Flagstaff Summer 2016

Summer
2016
FlagStaff
Pennon People’s Paper
Mayflower digs in
A stakeholder event marked the start
of work on site at the Mayflower Water
Treatment Works
Work started on South West Water's
new £60 million state-of-the-art water
treatment works in May, which will serve
Plymouth and the surrounding area.
The start of construction work was marked by
a turf-cutting event with local stakeholders.
The new site will be officially known as the
Mayflower Water Treatment Works, a name
which has echoes of pioneering, innovating and
exploring new worlds, whilst paying homage to
Plymouth's past. It was decided following a vote
amongst colleagues.
The new site, which will replace the now
outdated treatment works at Crownhill in
Plymouth, will meet the needs of the city’s
growing population and provide a secure, highquality drinking water supply for the wider area
for generations to come.
Cutting-edge treatment processes will be used
at the site, some of which have never been used
in the UK before.
Around 150 people are expected to be employed
during the construction phase, which is
scheduled to finish by the end of March 2018
and Mayflower will become operational in
September 2018.
You can find out more about this exciting
new development at:
southwestwater.co.uk/mayflower
New contracts
help maintain
momentum
Viridor has agreed a
£700 million deal to help five
Scottish local authorities
transform their residual
waste into energy and
recyclables. The Clyde Valley
contract, which begins in
December 2019, will see
around 190,000 tonnes of
waste diverted from landfill,
most of which will be
processed into Refuse Derived
Fuel, which can be used to
generate renewable energy.
Also, from this summer, Ealing
Borough Council in London will
be working with us to boost
recycling – in a deal worth £1.6
million. The partnership makes
recycling simpler as residents
will be able to put paper, card,
plastic bottles, cans and glass
all in one recycling bin – and our
materials recycling facility (MRF)
in Crayford will do the rest.
This partnership aims to boost
recycling and help the council
achieve its target of recycling
50% of all its waste by 2018.
Inside this issue
P4-5
P12
P17
P16
Going for
growth
Bee-cause they're
worth it
Getting to
know Saher Safi
An
Employee
introduction
to
volunteering
Bournemouth
Water
UpFront
UpFront
Welcome
from Chris Loughlin
Group
CEO
It’s been a busy few months for us all as Pennon
continues to evolve. Following on from a strategic
review of the business last year, we continue to
explore ways to work together more efficiently and
effectively, sharing best practice, combining talent
and expertise and delivering Pennon’s growth
ambitions. As part of this, we announced that we
would be creating four new Pennon directors
across IT, Health & Safety, HR and Communications/
Corporate Affairs.
In May we published Pennon’s annual results, and we continue
to outperform our business plans. Integration of Bournemouth
Water into South West Water has gone well and construction
has started on our Mayflower Water Treatment Works in
Plymouth. At Viridor, we’ve had major contract wins, and have
developed a series of recycling ‘self-help’ measures.
As you will know, UK voters have chosen to leave the
European Union. This will not happen immediately, and we
will keep you updated on the implications once they
become clearer.
Looking ahead, we are working to address a number of
seasonal challenges. For the South West, the annual influx of
visitors means an increased focus on our operations.
We achieved extremely positive results for the 2015 bathing
water season and are busy making further improvements.
We have developed our BeachWise initiative to promote the
safe use of South West beaches.
At Viridor, we are focused on getting our newest energy
recovery facilities (ERFs) through their ramp-up phases and
up to full capacity. We will see a rise in recycling over the
summer as the number of beer bottles and cans rises 15%.
So, whether you’re enjoying the beach or a night in,
I’d encourage everyone to spread the word about how we can
all do our bit to protect and enhance our environment.
Enjoy your summer,
Chris Loughlin
2
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Year-end
results
Did you
Spotlight on
make a splash
Paul Boote
in the City
Pennon Group’s full year results for 2015/16 received
an overwhelmingly positive response from the investor
community following publication on 25 May.
Presenting at the London
Stock Exchange, Group Chief
Executive Chris Loughlin and
Chief Financial Officer Susan
Davy highlighted the Group’s
strong operational and financial
performance, with a 0.3%
increase in profit before tax
(to £211.3m), in line
with expectations.
ighlights for
H
the half year:
Substantial media coverage
followed, with the Daily
Telegraph commenting that
Pennon has “shrugged off
tougher regulator price caps to
boost its full-year profits” and
adding that the Group will benefit
from the strong market position
of Viridor's UK-wide operations
which offer a “ready-made base”
for next year’s non-household
retail market opening.
