parking Services. Parking data standards The government has revealed new national parking data standards, hoping for all parking data released by local councils and companies to support the development of apps to make parking easier for drivers. Created by the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) and funded by the Department for Transport, the standardised data could lead to smoother and easier payment methods right across the country and could transform the way we park, in the same way that the Oyster card transformed commuting in London. By helping to streamline the parking experience and making it easier for drivers to find a suitable parking place, the government says that the standards could ultimately free up

An intelligent parking system will not only make life easier for commuters, but could also improve footfall to our town centres – meaning both people and local businesses benefit crucial space, easing congested cities and boosting British high streets. To ease the introduction of the standards, four research and development projects in Manchester City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and across a consortium of South Essex Councils will receive a share of £1 million to start putting the APDS standards into practice, with a further seven projects being commissioned to identify ways to open up local authority data. Michael Ellis, Future of Mobility Minister, said: “We are on the brink of a revolution for the future of transport, with groundbreaking technologies creating huge opportunities for cleaner, cheaper, safer and more reliable journeys. We now need to ensure the infrastructure surrounding these technologies is in place and can accommodate these innovations. The new parking data standards will bring government, private organisations and technologies together to ensure a smoother parking experience for drivers.”

Nigel Williams, chair of the British Parking Association and chair of the APDS, said: “The new standards will enable the next generation of apps and connected cars to find a parking space, park and pay - with little or no intervention from the driver. The involvement of the British Parking Association in APDS has ensured that the UK is at the forefront of innovation to improve the customer experience of parking.” Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Hunting for a parking space and then checking if you have the right change to pay for it isn’t the best start to any shopping experience, but it can be the reality more often than not. An intelligent parking system will not only make life easier for commuters, but could also improve footfall to our town centres – meaning both people and local businesses benefit.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.britishparkingawards.co.uk

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Fire protection for people and property Nobel Fire Systems have 15+ years of experience providing special risk fire protection to numerous public sector organisations, including governmental, local authorities, emergency services, NHS trusts, hospitals, schools and prisons. Waste plants to train power cars, library repositories to kitchen cooking appliances, we offer a bespoke service from initial risk analysis through to design, installation and ongoing maintenance.

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Fire safety

Are your smoke detectors correctly installed? If a fire detector isn’t installed correctly, it might work when tested, but not actually activate in the event of a fire. The Fire Industry Association explains what you need to know, with a specific focus for school managers The problem with smoke detectors is that it event of a fire. Why? Because a detector in can be difficult to tell just by looking at them the wrong location – for example, too close whether they have been correctly installed. to a wall (feel free to look up at the If you’re the average individual, ceiling and check where yours are you’re likely to believe that a now) – might not pick up the So smoke detector is much like plumes of smoke as they how do any other detector. Fire rise and then curl back you sort thr happens, and it activates towards the floor, totally the alarm – and missing the detector. differen ough the t comp hopefully, all individuals The other thing to anies and de are safely evacuated know is that there c i d ew should from the building. are different types of be insta ho At least, you’d hope detectors – and they l l o i ng r main that’s what happens. all function in different your fir taining Perhaps it might ways and are more ea shock you to know this, sensitive to different system?larm but it’s vital to know: if types of fire and smoke. If a detector isn’t installed you have the wrong type of correctly, it might work when detectors installed, then these tested but not actually activate in the could be more prone to either failing to

activate, or perhaps just as bad – activating all the time from things like steam, dust, aerosol sprays, or heat from kitchens. False alarms False alarms and unwanted alarms are a real problem in schools – especially around exam time. Even just an unexpected false alarm in the middle of a lesson can be hugely disruptive – leading to teachers having to repeat the lesson after getting everyone to line up and march (quietly) out into the playground and back after a roll call and a check to see if there really was a fire. We all know how much time that can waste – time that would be much better spent on learning rather than standing in the cold. Both incidences, where either the alarm fails to activate when there really is a fire through a poorly installed alarm, or where E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

At PJH Safety Training we believe that choosing a first-rate first aid course shouldn’t make you ill - Hence we’ve put together a few helpful tips on how emergency training differs from first aid at work, what you can expect them to cover and which is more suitable for you and your business.

For friendly, professional H&S advice you can trust simply call PJH Safety Training today on: 01925 812095 | 07969 344673 or email us at: info@pjhsafetytraining.co.uk

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This is a course for low-risk environments for staff who need to be qualified emergency first aiders. Here you will learn about dealing with a sudden unexpected accident or collapse. Highly useful, staff that successfully complete this 1-day training course will receive the QA Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (QCF) qualification, which meets your employers’ responsibilities under HSE legislation. The emphasis of this course is very much around dealing with an immediate emergency.

Incorporating all of the emergency first aid content from the 1-day course, this option provides a far wider and deeper appreciation of Health & Safety in the workplace. This is extremely useful for staff that are expected to take the lead when it comes to the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. Covering such topics as overall incident management the 3-day course includes training on dealing with specific injuries and collapses which may happen in the workplace.

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Fire safety

The problem with smoke detectors is that it can be difficult to tell just by looking at them whether they have been correctly installed  the alarm activates but there is no fire (a false or unwanted alarm), are best avoided. Sadly, schools are common targets for arson, so it is vital to ensure that the fire detection systems in place are correctly installed and maintained regularly. Legislation In a school setting, having the right fire protection is vital because legislation dictates that all public buildings such as schools, nurseries, or any other education facilities should have adequate fire protection. Failure to provide adequate fire protection can lead to fines and prosecution. In recent years schools failing to provide adequate protection have been fined anywhere between £7,000 and £70,000 – though it’s worth noting that the figure could easily be hundreds of thousands of pounds if the failings are bad enough. In England and Wales, the legislation is called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, different legislation applies: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the associated Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 for Scotland, and The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 respectively for Northern Ireland. Each sets out what employers, business owners, and landlords must do to comply with the legislation. They are referred to in the legislation as either the ‘Responsible Person’ (England and Wales), the ‘Duty Holder’ (Scotland), or the ‘Appropriate Person’, (Northern Ireland). To simplify things, we will only refer to the Responsible Person in this article. In order to ensure compliance with the legislation, it is vital to have a good

understanding of what the duties of the responsible person or duty holder are. One of those duties is to ensure that the people hired to carry out any work related to fire protection are ‘competent’. Competency There’s a real issue with competency in the fire industry right now that responsible persons should be made aware of. Are your fire alarms installed correctly? Well, you might not be able to tell, but a competent fire detection and alarm technician should be able to. The trouble is, the law doesn’t define what competency is – nor does it give any guidelines about how to select a company, or a technician, who is truly competent. Additionally, there are no real barriers into the industry, so just about anyone with a van and a set of tools can claim to be a professional fire detection and alarm technician (even if they have no training and have never done the job before). So how do you sort through the different companies and decide who should be installing or maintaining your fire alarm system? There are a couple of things that you can check. First of all, you can see if the company holds Third Party Certification. Third Party Certification is when an independent certification body assesses a company against a strict set of criteria. If the company meets those criteria, then the company will be awarded Third Party Certification status. This audit is usually completed annually – so ask the company to see their certification records. Helpfully, all FIA Member companies hold Third Party Certification status.

Another thing to look out for is the training held by the individual technician that the company sends out to you. Most companies that hold Third Party Certification will have had their training checked as part of the process of certification. However, it may be interesting to know that the FIA has recently rolled out qualifications for those that work with fire detection and alarm systems. At the moment, the first few hundred people have gained the qualification and it is expected that eventually this qualification will become the norm over the next few years. Whilst holding a qualification alone won’t tell you if a technician is competent (experience is also necessary), it may help you in your decision about which company to hire to install and maintain your fire detection and alarm systems. The key thing to remember when making those initial enquiries is just to make sure you ask lots of questions and ask to see their certification and training records. After all, in a school setting, the safety and well-being of all staff, children, and visitors is paramount. Helpful resources The Fire Industry Association, the largest trade association and non-profit for fire protection in Europe, has developed a page on its website to help you get a better understanding of your fire safety responsibilities. Because the advice has been developed by industry experts, you can be assured of the accuracy of the information. On the page you’ll find more in-depth information about Third Party Certification, a best practice guide, further information about fire safety law, and lots of advice and useful information on fire detection and alarms. L

This article first appeared in Education Business magazine. FURTHER INFORMATION www.fia.uk.com

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

The fire fighting system that protects all areas of your data centre Introducing the SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist fire fighting system One single system covers all data centre fire fighting applications Provides instant cooling in the fire zone Allows you to keep ventilation running and doors closed Environmentally friendly and harmless to personnel

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To find out more about how you can protect your data centre contact our team today: London 0207 205 5793 | Manchester 0161 452 7122 | Glasgow 0141 308 8494 enquiries@fireworks-ltd.com | www.fireworks-ltd.com Fireworks Fire Protection Ltd, Amber House, Station Road, Attleborough NR17 2AT Fireworks have been designing and installing high-pressure water mist systems throughout the UK for over 25 years and are the UK’s authorised distributor for the Danfoss SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist system for fire fighting.

Data centres are at the heart of the IT infrastructure and are essential for day to day business operations. It is therefore crucial that data centres are fully and properly equipped with state of the art fire suppression systems

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Fireworks Fire Protection Ltd specialises in the design and installation of high-pressure water mist systems for industrial and commercial applications and has gained vast experience from many data centre installations across the UK over the past 25 years. Next generation fire suppression ensures protection and continuity of data centres The high levels of power used and subsequent heat generated in server systems are the principle causes of fire in data centres. With data centres now covering hundreds of thousands of square metres, a small fire caused by a fault in just one piece of equipment or wiring can potentially spread to cause incalculable damage to the operator’s assets and reputation.

is completely harmless to staff and equipment and, as only minute amounts of water are used, is quick to clean up. High pressure water mist fire suppression – how it works The key benefit of high-pressure water mist fire suppression solutions are the extremely low levels of water used. Using a high-pressure pump, clean water is forced through a specially designed, tested network of stainless steel pipework and nozzles at 100bar. The microfine water droplets emitted have sizes ranging from 50 to 200µm. They quickly vaporise to cool and extinguish the fire, by displacing the oxygen around the fire zone. With this localised response, only the nozzle at the affected point is triggered and hardly any trace of water remains after

Proven experience in data centres UK-based fire suppression expert, Fireworks, began pioneering high-pressure water mist solutions for data centres over two decades ago. In partnership with Danfoss, supplier of SEM-SAFE® high-pressure water mist equipment, they have successfully designed and installed systems in several major data centres. The design of the SEM-SAFE® high pressure watermist system is based on full scale fire testing and has FM approval. Derek Killaspy, managing director of Fireworks, said: “Fireworks was the first company to install high-pressure water mist solutions for data centres in the UK. Moreover, major data centres around the world have put their confidence in the Danfoss SEM-SAFE® systems that we work with. Each year we are continuing to see even more interest for our solutions.”L FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0207 205 5793 Email: enquiries@fireworks-ltd.com Website: fireworks-ltd.com

Technological advances Technological advances in fire suppression for data centres over the last twenty years mean that gas and chemical-based solutions developments are becoming obsolete. Amongst their disadvantages are the facts that they usually involve releasing chemicals over a wide area and require ventilation systems to be shut down to remove oxygen. Electrical supply often has to be cut and clean-up operations take time. Staff safety, damage limitation and the amount of downtime are all major disadvantages with these traditional solutions. More and more data centres have therefore been turning to high-pressure water mist solutions. These systems comprise a tailor‑made network of nozzles, which release micro-fine particles of water exactly at the point of the incident. While the localised fire is quickly extinguished, the remainder of the data centre’s operations and equipment remain unaffected and can be kept up and running. The solution

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Technology progressions and risk management The question in the minds of those working in risk management is what does the risk professional of 2030 look like? Jane O’Leary, chair of Alarm, discusses

Technology advances must be the number one consideration for the future risk professional as are the risks this brings. Upskilling to keep abreast of cyber risk and threats to our organisation is a role not just for IT, leadership and risk managers but for the every employee. We have heard many times over, relative to a cyber attack, that it is not a matter of if but a matter of when. One cannot envisage these risks and threats decreasing and with advances in technology it is vital that risk professionals keep pace. Of course understanding technology is not just about risk and threats but about understanding new technologies that brings opportunities to how we deliver public services. Driverless vehicles, carebots specifically designed to assist in the care of the elderly, artificial intelligence, and a machine based workforce. With the major role technology and information systems play in delivering our core business the risk professional must be upskilled to understand as much as possible about information technology risk. The use of big data and ability to analyse and forecast in numerous ways using the interconnected information we collect can be an asset. Its use should not just be reactive, such as analyses of losses or claims to prevent future losses but used proactively as a risk management tool. For example, it allows the measurement, integration and management of financial risk across all areas of the business; allows for better fraud management with faster identification and control; enhanced scenario analysis such as flood profiling and in emergency planning; developing new business models and project risk management and better understanding of our community and its needs, allowing for more accurate future planning of services.

Commercial projects With our need to boast depleted funds and get positive returns on investment, in order to sustain our public services, the risk professional of now and the future needs to understand not just the core business risks, but those of the commercial projects we are involved in. Running energy companies, building commercial property portfolios, managing airports and hotels, and selling support services are a few examples. Skills in project risk management must be a requirement for the risk professional in our new world. Understanding the business objectives and potential threats and opportunities; worst case scenario assessments; the use of qualitative techniques to identify the relative significance of identified risks and quantitative analysis to determine the effects of cumulative risk on objectives. How do all these risks interface with the organisation as a whole? There needs to be a re-evaluation of the organisations risk appetite relative to the commercial agenda, which may vastly differ from the appetite applied to the core statutory business. The risk appetite applied to setting up and growing an energy company cannot be aligned to the risk appetite applied to children’s safeguarding, such are the complexities of the services offered by the public sector. Maybe the way to address this is for a specialist project risk professional within each organisation allowing for a dedicated resource. In my view, well worth the money if they are effectively supporting the identification of risk in commercial projects, thereby increasing the likelihood of meeting the commercial objectives, which are vital in underwriting the continuation of statutory services to our citizens.

Recent tragedies Closer to the present day the risk professional of today and undoubtedly the near future has a role to play in public safety and continuation of services in the event of a major incident. Sadly over the last year we have experienced a number of terrorist atrocities in the UK and witnessed the destruction of Grenfell Tower, all of which have called upon public services to respond in the immediate and in the aftermath. Risk management is the overarching term for emergency planning, crisis management, business continuity and disaster recovery. All of which have a different role but all are part of properly managing a risk. What we have learnt to date from these terrible events and, what we will learn in the future is that building and embedding a robust business continuity and crisis management plan and ensuring a close and aligned working relationship with leadership and the risk professional is critical. Establishing an effective education and awareness programme is vital for ensuring all staff are aware of the implications of business continuity as well as their roles and responsibilities in a recovery situation. The success of the business continuity programme depends on this. It can greatly enhance the ability of the organisation to anticipate, identify and respond effectively to an incident. It should also consider both internal and external stakeholders, including third parties such as utilities companies and other partners. The impact of a disruption to services in the public sector is a risk that many have identified at a strategic level and it figures largely in corporate and strategic risk registers. The wide range of threats, the increasing reliance on technology and public expectations, often voiced through social media, all mean that the need for plans and alignment to risk management, to deal with disruptions is more important than ever before. Commercialism, technological advances, climate change, Brexit, changing demographics and terrorism are all here to stay and the future risk professional must develop knowledge and skills in these areas complimentary to the knowledge and skills we have already in risk management attributable to our core statutory services. On a final note, the risk professional of the future is only as successful as the leadership of the organisation they work in. Risk management only works with ‘leadership buy in’. However competent and experienced the risk manager, the success of managing risk can only be properly realised when leaders of an organisation drive the risk agenda and lead the embedding of good risk management from the top, giving risk and opportunity the time, resource and attention it deserves. L

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FURTHER INFORMATION www.alarm-uk.org

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Customer care and new product innovation have established Glasdon UK as a market leader in the design and manufacture of award-winning sustainable products.

