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A continental clean sweep
Kier’s environmental services business is to be one of the first in the country to roll out a fleet of dust-free road sweepers after a successful pilot with a number of local authorities.
After intensive trials in urban and rural environments, the high-tech sweepers have proven to be a versatile and efficient alternative to many traditional mechanical road sweeping models, being cheaper to run, quieter, and close to 100% dust free.
Designed by Italian firm Dulevo, they have special fabric filters making them 99.9% emission-free in terms of particles. Unlike many models, they can also sweep without the use of water, saving a valuable resource. Kier’s environmental business is the first municipal contractor in the UK to introduce these dust-free sweepers across its fleet and highlights the company’s continued commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and its investment in advanced technology to deliver its services.
These ‘green’ sweepers are helping UK villages, towns and cities to reach European legal standards for air quality, cleaning the air as they work. Research in London commissioned by the Mayor’s office has even suggested that poor air quality contributes to an equivalent of around 4300 premature deaths a year in the capital.
The new breed of sweepers is much quieter than the traditional models, reducing inconvenience for both staff and the public and enabling them to operate at night. As the sweepers do not use water, more detritus and litter can be collected per journey, reducing overall fuel costs for local authorities and providing a greener service.
Kier business development director, Mark Hogan, said: “Following the successful pilot projects I am delighted that the Dulevo sweepers are being rolled out across the country as part of a wider programme of environmental measures. The new sweepers are having a positive impact on the environment, as well as helping to save local authorities money during a period of unprecedented public sector cuts.”
www.kier.co.uk
Innovative cleaning system for NHSâTrust
New healthcare cleaning methods being adopted at a newly opened £90 million state-of-the-art development at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester, are already paying dividends.
Hope Building at Salford Royal has opened as part of the Trust’s £200 million redevelopment programme, with the domestic management team deciding to use the new approach from Jigsaw Cleaning Systems.
The 23,614m2 building boasts a new accident and emergency department with 242 beds, which includes a 55-bed emergency assessment unit, a 32- bed critical care unit, and new facilities for renal, intestinal failure and urology services.
The hospital has 65 members of the cleaning team, which will use 32 new trolley systems introduced by Jigsaw Cleaning Systems, designed for the optimum use of space, with a variety of sized buckets and storage compartments for cleaning products and liquids. The team at the hospital is among the first healthcare teams in the UK to introduce the new innovative trolley systems.
It is anticipated that by using these new cleaning methods rather than the traditional ‘wet mop’ system, the hospital will save 500 litres of water every day and two hours of labour - due to time saved emptying and refilling water buckets.
Brian Boll, systems director at Jigsaw Cleaning Systems, said: “The Salford Royal redevelopment programme is a fantastic project to be involved in. The importance of a clean hospital is clear, for patients, visitors and employees alike, and it’s good to see the introduction of our cleaning methods is already making a big difference. Some 80% of the dirt in any building is dust, often creating a micro-mud when using traditional wet methods. This is where our cleaning systems offer great benefits, ensuring the dust is removed, the floor dries much quicker and the time taken to complete the task is vastly reduced, particularly important in healthcare when people are under increased pressure to save time and money.”
The new systems, which include the Hospital Mop system, consisting of a flat mop method of 15 pre-soaked mops, will use 0.5cl of cleaning fluid, with three litres of water, on five, six-bed bays, including communal areas, toilets and corridors. The existing wet mop system would use 200 litres of water, and many labour hours emptying and refilling.
www.jigsawcleaningsystems.co.uk
First class stamp of approval
There was certainly no five-year itch at Royal Mail when deciding its future business partner to supply all 1600 UK sites with janitorial and washroom products. Jangro, the network of independent janitorial supplies companies with over 40 UK outlets, has been reappointed. It has provided Royal Mail with over 300 different cleaning and maintenance product lines since 2006.
Royal Mail is one of the many accounts in Jangro’s growing portfolio of national contracts. The contract focuses on a core list of everyday products and equipment, specially chosen by Royal Mail from Jangro’s impressive 3500 stock items, in its 162-page full colour catalogue.
Part of the appeal for many national accounts is the support material available via the Jangro training solution. This includes instructional wall charts, pictorial usage guides on all Jangro chemicals, and expert technical backup. The latest addition is a full training DVD covering 10 cleaning, health and safety disciplines, which is complemented by a series of comprehensive guides.
Jo Gilliard, operations director of Jangro, said: “This is a real vote of confidence in our pricing, products, and people. Royal Mail is a service provider and we at Jangro know all about service, indeed it is that very level of service that has seen us retain this very high profile account. I am confident that the next five years will be equally successful for us both.”
www.jangro.net
BIFM and Asset Skills to develop higher level apprenticeships
The British Institute of Facilities Management has confirmed it is part of the Asset Skills led project to develop degree level apprenticeships in facilities management. Over £1 million has been secured by Asset Skills and the project team from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund to support apprenticeships in facilities management up to levels 4, 5 and 6.
