Grapevine

30 September 2022

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com.

NG Bailey IT Services ‘Transforming Connectivity’ As It Targets Further Growth

The IT Services business of NG Bailey has revealed ambitious plans for growth following a strong financial performance.

IT Services, which delivers integrated IT infrastructure and managed services in sectors including healthcare, defence and infrastructure, saw turnover in the year ended February 2022 increase by 8%, while operating profit almost doubled over the 12 months.

The business is now targeting a turnover growth of over 42% by 2025 as it unveils an ambitious three-year growth plan, fueled by its leading offer and technical expertise.

Speaking about the results and plans for the future Kelly Tedesco, managing director of IT Services, said: “Like many others, the pandemic had an inevitable impact on the business but positively the lasting result has been the increased digitalisation of how organisations and their customers live and work across all sectors. This market shift has and continues to create new opportunities for our division as we emerge as an undoubtedly a stronger, more resilient business unit.

“What we offer is about more than simply providing services to buildings and dealing with wires. It is about transforming connectivity, in order to build better businesses and empowering people to deliver truly transformational results for not just themselves but also society locally and globally. It is a mission we are incredibly proud to follow and deliver.”

Looking ahead the managing director believes that the potential for IT Services is only going to grow, as it builds on previous successes in sectors which also include entertainment and venues and commercial and data centres, working with clients including the NHS, Coca Cola, Fujitsu, Tesco and HSBC.

Kelly added: “If the 2020s have taught us anything so far, it’s the importance of resilience and digital connectivity through the integration of market leading data management and analysis. So, I’m excited to see the opportunities ahead of us in areas such as 5G, which over the coming years will truly change the way in which people and businesses think about interacting with technology, in the same way that phone lines shifted the dial of mass communication. This advancement will undoubtedly also see further demand for our cyber security work, as businesses look to protect their data and assets from ever evolving threats while embracing the power of automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).”

Civils Professional All Set for London Marathon 2022

A determined National Sales Director is ‘raring to go’ as the date for his first marathon draws in.

Dave Rudd is due to complete the 26-mile run on 2nd October 2022. The National Sales Director for Keyline Civils Specialist, the UK’s leading supplier of civils and drainage materials, signed up for the London Marathon to fundraise for the company’s charity partner, Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK).

“I’m full of anticipation and can’t wait to get stuck into the challenge,” said Dave. “I signed up for the event before Covid because I’d previously completed a half marathon. A few lockdowns later, and after overcoming an injury I sustained last year, I’m finally getting the opportunity to do the full distance. It means even more knowing that the money raised will go to a cause that’s extremely close to my heart.”

Dave is being supported by family, friends and colleagues at Keyline to raise as much money as possible for PCUK.

Speaking about the chosen charity, Dave added: “As a business, PCUK is our chosen charity partner and we’ve had the pleasure of working with them for a number of years. Sadly, a close colleague is currently facing a prostate cancer diagnosis so this has brought it closer to home. As a team, we want to do all we can to support him. My goal is to raise a minimum of £2,000 to support the charity’s lifesaving research into diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. I hope by doing this I can inspire others to give back, as well as doing my bit for a good cause."

Dean Pinner, Managing Director at Keyline, added, “PCUK means a lot to the business, having been our charity partner for over 12 years. We’ve really taken the organisation to our hearts, and we’re extremely proud of the personal commitment Dave has made to raise so much money for such a worthy cause. He has our full support and we wish him all the best in completing his first full marathon.”

Keyline colleagues, suppliers and partners can now attend voluntary toolbox talks, set up in conjunction with PCUK. Held at Keyline’s national customer construction sites, the talks aim to raise awareness and help men identify signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.

To find out more about Prostate Cancer UK visit: prostatecanceruk.org or to donate, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dave-rudd

Used Car Buyer Interest in EVs Has Risen a Third Since May

Used car buyer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) has risen by about a third since May, research from the latest Startline Used Car Tracker shows.

Each month, the research asks consumers about their used car fuel preference and for September, 23% have opted for electric, increasing from 17% five months ago, when the question was first asked.

Asked the reasons why they would opt for an EV, 57% agreed with the statement “it is the future” while 38% said “it is right for the environment.” However, only 4% believe that “electric vehicles are now affordable.”

At the same time that preference for electric has been increasing, it has been falling away for petrol, according to Startline’s research, with a fall since May from 39% to 33%. However, diesel has remained consistent at 18% and hybrid the same at 27%.

Among those who opted for petrol and diesel, trust in internal combustion engine technology appears to be a key factor, named by 52%. Also, 38% agree that “electric vehicles are too expensive” to currently consider.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Obviously, we expect to see interest in EVs increase over time because it is the long term direction in which the market is heading. However, it is interesting to see how consumer sentiment is shifting on an almost month-by-month basis in the Tracker."

23 September 2022

Sodexo Supports Marine Conservation Society Through Volunteering And £17k Donation

Sodexo has partnered with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) by donating £17k and providing volunteering initiatives to combat climate change and preserve British beaches.