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YEARS ANNIVERSARY 1959ďż˝2019

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, outlines how the agency is helping councils and the wider community to reduce food waste and recycle more where food waste is unavoidable

Waste management

Reducing food waste in Scotland

Written by Iain Gulland

Reduc food waing as much ste and as quickly a s w is a serio e need to u which ws challenge collabor ill need a ative across a effort ll sectors

Food waste is an issue which growing numbers of people and businesses are increasingly aware of and acting to address. In 2016, the Scottish government announced an ambitious new goal as part of its Making Things Last strategy to reduce per capita food waste in Scotland by one third by 2025. This target was the first of its kind in Europe and recognises the critical role of food waste reduction in the fight against climate change and the transition to a more circular, resource efficient economy. Zero Waste Scotland is leading work to achieve that aim. We have already played a key role in helping to reduce the nation’s food waste by eight per cent. However, food waste remains a significant problem. As Zero Waste Scotland highlighted recently, the food we waste is a bigger cause of climate change than plastics. Household food waste alone accounts for almost three per cent (2.9 per cent) of Scotland’s carbon footprint. Most food waste in Scotland is generated by Scottish households which collectively

throw out around 600,000 tonnes each year, which is just over 60 per cent of Scotland’s total food waste (61 per cent). Of that 600,000 tonnes, only around 240,000 tonnes is unavoidable food waste, such as banana peels and egg shells. Throwing out perfectly good food not only wastes the food itself, it also wastes the valuable resources which went in to producing that food and taking it from factories and farms to supermarkets and people’s homes. The best way to combat food waste is to reduce it in the first place, while the best way to reduce the impact of unavoidable food waste is to recycle it. We recently launched the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan (FWRAP) with the Scottish government. Together, we set out how we will reduce Scotland’s food waste by one third by 2025. Showing people and organisations what they can do to reduce food waste and why it matters is an ongoing focus of our work which we are expanding under the plan.

Love Food Hate Waste Zero Waste Scotland’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign has already developed a strong following since it was established, connecting with thousands of people through workshops and social media. The message to people is that they can take relatively simple steps to reduce food waste through better planning of food shopping, better use of storage such as freezers and more inventive use of leftovers. Our message also spells out the financial cost to people, with nearly £1.1 billion of food thrown away annually. Wasting less food could save Scottish households £440 each year. While Love Food Hate Waste has raised awareness of the dangers of food waste, we need to reduce food waste faster in order to meet the 2025 target. As well as increasing our work to ensure people understand the importance of reducing food waste, we will also be doing more to improve public engagement with council food recycling services Zero Waste Scotland has played a key role in supporting councils to increase household recycling collections. More than 80 per cent of Scottish households now have access to food recycling facilities providing a vital alternative to throwing food waste into general rubbish E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Waste management

 bins which are sent to landfill. That means that most people around the country today can put wasted food into food caddies for dedicated council collection services which take that food waste to anaerobic digestion or composting facilities where it can be turned into green energy or high-quality fertiliser. There has been good progress in take-up, which has increased 26 per cent since 2012. But while the majority of Scottish households now have access to these food recycling services, only 55 per cent say they are actually recycling their food waste. Most food waste is currently sent to landfill, with only 93,000 tonnes picked up through dedicated food waste recycling collections. Food waste sent to landfill is particularly problematic as it releases methane, a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide. There are thought to be a number of factors behind the lower take up rate, including public concerns about perceived issues such as the smell which some people fear will be produced by using food caddies in their homes. Again, increasing work to get our key messages out to people will help ensure that the public are better informed and reduce such misconceptions. As we expand our work further through the plan we will also explore new ways to combat food waste, including improving how we monitor that waste to identify hotspots to help target greater support where it is most needed. As part of that work we will help organisations including public bodies such as councils to identify where they could reduce their own food waste. The public sector spends millions of pounds annually on food and drink. The drivers of food waste in schools are complex and numerous. However, outcomes of educational initiatives have shown that pupilled classroom-based interventions, in tandem

Zero Waste Scotland’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign has already developed a strong following since it was established, connecting with thousands of people through workshops and social media with catering measuring and monitoring efforts, can reduce waste within schools. Both the public and private sectors also have huge influence on changing public behaviour and actions. Zero Waste Scotland is working with schools, communities, councils and the NHS across Scotland to expand pilot programmes and projects and make food waste reduction the norm in everyday life. 1.3 billion tonnes wasted Scotland has adopted the following definition of food and drink waste developed by FUSIONS, a European collaboration funded by the European Union. It states: ‘Food waste is any food, and inedible parts of food, removed from the food supply chain to be recovered or disposed (including composted, crops ploughed in/not harvested, anaerobic digestion, bioenergy production, co-generation, incineration, disposal to sewer, landfill or discarded to sea.’ As the definition shows, food waste takes many forms and can produce benefits as well as problems. It is not just a Scottish issue either, it is a global challenge with an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes wasted every year worldwide. Looking further ahead, tackling food waste is part of our wider mission to create a more circular economy – one that is sustainable, maximising the value of our limited resources

and minimising all kinds of waste. This approach is increasingly making money from food waste rather than losing it. In Scotland, using by-products from our food and drink sectors to create higher-value products, such as bio-fuels or advanced proteins, could generate an additional £500-800 million a year. Zero Waste Scotland has already supported innovative companies such as Revive Eco, a Glasgow firm collecting used coffee grounds and recycling them to create high value bio-oils with a wide range of valuable applications including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Reducing food waste as much and as quickly as we need to is a serious challenge which will need a collaborative effort across all sectors. However, Scotland is among the nations leading and influencing the changes in beliefs and behaviours around food, so that we collectively save resources and money, helping us and the planet. Through our action plan we aim to make everyone aware of the real damage food waste is doing so that we can all make an informed choice to help reduce and recycle food to fight climate change. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.zerowastescotland.org.uk

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Alloy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Smart Solution For Environmental Service Delivery Yotta - From Data To Decisions

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RWM

The UK’s largest waste management exhibition Thousands of recycling and waste, business and local authority professionals attend RWM Exhibition each year, making for a diverse and relevant visitor base. Here, we look ahead to the 2019 show The issue of waste has never been more waste and resources, following an 18 month prominent in our politics, on our screens procurement process. And the government or in our households. The success of David has awarded more than £4 million to four Attenborough’s Blue Planet II elevated redistribution organisations across England the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans to help overcome barriers to getting food to new heights and the government has currently going to waste onto people’s plates. attempted to be at the forefront of change, All of this provides the perfect backdrop for with Environment Secretary Michael RWM, the UK’s largest recycling and Gove launching the Resources waste management exhibition and Waste Strategy at and conference, which returns RWM, the end of 2018. to Birmingham’s NEC on in partn Since then, businesses, 11-12 September. The e r s hip with CIW households and local event provides an ideal authorities up and opportunity to listen to only UK M, is the e down the UK have the industry’s biggest v e nt this sca tried to change the and most influential le for thof way in which we buy, figures talk about the e recyclin g and collect and dispose topics directly affecting waste of waste materials. In the industry today, as the last month alone, a well as the space to industry Common Seas analysis of try, test and compare the the government’s proposed latest innovations pioneering waste strategy has resulted in the recycling and waste calls for a comprehensive deposit return management sector to new heights. scheme in England to be implemented to Since changing owners back at the start prevent 6,600 tonnes of plastic waste entering of 2018, RWM, now run by Prysm Group, rivers and the sea by 2030. The Greater has grown to attract 12,000 professionals Manchester Combined Authority has signed from across the recycling and waste new operating contracts, worth over £1 billion, industry and beyond to network and build with SUEZ for the management of the region’s beneficial relationships for the future.

The visitors all share a vision of a cleaner and more resource efficient future, and RWM put these ideals in the spotlight. Across the two days RWM boasts unrivalled seminar schedules delivering expert advice and guidance, live demos of the latest and greatest technology as well as hundreds of market leading companies coming equipped with their finest solution led products and services. RWM, in partnership with CIWM, is the only UK event of this scale for the recycling and waste industry and brings the industry together unlike any other event on the market. Waste Tech Live New for 2019, RWM will be introducing the AI & Robotics Zone to the show. AI and robotics are the newest in rising developments throughout the world. Recognising how these evolutions in technology will affect and change industries could be the game changer for businesses to capitalise and ride the coming wave. This zone will be a hub of pioneering technology for the recycling and waste industry, providing clear robotic solutions to issues such as work rate to meet higher targets and better sorting of valuable materials. E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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RWM

î &#x2020; With the breadth of materials being worked used across within the recycling and waste industry, it can be difficult to find the correct way to deal with particularly tricky waste. This is where RWM steps in with Materials World, a dedicated area of specialist associations, non-profits and organisations who are able to educate and inform visitors in all things waste and waste management. Materials World will champion these teams, showing the entire RWM crowd the amazing work they do in order to effectively deal with difficult waste. From rubber, textiles, glass, plastics and metals, there will be an expert for every material, leaving no stone unturned in the mission to maximise our waste management. Waste can be big money, but finding out exactly what something is worth can be a trying task in itself. Materials World will be the place to go to find out everything about specific materials, from actually disposing of the waste through to pricing it and recognising the benefits that can come from certain materials. Zero Emissions Vehicle Test Track With the continued progression towards a reliance on electric vehicles, RWM is proud to be one of the only environmental exhibitions to boast a test track for the zeroemissions vehicles on display at the show. This track will be an incredible opportunity to not only witness and understand how good these vehicles are on the road, but to experience them first hand. This will be a unique feature that is not only a great bit of fun at the show but also a fantastic insight into how far electric vehicles have come. The test track will be ready to put to sleep any issues or qualms with this new age of vehicle technology.

With the continued progression towards a reliance on electric vehicles, RWM is proud to be one of the only environmental exhibitions to boast a test track for the zero-emissions vehicles on display As well as vehicles being on display here, there will be a pit lane where all the supporting technology will have a chance to get the exhibiting space it needs. Charge points, batteries and all other accessories for the amazing vehicles on display will be found here, ready for all manner of inspection from the visitors. Taking time to visit and explore this new feature will show just how much money can be saved on fuel costs whilst also cutting emissions, making for a clean conscience and no loss in productivity. This feature is perfect for fleet managers or companies that require more economic and efficient alternatives to their vehicle needs. There truly are a plethora of additional benefits to electric vehicles aside from their environmental impact and this will be the prime location to learn about and get on board with a trend that will inevitably take over multiple industries across the globe. The RWM Zones The above mentioned Zero Emissions Vehicle Test Track will be in addition to the well-established RWM Zones. As one of the fastest moving and dynamic sectors in waste management, Energy from Waste plays an important part in ensuring we extract

maximum value from materials, with the most up to date and cutting edge technologies being showcased in the Energy from Waste zone. The Recyclers & Reprocessors Zone at RWM is home to companies that specialise in the innovative handling of waste - including municipal, C&D, C&I and hazardous materials recycling - with the goal of diverting it from landfill or in ensuring as much value as possible is extracted from it. Transporting, collecting and handling materials efficiently and safely is often the first link in the chain of any successful resource management operation and this sector is dedicated to solutions that improve the performance of your business, ensuring that revenues are maximised. Visitors to the Handling & Logistics Zone are able to explore a full range of vehicles and services that take into consideration not just their business needs, but their carbon footprint as well. They also have the opportunity to inspect the latest refuse vehicles, sweepers and skip loaders and to test them out first hand in the Ride & Drive area. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.rwmexhibition.com

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

LONDON SCHOOL ONLINE

Everyone has leadership potential. Here, we revisit the advice of Graeme McDonald, director of Solace, who highlights some of the ways in which it can be developed There has often been a debate about what behaviour preferences or the organisational makes a good leader: knowledge; authenticity; culture within which you operate, everyone’s drive; empathy; and for some, even heroism. leadership potential can be developed. We will have all experienced attempts For example, leadership behaviours, such at heroic styles of leadership - and while a as directive, consultative or consensual hero may, on occasions, seem attractive – approaches, have differing advantages effective and sustainable leadership is less and disadvantages which are suited to simplistic. The heroism of ‘great man theory’ particular circumstances. While we may is the earliest and perhaps most extreme have a preference for a particular blend example of trait leadership theory - that of approaches, we can be taught to adopt effective leaders share common personality each style when the situation best suits. characteristics, qualities that are innate and that leaders are therefore born and not made. Local government Some individual traits are of course Significant attempts have been made to helpful, but leadership is far more complex improve leadership in local government and not merely a gift. Heroes might have over the last decades, especially in short term benefits, but they helping managers and politicians are rarely contagious and to work together, and this has quickly lose impact. produced results. Public service Whatever an individual’s leadership is itself unique, O rganisa personal characteristics, since it operates at the ti

ons sh time aonuld invest d in creatresources continuing a learninogus culture

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Professional development

CPD: Strirving for total leadership

managerial and political interface but we have learnt to understand what works. While progress has been made there should be no debate that leadership can’t always be improved; or that, in the context of local government, it needs more investment. Austerity, in both budgets and mind-set, has meant investment has stalled at a time when it is most needed. Local public services are now in the foothills of even more dramatic change. Re-thinking how we achieve the essential outcomes the public needs has never been more important. Leadership at all levels needs to change. Our society, technology and essential business model is being disrupted. We no longer view challenges in a linear way, resolved through the command of hierarchies. Our communities are increasingly complex, operating through networks, behaving as systems. This requires leaders to be less focused on organisations and more on people, being comfortable with ambiguity and good at collaboration and building trust. This challenge is perhaps best demonstrated by the work to reform our health and social care system. The percentage of people over 85 is expected to double over the next 20 years. While this is good news, it also means there are an increasing number of people with complex health needs who often require a combination of both health and social care support. The financial challenges of people living longer are well documented but the complexity of need also impacts its quality. Where services don’t work well E

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Brexit and data compliance – What you need to be thinking about in an uncertain future

With the outcome of Brexit still uncertain, many organisations are facing severe challenges in planning for their business needs for the next few years. While it’s usually spoken about in terms of physical transfers of goods, this has also affected data-driven organisations. Currently, data can flow freely between British and European individuals and locations (Under the terms and privacy policies of the organisations concerned, of course) as under GDPR all member states have a common regulatory framework for data protection. However, what happens after Brexit is still very much unknown. The draft withdrawal agreement negotiated in 2018 includes a commitment that EU Law (including GDPR) would still apply during the time that follows (known as the implementation period), while a

long-term relationship is negotiated. However, as everyone is aware now, there’s a huge degree of uncertainty around the actual direction and outcome of Brexit in every timeframe – immediate, short, medium, and long-term. Even so, there are courses of action that you can take to insulate yourself from this uncertainty. By using a data collection partner that’s based in, and stores their data in the United Kingdom, you can be assured that data access and transfers aren’t an issue, however Brexit turns out. If collecting data from EU citizens postBrexit is a concern, then this can still be done by choosing a provider who can enter into a binding processing agreement that data will be treated as required and not subject to any transfers outside the UK.

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

You may think that, if you’re dealing with an organisation with a UK business address, that everything is fine, but there are pitfalls with this approach. For example, even if a company has UK data storage, you should check where their support and development staff are located. Support staff often need to access user accounts to resolve any issue that are raised and if those staff are based outside the UK, this access would count as a data transfer under GDPR. So, the most important thing any organisation can do in the current climate is to check with their current data processing partners. Ask them the following questions: Where do you store our data? Where are your support staff based? Where are your development staff based? If any of the answers to the above questions are not “In the UK”, then it could be time to look for a new solution to make sure you’ll be compliant with your data protection obligations in the time ahead. FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 0937 822 www.smartsurvey.co.uk

Professional development

 together this can, for example, lead to people being sent to hospital, or staying in hospital too long, when it would have been better for them to get care at home. Sometimes important parts of their care can be missing, or they receive the same service twice. More positively, technological drivers are also impacting on care enabling individuals with long term care needs to live more independent lives, while the voluntary sector is playing a more integrated role in the provision of support. These trends means health and social care services are changing fast and are very different from the organisationally focused monoliths we are used to commanding. Leadership is now required across organisational, professional and sector boundaries. Changing behaviour So many of the challenges for government, both local and national, require a similar strategic, system focused approaches. From troubled families, to house building, from Brexit to violent extremism, none are solvable through a single, organisational or profession based approach. All require high levels of collaboration and integration to succeed. Yet the biggest barrier setting places free to bring about change are not technology or resource-based. They stem from people’s existing notions of what is possible. They are behavioural and our style of leadership needs to reflect that. At Solace we know that personalised approaches to improving leadership work. Action Learning, mentoring, coaching and peer2peer initiatives, for example, have led to many leaders adapting their skills sets and learning how to improve services, faster.