•Profit before tax (PBT)
Pennon
•Results in line with
management expectations
•Revenue broadly consistent
compared with last year
increased by 0.3%
to £211.3m
Water Businesses
•South West Water profits fell
by 4.9% at £159.7m, largely
due to the financial
impact of its commitment
to keep customer bills
below inflation to 2020
The Group’s Annual Report and
Accounts are now available to
read or download at
pennon-group.co.uk
•This was offset by the
addition of Bournemouth
Water, which contributed
£6m profit before tax
Pennon
results
•Overall profit before tax was
down 1.3% to £165.7m
Pennon Group's full year results
for 2015/16 highlighted the
strong performance of all the
businesses in the Group and
the successful integration of
Bournemouth Water.
Viridor
•Profit before tax rose by
10.8% to £30.7m
•The company’s growing
Energy Recovery Facility
(ERF) portfolio made a
significant contribution to
earnings growth
Group Financial Controller
30km
Paul was appointed Pennon Group Financial Controller in 2009, having previously
carried out the role for Sheffield United Football Club.
What does your role involve?
I oversee the central Group Finance functions
of treasury, tax, insurance, accounting and
pensions. Making sure the Group has access
to low-cost finance, ensuring we pay the right
tax at the right time and providing financial
information internally and externally are all
part of my remit. I also need to make sure
the Group has all of the necessary insurance
arrangements in place and that our pension
schemes are well-managed.
What are the biggest challenges
for you?
Finance is a complex side of the business
and there are ever-changing accounting
standards and regulatory requirements.
There is always another deadline to meet
– fortunately we have a hard-working and
diligent team to ensure these challenges
are met.
What brought you to Pennon?
I’m from South Yorkshire originally, and
before moving to Pennon, I used to be the
Financial Controller at Sheffield United. I also
had experience in the waste management
sector so when the role at Pennon came up
towards the end of 2009, it was a great fit
for me. I’ve enjoyed moving to Devon for the
lifestyle, but you won't see me supporting
any other football team than the Blades.
What do you enjoy most
about the role?
The foil cap of a container may
carry enough chemicals to be
found 30km downstream
I like being close to the strategic decisionmaking at Group level, especially with all the
new developments and opportunities which
are taking shape at the moment. I also enjoy
the level of interaction we have with the City
and seeing how the decisions we take are
interpreted by the financial audience.
What does the summer have
in store for you?
It’s been a busy time for Group Finance
with the year-end results in May and
the publication of the Annual Report and
Accounts, which was brought forward by
a month this year. I’m looking forward to
getting back into some of the longer-term
strategic planning. Outside of work, I’ll
be spending time with my wife and son,
watching a bit of the tennis and hopefully
getting some gardening done.
870,000
Over 870,000 people see
Viridor tweets each month
10%
When the sun’s out our mixed
recycling centres see an average
10% bump in plastic bottles as
people drink more water
Full details can be found at
pennon-group.co.uk
Summer 2016
Know?
Summer 2016
FlagStaff
3
Feature
Feature
Going for growth
Achieving sustainable growth is a key part of our strategy
at Viridor. To help us deliver this we've been looking closely
at the customers and clients we currently work with, the
markets they operate in, the services they need and what
opportunities we have for growth in those areas.
This insight will give us a better understanding of what customers
want and will help our marketing and bid teams attract new
customers. We have divided our customers into four key segments:
Commercial and
Industrial (C&I)
Our C&I customers, such as ISS and Coca-Cola, give us
valuable tonnages of input a year for our ERFs, recycling
centres and landfills. The contracts tend to be over shorter
terms, but there’s real opportunity for growth in this area.
What they want from us: A tailored approach to suit the needs
of their business and the assurance and quality that comes
from a national company.
Our progress: We secured a 10-year deal with Grundon last year
to process 50,000 tonnes of waste a year at our Ardley ERF.
Small and Medium
Enterprises (SME)
This is a key target group for our telesales and territory sales
teams. SME customers can range from your local fish and chip
shop through to medium-sized printing and packaging firms.
Local Authority (LA)
Our LA clients, such as the Greater Manchester Waste
District Authority and the South London Waste Partnership,
are long-term partnerships. We provide integrated solutions
that make the most of the municipal waste that gets thrown
away in their areas.
What they want from us: Compliance in meeting legal
recycling/landfill diversion obligations, and the recycling
aspirations of residents and members. They also want
investment in recycling and recovery technology to meet
their needs and long-term stability.
Our progress: We have recently started working with five
new councils in the Clyde Valley consortium, as well as, Kent
County Council, the London Borough of Ealing and the Royal
Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Investing in Let’s get
tomorrow digital
In December 2015 we announced a 25-year contract to
transform residual waste into low carbon energy and
recycled material from Tomorrow's Valley – a group of four
Welsh local authorities (Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil,
Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen).