In 2022, almost 70 Sodexo colleagues volunteered, delivering over 250 hours to help the MCS’s Beach Clean initiative. This utilised the organisation’s employee volunteering policy, which gives each contracted Sodexo employee three days per year to get out and volunteer their time to activities that have a significant positive social impact on the local communities Sodexo operate in.

The volunteer’s efforts resulted in over 48kg of waste removed from West Kirby, Edinburgh, and Brighton beaches during the cleans. This included 3,061 individual litter items, being picked up and recorded.

To support the initiative further, Sodexo has donated £17k to the charity, with the funds being generated by the bag levy from the two previous financial years. As of 21 May 2021, Sodexo has charged a minimum of 10p for single-use paper bags or bags for life to encourage people to reuse bags and drive behaviour change.

Claire Atkins Morris, Corporate Responsibility Director, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “As a business, we’re committed to achieving net zero by 2045, and plastic reduction is a major part of that plan. Since 2017, we’ve reduced over 190 million pieces of plastic from our own operations, but much work still needs to be done. That’s why we are delighted to continue working with the Marine Conservation Society, as we always look for new ways to protect the environment. We see seagrass as a fantastic alternative to planting trees for carbon offsets, and we welcome further research and funding for this vital cause.

“We also want to thank Sodexo colleagues who volunteered their time to keep British beaches clean and clear waste items that could have harmed marine life.”

Indepth Managed Services Sponsors Community Art Project

To celebrate Warrington hosting Papua New Guinea men’s team in the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, national contract cleaning company, Indepth Managed Services, have sponsored a community project that sees artists and local community groups coming together to create an art trail displaying the Raggiana Bird of Paradise, which is the national emblem of Papua New Guinea.

To welcome the Papua New Guinea men’s team, who are Warrington’s resident team, an art trail around the town centre has been created, displaying the Raggiana Bird of Paradise which features on Papua New Guinea’s flag.

Five artists were commissioned to work with five community groups to design a Bird of Paradise, based on the Raggiana Bird and reflecting the slogan ‘The Power of Together’. These have been turned into large scale pieces of public art in five different locations across the town to form a trail and photo opportunities at each.

The trail launched on Saturday 17 September to coincide with the launch of a week-long exhibition in Golden Square, Life with the Lionesses, which celebrates the development of women’s rugby league.

The artwork sponsored by Indepth, was produced by artist Richard Preston who worked with their local charity of the year, Room at the Inn and the Y Project, a charity who provide accommodation and daytime services to homeless and vulnerable people.

Richard delivered workshops across Room at the Inn’s two sites and spent time discussing what the ‘Power of Together’ meant to them. The group came up with some phrases, drawings and ideas that would help Richard to come up with the design for the mural.

Darran Yates, ESG, Innovations & Research Director comments, “It’s exciting to be part of a local community initiative, where our UK Hub is based, that coincides and celebrates a global event in the town. We were especially delighted that the service users of the Room at the Inn and the Y Project were involved in the development of the design with Richard - they’ve certainly collaboratively created something very striking and though-provoking.”

A smaller version of the mural has been created and will be displayed at Indepth’s UK Hub.

A digital map of the trail and additional information about the project is available by emailing ukhub@indepth-cleaning.co.uk

CHAS Teams up With NormCyber to Help Contractors Control Cyber Risk

CHAS, the trusted expert in supply chain compliance, has teamed up with NormCyber, the award-winning managed security service provider, to offer CHAS members an easy and affordable way of managing cyber risk.

The agreement provides CHAS's members – which include more than 32,000 contractors and more than 2,000 client organisations across sectors including construction, facilities management and manufacturing, to name a few, with access to Norm.'s range of award-winning managed cyber security services at a preferential rate.

Norm.'s services are designed to meet the cyber security needs of mid-sized organisations that may not have the in-house expertise or resources to protect their operations from ever-more sophisticated threats. From today, CHAS members are entitled to exclusive discounts on the company's all-encompassing Smartbloc. service, which provides complete visibility and real-time monitoring of companies’ people, processes and technology to reduce the risk of attack. Other available services include: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials PLUS certification; Cyber Safety and Phishing; and the Essential Cyber Security Bundle, which includes vulnerability management and 24*7 threat detection and response.

The discounted cyber security service is the latest in an ever-growing bank of CHAS membership benefits designed to help members’ businesses thrive and save them thousands of pounds a year. Other benefits include access to a free legal helpline, 20% discount with Speedy Hire, TradePoint cards that give 10% off at B&Q, as well as discounted training courses and free access to e-learning resources.

Ian McKinnon, Managing Director at CHAS, comments: "Cyber security is an ongoing and ever-evolving challenge for our members and many organisations lack the internal expertise to manage this issue effectively in-house. We are delighted to team up with Norm to offer our members an easy and affordable solution.

"Our agreement with Norm will enable CHAS contractors to tackle this challenge head-on and is yet another example of CHAS's commitment to helping members simplify and streamline their risk management processes.”