Whatever an individual’s personal characteristics, behaviour preferences or the organisational culture within which you operate, everyone’s leadership potential can be developed Our flagship programme for aspiring chief executives, ‘Total Leadership’ seeks to create and grow a style of leadership across the whole sector that creates a renewed sense of purpose, which creates hope for all, and where leaders are seen, genuinely, to empower staff, at all levels, to innovate without fear of failure, effectively communicating and collaborating across organisational structures and being held accountable for delivering outcomes. But we don’t want a ‘sheep-dip’ approach. It has to be adaptable. By working in partnership with the University of Birmingham, we are able to mould experienced professional practice with academic rigour to create a programme steeped in the realities of local government and flexible enough to respond to individuals’ needs and learning styles. That is one reason why our first cohort included aspiring chief executives not just from all aspects of UK local government, but also leaders from the private sector able to bring an exciting new perspective to the group’s learning experience. We have also looked beyond the UK and hold one module overseas if a very different political, economic and institutional environment. The module is not designed to

seek out world-class practice to be ‘cut and pasted’ back into the UK context. Instead it is focused upon exposing individuals up to alternative methods, challenging their own perceptions and demonstrating that different approaches are possible. It is designed to alter how leaders think about their own circumstances and consider change. We particularly value this element of the programme as an important mechanism for developing each participant’s growth mind-set, despite the pressure from our more traditional austere mind-set. Critically, we have ensured that the whole programme is delivered to a recognised high level of quality, and has created a cadre of incredibly effective and highly marketable leaders. Perhaps more than ever, leaders need to go further in their demands of what is available to them and what their own needs are. Organisations should invest time and resources in creating a continuous learning culture, and individual leaders embrace the notion that their ‘training’ is never finished. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.solace.org.uk

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Creative spaces for professional meetings and events Sadler’s Wells is a worldrenowned dance, performance and events venue. The venue provides a contemporary, vibrant and inspiring space for conferences, workshops and performances. The venue can hold private and corporate events from twelve to 1,500 guests in rooms including the main auditorium, a studio theatre and various meeting/conference suites. This smart and modern venue has natural daylight, fully integrated state of the art AV with in-house technical staff, air conditioning and free WiFi internet throughout. Our experienced Events team provides dedicated event management ensuring smooth delivery and success. Clients also benefit from in-house catering providing a wide range of fresh, seasonal menus for a variety of occasions. Sadler’s Wells has played

host to prestigious companies including Sony Music, KPMG, The Guardian, TEDx and many others. An ideal venue for meetings and conferences with modern and stylish spaces to inspire your delegates. Our all-inclusive day delegate rates offer excellent value for money for events between 50 - 180 guests starting from £55 + VAT per person. Day delegate rates include room hire, private catering area, event management, technical support, screen and projector, lectern and wired mic, Wi-Fi and catering

throughout your event. All catering at Sadler’s Wells is prepared on site using fresh and natural ingredients. Seasonal menus are created to make the most out of the produce on offer throughout the year. Just a few comments from our past clients. A delight to receive and the Events Team along with the Food and Beverage Team to continue to take comments on board, creating new ideas and concepts for the venue: “The customer service from the Sadler’s Wells Events team was exemplary. Throughout the

process everyone was professional, enthusiastic, responsive and welcoming. We highly recommend holding events at Sadler’s Wells!” - Audience Agency “The venue is conveniently located and the staff are fantastically helpful. Great facilities, food and very positive overall experience.” - Cancer Research UK “Another successful annual event which wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing and fabulous support, guidance and assistance from the Events team who really make our events extra special and one of the reasons we return each year. The rest of the team too, from catering to technical, are superb.” - Fraud Women’s Network Contact the Events team on events@sadlerswells.com or call for availability and a bespoke quote on 020 7863 8065. We would be delighted to host your next event at Sadler’s Wells.

Sadler’s Wells

“Creative spaces for professional meetings and events”

Sadler’s Wells provides a contemporary, vibrant and inspiring venue for conferences, workshops and performances. The venue can hold private and corporate events from 12-1500 guests in rooms including the main auditorium, a studio theatre and various meeting/conference suites.

To book your next event at Sadler’s Wells Theatre contact the Events Team on 020 7863 8065 or email on events@sadlerswells.com www.sadlerswells.com/venue-hire/

The Meetings Industry Association announced in May that prospects for the UK’s meetings and events venues remain good for 2019. But what does this mean for conferencing in the capital? Despite trading against a backdrop of ongoing per cent in January to March compared to political and economic uncertainty, new the same period in 2018. In March, Mayor figures from the Meetings Industry Association of London Sadiq Khan launched a drive show that daily delegate rates (DDR) and 24to promote London to visitors from other hour residential rates rose four per cent and parts of the United Kingdom following nine per cent respectively in the first quarter a recent decline in domestic tourism. of this year, continuing a steady upward trend of 2018 when rates rose two per cent overall. Conferencing in the capital In fact, average DDR rates have risen as London is one of the most visited cities much as 30 per cent over the last four years, in the world. In 2017, 32 million tourists with the biggest increase recorded in the visited the capital for more than one day, South West and East Midlands, according generating almost £26 billion for the to the mia’s online benchmarking capital’s economy. Of these, 19.8 tool miaTouchstone. Figures million were international In 2017 from the report reveal the tourists, while 12.2 million average DDR is now £44, were from England, 32 milli , with rates in central Scotland and Wales. on tourists London above £60 and Tourism currently v i s ite capital outer-London and the supports approximately for mord the one da e South East typically 700,000 jobs in the t h an y, gene around £45-£50. capital. But while r a a lmost £ ting The average number international visits to 2 for the 6 billion of meetings per venue London have increased Lon held from January to during each of the past economdon’s March this year were ‘well five years, there has been y down’ on those held during a decline in the number of the same periods in 2018 visitors from around the UK and 2017, which the Meetings who visit the capital for just one Industry Association believes could be day. Day visits to London reduced by three due to a loss of confidence among clients per cent in 2017, from 337 million to 327 as the UK approached the million. During this time, spend from day visits initial Brexit deadline of also reduced considerably, by approximately 29 March. The drop in the 13 per cent from £14.4 billion to £12.6 billion. number of meetings held The capital’s overall tourism industry (from during the first quarter of both domestic and international visitors) this year is nevertheless is already responsible for one in seven being regarded as a blip, of all jobs and contributes £36 billion a thanks to enquiry levels year, according to publicly available data increasing by five sources also included in the analysis.

Conferences & events

Boosting domestic tourism in London

London & Partners currently promotes London internationally but with the Mayor’s announcement they will now have responsibility for co-ordinating an industryled Domestic Tourism Consortium that will promote the capital to domestic tourists as well. Sadiq Khan will commit £600,000 to the Domestic Tourism Consortium over the next two years to support dedicated campaigns and promotional activity to address the decline in UK visitors. A number of London’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and landlords have also joined forces to create the Consortium and provided substantial investment towards the campaign. Speaking to over 300 of the capital’s tourism and hospitality businesses at London & Partners’ annual ‘Tourism Means Business’ conference in March, Khan, said: “Tourism is of huge value to our economy, and domestic tourists tend to spend more than international visitors. So it’s important that we take action to boost the number of visitors to London from around the UK. “I am pleased to announce that London & Partners will now be using their considerable expertise in promoting London, to also target a domestic audience, working closely with business to promote the capital to other parts of the UK and spread the message that London is and always will be open.” Tracy Halliwell, director of Tourism at London & Partners, added: “London is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and we are thrilled to be supporting the capital’s tourism sector by coordinating the industry-led Domestic Tourism Consortium and delivering dedicated promotional campaigns for domestic visitors to come to London.” Generating financing through tourism New analysis by London First has shown how £13 billion is generated by international tourists across London, with a fifth of spending now taking place in 19 boroughs outside central London. The first boroughby-borough analysis of the impact of international visitor spending in London, by the business campaign group, reveals that £2.8 billion is being spent each year around TfLfare zones 2-3, in a ‘halo zone’ of boroughs including E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Conferences & events

 Tower Hamlets, Islington, Camden, Greenwich and Hackney. The report, Tourist Information: Mapping the local value of international visitors, creates a unique, borough-by-borough visualisation of the spending and travel trends of London’s international visitors. The analysis reveals that growing international tourism in the ‘halo zone’ by just 10 per cent would generate an additional £268 million to the London economy and create over six thousand new jobs. In addition, 70 per cent of international visitors to London staying on Airbnb choose to stay in the ‘halo zone’, with 46 per cent of London’s hotel guests staying here. Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of London First, said: “International tourism is a boon to the capital, contributing billions to the UK economy and strengthening London’s reputation as an open and welcoming global city. This first-of-its-kind analysis reveals an even bigger prize to be had if visitors can be encouraged to stay longer and explore beyond the well-trodden tourist trail – from Peckham Rye in the south to Broadway Market in the east - opening up a world of opportunity for local neighbourhoods and [their] businesses. “Ensuring London remains a top global travel destination will require further investment in the transport network and in the UK’s airport capacity. And it’s clear that better, city-wide data will also help us better market the capital overseas as a global travel destination, with businesses, boroughs and tourists all standing to benefit.”

The average number of meetings per venue held from January to March this year were ‘well down’ on those held during the same periods in 2018 and 2017 Visitor attraction boost New statistics from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) have revealed that London’s visitor attractions have welcomed 67, 640, 804 people – nearly the equivalent of the total population of the UK. With TripAdvisor’s online community hailing London as the world’s best-rated destination in the 2019 Traveller’s Choice Awards in April, the ALVA says that, with the top ten attractions being based in London, and an increase of 3.37 per cent in visitors, 2018 was another successful year for the capital’s much-loved attractions. The most visited attraction in the UK was Tate Modern with 5,868,562 visits. This could be linked to the 2016 Switch House extension, which is still attracting much attention, as well as the hugely popular exhibition Picasso 1932 – Love, Fame, Tragedy. The British Museum saw a slight decrease of 1.3 per cent to second place at 5,828,552, although the public will have had the opportunity to see some of its objects outside of London in 2018 through major touring exhibitions. Seeing a nine per cent increase, the National Gallery remained in third place with 5,735,831

visits after staging the works of the ‘father of impressionism’ in Monet & Architecture - the first exhibition devoted to Claude Monet’s relationship with architecture. Bernard Donoghue, director of ALVA, commented: “2018 was a great year for London’s attractions. Visitors from home and abroad flocked to London’s world class cultural assets, in fact ALVA’s London members welcomed the equivalent of the population of the UK. Tourism is such a major part of the London economy, and a huge employer, and we know that overseas visitors say that our attractions are their number one reason to visit the UK. This year we’re working with the Mayor and London & Partners to promote London to Londoners and to remind all of us what amazing attractions we have across London, in every borough.” Valued venues 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. Located on the More London Estate, overlooking E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Conferences & events

Located in the heart of the historic West End, St Giles London hotel has modern spaces, state-of-the-art facilities to cater for small meetings, conferences, and training courses. St Giles Heathrow meanwhile is conveniently located near London Heathrow Airport and is just a one minute walk from Feltham Mainline Rail Station for easy access to Central London. For flexible venue hire, &Meetings have in excess of 100 rooms and event spaces, all of which are available to hire from just one hour. The company works with an ‘all-inclusive’ philosophy, so it does not charge for teas and coffees or for using its flat-screen TVs. L  Tower Bridge, The Tower Room offers stunning 180 degree views of the city’s skyline and the versatility to accommodate a variety of events, from conferences and workshops to receptions and product launches. With ever-rising numbers of business and leisure visitors to London, a variety of new hotels have opened across the capital. Amongst them is the InterContinental London – The O2, boasting an indoor pool, two restaurants and 18th floor Sky Bar, with panoramic views across the Thames to Canary Wharf and beyond, making it the ideal location to host an evening reception or meeting for networking drinks. It also has 20 multifunctional meeting rooms and a 3,000sqm ballroom, which will hold up to 3,000 delegates. The last few years has also seen a number of new restaurants open across the city, with some great function spaces, such as the Barbecoa St James, a new 9,000ft restaurant, set within an iconic new space at the historic Prince’s House. The restaurant uses only the finest cuts of meat, all hand selected by in-house butchers who search the length and breadth of the UK to find the very best produce for its distinctive dishes. For something more intimate and different, Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery will be opening its new restaurant Pharmacy 2. This new venture will offer a fine dining experience in the evening, with Hirst’s ‘Pill’ pictures decorating the walls. Dave Rogers, corporate events planner at London & Partners, said: “London has huge cachet thanks to its unique venues and culture. It’s such a vibrant world city, businesses cannot help but feel motivated and inspired here.” Venues with event-appeal Imperial College London offers over 100 event spaces ranging from meeting rooms and banqueting halls to an elegant Grade II listed Victorian townhouse. Catering for up to 758 guests, Imperial’s venues are ideally located in central London. For a smart, modern, luxury suite of meeting/conference rooms, Piccadilly Chambers is located in the heart of London’s Mayfair district. The venue offers three rooms which seat between four and 10 persons, all air-conditioned and equipped with HD screens. Sadler’s Wells provides a contemporary, vibrant and inspiring venue for conferences, workshops and performances. The venue can hold private and corporate events from 12-1,500 guests in rooms including the main auditorium, a studio theatre and various meetings/conferences suites.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.londonandpartners.com

Coin Street Conference Centre

• 5 minute walk from Waterloo and Blackfriars • Room capacity for 10-170 people • In-house tech support, AV facilities and wifi • Floor to ceiling natural daylight Coin Street is a social enterprise, by using our Conference Centre you are investing in our community.

020 7021 1650 conferences@coinstreet.org www.coinstreet.org/venue-hire

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Conferences & events

Where to look when you are about to book 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 Many cities claim to be the ideal venue destination, and many facilities encourage clients to look no further then 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. The days when clients were happy to sign off expenditure without question of its relevance are over. Every penny has become accountable 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 Particularly at this time of the year – July, August, September – there is an understandable appeal to conferencing venues which have just as much to enjoy outside as in. 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. Darren Johnson, Convention Bureau sales manager at Visit Brighton, who work in and alongside Eastbourne, said: “Coastal destinations are particularly popular with city-wide events, often spanning two or three days. The close proximity of venues, hotels and leisure offerings are a real plus, creating a ‘one-stop-shop’ style destination focused product for both the business and leisure traveller. This destination package often comes with the mutual cooperation of city stakeholders that give the ability to provide delegates with a real ‘wow’ factor.” 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-ofthe‑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. E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Find your

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University of Oxford venue for any occasion

Conference Oxford Call 01865 276190 or email enquiries@conference-oxford.ox.ac.uk www.conference-oxford.com

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Conferences & events

The SSE Hydro and The Stobcross Crane located on Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow

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

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. Academic venues Universities across the UK provide a wide range of venues and settings, reaching both ends of the design spectrum. Certain E

Your Oxford

VENUE University of Oxford St Hugh’s College

Unique & Historic Oxford setting Conference Centre Private Dining Group Accommodation Tailored Packages www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk conferences@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk 01865 274 424

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

An exclusive venue for conferences, corporate meetings & fine dinning

Set in the heart of Oxford, with its beautiful Victorian buildings, Mansfield College provides the perfect location for any event. The College offers a fabulous venue where visitors can enjoy their conference or event in friendly and welcoming surroundings.

