VisionScoop Issue 5

VISIONSCOOP @VisionscapeGroup

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ISSUE 5 • NOVEMBER 2018

WELCOME NOTE We are delighted to introduce you to the fifth edition of VisionScoop.

For those of you that are new to the newsletter, VisionScoop is our way of keeping you updated on developments across the Group. In this edition, we are featuring Visionscape Day, sharing the latest waste-to-energy technology, as well as celebrating a 20-year milestone at Sellers Containers.

Remember, your feedback is always appreciated. Shoot us an email with your comments and suggestions through comms@visionscape.group.

Enjoy the read!

The Marketing & Communications Team Vision Environmental Engineering Wastewater Treatment Facility

VISIONSCAPE GROUP NEWS Vision Petlon Polymers Gains World’s First Global Health and Safety Management System ISO Accreditation Our polymer compounding subsidiary, Vision Petlon Polymers (VPP), has successfully completed the world’s first global occupational health and safety management system, ISO 45001:2018, migration audit, after undergoing a rigorous assessment programme. The new international standard has replaced the OHSAS 19001:2007 health and safety management system accreditation and is now used as a benchmark for the management of occupational health and safety globally.

The new ISO standard is designed to prevent work-related injury and ill-health, and to provide a safe and healthy workplace.

The accreditation will increase VPP’s organisational resilience through proactive risk prevention, innovation and continual improvement, and will demonstrate VPP’s responsibility and commitment towards a safe, healthy and sustainable workplace. In addition, the accreditation will strengthen VPP’s legal regulatory compliance, whilst reducing business losses.

“Safety has been the core of Vision Petlon Polymers and it’s with my utmost pleasure to see the company accredited the ISO 45001.

This is a considerable achievement, as less

than 2% of all international companies have achieved this migration to date. This reflects our commitment and continuing dedication to the safety and wellbeing of our employees above and beyond normal practices. This accreditation not only certifies our business but protects our brand reputation and relationship with our people as well.” – Gavin Rees, Managing Director, Vision Petlon Polymers.

Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Begins Monitoring and Intervention Services in Lagos State

the Lagos Project, VSS has amplified services and created the Visionscape Monitoring and Intervention (M&I) unit, with the mandate to cover waste collection service gaps and evacuate waste from litter blackspots and illegal dumpsites across the State.

To date, the M&I team have successfully cleared approximately 20,000 sites within Lagos, with the most memorable intervention being the clean-up after the Otedola Bridge fuel tanker fire explosion.

Visionscape Sanitation Solutions (VSS) kicked off operations with a soft-launch scheme tagged ‘Operation Deep Clean: Waste Blackspot Elimination’, back in July 2017, clearing over 2500 identified illegal dump sites across Lagos State. Due to the success of the deep cleaning exercise, and as part of

We Are Going Intranet!

Our Marketing & Communications Team is working on developing the Visionscape Group intranet.

You may be wondering, “Why are we bothering with an intranet? After all, we’ve made it this far?” continued on page 2

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WE ARE GOING INTRANET!

With the exciting features and advantages the Visionscape Group Intranet promises to offer, we are about to change the way we work and collaborate to an even simpler form. This is an exciting development for the Group with a schedule to go live in November 2018.

Here’s what to expect from the intranet: • Transforming internal communications and collaborations across the Group • Streamlining the functionality of applications and our processes • Reinforcing our brand identity among staff

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Improving all-round productivity Sharing feedback and opinions with management

Some cool features of the intranet are: • A navigation column for each subsidiary • Subsidiary media kits • Employee spotlights • Phone book/office directory across all groups • Key milestones of our company to date • Group updates • News and events • An interactive gallery • A management portal

INDUSTRY NEWS Africa’s First Waste-to-Energy Plant Opens in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reppie – Africa’s first waste-to-energy (WtE) facility – recently opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, situated next to the capital city’s main dumpsite, Koshe – a slang word meaning dirt in Amharic, Ethiopia’s main language. The construction of Reppie began in 2014, at an estimated cost of $118 million, under an agreement signed between Cambridge Industries Limited, UK and the Ethiopian government.

According to a report by Ventures Africa, Reppie is expected to deliver consistent power when hydroelectric generation is significantly reduced by low river flows due to seasonal or broader climatic change. It will also replace several expensive dieselpowered plants that have been used to cover power shortages. The facility aims to

employ approximately 1,500 people directly and indirectly, while helping to reduce the city’s rapidly growing municipal solid waste, which is affected by an increasing population and a growing consumer culture.

