Grapevine

12 December 2025

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.

Novus Supports WHBC’s Nicer Neighbourhoods Initiative

National maintenance, refurbishment and fit out contractor Novus Property Solutions has joined forces with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to improve and enhance communal spaces for a pilot scheme under its new Nicer Neighbourhoods initiative to create safer, greener and more connected places to live.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Nicer Neighbourhoods project pilot area covered two sites in Welwyn Garden City. For the first site at Briars Wood, the communal garden has been enhanced to create a more welcoming, family-friendly space by opening up space for children to play as well as installing new benches, rotary dryers and herb-filled planters. The larger site at Heronswood Road and Haynes Close also benefited from new rotary dryers, benches, and herb planters plus new footpaths were laid at the back of the block of flats, making it easier for residents to walk safely between buildings.

Alongside the outdoor improvements, both sites also received deep cleans of internal communal areas and new noticeboards which were installed to help keep residents informed about local opportunities and community updates. 

Novus has been working with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council since October 2022 on a five-year contract worth £9 million per year to provide a range of upgrades across the council’s portfolio of 10,000 homes in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. The scope of works includes kitchen and bathroom replacements, installation of new windows and doors, rewiring, roofing and external redecoration with the latest tranche of works set to complete by the end of March 2026. As part of its social value programme, as well as supporting the new Nicer Neighbourhoods Initiative, Novus has also donated £500 to the council’s Borrow It initiative which gives residents the opportunity to borrow fully PAT-tested tools to carry out small DIY jobs in their homes.

Simon Wilson, Operations Manager at Novus Property Solutions said: “Giving back to the communities in which we operate has always been a core value and at the heart of how we do business here at Novus. We were delighted to be able to support Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council as part of our social value programme and it was a real privilege to see the positive impact of the Nicer Neighbourhoods project on residents and the local communities.”  

The Nicer Neighbourhoods initiative is an ongoing programme aimed at developing a long-term improvement plan for how the council manages its housing estates. Each project is developed with residents’ input to improve shared spaces who are also invited to take an active role by becoming Community Champions to help guide the development of future Nicer Neighbourhoods locations.

Cllr Gemma Moore, Executive Member for Housing, said: “Creating Nicer Neighbourhoods is a priority for the Council, and it is wonderful to see how collaborative working with our residents and colleagues at Novus has made such a difference to the communal areas in Briars Wood and Heronswood Road and Haynes Close. Works such as these help instil a sense of pride in local communities and I am sure that residents will enjoy using these much-improved spaces. Well done to everyone involved and I look forward to seeing similar transformations across the Borough.

NIC Services Group Ltd Recognised in the 2025 Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List

NIC Services Group Ltd has been ranked number 32 in the 2025/26 Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List, revealed at the Inclusive Awards on November 27, 2025. The list, produced by Inclusive Companies, highlights employers that show sustained commitment to inclusion across their whole organisation and across all strands of diversity.

Marking its tenth year, the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List continues to set the benchmark for organisations creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported and able to succeed. Judging covers gender, disability, age, LGBTQ+, race, faith and religion, as well as long-term progress and cultural impact.

Inclusion sits at the heart of NIC’s approach to people and culture. The company continues to invest in programmes that open access to development, strengthen representation and support colleague wellbeing. Recent initiatives include an expanded leadership development pathway, a strengthened mental health and wellbeing network and forum groups that give colleagues a direct voice in shaping policy and practice. These are supported by ongoing training designed to build understanding and confidence in inclusive behaviours across the business.

John Spencer, Group Chair, said, “We are proud to be recognised in this year’s list. Our teams work hard to create an environment where people feel they belong and can grow their careers. This recognition shows the progress we are making and encourages us to keep raising our standards.”

Laura Sterling, Chief People Officer, said, “Being named in the Inclusive Top 50 is an important milestone for us. It reflects the work our people have put into building a supportive and fair workplace. Inclusion remains a priority, and we will continue to strengthen our efforts year after year.”

Paul Sesay, Founder and CEO of Inclusive Companies, said, “Every year, the standard rises as organisations demonstrate ever-stronger evidence of their commitment to truly inclusive cultures. The IT50 List celebrates employers who go beyond initiatives and policies and instead embed diversity and inclusion into the fabric of how they operate. Our judges look for consistency, authenticity and long-term impact, and this year’s entries show just how many organisations are investing in meaningful, sustainable change.”

Mitie Accredited as a Member of the Good Business Charter

Mitie, the UK’s leading facilities management, transformation and compliance company, has been awarded the Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices that support people and the planet.

With 84,000 colleagues working across the country in roles from security to sustainability and cleaning to compliance, Mitie is the largest employer to be accredited by the GBC, meeting the standard required across all ten commitments of the Charter. It has pledged to continue to uphold the commitments, which collectively promote care for colleagues, suppliers, customers and the environment, while ensuring fair tax practices.

The accreditation was marked this morning at a breakfast reception held at Mitie’s headquarters in The Shard. The breakfast was hosted by Rt Hon. Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Jenny Herrera, CEO of the Good Business Charter and Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services at Mitie. It brought together business leaders ranging from multinationals to SMEs as well as policymakers and third parties to discuss how the Government and industry can work together in to ensure organisations are increasingly empowered to adopt responsible business practices, raising standards for workers throughout the UK whilst enabling economic growth.

Founded in 2020 by Julian Richer, founder of Richer Sounds, the Good Business Charter is the UK’s benchmark for responsible business behaviour. It was developed with the Confederation of British Industry and The Trades Union Congress, representing the voices of both businesses and workers. With 97% of the public wanting to support responsible businesses, the Charter provides an accessible accreditation that demonstrates this behaviour, including prioritising colleagues and caring for the environment.