For further information and booking: Lynne Quiggin, Domestic Bursar T: 01865 282888 E: Lynne.Quiggin@Mansfield.ox.ac.uk www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk

creating innovative menus with a passion for local produce, healthy eating and sustainable working practices. The commitment is the same front of house as well, service staff are professionally trained and have a sincere commitment to customer service. Clients and agents are utilising university venues more and more as positive experiences generate an increase in confidence from the market. Alongside good communications programmes and the industry pulling together, changes in perceptions are starting to happen – the days of chalkboards and curly sandwiches are a thing of the past. Close ties with learning excellence and the ability to link with academic colleagues to enhance events adds further value. For event organisers looking to attract speakers who are experts in a specific academic field, universities often offer a wealth of relevant resources – for example, a medical conference can enjoy a keynote speech from an esteemed lecturer in the field. With ongoing research being carried out, the unique resources that universities offer become more fitting for a conference. Experts in their own field are also often keen to showcase the university where they are based and conference teams based at universities can help organisers to find a relevant speaker from sources on campus. More often than not, any profits generated from conferences held at academic venues are directly reinvested back into the university. This revenue means buildings can be updated, whilst research programmes and other learning

facilities benefit from a boost in resources, helping to pave the way for the country’s next generation of business and thought leaders. Offering conferencing options becomes not just an additional service, but a source of revenue. Fair pricing While many venues have clearly had to adjust their pricing strategies as a consequence of the recession, academic venues have largely avoided entering a rate slashing competition. Excessively reducing rates invariably leads to a compromise on standards and investment in areas of the business such as staff, improvements and maintenance. This is a concession it is unwilling to embark upon as they know customers have come to rely upon and expect high levels of service. That said, some clients have been lured away by the prospect of lower rates. However, the majority of these customers have since returned as they recognise that despite a slight differential in a 24-hour rate, the inevitable compromise on aspects like service standards, cleanliness or quality of food, plus the creep of additional costs for extras, has had a detrimental effect on their event’s objectives. The academic sector now rightfully accounts for a significant percentage of the multi-billion pound events, conferences and meetings sector. The combination of expert staff, the advantages of a university setting, a core focus on quality content and attractive rates have shown organisers that academic venues are the ideal solution for their delegates – whatever the question. L

Conferences & events

 universities, steeped in rich history and tradition, possess architectural surroundings that would befit any occasion, while the majority of newer universities offer a range of state of the art facilities and technologies. While it is mainly students that benefit from this variation, most academic venues provide a perfect location for the meetings, conferences and events market. In addition to meeting facilities and services, academic venues typically offer accommodation. During the summer vacation many universities have a vast amount of bedrooms available, but many of the larger, more established universities offer facilities and overnight accommodation all year round – enabling them to stay on par with other conferencing venues. This vast range of accommodation options within a campus setting make academic venues a viable option for residential conferences, and gives organisers the ability to offer a variety of options for delegates with differing budgets. Many academic venues have iconic and historic buildings offering a special setting for smaller meetings and larger conferences and events. They are constantly investing in their facilities and increasing service standards to rival and compete with hotels and conference centres. Typically, you’ll find lecture theatres and venues equipped with modern audio-visual equipment and comfortable furniture and fittings. The same quality standards are evident in the kitchen too; catering options are often prepared by award‑winning chefs,

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For conferences, exhibitions or training seminars, the space can be transformed with different layout options and seating for up to 120 people. Use the entire space or divide it into two rooms for workshops and other activities.

The Restaurant can be hired or booked for functions and events. Combine your conference with a catered lunch or make your function extra special with a gala dinner.

Features include: Wi-Fi, free parking, catering services*, excellent transport links, fully accessible site, printing facilities*, interactive whiteboards and more. *additional charges apply To make a booking, view the spaces or find out about our unique indoor marquee, suitable for AGMs, conferences and award ceremonies, email roomhire@newbury-college.ac.uk or contact Room Hire on 01635 845000.

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

ModCelEdge Secure I.T. Environments Ltd is pleased to present and enter into the Edge Computing market with the introduction of its new ModCel Edge Containerised Data Centre design. This new facility enables Edge Computing technology to be housed in a single environment, putting the data centre closer to the point of use – this is Edge Computing. The ModCel Edge is completely scalable offering flexibility and diversity for all applications. It is built off site to resolve space issues, deployment time, build complexity and cost challenges often encountered with this new field of computing. Delivered as standard with features such as:

Benefits: • • • • • • • • •

Purpose Built Structure 4-hour Fire Protection Thermal and Acoustic Insulation Insulated on all Six Sides Typical ISO Container Footprint Expandable Suitable for Harsh Environments Rapid Deployment Easy to Transport Globally

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• Lloyds Insurance Accreditation • Internal & External Deployment • Minimum disruption upon installation • M & E Infrastructure fully fitted and tested • 4 Cabinets to 500 cabinets • Stackable up to 9 metres

For more information on how we can help you plan and implement the most energy efficient data centre solution for your budget contact: Shirley Osborne on shirleyosborne@siteltd.co.uk or call

01983 885 182 www.siteltd.co.uk

Could a containerised data centre be the answer to your I.T. problems?

You’ve probably heard the term ‘containerised data centre’ and associate it with huge data centre projects, such as those run by the public cloud vendors with tens of thousands of servers and the need for constant growth. In those instances, they are chosen for speed, cost effectiveness and ease of installation, but those benefits are not only true when working at scale. There are several scenarios where a containerised data centre might be just right for you, even if you are a much smaller business. Containerised solutions, such as our own ModCel and ModCel Edge solutions, can form small data centres, particularly in government locations, where they help resolve space, deployment time, build complexity and cost challenges. They are very flexible and depending on the

internal configuration can perform very well, even in high density applications. If you are facing a data centre design and build challenge and any of the following resonate with you then you should certainly add a containerised data centre to the possible solution list. Speed is of the essence – If you need your data centre built quickly then containerisation can substantially shorten delivery times. Many companies offer containerised data centres in standard ‘ready to load’ configurations, but you can of course have the interior designed to meet specific requirements, if your partner offers this. Site suitability – In some locations it is simply impossible to house a new a data centre. This could be due to footprint, budget or even local planning regulations.

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

Often in these situations, a container can be a solution accepted by all and that implemented with a minimum of fuss or raised eyebrows from the CFO! Construction must be offsite – A containerised solution can be fully designed, fitted out and tested at a separate location. Mobile data centre – If you need your data centre to be mobile, because you know the facility will be moving to another site in the future, then containerisation is an excellent solution. Units are designed to shipping containing external dimensions, use the same interlock systems and to meet or exceed the same rigidity and load standards. Containerised data centres are not a replacement for a modular room or bespoke data centre build, they are simply another option. As we have seen above, in certain situations their advantages may make them perfectly suited to overcoming your data centre challenges. You can learn more about Secure I.T. Enviroments ModCel and ModCel Edge solutions by visiting the link below. FURTHER INFORMATION www.siteltd.co.uk/modcelcontainerised-solutions/

Technology Written by Georgina Maratheftis

Making place based approach a reality – from tech to culture Georgina Maratheftis, head of local government at techUK, explains how the technology sector can be involved in a place based approach to local services Place-based approaches in local government Technology is instinctively designed to are ultimately done to put the citizen at assist collaboration, helping to make a the heart of the service. There is a complex place-based approach a reality. Wigan’s ecosystem with local public services continuing award-winning ‘The Deal’ uses technology to to face financial constraints in the face of rising facilitate the delivery of integrated services demand and growing citizen expectations, and with communities at the heart of service there is increasing recognition that challenges delivery. The council has worked closely with across public services provision are voluntary, third sector and private sector interlinked. Take, for example, partners, to support community preventing and tackling initiatives which use technology homelessness. This to create self-reliance. Its Techno l o g requires partnership ambition is for Wigan to be y is instin between the council, a place where people want c t i v e d ly esigned the voluntary and to invest, work and visit. to assis collabo health sector, and Within this article, t r a t i o n , housing. Local we will explore key h e to mak e a placlping place-based innovation authorities can based a e begin working themes and best pproac more strategically to practice examples of h a reality predict and prevent how technology can homelessness by be deployed to enable identifying households at seamless service integration risk of losing their home and to improve processes and work with housing associations outcomes, empowering citizens to to provide temporary accommodation manage their own situation. Finally, we and settled housing. This joined-up will discuss the importance of leadership in approach is therefore central efforts to driving the cultural shift that will underpin tackle homelessness at the local level. the success of future public service offerings.

Data-enriched places A data-enriched place can provide more citizen-centric services. However, for this to be successful, the data needs to be of the highest quality and be shared in an effective and secure manner. Regions are creating offices for data analytics to bring together local public service agencies. The Worcestershire Office of Data Analytics (WODA) aims to improve data sharing across the county. It brings together partners across the local government public services to introduce innovative ways to address challenges using frontline insights that generate a data-driven culture through digital transformation. As we move towards a placebased approach, many councils are opening an office of data analytics - West Midlands secured one as part of its new devolution deal – to overcome obstacles to data sharing and use analytics to better manage demand. This is certainly a positive approach that should scale throughout the country. Collaboration Furthermore, with increasing cross-agency working and greater collaboration, technologies, such as cloud-based services, are being E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Technology

The Local Digital Declaration has created momentum behind collaboration and uniting local public services to respond to common challenges, either from the Local Digital Fund or by sharing patterns and templates  deployed to ensure delivery partners can seamlessly work together, whether remotely or physically onsite, to find solutions to local challenges. Tech is an enabler that makes a placebased approach a reality. Tech facilitates solutions to the problem faced by local public services. One of the essential ways to achieve this is by bringing local public services and the tech industry together early in the procurement system to interrogate what the challenge is, understand the art of the possible, and validate ideas. Connected places Technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT), can help create smart places and communities. The use of IoT sensors in key local assets, like roads and bridges, which can cross local boundaries, also provides another opportunity for local agencies to generate a common view of the state of local infrastructure and coordinate and take action together, where needed. Sensors can also help create a more connected health and social care system and put citizens in charge of their care. CityVerve in Manchester is using IoT to join people together across the population of 2.5 million. As part of its Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment project, an app is used to alert its users if the sensors in their home detect an unhealthy temperature or if particular parts of the city are badly polluted that day. There is also a map feature to highlight COPD-friendly social areas. In addition, the app is linked to

a smart inhaler which records how often it is being used – and can advise the patient to order new prescriptions when it is running low. Digital leadership Technology, however, is the easy part. Leadership and culture are essential in creating the environment for people and agencies to feel confident and empowered to break down silos and share – whether that’s data or experiences. The devolved areas are a good starting point in demonstrating the possibility of a place-based approach and engendering change. The Mayors have the levers and powers to reshape and integrate services, creating places where citizens want to live, work and thrive. As outlined in techUK’s Digital Devolution: A Guide for Mayors, they can be the figureheads and champions to improve coordination by convening stakeholders across the city-region to accelerate the pace of transformation. More and more local public services are collaborating but there is still some way to go before it becomes the norm. The Local Digital Declaration, which techUK is a copublisher of, has created momentum behind collaboration and uniting local public services to respond to common challenges, either from the Local Digital Fund or by sharing patterns and templates. The Declaration is a joint endeavour initiated by the UK Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Government Digital Service (GDS), and a collection of local authorities and sector bodies from across the UK. With

61 signatories, including two fire and rescue service, the aim is to co-create the conditions for the next generation of local public services, where technology is an enabler rather than a barrier to service improvements. Never has it been possible to collaborate so effectively across local public services and boundaries. techUK has also championed the appointment of a regional Chief Digital Officers (CDO) as such an appointment sends a clear signal of commitment that digital and collaborative working are the new norm. We’ve already seen this appointment in London, Salford and Leeds. In Leeds the CDO is accountable for delivery of place-based outcomes for and across multiple organisations including three CCGs as well Leeds City Council. Doing things differently Local public services have a great opportunity to be at the forefront in creating the conditions for successful collaboration. That is why techUK has published ‘Collaboration for public safety outcomes’ paper for local public services to provide some technology tools and ideas that have the potential to transform public safety services. It highlights the role that culture, processes and procedures have in empowering technological solutions to facilitate collaboration. In addition to highlighting what the art of the possible is, the supplier community can work with local public services to deliver more interoperable solutions. Interoperability and standards could be a whole article in itself, but an importance piece of the place base puzzle. It is about bringing technology and place together to solve the pressing issues our communities face, and creating places where citizens want to live, work, thrive and feel safe. There is a time and a place for improved collaboration... and it’s now! L FURTHER INFORMATION www.techuk.org

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Where Emergency Services meet to talk business

See the latest equipment first hand

Taking place in Hall 5 at the NEC in Birmingham, the two-day event

This unique event features over 450 leading suppliers exhibiting,

brings together all disciplines from the emergency services sector

80 free CPD-accredited seminars for all services, live demonstrations

to discover emerging technologies and operational solutions,

and extrication challenges. Visitor entry and visitor parking are free

share their experiences and unite in their collaborative approach

of charge for all trade visitors.

to public safety.

This an industry-only event and NOT open to the general public. Visitors under the age of 16 will not be admitted. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry.

Find out more at www.emergencyuk.com

How emerging technologies are improving the efficiency of emergency response is set to be the key focus of The Emergency Services Show 2019, the UK’s largest event for the emergency services and government departments

Emergency Services Show

Get equipped for the future of emergency response depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions. The British Red Cross will give an update on its Resilient Responders Programme which aims to build individual and team resilience through a range of psychosocial support and interventions. Devon and Cornwall Police will share details of the ‘surfing therapy’ for treating mental health conditions in the police. There will also be sessions on the psychological impacts on control room staff, equality and diversity, men’s mental health, and menopause in the workplace.