Annually we’ll process around 100,000 tonnes of waste from the
contract at our state-of-the-art energy recovery facility (ERF) at
Trident Park in Cardiff; this now means that Trident Park ERF is
now managing 267,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Since the win, we’ve been busy investing in people and equipment
to make sure we deliver a quality service for the contract. This has
seen us welcome five new drivers to the team, Christopher Williams,
Derick Hughes, Nigel Harris, Kelvin Davies and John Young.
As well as creating local jobs, we’ve also purchased five brand new
trucks and 13 new trailers. All-in-all we’ve invested over £1.1 million
in new people, training and equipment.
National and
Corporate Sector
Ranging from utility companies such as Thames Water,
retailers including Morrisons and organisations such
as Media City in Salford, these partners look for trusted
solutions to help them manage their waste.
What they want from us: A single point of contact that can
act as a trusted advisor within their business, providing
one-source billing and innovation to help achieve their
sustainability programmes.
Anna Cooper, our Digital Business Partner, was brought
on board to help us make those changes. Anna has lots
of experience in online and digital engagement and has
been working with the Communications team to review the
website and make recommendations on where we can make
improvements. She said:
“We are looking at what our customers want and are
considering new and exciting ways to engage with them.
Last year, we smartened up the look and feel of our website
and made it easily accessible from mobiles and tablets.
This year, we’re really focusing on defining who our website
visitors are, what they value and what they expect from
us so that we can reposition the customer at the heart of
our website."
Anna continues: “Having a range of communications
channels allows us to reach more people. It also helps us
to keep in touch with customers personally, as well as seek
out new opportunities.”
Our progress: We’re growing within our existing customer
base by around 10% a year. So when customers like Greene
King grow their business, we grow with them.
In the coming months, many sections of the website will
change. Where the pages live and how they can be found
will change too.
We’ll also be talking more about
what we do well – sharing
posts on social media and
encouraging others to talk
about the great things we
are doing.
Our progress: Thanks to the hard work of our sales teams,
we have already seen an increase of more than £200,000 in
incremental annual revenue.
The new drivers and their lorries, ready to go!
FlagStaff
Last year, it was agreed that we needed to make some
changes to the website to make sure that we continue to
meet the expectations of our existing clients and encourage
new audiences to do business with us.
We also need to be ready to engage with customers via our
Twitter and Facebook pages.
What they want from us: A one-stop service, local knowledge
with a national approach to processes, regular collection of
their bins and waste recycled or treated according to best and
most affordable practices.
4
Viridor’s website – viridor.co.uk – is our face to the
world and is the first place that our customers,
suppliers and potential employees go to find out
more about us.
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
If you have any feedback or
thoughts on the website
please contact Anna
Cooper at
[email protected]
FlagStaff
5
Feature
Feature
Ice Pigging
Thirsty work
at Christchurch
Food Festival
hailed a crystal clear success
The ice crystals are pumped in
Work to clean a major water main in Tiverton using cutting-edge ice crystal technology has been declared a success.
The deep clean, known as Ice Pigging, uses an ice crystal solution,
similar to a Slush Puppie, to scrape mineral deposits from inside
the pipe.
This was the first time the technique has been used to clean a water
main in the South West, and was completed within just a few hours,
which was great news for the 240 affected customers.
It was so effective that the amount of time customers’ water supply was
interrupted was reduced by 90% compared to more traditional methods,
such as flushing or swabbing.
The ice crystal mixture was pumped into the water main and pushed
along the pipe using water pressure. The plug of ice was then driven
through the main until it reached a pre-planned exit point, where it was
collected and removed.
Throughout the process the quality of the water in front, within and
behind the ice plug was carefully monitored. Once the cleaning team was
completely satisfied the level of water quality had been achieved, the
pipe was returned to normal service.
Chris Rockey, Head of Science and Water Quality, said: “This is the first
time we have used ice crystal cleaning on a water main in the South
West, but we will definitely be doing it again. It cleans very effectively
and is quicker and cheaper than traditional methods, causing less
disruption for our customers."
Our number one priority is to
provide our customers with a
clean, safe and reliable supply
of drinking water free from any
unwanted taste, colour or smell,
and this deep clean should help
keep tap water in Tiverton in
great condition for many years
to come.
In May staff in Bournemouth supported the annual
Christchurch Food Festival, helping to provide
much-needed water to thirsty festival-goers.
The weekend event is a big day in the town’s
calendar and an opportunity to help out at a
popular community event and meet our customers.
Over the years the event has become increasingly
popular, and this year’s festival was another great
success. We were on hand to talk to customers
and answer their queries, as well as handing out
around 12,000 cups and bottles of water, to a very
thirsty and appreciative crowd. We also made sure
to keep the dog bowl topped up, refilled countless
water bottles and received as many smiles.