The apprenticeships will offer an excellent way for new or existing employees to master practical skills in the workplace, whilst gaining a formal qualification. By extending the facilities management apprenticeships up to level 6 they help build an accessible progression pathway to nurture talent in the sector.
The Asset Skills led project partnership comprises the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), Sheffield Hallam University, Building Engineering Services Training (BEST), Leeds College of Building, Manchester College, the Training and Learning Company, and Westminster Kingsway College.
Linda Hausmanis, head of awarding organisation at BIFM, said: “We are delighted to be involved in such an important project for the facilities management profession, to be able to open up access routes and development pathways to attract and develop talented FMs. There has been a lot of work put in behind the scenes by Asset Skills and the project team to secure the funding for the sector. There’s a lot of work yet to do consulting with employers and the sector to build the new higher apprenticeships - for them to be a success they have to deliver on needs.”
The BIFM qualifications in facilities management address both the knowledge and competency components, each playing integral roles in the development of pathways in the apprenticeship framework.
The fund allocated to the facilities management sector is part of a commitment to grow Higher Apprenticeships with the launch of the £25 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund. In December 2011, 19 partnerships comprising employers and training providers were awarded £19 million to support more than 19,000 degree level apprenticeships.
Gareth Tancred, CEO of BIFM, said: “The fact that government is investing in our industry’s people demonstrates the value they see and the significance of facilities management to the economy, business and the world of opportunity it offers individuals. Facilities management is an industry that welcomes practical, logical and innovative thinkers which make this nationally recognised programme so relevant to us. We welcome this new opportunity to come together as a sector to continue to define and build accessible and practical development pathways. This work and the qualifications developed by the institute are fundamental building blocks to develop talent in facilities management and achieve sustainable succession planning to ensure facilities management keeps advancing and making even more impact on UK plc. Being recognised as a key industry in this way is an excellent platform for us all to elevate FM, and looking to the future, to continue to promote FM as a career of choice and aspiration.”
www.bifm.org.uk/apprenticeships
ServiceMaster recognised for environmental clean up efforts
ServiceMaster Ltd has achieved ISO 14001 environmental accreditation following successful efforts to improve its carbon footprint. The British Standards accreditation was awarded after Leicester based ServiceMaster Ltd introduced an environmental management system project to help reduce wastage, improve on recycling and save on electricity use in the workplace.
Official approval was given, along with a presentation by Mark West from the British Standards Institute, during March. The accreditation is recognised internationally for helping companies to maintain profitability whilst reducing their environmental impact.
Steve Emmerson, managing director at ServiceMaster Ltd, said: “ServiceMaster is committed to its corporate objectives of ‘doing the right thing’ in all aspects of business. Looking at our impact on the environment was a natural progression to looking at how we treat our customers and employees. I am delighted that we have been able to demonstrate our commitment by gaining this accreditation.”
Having met the objective to gain this standard ServiceMaster Ltd intends to continue with the project and produce objectives for both further improvement and a management programme to achieve them. Regular reviews will take place to ensure continued development.
Since its inception in 2010, Wendy Buck, administration manager at ServiceMaster Ltd, has been in charge of the Environmental Management System project. She will continue to lead the drive to improve environmental impact across all ServiceMaster brands. She said: “The first year involved obtaining base figures for energy use and recycling. By just introducing a managed recycling system, this has enabled us to greatly increase the amount of waste we recycle instead of sending to landfill. We have also introduced a switch off policy for lights and electrical equipment overnight. All of our staff have been made aware of our new initiatives and our success is down to them embracing these within the workplace.”
EDF Energy appoints total FM partner
Balfour Beatty Workplace has been appointed to provide facilities management services for a range of EDF Energy sites in the UK. The contract, worth over £9 million per annum, is for a minimum of five years and will see Balfour Beatty Workplace provide site facilities management, maintenance, cleaning, security and other support services.
The estate comprises over 30 sites across the UK including Barnwood near Gloucester, Crawley, East Kilbride near Glasgow, Exeter, Hove, London, Plymouth and Sunderland.
Andy Hobart, MD of Balfour Beatty Workplace, said: “I am delighted to announce that Balfour Beatty Workplace have been appointed to manage this important contract to EDF Energy. It builds on the exceptional partnership we have developed over the past decade where we currently deliver essential support services across their fleet of UK nuclear power stations. We are really looking forward to the successful transfer of around 50 people from EDF Energy and some 250 people from existing suppliers into our organisation, and the transformation into a new and exciting service delivery model to support EDF Energy.”
Khalad Hussain, EDF Energy’s property services director, said: “The appointment of Balfour Beatty Workplace follows a rigorous tender process over the last six months. The partnership with BBW will mean a more effective and consistent service that prioritises quality of service, health and safety, sustainability, value for money and the development of employees, supporting our own company ambitions. We continue to work with employees, trade unions and other contract partners as we move towards the new arrangements, which are due to start at the end of April.”
www.bbworkplace.com