At the launch of the Reppie facility, Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome stated that the country has been investing greatly in hydropower, geothermal, wind energy, and now biomass, to boost the manufacturing

sector with a supply of renewable energy.

The facility is part of the government’s Climate Resilient Green Economy, a $150 billion strategy launched in November 2011, with the dual objectives of making Ethiopia a middle-income economy by 2025, while keeping greenhouse gas emissions constant.

FEATURE

Visionscape Day We announced Visionscape Day back in April, a one-day-a-year programme dedicated to volunteering and philanthropy by all Visionscape employees, with an aim to positively give back to our respective host communities.

From the Executives to our blue-collar employees at VSS, we are pleased with

Dorcas Foundation Partnership

how the rate of participation has been growing, which is encouraging for the Group. VSS Executives have shown a deep sense of leadership, taking ownership of our volunteering commitments.

will increase in the coming months and call on all subsidiaries across the Group to join the movement!

For any more information, please email the CSR team at impact@visionscape.group.

When John Irvine, CEO VSS, and a few of VSS executive management team flagged off the first VS Day visit to the paediatric cancer ward at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, it was a deeply emotional, but rewarding experience. Additional feedback from other teams across the business have been reassuring, as the team are slowly and steadily fulfilling VSS objectives with Visionscape Day. Since the inception of Visionscape Day, VSS has participated in beach clean-ups, cancer support group sessions, teaching at correctional facilitates and supported children with special needs. VSS is optimistic that participation and activities

Community Beach Clean Up VISIONSCOOP

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VISIONSCAPE SPOTLIGHT

Sellers Containers Established in 1973 in a 500 square foot garage, Sellers Containers started as a family run business and has expanded into a 60,000-foot facility, and today, the company has become one of the UK’s leading container and skip manufacturers. This has been achieved through customer service, in addition to Sellers’ emphasis on quality. Sellers has a history steeped in making containers for a diverse range of industries and applications and has evolved into a

Sellers Containers Curtain Sided Containers

dynamic brand with an ability to develop bespoke solutions to customers.

Sellers Containers Heavy Duty Container

Sellers is certified ISO9001:2008 and is currently moving towards the 2019 ISO18001 and ISO19001 accreditation for manufacturers. The company has over 250 different product designs, tailored to suit a wide variety of safe handling applications for waste and recyclable products. With an international client base that spans several industries and continuous development of unique range of containers, Sellers recently introduced specially designed drying containers aimed at the biomass market.

In manufacturing for exporting, the subsidiary has also designed a range of containers which nest within each other to maximise load quantities, while minimising transportation costs. Additionally, they offer a full container refurbishment, container converting and spares services, addressing any safety issues during inspection to ensure operator safety.

Sellers recently launched a new product range, the 4-wheelie bin, which will be manufactured in 660ltr, 770ltr, 800ltr and 1100ltr. This is all very exciting and a positive opportunity for the business, as we strive to continue to add new product ranges to our portfolio, moving the business forward.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Manual Handling of Materials Manual handling of materials involves manually moving or handling things by lifting, lowering, pushing or carrying. It is the most common cause of occupational fatigue and lower back injuries. The efficient

handling and storage of materials is vital to our organisation, because when done incorrectly, manual tasks can become hazardous.

The following are five precautions for a smarter and safer work performance: 1. Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

2. Ensure you seek help when a load is so bulky that you cannot properly grasp or

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lift it, or when you cannot see around or over a load.

Stop and think! Assess where, how long and how complicated handling of the material can be.

Keep feet apart to give a balanced and stable base for lifting.

Bend your knees so that the hands are as near to the waist as possible.

From the Executives to our blue-collar

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1. BE A PROACTIVE LEARNER:

FROM THE FINANCE DESK

Set a good example for your team members by constantly seeking new knowledge. This will ensure your team is always learning and improving.

2. ACCEPT YOUR NEW ROLE: First time managers and CEOs often need time to adjust to their new responsibilities and it can be hard to give up old tasks that

CASH IS KING IN BUSINESS!!

Why is Cash Flow Planning paramount to running a successful business and why should it be an essential part of the business plan?

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Use actual data to chart out your monthly income and expenses. For example, start-ups develop a monthly budget based on market research and development.

Be realistic with your figures so you don’t run into surprises half way through the year.