The Good Business Charter aims to champion ethical behaviour and to provide a benchmark as to what constitutes a good business in the UK. There are over 1,000 organisations who have received this accreditation, sharing best practice on how to demonstrate responsible business behaviour through every area of operation.

By choosing to join the Good Business Charter, Mitie is helping to set a higher standard for the facilities management industry and wider British business, evidencing that major employers can lead with fairness, responsibility and care, providing a blueprint for a more ethical future of work in the UK. Mitie recognises the growing need for successful businesses to drive meaningful social impact and have as part of our ‘Plan Thrive’ mission, have committed to uplifting 1 million lives through inclusive employment and helping people to build sustainable careers.  

5 December

Barratt Redrow Champions Veteran Support Through RBVE’s £2 Million Fundraising Campaign

The country’s largest homebuilder, Barratt Redrow, is co-sponsoring Royal British Veterans Enterprise’s (RBVE) national fundraising campaign, The Great Tommy Sleep Out, for a second year running. Over 14,500 people took part in 2025, raising an incredible £2 million to help veterans rebuild their lives, and for 2026, RBVE want to raise even more.

The Great Tommy Sleep Out is a national movement. Every March, thousands unite to brave the night, sleeping outside for one night to raise awareness and stand with veterans facing homelessness. This symbolic act raises vital funds and awareness, enabling RBVE to deliver emergency housing, mental health support, and employment pathways for those who served.

David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Redrow, says: “Barratt Redrow was proud to sponsor The Great Tommy Sleep Out in 2025, with our teams raising an amazing £250,000 to support veterans. We are excited to do even more in 2026, and we believe the entire housebuilding sector can play a vital role in reducing veteran homelessness.”

Lisa Farmer, Chief Executive of RBVE, added: “No veteran should face homelessness after serving their country, yet too many still need help. Funds raised through The Great Tommy Sleep Out enable veterans without a safe place to call home to get back on their feet. Barratt Redrow’s sponsorship and participation make a huge difference to the campaign’s reach and impact. We’re deeply grateful for their continued support and are looking forward to building on our fantastic relationship.”

EMCOR UK Achieves 3rd Consecutive SFMI Gold for 2025 Sustainability Performance

EMCOR UK has received the Sustainable Facilities Management Index (SFMI) Gold Award for the third consecutive year. The accreditation follows an extensive assessment that includes more than 300 questions across 23 criteria that align with major ESG frameworks and are highly relevant to the FM industry. 

The SFMI gave EMCOR UK an overall score of 83.64 per cent, calculated as the average of its scores across the three key areas of the report: governance, society, and the environment. 

EMCOR UK was praised for its social value development, including its introduction of structured social value-led meetings with customers of large sites. These touchpoints discuss customers’ social value needs and ambitions, to adapt plans, align customer and supplier objectives, share best practice, and leverage existing initiatives.

EMCOR UK also received mention for its internal app that keeps staff better informed and supported as they go through the TUPE process, creating touchpoints at every step in the process of transferring employers, to reduce stress and increase contract productivity.

Kam Singh, executive director - ESG at EMCOR UK, said: “Participating in the SFMI has allowed us to develop a tangible improvement plan across all relevant aspects of sustainability within our organisation. Winning gold for the third year in a row reaffirms that we are on the right track across all aspects of ESG, as detailed in our strategic plan.”

Messagemaker Installs Smiley Activated Speed Signs For The Children’s Trust

Messagemaker has recently completed a project for its charity partner The Children’s Trust, donating a Vehicle Activated Speed sign (VAS) to help maintain safety around the trust’s Surrey school. The new Smily Activated Message (SAM) sign replaced an old, faulty system and have led to a reduction in vehicle speeds. The project builds on a five-year partnership, which has seen Messagemaker champion the trust and support it with significant donations from regular charitable activities. 

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and operates its specialist school from its headquarters in Tadworth, Surrey. The school provides life changing education and support for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), giving them access to top of the range facilities, green space and a safe, pleasant environment. 

This ability to enjoy the grounds of the school is a vital aspect of the care and wellbeing of the children. As a result, safety in and around the site is vital. Cars pose a particular risk as the school is enclosed by a road that enables the staff and visitors to move around the site. Consequently, the trust had an existing system of VAS signs, warning drivers of their speed.

However, after several years in operation the VAS signs were no longer functioning properly and failed to warn drivers when they were exceeding the required 10mph speed limit. The team from Messagemaker noticed the faulty signs when they volunteered to garden for The Children’s Trust and offered to provide a replacement, free of charge. 

Since installation of the new SAM signs, the trust has seen a reduction in overall driving speeds, which has helped to create a safer, calmer environment and reduced risk at the busiest points on site. 

“Our experience of working with Messagemaker has been fantastic and the support from the team has gone beyond financial contributions,” commented Partnership Manager Tracey Poulton. “The company has shown genuine commitment to our cause, with an enthusiastic team who are collaborative and proactive in helping us make a greater impact to the children and families we support.”

Danny Adamson, Managing Director of Messagemaker commented, “We were very happy to help The Children’s Trust by supplying our signage. As a business we have always sought to actively help the community we are a part of, but it was particularly rewarding to do so on this occasion by supplying our own technology and see the positive impact it has had.” 

Since 2021 Messagemaker has also donated the proceedings of its annual charity hike to the Children’s Trust, with the company’s 2025 expedition to the Pyrenees raising £26,653. 

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