Taking place in Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham on 18-19 September, The Emergency Services Show is free-to-attend, and offers a unique opportunity for emergency responders and anyone engaged in public safety and civil contingency services to learn and collaborate. David Brown, event director, said: “Technology and innovation are enabling our emergency services to tackle the complex and dynamic challenges they face today and into the future. This year, more than ever The Emergency Services Show is set to be a showcase for new and emerging technologies that will deliver enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in operations, enabling police, fire, ambulance and rescue professionals both to do more and to do it better.” With over 450 exhibiting companies and organisations, the indoor and outdoor exhibition features leading names in vehicles and fleet, communications, technology, medical and fire fighting equipment, search and rescue, extrication, water rescue, first response, protective clothing and uniforms, public safety, vehicle equipment, training, community safety and station facilities. Visitors will be able to see and touch the latest kit, discuss their requirements with suppliers, and meet with key resilience organisations and training providers. The event also offers valuable opportunities to network with individual blue light services and gain a deeper understanding of the support available from the voluntary sector. Free CPD-accredited seminars running throughout the two-day event will enable visitors to update their knowledge of the latest technology and best practice as well as gather insights from the successes and challenges of recent UK emergencies. Updates on the Emergency Services Network critical communications system will be available from the Home Office which will be presenting a seminar session,

as well as exhibiting at the Show. This year, the Emergency Services Show has an exciting new addition; The SkyBound Rescuer Drone Seminar and a SkyBound Rescuer Drone Zone, to encourage drone development for emergency Services through research and discussion, proudly sponsored by SOARIZON®️ by Thales. Popular returning features include the College of Paramedics CPD Workshops and the highly interactive Extrication and First Aid and Trauma Challenges hosted by West Midlands Fire Service. Free CPD Seminar Theatres Four dedicated theatres on the show floor will host a wide range of thought-provoking, CPD-accredited seminar sessions over the two days of the Show, with a focus on Lessons Learnt from operational incidents, Health & Wellbeing, IT developments and Emerging Technologies for the emergency services. Lessons Learnt Theatre Following on from last year’s packed out sessions, which included the Thai Cave Rescue, this year’s sessions will include a focus on lessons to be learnt from frontline operations such as the Salisbury Nerve Agent incident, recent wildfires on Winter Hill in Lancashire and the Ocado Warehouse fire in Hampshire. The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will explain how Scotland has been so successful in dealing with knife crime and NHS Improvement will update delegates on the National Ambulance Specification for NHS trusts, six months on from the Carter Report. The Cabinet’s Office’s Resilience Direct and ISRG Civil Contingencies Secretariat will also be presenting sessions. Health & Wellbeing Theatre A dedicated Health & Wellbeing seminar programme will explore the types of support available to those dealing with stress,

IT Theatre Sessions will include how Cloud is pushing operational efficiency on the frontline and how 5G could improve operational response. The programme will also take a look at minimising data costs and how the public’s use of technology will change how they interact with the 999 service in the future. For example, there will be a seminar on ‘what3words’, a simple system that gives every 3x3m square in the world a three-word address which enables emergency services to accurately find any location and share it more quickly, easily and with less ambiguity than any other system. Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service will give an overview of a project to develop instantly deployable tracking of first responders at operational incidents. Emerging Technologies Theatre This new seminar theatre will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning could be used to improve emergency response. It will focus on the training benefits of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and look at emerging vehicle technologies including electric vehicles and connected cars. SkyBound Rescuer Drone Zone The SkyBound Rescuer Drone Seminar and a SkyBound Rescuer Drone Zone proudly sponsored by SOARIZON®️ by Thales will help emergency services and public safety professionals to make the best tactical and strategic use of drone technology. Attendees are expected to come from every part of the emergency services community including police, fire and ambulance; lowland, mountain, cave and coastal SAR; lifeboats and flood rescue units. The SkyBound Rescuer Drone Seminar Day on 19th September will share the latest innovative thinking, reveal what lessons can be learned from experience, fully explore what is possible today and equip visitors with the strategic E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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RTC Rescue Challenges West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) will host two realistic and interactive Road Traffic Collision (RTC) rescue challenges again this year, providing an arena for some of the UK’s best rescue personnel to come together and develop their proficiency levels in all areas of RTC rescue. In the Extrication Challenge competing teams from across the country will perform extrications from a series of realistic RTC scenarios featuring heavy and complex damage. Volunteer members of the WMFS Casualty Simulation Group will play the roles of casualties, complete with make-up and prosthetics, while action will be captured from a variety of camera angles and broadcast live to a large display screen.

In the First Aid & Trauma Challenge, teams of two will experience visual and audio inputs from a trauma scenario that has been set up and filmed especially, in an ‘immersive’ tent. Both challenges will be judged by United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) who will ensure that best safe working practices are promoted in the areas of incident command and control, safety and scene assessment, extrication, professional pre-hospital care and expert use of rescue equipment. Virtual Reality Training Exhibiting at the show for the first time this year, The Simulation Centre will use two 95-inch screens to give visitors a taste of its immersive and dynamic virtual training facility at Coventry University with 10 metre curved screen. XVR Simulations on the stand will recreate a recent multi-agency exercise held at the Simulation Centre, which visitors will be able to participate in and receive informal feedback on their performance. It will also be possible to trial the centre’s social media simulator which safely recreates realistic and interactive social media and media coverage of emergency events. The Collaboration Zone In the networking hub of the show, The Collaboration Zone, visitors can meet with the likes of Highways England, the Environment Agency, and British Transport Police as well as a range of charities, voluntary groups and NGOs which can offer practical, emotional and sometimes financial support. Oscar Kilo for example will be updating visitors on its National

Police Wellbeing and showcasing a ‘wellbeing van’. With police officers and staff often saying they do not feel they have the time in their day to seek advice or support for their own wellbeing, these vans have been introduced so forces can bring their wellbeing services to the frontline and can provide immediate support at major and significant policing incidents. Staff and volunteers from Mountain Rescue, Lowland Rescue, British Cave Rescue Council, NSARDA Search Dogs, RNLI, and UK International Voluntary Rescue Alliance will all be on hand to offer advice and expertise in the dedicated Search & Rescue Zone. Visitors can also find out more about Communities Prepared, a timely new national resilience programme that equips communities with the knowledge and tools to effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from, severe weather emergencies. It is run by charity Groundwork South in partnership with the Environment Agency. Other new exhibitors include the Disabled Police Association, Immigration Enforcement & Law Enforcement Engagement, Ministry of Justice and UK Emergency Support Services and NHS Improvement – Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (ECIST); a national team responsible for helping to spread and share good practice by facilitating improvement events with NHS providers and publishing national guidance. L

Emergency Services Show

 and tactical knowledge to apply to future drone operations. The seminar day opens with a thought-provoking presentation on Public Safety Drones by internationally renowned keynote speaker, Charles Werner; a pioneer of drones in public safety across the USA. This will be followed by five research-driven presentations covering the latest research in the field of drones for public safety in the UK and internationally. Always a popular feature of The Emergency Services Show, the 30-minute College of Paramedics workshops remain open to all emergency responders. Sessions will cover end of life care, prehospital burns, early pregnancy loss, the risks of deconditioning and hospital admission, trauma and performance under pressure, mental health, and environmental illness including heatstroke, hypothermia and frostbite.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.emergencyuk.com

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Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Document management

Secure data destruction and Brexit

for data—destroying paper documents or computer hard drives when you no longer need the data (on them) is what makes us all safe. Using a professional data destruction company under contract that provides you with a certificated destruction, thereby complying with GDPR, is your proof that losing confidential data is not a risk. Whilst it can be straight forward, data loss at the point of disposal is a serious issue – BSIA registered members (have the resources/equipment and) provide the guarantees that give you and your clients assurance that you are compliant with GDPR data disposal requirements.” Jonathan Richardson, Russell Richardson What changes are secure data destruction companies seeing as a & Sons Ltd, adds: “It’s often the most result of GDPR? The British Security Industry Association explores straightforward and simplest of methods that are the most effective and that’s certainly the case for data destruction. Physical destruction The British Security Industry Association party for management or processing whether by shredding continues to be the fail-safe (BSIA) prides itself on being able to on a temporary or permanent basis.” method in an era of tightened regulation represent members from various sections He added that threats to data security are and public awareness. Whilst cyber criminals across the professional security landscape not confined to the physical and technological, have the potential to develop and and being the kite-mark for quality and but also to asset disposal, which security find ways around other data professionalism. Information destruction policies frequently overlook. It is security systems and data is one of the most vital security sectors essential for secure disposal wiping software, once especially with a nationwide focus on of data to prevent any data It’s ofte n data is shredded, privacy and 2018’s introduction of GDPR. breaches and ICO fines. the mo it’s gone. Since Furthermore, it is crucial s t straigh the introduction So, what is secure IT disposal? for secure disposal of met tforward of GDPR, peace Mark Wilding, of Concept Management service providers to h of mind when it UK Ltd, said the demand for technology is be completely vetted the mo ods that are s comes to data speeding up the pace at which devices reach to ensure that they t e f f ective and tha destruction, and their end point. With this becoming a global have the necessary proof in the form issue, devices need to be responsibly recycled accreditations, the cas t’s certainly ef of certification, rather than disposed of due to data security licences and permits. destrucor data has never been and the WEEE Directive. Police forces have The effects of changes tion more important similar issues, especially when dealing with to data destruction, for organisations their own personal data. Concept was created with the implementation looking to protect their to aid police forces with adhering to new rules of GDPR, have been data and reputations.” and environmental legislation. The company recognised by BSIA members. focuses on the 3Rs – Reduce, Recycle and Don Robins, managing director of Protection procedures Reuse – in accordance with waste regulations. Printwaste Recycling & Shredding, and B&M Secure Shredding has seen an increase in Wilding defined Secure IT disposal as chairman of the BSIA ID Section, explains: “Data destruction and GDPR can be straightbusinesses wanting to include data destruction “Any situation where the data controller forward. Destruction is the end of a life cycle as part of their protection procedures. E transfers custody of an IT asset to a third

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Document management

 They adhere to BS EN15713: 2009 standards, giving customers confidence on adherence to legislation and BSIA guidelines. Paul Curtis, director of B&M Secure Shredding, comments: “All paperwork within a business has the potential to contain personal information which is what GDPR legislation sets out to protect, but where GDPR doesn’t apply, it’s just great business sense to be cautious in ensuring that competitively sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands. Securely shredding paperwork removes this risk. Momentum on fining those in breach of the legislation is growing and we urge companies not already shredding their confidential paperwork to look into compliant options as soon as possible.” The team at Document & Data Shred Ltd noted how important it is for businesses to use an accredited company. The introduction of GDPR has recognised the need to dispose of private information to reduce fraud and the standard office shredders are not good enough. Why? Because most machines strip shred instead of cross shred documents. They said: “GDPR compliance requires evidence that documents are securely destroyed; a certificate of destruction will document the date, time and details of shredding.” These new laws had a huge impact on Document and Data Shred Limited, a family business based in Reddish, Stockport providing their services throughout the North West. Greg Humphreys, managing director, witnessed the huge increase of paper coming through the door which lead Greg to make the decision to invest in a new machine to meet the industry’s needs, purchasing a Lindner Industrial shredder Micromat 2000 promising to shred seven tonnes per hour.

The demand for technology is speeding up the pace at which devices reach their end point. With this becoming a global issue, devices need to be responsibly recycled rather than disposed of due to data security and the WEEE Directive Ian Osbourne, Vice President UK & Ireland for Shred-it, said: “At Shred-it, we have spent the last two years advising and supporting businesses to improve their information security practices and help facilitate their compliance with the EU GDPR. The new regulation has been designed to increase the level of protection for individuals regarding how their personal data is stored, collected, processed and managed. However, we have noticed that many firms have struggled to identify what actually constitutes sensitive data and with increasing threats to data security and the changing business landscape, companies need to do more to ensure the protection of consumer data. “Many believe the GDPR is mostly geared towards protecting online data from cyber criminals, meaning numerous businesses have failed to put measures in place to protect other types of data, namely physical. This is a concern and means that those confidential paper documents left on a desk, or even thrown in the bin, could land a company with large fines of up to €20 million, or four per cent of a company’s annual turnover, whichever is greater.” Simon Franklin, managing director, Shred Station, adds: “Since the introduction of GDPR, we have seen a large increase in people asking for one-off shredding services. As more

cases of GDPR violations appear in the news, organisations of all sizes are realising that there is a genuine need to have a paper trail for every single item of confidential data they hold. This includes everything from how data is collected, how it is stored, who it is accessed by, and, ultimately, to how it is destroyed. Retention periods only allow a certain amount of time until archived data must be disposed of. Because of this, many of our one-off customers contact us to have large quantities of their archived information destroyed responsibly.” Paper Round, part of the BPR Group Europe Ltd, provide a security solution at their own secure shredding and data destruction facility as the GDPR era has made people more conscious of their personal data. They said “We guarantee not only a clear audit trail of data destruction but also that no e-waste ends up in developing countries jeopardising the health and wellbeing of millions of people. This is vital for us. Here at Paper Round we strongly believe that we can provide our clients with the best confidential services through BS EN 15713 while still ensuring an ethical approach to recycling.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.bsia.co.uk

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Lighting

Saving energy through LED street lights Councils should be considering lighting as an integral part of a their plans for a low-energy and more sustainable future, says Brendan Keely, of the Society of Light and Lighting As we near the start of the next decade and the UK’s carbon emissions target deadlines begin to loom large, the government is stepping up its investment in sustainable policies designed to promote clean generation and greater efficiency. As well as a focus on renewable sources of power, these policies also include measures to improve the energy performance of the UK’s buildings, both current and yet to be built. It’s a sensible plan, because buildings make up a large percentage of the UK’s carbon footprint – accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 70 per cent of electricity consumption, much of which is produced by carbon-heavy generation methods like gas, coal and oil power. The low-hanging fruit in this mission would seem to be its own buildings, and there are quite a lot of them. In 2011 the government calculated there were over 180,000 buildings in public ownership meeting a variety of needs, from football stadia to hospitals. Though there is plenty of work for central government to do on this, two thirds of the total property portfolio is actually owned by 86 local councils around the UK, so these areas have been the focus of much of the work. Initiatives such as the Green Investment Bank have been rolled out to incentivise

the take-up of energy efficient technology, and help regional bodies become greener. There’s something in it for councils too, of course, when budgets are increasingly squeezed and opportunities for savings are welcome. On energy saving LED street lights, local councils in Durham and Stirling have savings of up to £30 million over 25 years projected. So emphatic is the support that Quirin Sluijs from the European Investment Bank (EIB) urged any local authority with the budget to ‘just do it’ at the European Commission’s conference on LED Lighting for Sustainable Smart Cities.

million tonnes of carbon dioxide. LED lighting is widely accepted by the UK government and governments and climate organisations across the world as the most promising avenue for the future of lighting, and investment in the technology across the world is expected to grow to $160 billion by 2020. And it’s for good reason: LED technology has moved forward unimaginably over the last decade, and is able to do things we wouldn’t have thought possible just a few years ago. Since 2000, its efficiency has increased by ten times, which has in turn greatly increased the savings possible with the technology, both from a financial and carbon perspective. Commercially available LEDs can now boast energy savings of up to 70 per cent (80 per cent if accompanied by smart control systems), and have vastly improved lifespans. For local councils, these are game-changing benefits in energy efficiency. The potential cost savings are obvious, as is their utility in meeting carbon-saving objectives, but they also make sense as part of the wider economic eco-system. Even the most advanced fluorescent lamps can’t match the lifespan of an LED, meaning they have to be replaced far less frequently, and their durability means that failure rates are low and they suffer less from decay in light output as they age. They also come in a variety of colours enabling them to more effectively mimic natural daylight in office environments, and streetlights can reduce light pollution by being much more directional – only providing light where it is needed.

Implement slowly and carefully All this being the case, there is a danger of complacency. LED technology is a growing and exciting area of the lighting Energy spent on lighting industry, but it’s far from a Lighting is an extremely important ‘magic bullet’ solution. Like Lighting area when it comes to any technology, it has is an ex sustainability in buildings to be implemented because it is so ubiquitous properly, and with importa tremely n and so costly as a result. consideration for t a rea when it It is also all around us its impact on the c to susta omes wherever we go, in whole system. No building inability in our homes, offices and energy efficient s becau streets, so it must be solution is ‘fit so ubiq s comfortable and practical and forget’, and uitous ae it is for us to live with. Energy the worst thing nd so cost ly as spent on lighting buildings a council could do a result represents 19 per cent of UK would be to assume energy use, which equates to that switching to LED tens of millions of pounds and 32 is an automatic win.

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

out cost and carbon savings. Without controls more sophisticated than a light switch, that’s not an efficient solution, and a properly designed control system can do a lot to alleviate these issues.

delay the onset of sleep as it delays the secretion of the sleep drug, melatonin. By reading our e-readers, watching films on the laptop or checking social media this can contribute to the delay in the onset of sleep.