Cash Flow Planning will give you a good idea of what your bank balance will be six months from now (if you hit your projections).

Always make sure to track and measure your spending monthly and to plan every step of the way.

Cash Flow Planning is when a business forecasts short- and long-term business expenses against the projected incoming cash. It allows you to anticipate trouble by creating a cash flow cushion for unexpected expenses.

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Budgeting your personal finances and saving for a rainy day follows the same principles as Cash Flow Planning.

It is essential to plan for emergencies and unexpected expenses. By planning, you can avoid the expensive costs that could put you out of business.

feel comfortable. As a leader, it is important that you stop spending time and energy on things others can do, and focus on running the team!

3. BE ADAPTABLE: Not every employee responds the same way to the same leadership style. Great leaders recognise everyone’s needs and adapt accordingly. This ensures that every employee can perform at his or her best.

4. THINK QUICKLY: Don’t be afraid to be decisive. Even if a decision doesn’t turn out as planned, see that not as a failure, but a chance to learn.

5. FIND SUPPORT:

PEOPLE MATTER

Being a leader is an experience unlike

Leadership Styles that Improve Workplace Relationships Demonstrating leadership is an extension of

team members in the right direction

your personality that speaks volume about

by leading them from the front and not

your credibility as a working professional.

otherwise.

Times are changing and so is the definition of leadership. Now, we see a leader as

Here are five ways you could do things

someone who has the ability to take the

differently as a leader:

anything else. Finding others going through similar situations can provide much needed support and guidance.

“Leadership is not a position or a title, it is action and example.”

– Cory Booker

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BITS & BYTES

Beware of SPAM and PHISHING

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

TERIYAKI SALMON One serving INGREDIENTS • (2) 90g Salmon Fillets • 6ml Sesame Oil • 15ml Soy Sauce • 1 Lime Zest and Juice • 1⁄4 Teaspoon Grated Fresh Ginger • 1 Teaspoon Dried Coriander • 15g Whole Wheat Spaghetti • 150g Courgette • 5g Coconut Oil

What is SPAM MAIL?

Email spam, also known as junk email, is a type of electronic spam where unsolicited messages are sent by email.

What is Phishing?

Email messages appearing to be sent from what seems to be a credible source, for example, legitimate financial institutions attempting to trick recipients into “verifying” sensitive data (such as credit card information) on fraudulent web sites.

METHOD Preheat oven to 220 °C For marinade: In a small bowl, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, lime juice, coriander and ginger.

For fish: Place fish in marinade for 10-15 mins. Line a baking tray with tin foil, place fish on tray and cook for 10-15 mins. Half way through cooking, spoon over any excess marinade.

For pasta: In a pan of boiling water, cook spaghetti for 10-15 mins. Test spaghetti around 8 minutes mark and cook to your preference.

To serve: Make courgette noodles with a spiralizer, quickly fry in coconut oil, mix through cooked whole wheat spaghetti and serve alongside fish.

Tips: Salmon is okay to be cooked slightly pink, otherwise it tends to dry out.

LIVING GREEN

5 Ways to Fit Plants into Your Home The benefits of having plants around are undisputable; from improving the quality of air, minimising stress, to being generally great for your health. Best of all, you don’t need a lot of space to add some green to your home!

Here are five suggestions on how you can fit plants into your home or office, no matter what size it is.

Best Practices Against SPAM and PHISHING •

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On average, our email systems detect 5-10% of incoming emails as Spam every day. However, research has shown that 95% of emails distributed in the internet are Spam mails.

Beware of Phishing, Spoofing, Emails with malicious attachment – Emails with malicious links, attachments, contents, or mails asking for banking/personal information should be validated before you click on the attachments or links, or share the required information.

Double confirm the recipient address when sharing classified information through email – do not to send sensitive information to email groups/chain mails.

Be aware of any email attachment that you weren’t expecting – do not open if in doubt.

Do not use your official email address to subscribe to newsletters from Internet portals.

1. START SMALL: This is important especially if you have a small space.

Start with one plant, or maybe two, and position them in a place where you know they’ll get good light.

2. ADD PLANTS TO THE MOST OVERLOOKED PLACES: Using space that you traditionally won’t consider is one of the biggest ways to make an impact with a small amount of space. You could consider your bathroom, which is a great habitat environment for some types of plants. And there’s a bonus! You don’t need to water the plants as often as they will soak up humidity while you shower.

3. USE YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES WISELY: If you have some outdoor space, you can use it to your growing advantage. A little space is all it takes to grow a lot in a small part of the garden.

4. GROW SOMETHING THAT WILL FLOURISH ALL YEAR LONG: You may not want to deal with seasonal plants that need a ton of re-work every season.

Indoors or outdoors, you want plants that you can keep happy year-round or at least nurture in two seasons. Choose plants that will do well at any time of the year!

5. LET IT ALL HANG OUT: The key is to not only have plants of different heights, but to also place them on different levels.

For instance, you could have a big one on the floor, then some on your shelf, on your table or windowsill.

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BETTER LIVING

Deskercise Sitting at the desk all day has been linked to chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, depression, obesity and diabetes. Today, the average adult spends 50 – 70% of their time sitting while driving, eating and watching TV. When you factor all these in, many of us sit up to 15 hours a day and this is why we should deskercise!

The infographic below shows you five ways you can reduce strain on your arms, lower back and neck.

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USE YOUR CHAIR

WRISTS

LOWER BODY STRETCH

SHOULDER STRETCH

USE YOUR CHAIR

Sit on your chair with your legs crossed, sit up straight, hold in your tummy and then lift yourself up using the armrests. Hold for 10-20 seconds and repeat 5 times.

To reduce the risk of typing a lot at your desk, stand at your desk, place your palms on the desk with your fingers facing towards you. Keep your arms straight and lower body until you feel the stretch. Hold for 15 seconds.

Sit in your chair, feet flat on the floor, extend one leg out in front of you, hold for 2 seconds. Raise it as high as you can and hold for 2 seconds.

Repeat 15 times on each leg.

Sit tall in your chair and reach your left hand behind your back (between your shoulder blades with your palm facing out). Reach your right hand towards the ceiling, then bend it down to meet your left hand. Grasp and stretch.

Sit up straight in your chair, feet flat on the floor, place your hands in prayer position in front of your chest. Push your hands together and feel the stretch, hold for 20 seconds and repeat for as often as you need to.

CORE VALUES

Social Responsibility

We are committed to operating to the highest standards socially and environmentally. We focus on protecting the health and safety of our employees, making a positive impact on the environment and communities we serve.

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MEET

Full Name:

Phillip Jones Role:

Technical Design Engineer Since:

1998 Q: What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

A: I enjoy creating and designing new products for the company, from coming up with a solution to a customer’s needs, planning how to build to the final competed product.Seeing the stages/ process from start to finish.

Q: Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

A: One of my hobbies is coin collecting, and I am a big science fiction fan.

Q: What is the one thing you cannot resist?

A: Costa Coffee.

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

A: I once asked someone in the cinema where is the Imax screen while standing under a big blue sign saying Imax.

Q: If you could be any one for a day, who would it be?

A: Isambard kingdom Brunel, I think he was a very interesting engineer.

Q: If your house was burning down, what three items would you take with you?

A: My phone, my coin collection and pants.

Q: What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?

A: The loss of a family member.

Q: Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why?

A: Devon, it is a wonderful part of the UK.

Q: What have you always wanted to try, but never did?

A: Travel abroad on a plane.

Q: What is your greatest fear?

A: The fear of the unknown.

GREEN HUMOUR

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PHOTOS EVENTS

CSR Activities

Golf Day

Visionscape Group Dubai HQ volunteers gardening at the Special Needs Future Development Centre

Visionscape Group and subsidiaries Executives at the inaugural annual Visionscape Golf Day

JOURNEY SO FAR

Business Activities

Mark Harper, MP, unveiling new 3D printer donated to the Dean Academy in Lydney, by Vision Petlon Polymers

Sellers Containers at the CARS 2018 Exhibition

Vision Gelpack engineering and production teams happy after a successful trial of producing the candy strip bags

Visionscape Sanitation Solutions receives the Gold Ribbon Award in recognition of our commitment towards paediatric cancer support in Lagos Nick Hamer, Samantha White and Armin Ackerman Exhibiting at WasteCon2018

Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Sustainable Development Goals Champions

Vision Petlon Polymers at the recently concluded RECOUP Plastics and Recycling Conference

Visionscape Group management tours materials recovery facility in Turkey

Vision Petlon Polymers welcomes local Member of Parliament, Mark Harper, to discuss recycling initiatives in the UK and promotion of plastic reuse VISIONSCOOP

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