More than just ‘on’ and ‘off’ The old adage that ‘you get what you pay for’ also applies here. Lighting is more complex than simply ‘on’ and ‘off’, with factors such as the light colour temperature and the colour rendering – and it’s not a purely artistic consideration, it also has the potential to impact on the well-being and productivity of the people who live and work in council buildings. Cheaper, poorer quality LED lights can perform less effectively in a number of ways, but one of the most notable is in light rendering – this is the way in which the light from the source accurately represents the colour of objects in a room. Cheaper and poorer quality LEDs are less effective at this, and so the light in a room may appear ‘off’, which can have negative psychological effects for the occupants. Similarly, the colour temperature of the light also has an impact. One of the benefits of LED lights is their ability to be tuned and even mimic natural ‘blue’ daylight far better than phosphorus or sodium lights, which have a distinctive yellow glow. This can be an advantage in daylight, helping to stimulate people with little or no access to natural light in the workplace, but it also has a similar effect at night. The blue rich white light can keep us stimulated and

Professionally designed LED LED technology is the biggest advancement in lighting in recent times. Its efficacy is improving at a high rate, while at the same time costs are falling. It will be an integral part of the energy efficiency strategies of a wide variety of people, companies and governments for years to come, but it is important to remember that it can’t be taken on its own as a complete solution to the problem of efficiency in lighting. In order to ensure that the technology is properly utilised, so that it is as effective and efficient as possible, local councils will have to ensure that it is professionally designed as part of a wider strategy that bakes efficiency into the design of their buildings. It’s not as simple as replacing one technology with another like-for-like: it needs to be properly installed by an engineer following industry guidance, such as that produced by the Society of Light and Lighting and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, to be as effective as it can be, and ensure that it works harmoniously with the building, the occupants and the other systems in play. L

Lighting

Firstly, judging the performance of an LED is not as simple as looking at the values of the chip. It might have Ferrari performance on paper, but a lot depends on the effectiveness of the system it is designed into. It can only perform well in a luminaire (light fixture) that suits its strengths, making sure it is at the right temperature for example, and trying to get one to perform in a badly designed context will greatly reduce its performance and may even damage it over time – like taking your Ferrari on quicksand. There are many different light sources and set-ups that best suit specific circumstances, so it’s vital an engineer designs the system to get the best out of the LED solution. LEDs are just a light source at the end of the day, and there’s as much work to be done on the part of the user to get the best out of them as there is by the light itself – and for that you need a strategy around how they’re going to be used. Even optimising the lamp and luminaire to get a 10-15 per cent increase in efficacy isn’t much compared to the 80 per cent increase you can get by implementing a good control strategy. LEDs, unlike some sources, actually perform better when dimmed as less energy flows through them – this is a great advantage when implemented with other systems like motion sensors to turn the lights off when there’s nobody around, or to dim them when it’s brighter outside. LEDs should not just be used as a direct replacement for older light sources – the irony is that LEDs can be so much cheaper that we then use too many of them, wiping

FURTHER INFORMATION www.cibse.org/society-oflight-and-lighting

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Could You See Yourself As A Business Coach? • Could you see yourself working with small business owners to help them to grow their businesses and increase their success? • Would you like to have your own business and take control of your career? • Would you like to earn an excellent income with full support from like minded people around you? Unlike some franchises, the initial outlay for Chrysalis Partners is extremely affordable. Not only is the fee payable very reasonable, but you have very little equipment and supplies that you need to buy to get started. If you are mobile and have a telephone and a laptop you are ready to go – everything else you need is provided within the franchise system. So do you have a background in business with demonstrable success? If so, you could be the type of person we are looking for to join our entrepreneurial team and build a business for yourself. You can also add additional Business Coaches to your Coaching business, enabling you to grow a Coaching practice around you with a number of 'employee' Coaches who would be generating additional income for you. Chrysalis Partners has many benefits, including: ■ Excellent cash flow from an early stage – your clients pay you in advance ■ Fully inclusive 5 day residential training course ■ Full access to the Chrysalis Partners Coaching and Consulting systems ■ Chrysalis Partners operating license ■ Unlimited support from Head Office ■ Attendance at Head Office events

■ Enhanced Support and Free Appointments with clients to drive your new business ■ Initial supply of stationary and supplies ■ Personalised biography on the Chrysalis Partners website ■ Partner advancement program ■ Use of Chrysalis Partners branding for your practice ■ Money back guarantee on your licence fee

Low start up costs compared to similar opportunities But don't take our word for it, these are the words of one our franchisees, Manish Kapur. 'It was evident from the seeing the course materials on the first day of training that I had joined a world class organisation, with a great group of people around me. The training course was very enjoyable and I learned a great deal across the 5 day training course. Within a week of starting my Coaching business I had my first client which converted from a Head Office provided appointment.

Could you be a Business Coach? We will train you on how to deliver to success consistently using our proven systems - call or email for more details.

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Why is franchising a good option for the public sector? The British Franchise Association explains how the franchising sector has changed in recent years and what opportunities it presents for the public sector Deciding to become your own boss is not an As of 2018, there are now 935 franchise systems easy choice. The lack of stability and support can registered in the UK, varying from dog-sitting be enough for anybody to hesitate and abandon to children’s educational classes to health and their dream. This, coupled with daunting fitness to coffee shops. Franchising continues statistics from Fundera showing that to break the mould and allows people to invest 20 per cent of small businesses in a business that is suitable for them. fail in their first year, 30 per Many people go into franchising Finding cent of in their second to take back control of their lives year, and 50 per cent and career. As your own boss, the righ t after five years, is you decide your schedule and franchi enough to make can work to family or other s e f o y ou will r anyone think twice. commitments. Franchise t and is c ake time, Franchising, however, systems are reflecting e can be just the these needs, with four in someth rtainly not ticket to get you into 10 systems now being able ing to b e business ownership. to operate from home. rushed It is a gateway to If you are tired of putting self-employment, in blood, sweat and tears in a achieved through the use company, only for someone higher of proven business systems up to benefit, then franchising could be and an established brand identity. for you. Running your own business means It offers a safer route to being your own all the hard work you put in will all come boss, without the added pressure of having back to you, so set yourself your own goals to come up with a business idea and build a and expectations and reap the rewards. system from the ground up that can typically take years to iron out. It is not a guaranteed A record breaking year ticket to success, and with any opportunity to Even in economic downturns, franchising has succeed, hard work and determination must always managed to persevere, with 2018 being be put in. But you can be comforted by the fact a record breaking year for the franchising that only two per cent fail due to economic industry, with £17.2 billion generated and reasons every year for the past 10 years. 710,000 people employed in the UK, according Going into franchising can be just as lifeto the 2018 bfa NatWest Franchise Survey. changing as starting your own business, and Franchising continually attracts people of all it will take considerable work to find the right walks of life, as it is not just for people with franchise model for you. Great care and due years of business education and experience, diligence is needed to ensure you’re investing but rather passion, determination, and a your time and money into a business that desire to run a business. Franchisors have you understand, and are passionate about. the proven concept, and now want to recruit

Franchising

Government Business: Why go franchising?

individuals who will share in their vision. According to the 2018 bfa NatWest Franchise Survey, franchising has never been more diverse, with the results showing 37 per cent of new franchisees being women, and 18 per cent of all franchisees being under 30. Multiunit ownership is also on the rise, proving that franchising can be a perfect model for entrepreneurship. The adaptability of franchising means that it can cater to a variety of needs, commitments and goals. So whether you want to get into business ownership at 20 or 60, it’s down to you to make it happen. The role of the bfa As the franchising industry grows, regulation and guidance is needed more than ever to ensure that people fully understand the franchising concept, as well as being able to differentiate between the ethical franchises and the not so ethical. The British Franchise Association (bfa) has never held a more important role in being able to help people achieve this. The association’s goal is to be the voice of education in franchising, and be a guiding light for those who need it. The bfa was formed more than 40 years ago, set up to be the self-regulating trade association, accrediting a company’s suitability for membership based on a strict criteria. This standards-based approach forms the cornerstone of the association, and ethical franchising, to this day. The criteria for bfa franchisor membership involves the structure of the business, the franchise agreement, available support and training, proven success and full transparency. This is to ensure that prospective franchisees will have no nasty surprises and can be sure that everything is out on the table to make a balanced decision based on facts. It is important to note, however, that a franchise without bfa membership does not mean that they are a bad franchise, just that they have potentially chosen not to put their business up against our rigorous accreditation. Having the bfa badge shows to potential franchisees that the business has met minimum standards. Due diligence Finding the right franchise for you will take time, and is certainly not something to be rushed. It’s going to be a commitment much like a marriage so be sure they are the one. E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

JOIN THE NEXT GENERATION IN THE ‘SHUTTERS’ MARKET

Looking for a brighter future? … then partner with the UK’s leading supplier of premium wooden shutters. Owning your own Shuttercraft management franchise comes with tailor-made profit potential. We've already done the heavy lifting for you by becoming the UK's leading supplier in shutters, now all you need to do is tap into the opportunity and build a business that works for you, not you for it. As a Shuttercraft franchise partner you can expect to generate revenues in excess of £500,000 with a gross profit margin of 45-50%. We are looking for partners who can see the potential and want to get involved while the market is still growing. We offer world class support and training and will help you become the 'go-to' shutter brand in your area. Take advantage of this high margin, high cash flow and low overheads management opportunity today!

Compelling reasons to join Shuttercraft • Premium product with high margins • Strong. positive cash flow • High repeat and referral rate • Low overheads keeping profits high • Low staffing requirement • Industry award winning training and support

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When you have found ‘the one’ So now ‘the one’ has been found, then what? It’s time to speak with their existing franchisees. Ethical franchisors should be happy to hand over a complete list of their franchisees, so you can gain a clear and balanced picture of what life as a franchisee will be like after speaking to them. You should be extra wary of any franchisor who discourages speaking to their other

Franchising

 Research needs be carried out on existing franchising systems and the best place to start would be the bfa franchisor directory in which you can filter according to industry. Online research is a great way to begin your journey, but it is impossible to determine a vibe from a computer screen. Meeting with franchisors face-to-face will allow the opportunity to understand their business and vision, as well being able to have that initial gut feeling. If you want to meet with franchisors in a casual setting, then consider visiting a franchise exhibition. The bfa is in partnership with franchise exhibitions throughout the year and only bfa members or franchises accredited by the bfa to exhibit can attend, so you can be sure that you’re meeting with ethical businesses. Not only can you meet with franchisors, but also with affiliates of the bfa such as banks, solicitors and consultants, all specialising in franchising. Meeting with franchise experts usually cost money, but at an exhibition, it is completely free to attend. Prospective franchisees can also benefit from the free seminars and workshops that are run to help them on their journey.

franchisees or selects a certain few. Franchisors should also be happy to answer any and all questions that you have, especially regarding sensitive topics such as money or disputes. A franchise commitment goes both ways so a good franchisor will want the right person on their team as much as you want to join the right franchise. Franchisors will want to know that you and your family are on board with this decision as it is one that will affect all of your lives. Significant money and time will be spent on making the business a success, so be sure that your loved ones are 100 per cent behind you. Franchisors will also want you to succeed, and many franchise models will have training and support systems in place so that from day one until your very last you will have the backup you

need. And let’s not forget that joining a franchise means you a joining a network of business owners who are all working under the same brand umbrella, so if you succeed, they succeed. A system of support The franchise industry ultimately means that you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. It’s an industry synonymous with support and encouragement, so never forget that this will be at your disposal once you have joined your ideal franchise. The adaptability, flexibility and supportive nature of franchising is truly unique. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.thebfa.org

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Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Cleaning Expo

Hand and environmental hygiene: the Cleaning Expo Back in the Midlands for 2019, the Cleaning Expo UK takes place at the at the NAEC on 7 September. Here, we look at some of the seminar sessions, as well as a look at the key steps in cleaning in a healthcare setting Now in its 7th year, Cleaning Expo UK just keeps on growing, and now has even more suppliers, manufacturers and service providers from across the cleaning and hygiene industry, from small equipment suppliers to the largest and best known manufacturers. It’s the perfect opportunity for anyone involved in the cleaning industry to view the latest products and services and see how they work. There are more vendors and demos than ever before making this the go-to event for anyone planning on purchasing new equipment or introducing new solutions, to see if they really can help their business. You can learn new techniques from industry experts as well as trying all the latest products. Relax and enjoy the day with plenty of time to network with like-minded people and build relationships with suppliers. Browsing is essential because there are amazing bargains to be had from virtually every exhibitor, with Expo-only discounts.

giving them assurance and peace of mind that Seminar programme they are hiring a contractor who is qualified The first seminar of the day will be presented to do the job and follows best practice. by Michael Conway, director of Softwash Are you looking for a fool-proof marketing Training Solutions. After over forty years in the strategy for your business? Daisy got her property care and maintenance industry, with start in the cleaning industry by sticking over twelve of those concentrating on the stamps to mail outs for her family’s carpet exterior cleaning business and being at the cleaning business as a child. Since then she’s forefront of soft washing in Ireland, Conway become an expert at online marketing for has been watching the explosion of the cleaning businesses and has founded Digitool rapidly expanding Softwash industry closely. to share both her and Joe’s expertise in In this seminar Conway will share why he winning more work for cleaners. feels that training is so important for Daisy’s done a lot of the the future of the industry and trial and error for you, having how he intends to introduce Now in watched her family’s a go to Professional i ts 7th cleaning company go all Register of Softwashers Cleanin year, the way from bankrupt that customers g Expo UK just to turning over £1 can access to find keeps o growin million. In this second contractors, check n g, and seminar, Joe Kiran, out their credentials n even m marketing manager and training gained ore supow has pliers at Digitool, in chemical cleaning, ma

nufac and ser turers v provide ice rs

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Cleaning Expo

It is critical that all staff members regularly wash their hands and properly disinfect any surfaces that may have been exposed to potential hazards will share the easy to implement, tried-and-tested steps they’ve refined to help you start winning more customers today. Other sessions include: Five Steps to Patterning Success; 5 easy ways to grow your client base using Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Linked In); How to Attract & Retain Viciously Loyal & Productive Employees; and From a bucket and ladder to £1 million a year. Hospital cleaning It is a well-known fact that hospitals are some of the most potent sources of germs if they are not cared for in the appropriate manner. A perfect example of this observation can be seen in the recent emergence of MRSA and other potentially serious infections. This is why staff and management need to take cleaning procedures very seriously. What steps should be embraced and how can these help to eliminate the risk of hospital-related illnesses? Hand and environmental hygiene The best approaches will embrace a proactive mindset. It is critical that all staff members regularly wash their hands and properly disinfect any surfaces that may have been exposed to potential hazards. Common examples include laboratory instruments, door handles, railings and patient waiting areas. These locations can easily transmit germs from one individual to another, so extra precautions should always be taken. Establish a cleaning schedule Bacteria-free wards will only arise as the result of a team effort. All personnel must be made aware of their responsibilities. They should be positively encouraged to watch others and make certain that coworkers are adhering to the proper protocols. If a cleaning schedule is posted, the chances of hospital-borne infections arising will be dramatically reduced. It should also be pointed out that management must also take part in such efforts. A top-down maintenance approach will ensure safety and efficiency while keeping the needs of patients in mind at all times. Surveillance and antibiotic stewardship Closed-circuit television systems and similar surveillance equipment can be used to monitor the condition of a hospital ward. This is why security personnel should likewise be made aware of the associated

cleaning protocols. A mistake or an oversight can be quickly corrected before it represents a danger to the public (or other staff members). This type of stewardship also helps to raise interdepartmental accountability; an excellent means to increase in-house responsibility. A healthy environment is the combined result of hard work and diligence. The bottom line is that a bacteria-free ward is everyone’s responsibility. By appreciating the risks involved and through targeted training methods, it is possible to mitigate potentially serious threats. This is also why a checklist should be drawn up so that each worker can take an active role. An ounce of prevention can tackle even the most challenging of situations. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.cleaningexpouk.co.uk

Tensid UK is a specialist supplier of the AGS© anti graffiti systems, PROSOCO building cleaning products, Aquila hot water pressure washing machines and Torik Superheated Stone Cleaning Systems. Tensid UK is a leading authority on the cleaning, restoration and protection of built surfaces. With over 30 years experience, Tensid UK can solve your surface care and restoration challenges. You can be assured of outstanding technical support and customer service. Plus, we strive to ensure that, as far as possible, our products are safe for the environment, biodegradable and friendly for the user. Our Products and Equipment can provide solutions for the following: • Anti Graffiti • Chewing gum removal • Paint stripping • Facade cleaning • Masonry and stone restoration cleaning • Street and town centre cleaning • Industrial cleaning • Roof cleaning • Cladding cleaning Our hot water pressure washers, the torik stone cleaning system using superheated water and the Aquila trailer mounted are available to Hire as well as Buy. 01932 564133 | info@tensid.com | www.tensid.com

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Perimeter security

There is more to entry point control than barriers It cannot be stressed enough that any product or system protecting critical infrastructure and people must always be fully operational and be available to work if and when required. Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association, looks at the importance of accreditation for entry point control With the heightened threat levels and the without the right partners (consultants, general awareness of security, we are seeing manufacturer, installer) the process will wide reaching changes in attitudes towards be difficult to complete satisfactorily. perimeter protection from secure fencelines and perimeter intrusion detection to entry Threat assessment point control using Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Before embarking on any proposal for the (HVM). Many sites, especially critical implementation of entry point control, infrastructure, are securing their it is essential that there is a full perimeters and creating a understanding and quantification hardened stand off area of the threat including the Risk for improved protection assets under threat, stand mitigat against attack. off needed to protect those i o n can take in Unfortunately, assets, consequential risk m while awareness of (collateral damage) and and canany forms i threat changes are possibilities for passive n c l ude physica undoubtably a positive, mitigation designs. l p r o tection from bl there are elements Detailed threat ast/ball of the reactions to assessments are usually i a t tack stic changes which are very complex and require a often excessive and at large amount of experience times ill-conceived. This and knowledge to be completed is because the reactions can satisfactorily. As the initial assessment be knee-jerk and consequently do is the cornerstone of the design of any not follow a proper process of assessment entry point control, it is always recommended of what protection is needed, why and that expert consultants are used to carry how it can be properly implemented. out this function and they will follow the Most of the best practice process is detailed principles set out in IWA-14.2 2013 (Security in standards IWA-14.2:2013 (Security Barriers – Application) which superceded the Barriers – Application) and IWA-14.1:2013 PAS69 standard. It is more common than (Security Barriers – Performance). However, you would expect for a high security system to be installed on an entry point with no consideration being given to a remote exit point leading to the same critical assets and these projects have invariably missed this vital step in the design process or have used

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inexperienced or unqualified consultants. The implementation of any project of this type could greatly impact the running of the facility and it is important to identify and engage with all stakeholders in the early stages of the project design to ensure smooth implementation and buy in. It should not be forgotten that any barrier system will impede vehicle access and this often leads to frustration by users which is easier to manage if all stakeholders are ‘on board’ from the start. Operational protocol The physical operational impact of entry point control is something that is often missed in consideration of protection measures. There have been many instances where a control point has been implemented, gone live on day one and then switched off on day two due to the impact on local transportation links. Obviously, this is not a good situation and can easily be avoided by anticipating and considering the consequences of the implementation of a control point on the environment. For example, if the threat assessment allows, the operational protocol for entry point control can be varied to accommodate peak traffic flows. Operator training is an essential part of any security system and possibly even more critical when it comes to entry point control. With the wide spread use of sub-contract security companies to operate and maintain site security, the ultimate stakeholder is more remote from the frontline security in both the literal and theoretical sense. This makes the need for a clear and auditable process for training even greater and stakeholders need to be sure that proper training is

Perimeter security

being carried out continuously. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget that the equipment being deployed at these check points can, if misused, be lethal and you would not issue a loaded gun to untrained staff! Operational health and safety is always the most important consideration and any barrier installation will need to have a safety risk assessment completed before commissioning although a safe operating procedure should have already been incorporated within the protocol and any residual safety risks addressed by safety systems on the physical equipment. Duty of care As an employer you have a responsibility (whether legal or moral) to staff to protect them from harm and while with security protection this is not always possible, there should at the very least be a clear and documented understanding of the risks of the roles and an assessment of what (if any) protection can be put in place. If a threat assessment identifies a serious risk that requires an intervention or protection in the form of entry point control then you are understanding and accepting that there is the possibility of a major incident and are crystallising the likely location of that incident with a control point. Any staff deployed to operate systems at the control point (or other staff / general public in the vicinity) will consequently be at enhanced risk and need to have a carefully considered plan to mitigate the risk. The concern is that when the risk is an explosion then the reaction is often â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;there is nothing that can be done to reduce the localised effectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. While this may be the case, if you can mitigate the risk by even a small percentage then, given that as an employer, you are putting employees at an enhanced danger level, any improvement in protection, however small it may seem, should always be considered. Risk mitigation can take in many forms and can include physical protection from blast/ballistic attack, as well as adjustments to the operational protocols ensure that the least amount of personnel are at risk at any point in time. Selection process With the development of more and more innovative physical blocking solutions, careful research of what is available using product sourcing sites such as HVM hub will aid the process considerably. Whole life cost should always be understood when selecting products and this should include not only the product cost but foundation requirements/cost, installation, warranty periods, maintenance costs and life expectancy. Information on duty cycling and mean time between failure will also help with the selection process. Using vetted manufacturers (for example PSSA members) will always give some additional confidence that what is being procured/used is from a reputable source with a history of successful projects. Project references are a valuable source of confidence support and can often highlight potential issues that have been seen on similar sites. Maintenance While maintenance would arguably sit outside the selection and implementation process (other than whole life costs), it is necessary to include at least a few comments here due to the often overlooked or ignored nature of this area of work. Once an entry point control system has been assessed, designed, procured, installed and commissioned, it is very easy to consider the project complete and this is exacerbated by the likelihood that the maintenance work is more likely to form part of a different department.

The purpose of the system installed and operating is easily forgotten in time, and the criticality of the ongoing functionality of equipment (that was originally installed as a potentially life saving piece of equipment) may be reduced in importance. It cannot be stressed enough that any product or system protecting critical infrastructure and people must always be fully operational and be available to work if and when required. This is why proper and regular maintenance by fully trained and competent engineers (eg PSSA Installer members) of the equipment should be, and remain, the highest priority once system has been commissioned. Any entity that enters into a process as described above is doing so to protect lives and critical infrastructure and following the correct process with the best consultants/partners will ensure the best solution. L

This article first appeared in Counter Terror Business magazine. FURTHER INFORMATION www.pssasecurity.org

SBD, LPCB & CPNI Approved Perimeter Solutions Security rated perimeter fencing Access control gates Hostile Vehicle Mitigation PIDS Bollards

Systems you can trust, quality that lasts T: 0114 256 7800 E: sales.sheffield@betafence.com www.betafence.co.uk

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Day

CMT Group have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s Framework RM387 Construction products, consumables and materials. Lot 8.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Access Equipment Hand & Power Tools Fixing Tools Precision Tools Consumables Cleaning & Floor Maintenance Concreting Equipment Heating & Cooling Equipment Lifting & Handling Plumbing & Drainage Machine Tools Surveying & Location Safety & Ventilation Tools & Garden Machinery Painting & Spraying Compressors Generators & Transformers Portable Units

SITE SAFETY

No hat, no boots, no job! Danger

Assembly point

Construction hazardous area

Head protection must be worn Foot protection must be worn Hi-viz protection must be worn Eye protection must be worn No unauthorised persons beyond this point

Site speed limit

Emergency 24 hour telephone contact No. ....................................

020 8311 1144

No entry

ccs@cmt.co.uk

www.cmt.co.uk

CMT Group Trident Works, Mulberry Way, London DA17 6AN

Frameworks

New marketplace to improve public sector tech access The government has launched Spark, a new marketplace for innovation, providing a smarter way for public sector customers to access the very latest technologies Spark: The Technology Innovation Marketplace has been designed by the Crown Commercial Service to support cutting edge products and markets that aren’t catered for in traditional commercial agreements. It will enable customers to use new but proven technologies which can drive public service innovation and cost-savings across the public sector. The DPS remains open for applications and suppliers with suitable technologies encouraged to apply. Currently, seven suppliers are already signed up to offer their goods and services, which could include innovative solutions in AI, the Internet of Things and wearable technology. There are eight technology areas you can filter by: Internet of Things (IoT); Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation; simulated and enhanced environments; engineering/ materials science; data; wearables; transport; and security. Each of these areas contains between three and 17 sub-categories.

Successful suppliers need to demonstrate their ability to offer suitably innovative products that meet either of the following two definitions: a Radical Innovation offering a new product, service, process or strategy introduced into a market, designed to make a significant impact by completely replacing existing technologies and methods. For example, streaming services replacing video rental stores; or a Disruptive Innovation that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market-leading firms, products and alliances. For example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) replacing traditional light bulbs. Among the benefits, CCS list: access to proven technology innovation to solve public sector problems; agility and flexibility to meet the public sector’s changing technology needs; this agreement has no lots, use the filter system to produce a list of potential suppliers based on your needs;

quality and price assessment filtered to an individual customer’s requirements; an efficient tender process and approach to finding potential solutions, including the option of using a two stage competition process and supplier presentations; and can be used for any size project, there is no minimum or maximum value. Niall Quinn, Director of Crown Commercial Service’s Technology Pillar, said: “Spark is the result of a wide-ranging review into how the public sector adopts new technologies. It has been developed to support SMEs through government buying power while stimulating growth in the UK technology sector. Because it is a DPS it will be continually open to new suppliers and will have functions built into the system that will help customers and suppliers to match capabilities to their needs.”

Innovation Strategy Spark was unveiled by Oliver Dowden, the Minister for Implementation during the launch of the Spark Government’s Technology was un Innovation Strategy, in a v by Olive eiled keynote speech at CogX, The Festival of AI and during r Dowden t Emerging Technology, h e lau of the G on Monday 10 June. overnmnch The minister launched e n Techno t’s a new guide to help l o g y Innovat government embrace i artificial intelligence and an Strateg on y online marketplace to support tech start-ups sell to the public sector. These measures accompany a new Technology Innovation Strategy, setting out the government’s approach to enabling widespread adoption of new technologies across the public sector. The new AI Guide will be used across government to help departments implement new opportunities for AI, such as how to make cancer diagnosis more reliable and reduce fraud, in an ethical and safe way. E

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Designing for Dementia Award winning Dulux Trade Dementia Colour Palette and Design Guide Dulux Trade has been awarded the prestigious Exceptional Contribution to Dementia Care Award at the Dementia, Care and Nursing Home Expo Awards 2019, celebrating the very best in innovation and cutting-edge products, services and expertise helping care, nursing and residential homes.

The award was given in recognition of the groundbreaking work undertaken by Dulux Trade to support the design of the optimal environments for dementia care, including a set of evidence-based design principles to help professionals design environments that optimise occupant wellbeing. In addition, they recognised the innovative work with partners including BRE Trust, BRE, Loughborough University and Halsall Lloyd Partnerships, to build a dementia demonstration home.

Dulux Trade has worked with Building Research Establishment (BRE) to deliver evidence-based colour palettes to help improve environments for people living with Dementia. Chris and Sallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House, a project designed to develop solutions for an ageing population, has been developed using insight from academics, design experts and people with first-hand experience of living with or caring for someone with Dementia. Colours have been applied to enable occupants to more readily identify different areas of the entire living space â&#x20AC;&#x201C; balancing their needs alongside the needs of their carers or family and giving them greater confidence to move independently within their living spaces. Additionally, the colour palettes have been designed as a way of reinforcing positive personal connections and to provide stimulation within the space.

For further information on our Dementia Colour Palettes, Paint Specification Services and how we can help you transform your buildings, please contact Andrew Cleaver, National Sector Manager. andrew.cleaver@akzonobel.com

In February, the Crown Commercial Service developed a new funding framework to allow construction firms, small and large, the chance to bid for work on government projects over the next seven years Dowden said: “The UK has led the world in harnessing technology to transform public services, but we cannot afford to sit back. Adoption of new technologies by the private sector is changing how people live their lives and the public sector has to pick up the pace to stay relevant.

Frameworks

 The guide also brings together, for the first time, research on how artificial intelligence is already being used by the public sector to save money and improve services. Examples include: the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency making roads safer and cracking down on rogue garages, by using AI to look through records of the 40 million MOT tests carried out across the UK every year to identify where standards are not being measured properly; the Ministry of Justice targeting safety risks in prisons, by using AI to analyse thousands of pages of inspection reports and identify common issues; and the Department for International Development using AI to analyse satellite images, so that they can estimate populations and better target aid.

“Artificial intelligence is already being used to identify rogue garages and improve prison safety, but government can go much further. New technologies like AI can deliver better services for less and I am determined that government is at the forefront of this revolution. Through initiatives like Spark, I also want to make it easier for start-ups and small businesses to deliver services for government so that we make the most of the UK’s thriving GovTech sector.” Construction services In February, the Crown Commercial Service developed a new funding framework to allow construction firms, small and large, the chance to bid for work on government projects over the next seven years. The Construction Works and Associated Services commercial agreement will assist central government and the wider public sector with projects focused on the construction, refurbishment, repair, demolition or decommission of public buildings across the UK. It is estimated that over the seven year life of the framework, the cost of the works carried out across the country could be up to £30 billion or less – with the projects led by departments and the money taken from existing departmental budgets. The framework has been designed with flexibility in mind to service a range of construction and civil engineering requirements across both central government and the wider public sector. Prompt payment initiatives and project bank accounts (PBA’s) have been incorporated into the framework to support supply chains. Policy like this is embedded throughout to help sustain and grow the market whatever the size of the organisation, but is particularly useful for SMEs and specialist suppliers. John Welch, CCS’s deputy director for Construction, said: “This agreement will support construction and drive industry growth. Its lotting structure has been designed to maximise opportunities for all sizes of company and that includes SMEs, which play a key role in UK construction. For example, standardised payment terms and other fair payment objectives are embedded within the framework scope. This agreement also facilitates the use of digitisation in construction and promotes the use of innovative solutions via modern methods of construction.” The framework is in addition to the Construction Products Consumables and Materials framework agreement which replaced the previous Building Materials and Associated Services, RM3747, framework E Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Frameworks

The Modular Building Solutions, which entered the marketplace in April, provides the public sector with a simple, low-cost way to address their modular building requirements  for a fixed 18 month period with no options to extend. The agreement provides a comprehensive range of construction products, consumables and materials and associated services. A total of 29 suppliers have been awarded across 9 lots and each lot covers a number of Goods Categories. The framework can be used by all public sector and UK government departments, devolved administration and the wider public sector. Modular Building Solutions The Modular Building Solutions, which entered the marketplace in April, provides the public sector with a simple, low-cost way to address their modular building requirements. It covers the design, fabrication, delivery, construction/installation and maintenance of modular buildings for purchase or hire, offering an alternative to traditionally built accommodation and public sector customers will be able to buy or lease modular buildings designed and fabricated to their particular specification.

A total of 24 suppliers have been awarded across 7 lots. Lots 1 to 4 focus on the education and healthcare sectors while lots 5 to 7 are for all other sectors, including housing, defence, commercial and retail. Maximum framework prices are fixed for the first two years of the framework agreement contract. Additional reductions may be secured through further competition or by early contractor involvement and effective risk management in direct award. Suppliers have been selected using a combination of both qualitative and commercial measures, providing assurance to customers that the framework provides access to the lowest cost suppliers in the market. The latest CCS framework has an estimated value of £495 million over the next four years. Commenting on the Modular Buildings Solutions framework award, Gary Parker, Integra Buildings (lot 6) managing director, said: “The government is making a very serious commitment to modular building

and being named on the framework is massive for us. At a time when all businesses are having to deal with uncertainty, this will give us the confidence to create new jobs and invest in our people and facilities because of the potential value of the work. “We’ve already taken on three more people in the past three weeks and we’re currently recruiting for new technical staff to help us remain at the forefront of innovation. We’re confident that more new jobs will follow, supported by projects through this framework. We’re also planning a major investment of up to £1 million in our in-house manufacturing capability, including upgrading our pure steel manufacturing facility, which will make the business more self-sufficient. That’s on top of the £3 million we have invested on this site over the past 18 months. “In our fast-growing industry, it’s vital to keep investing in people and technology, so being a part of this framework will help us to secure the long-term future of the business. It’s also a great opportunity for our suppliers. 90 per cent of them are based within 30 miles of our site, so by securing a pipeline of work, we’ll broaden and deepen our supply chain and give other local firms a chance to grow.” L FURTHER INFORMATION https://www.crowncommercial. gov.uk/agreements/RM6094

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Business Information for Local and Central Government

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk Published by

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

LANDSCAPING

AHS – all your landscaping needs

Powerful, scalable hosted solutions for your business

Amenity Horticultural Services (AHS) is an award-winning, market leader and has been supplying the landscaping, construction and horticultural industries for more than 27 years. AHS specialises in soft/hard landscaping supplies and play safety surfacings to include: Bark and woodchip supplies, which is where AHS began in 1992, and is now the UK’s number one supplier with a product to suit every setting and budget. Paving Grid, which is 100 per cent recycled and recyclable, with complete permeability. This product is hard wearing and load bearing to a capacity of 350t/m2. It can be used for a variety of applications such as footpaths, parking, showgrounds and arenas, and can be filled with grass, gravel sand, earth or stones. Shock pad underlay, for

NG TELECOM’s Collaboration services are available in two powerful and scalable hosted solutions, with a range of different features to suit your organisation’s needs. Both ‘Business’ and ‘Enterprise’ solutions utilise Cisco technology with enterprise grade connectivity, ensuring you receive feature rich telephony with the best quality connectivity & routes. The Business Hosted Communications (BHC) platform is a state-of-the-art SIP solution powered by Cisco Unified Computing appliances. BHC system features include; call recording, call reporting, voice mail, ringing groups, auto attendants, call forwarding, soft phones, call waiting, caller ID and call conferencing. The Enterprise Hosted Communications (EHC) platform is delivered by multi-tenanting

approved play safety surfacing, has a Critical Fall Height (CFH) of up to 3m; it’s free draining and insulating enabling play throughout the seasons. Other products include top soils, sheds, reptile fencing, timber, gravels and more. The team at AHS can offer expert advice for the most suitable solutions, with ongoing dedicated support, competitive pricing and nationwide delivery to ensure your products reach you when you need them. FSC UK, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certified.

FURTHER INFORMATION 0333 207 0440 sales@ahs-ltd.co.uk www.ahs-ltd.co.uk

DATA MANAGEMENT

Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform. This enables a fully partitioned, multi-tenant IP Telephony and Unified Communications service hosted exclusively on Cisco’s UC suite of products. The EHC platform gives you a dedicated partition on the highly available Cisco HCS cluster, which delivers the full suite of Cisco UC applications. All the key features and applications are available including extension overlapping, extension mobility, enhanced call handling, Unified Voice Mail and many more.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0207 118 0900 sales@ngtelecom.co.uk www.ngtelecom.co.uk

LIGHTING

Specialist statistical consulting for your needs

HID pioneers driving change with LED tech

PAL Stats Ltd processes survey data collected by you. The company can help with questionnaire design from a statistical perspective. The team at PAL Stats Ltd have worked together for over 20 years at TNS Digitab which was part of the WPP plc group, and it has worked under the new banner since 2017. PAL Stats Ltd can help with: Determining the drivers of a metric of interest, e.g. satisfaction; quantification of needs; the development of performance measures; entering data; data cleaning/ editing; classifying write-in-text

Since the early 1980s, Venture Lighting has been a pioneer of light source technology, transforming the HID lighting market with the introduction of the revolutionary UNI-FORM arc tube in Metal Halide lamps. Driven by the increasing demand for energy efficient lighting, Venture has taken advantage of the rapid developments in technology by offering its customers a class leading range of LED lighting solutions suitable for indoor and outdoor lighting applications. Venture Lighting’s purpose is to provide lighting solutions that have a positive impact on the environment, whilst enhancing the way that we live and interact with lit spaces. In today’s world light has endless possibilities for new value creation; way beyond the boundaries of illumination. The company’s mission is to be the customer’s preferred and trusted lighting solution partner, offering

(coding); the automation of graphical reports or dashboards; tabulation (Frequency count summarisation); web survey data collection; prices are competitive with typical costs ranging from £1,000-20,000. The company can handle smaller or larger projects too. If you involve PAL Stats Ltd at the questionnaire design stage, asking PAL Stats to do the data analysis, you should find it more cost effective.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01908 921000 enquiries@palstats.co.uk https://palstats.co.uk

its commitment to deliver a quality range of products and solutions through continuous innovation. The organisation’s dedicated team of professionals puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. Venture Lighting’s business is built on lasting relationships. As a Venture Lighting customer, you’re assured the very best technology combined with the highest level of service, from a global leader in the lighting industry.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.venturelightingeurope.com

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

PEST CONTROL

Quality and discreet Pest Control services

Pest protection specialising in bird control

Ninja Services provides quality and discreet specialist Pest Control stabilisation and contract services for schools, local authorities, and community projects, as well as leading UK and global retail, food, property management and construction brands. The team of licensed pest control technicians are DBS enhanced checked and offer fast, effective and family safe treatments to rid all pests. Ninja Services are happy to work as subcontractors, with unmarked vehicles and professional, polite technicians to represent your organisation well. The company provide free onsite surveys with timely written quotes, and after service, sending onsite reports and photos so you understand the treatment and status of the service location you pay for. Specialist services include hazardous waste Pigeon Guano Cleaning, Fox and Squirrel wildlife

Apex Bird Control is a specialist bird control business within the pest control industry. The company operates across the south of the UK with clients that include architects, construction firms, local councils and facility managers - meaning it is well placed to handle your bird control requirement. Many property owners are unsure how to effectively target the dangers associated with birds and bird fouling. Managing director Mike Fenton says: “Our attitude toward bird control will always be proactive. The advice we give to clients is about preventing the spread of disease, damage to buildings, mitigating risk of injury and adverse effect on reputation in a cost effective solution.” By preventing birds from occupying specific areas, property managers can ensure their buildings are protected

management, industry leading Solar Panel Bird Proofing, and heat treatment for bed bugs and other insects at competitive rates. They also treat severe rodent and cockroach infestations in multiple units and communities and can provide case studies of successful projects. They help businesses after emergency prohibition closure orders by environmental health officers, advising businesses about food hygiene ratings and reopening in record time. Get in contact today for helpful advice or to arrange a free onsite quote for affordable pest control.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 020 3880 8515 info@ninjapestcontrol.co.uk ninjapestcontrol.co.uk

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Meeting rooms in Islington with recording capabilities 47-58 Bastwick St. is a conference and meeting space in the heart of London, offering state of the art facilities that are adaptable to your requirements. Located a short walk from Barbican, Shoreditch and the bustling Silicon Roundabout/ Old Street area, 47-58 Bastwick St. offers bright, modern event spaces in a vibrant borough. Room rental comes with all inclusive audio visual equipment. The venue’s team can also advise if you would like to have your meeting or conference filmed and edited into a webcast, giving your event another high quality touch. Whether it’s a training event, a conference, symposium or workshop, the auditorium and meeting rooms are easily arranged to suit your needs, providing you with a tailored solution at a great price. The flexible meeting spaces can be customised to accommodate

PEST CONTROL

up to 150 guests with bespoke catering options. Get in touch to arrange a site visit, so you can see the venue space in person and to talk through your meeting and event requirements with the venue’s front of house and venue team.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: +44 (0)20 7235 4525 mail@47bastwickstreet.org www.47bastwickstreet.org

from the problems they can cause and minimise the associated health risks. Apex Bird Control’s close knit team consists of surveyors, installation contractors, office staff and an approachable director. Its team is knowledgable and highly skilled which gives its clients the confidence to know that every project will be approached with effectiveness, aesthetics and health and safety considered in equal measure.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01256 578025 info@apexbirdcontrol.uk www.apexbirdcontrol.uk

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Support for children with speech, language and communication needs I CAN, the children’s communication charity, supports children with speech, language and communication needs through fun, evidenced interventions. Its fantastic Boost series has already reached thousands of children around the UK, specifically targeting the 10 per cent who suffer with delayed speech and language. I CAN does not believe any child should be left behind because of trouble communicating. Its Intervention Packs have been created by speech and language therapists and include all the materials, books, manuals and resources needed to run the 8-10‑week programmes repeatedly in any setting. Teachers and practitioners have access to the online Tracker, which screens children and monitors their progress from start to

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

finish, generating charts and tables to show evidence of progress. I CAN has a skilled network of licensed tutors based all over the country. These tutors go into schools and nurseries, giving practitioners the training they need to deliver its target driven programmes. If you’d like to learn more about how one of I CAN’s programmes can support the children in your school or nursery, we’d like to hear from you.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0207 843 2515 info@ican.org.uk

ENERGY

Air conditioning and heat pump installation services

Independent and specialist advice for energy efficiency

Established in 2002, we specialise in the installation and maintenance of air conditioning, heat pumps, refrigeration, ventilation and gas lighting. We provide a professional and reliable air conditioning/ heat pump installation and maintenance service throughout London and the UK. Our projects are carried out to the highest standard and we conform to all current health and safety standards and F Gas regulations. We are built on reputation and this drives repeat business. We are financially secure and can provide full HVACR, mechanical, heating and electrical skills in house and through our approved suppliers. Quality is key and we pride ourselves in holding the following accreditations: Gas Safe Register, FGas Certification, REFCOM Elite, SafeContractor, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015,

CLS Energy (Consultancy) Ltd is a team of Chartered Energy Management and Chartered Fleet professionals. With 17 years of local authority experience, the company assists customers with independent advice on energy efficiency technologies, measures and controls to reduce energy consumption, costs and fuel use. From heating, building management (BMS) controls, HVAC and building fabric, to motors, compressors, chillers and refrigeration; CLS Energy reduces clients energy consumption and costs by up to 40 per cent. The company provides advice on renewable technologies (solar, CHP, wind, hydro and heat pumps), engineering assessments and autonomous advice on appropriate retrofit solutions, vehicle to grid and post installation inspections. As independent fleet consultants, CLS Energy works with cars, grey fleet, vans, refuse

Air Conditioning l Heat Pump Solutions l Refrigeration Ventilation l Electrical l Smart Energy l Building Controls

Renewable Energy Consumer Code, Constructionline, RISQS. Our projects range from small retail outfits and prestigious apartments to large commercial properties for blue chip clients. Our clients include: Tiffany & Co, Westfield, Galliard Homes, King George’s Hospital, Lanesborough Hotel, Selfridges, Tate Modern, Mulberry, JP Morgan, Wembley Arena, Savoy Hotel, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Tullet Prebon, and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

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FURTHER INFORMATION www.franklynair.co.uk

WASTE & RECYCLING

and recycling vehicles, lorries and marine fleets delivering savings through aerodynamics, alternative fuels, EVs, controls, telematics, tuning, training and drag reduction of up to 47 per cent against organisational fuel and associated costs. For both energy and fleet, the company offers data-led assessments and provides ‘double-locked’ guaranteed savings recommendations. CLS Energy is built on repeat customers; returning clients include AG Thames, Engie, Hallmark, Hastings BC, Landmark Trust, Oxford Airport, Uniserve and Titan Airways.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01865 421008 clsenergy.com

RECYCLING

Providing solutions for environmental sustainability

Recycling and litter collection solutions

Printwaste Recycling and Shredding have been providing recycling, waste services and security shredding to organisations for 36 years. All business sectors are included in the company’s client portfolio including, NHS, central and local government, MoD, legal, financial, insurance and education. Now providing long term solutions to the ever growing need for environmental sustainability in the commercial waste sector, Printwaste Recycling and Shredding is pushing the boundaries of lateral thinking, resulting in businesses becoming landfill free and recycling becoming normal practice. In researching and developing new recycling methods the company is currently sorting and processing single-use plastics and ensuring these are delivered to responsible outlets where the onward recycling process is adhered to.

Leafield Environmental’s ever popular Envirobank 240 litter collection and recycling bin has been refreshed for 2019 with several new standard and optional features. The bin has a Patented honeycomb, enhanced double wall structure, for ultimate rigidity and durability and a dimpled surface to deter fly posting. It can house a 240 litre wheelie bin or can have sack retention for a massive 320 litre capacity. The front opening design, which allows emptying without lifting, has a slam shut door with four strong latch points and now comes as standard with an uprated, heavy duty, tamper proof lock. A whisper close aperture flap is now available (to deter wasps) and the addition of a stainless steel stubber plate is a further new option. The door

As a major UK provider of security shredding of not only secure paper documents but also those protectively sensitive items such as uniforms, clothing and many other products that customers do not want to be in the public domain. Printwaste Recycling and Shredding holds some of the UK’s highest accreditations, including ISO 9001 including BS EN 15713 Secure Shredding, BS 78588 for Security Vetting of Staff, ISO 14001, Cyber Essentials, and are Principal Members of the British Security Industries Association and are registered with the ICO as a Data Processor.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01242 588600

incorporates an A3 space for logos or other personalisation and an optional poster frame is now available for affixing promotional massages. A variety of apertures is available, including slots for paper, propeller for mixed recyclate and a two hole aperture that is making its mark in several, on-street, paper cup recycling schemes.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01225 816541 comms@leafieldenvironmental.com www.leafieldrecycle.com

Volume 26.3 | GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE

DESIGN & BUILD

NATIONWIDE ENFORCEMENT

Premium leadwork services for your project

Constant & Co: Ethical Effective Enforcement

Northwest Lead has operated at the top of the leadwork industry since its inception in 1992 and subsequently began operating within the hard metal industry as a matter of course. The company has been supplying and installing lead, hard metal work and rainwater goods on some of the countries most prestigious properties ever since, for various clients including The National Trust, English Heritage and local authorities. Northwest Lead has been a member of the LCA and FTMRC since 1992 and 2013 respectively, winning the Murdoch Award twice and having never been awarded any less than an excellent grade for either accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to the highest standards in attention to detail and workmanship. Along with these affiliations, Northwest Lead can offer the LCA 25 year insurance backed guarantee, the 10 year FTMRC

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 clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations. The organisation provides a fast-reliable service and the company ethos is Ethical Effective Enforcement.

guarantee and a 30 year VMZinc At Work Partner guarantee. The company has a wealth of knowledge within a long serving close knit team, all dedicated to delivering the best outcome to each project undertaken. The aim is to provide a top class service to all clients, including principal contractors, architects and private customers. Whether a small domestic property or a large commercial project, Northwest Lead endeavours to impart the best advice and problem-solving skills to achieve the best possible outcome to your project.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0161 2220505

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

ADVERTISERS INDEX

The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service AHS Ltd 87 Apex Environmental Services 88 Apex Radio Systems 40 Betafence 79 Blackmore Ricotech 66 Blackthorn GRC 6 Byd Solutions 17 Caterpillar (NI) 16 Chrysalis Partners 72 CK International 40 CLS Energy 89 CTM Equipment 80 Coin Street Community 51 Conference Oxford 54 Constant & Co 90 Danubius Hotel Regents Park 20 Enghouse Interactive UK IBC Evac Chair International OBC Fireworks Fire Protection 30,31 Franklynair 89 Fuel Your Preparation 64 Glasdon UK 34 Hiscox UK 50 I CAN 88 Imperial Chemical Industries 82 ISS Mediclean IFC Isuzu (UK) 18 Kingspan Industrial Inclusion 14 LA Marketing 89 Lapse Products 64 LED Sky Ceiling 71 Mansfield College 56 Mobile Mark Europe 65 Newbury College 57 NG Telecom 87

NIC Services 75 Ninja Services 88 Nobel Fire Systems 26 North West Lead 90 Oasis 36 Office Depot 10 Ogel IT 24 Pal Stats 87 Parking Ticketing 22 PJH Safety Training 28 Premier Guarantee 32 Print Waste and Recycling 89 Royal Holloway University 48 Sadler Wells Theatre 46 Safety Technology 28 Schiller AG 64 Secure IT 58 SES Engineering 40 Shuttercraft Franchise 74 Smart Survey 44 St Hughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College 55 Standing Stone Dos 68 Streamlight 12,13 Sword Engineering 40 T-Impact 84 Tensid UK 77 The Deck Tile Co 8 The Institution of Structural Engineers 88 The London School of English 42 Unicol Engineering 60 University of Bristol 52 Venture Lighting 87 Women In The Fire Service 64 Yotta 38

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Chris Browning has been welding and fabricating components for Evac+Chairs for 6 years in our Birmingham based factory. Senior Welder - 6 years

VISIT EVACCHAIR.CO.UK/WORLD-CLASS