We were busy handing out
drinks throughout the day
There was a constant flow of
people seeking refreshment
I'll drink to that: Chris Rockey and Richard
Dennis celebrate the success of the clean
6
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Samples were taken throughout the cleaning process
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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7
Marketing our
materials
Viridor is launching new marketing brochures and leaflets
to highlight the range of recycled materials that we process
in our facilities and sell.
The marketing materials focus
on each specific product,
promoting the benefits to
potential customers.
The new range of leaflets will
be available online and will
be divided into the following
categories: paper, plastic,
glass, energy, compost, metal.
The first leaflet in the range
has now been produced and
focuses on glass fines which
are created during the glass
recycling process. When the
full range is complete they
will be made available on
the website:
GLASS
FINES
Keeping the South West’s
coastline special
A competitive alternative
to aggregates, delivering
quality and value
Glass fines are a granular product,
created during the glass recycling
process. Ranging in size from
<1mm to 6mm, the particles contain
excellent qualities that lend themselves
to many applications.
w
A room with a vie
Characteristics of glass fines
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lower bulk density than primary sharp or building sands
Excellent thermal insulation properties
High temperature dimensional stability
Pozzolanic reactivity in cement products
Low water absorption and free draining
Excellent cleaning rate
Common applications include
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Draining pipe bedding or back-filling
Replaces primary fine aggregates for screed activities
Aggregate substitute for block-making, concrete,
asphalt and epoxy resin surfaces
Fluxing agent in ceramic manufacturing including bricks
Shot blasting
Landscaping/ decorative uses
Tile/ work surface manufacture
Water filtration media
Drainage/ land amelioration
The Telesales team works closely with the Territory Sales teams,
either by passing on leads, or targeting regions together, for a
mixture of both phone and face-to-face sales.
8
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In 2011 we launched BeachLive, our online information service
to inform beach managers and beach-goers about storm-water
overflows, which could affect bathing water quality at designated
beaches. When it launched, BeachLive covered 21 of our beaches,
today it covers 96 beaches across the region.
BeachWise – new for 2016
In spring we launched a new partnership, BeachWise, to promote
the safe enjoyment of the South West’s beautiful beaches and clean
bathing waters. The partnership is supported by Cornwall Council,
the Environment Agency, Keep Britain Tidy, Marine Conservation
Society, RNLI, South West Coast Path Association, Surf Life Saving
Great Britain and Visit Cornwall.
Over the years we have developed a number of initiatives and
partnerships to continue to protect and secure the future of our
coastal waters. To find out more check out the environmental
pages of our website.
delivering great results
Despite its small size, the team is able to contact over 60
potential customers per person per day; letting us cover a huge
area each week. There is also a team of four people dedicated
to answering incoming calls and responding to online requests
for quotes. The team will be soon be using web chat too, a first
for the industry.
The South West is home to 674 miles of coastline and 144
designated bathing waters, which play a vital role in the
region’s economy.
Before the Clean Sweep programme – the biggest
environmental clean-up of its kind in Europe at the time – raw,
untreated sewage was regularly discharged into our coastal
waters from 40% of the region’s homes. This no longer happens.
New Telesales team
The team is structured to focus on four regions; North and
Scotland, led by Lisa Anthony, and South East and South West,
run by Jayne Pendleton.
BeachLive
Since 1989, South West Water has invested more than
£2.3billion to protect and improve these bathing waters.
viridor.co.uk
Earlier this year Viridor created a new National Sales
function, and as part of this, a new Telesales team.
The 20-strong team, which is based in Viridor House, has
already delivered some outstanding results, including
298 new accounts, sending out 1,298 quotes and bringing
in over £472,000 of revenue.
Clean Sweep
The initial
fast start has been
fantastic. Our focus
now as we settle
in is to maintain
and build on the
momentum. It is
great to see the
Telesales team and
our Territory Sales
teams working so
closely together to
achieve some great
results.
BeachWise brings together beach safety advice and
useful information from all the organisations involved.
The partnership’s first joint initiative is the launch of an online
tool with 20 top tips to help beach-goers enjoy a safe, fun,
healthy and relaxing day by the sea, beachwise.uk
Without Clean Sweep the tourist industry
would have been destroyed.
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall
The giant BeachW
beaches to raise ise deckchair is touring
awareness
ise partnership
The launch of the BeachW
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Sales Director, Tracy Burtwell
Sales Director Tracy Burtwell
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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9
Energy saving
Sustainable approach
success!
leads the way
Ranked for
sustainable
success:
Congratulations to the Power Generation Operations team
at Viridor's Calne Landfill who have successfully completed
a project to improve energy efficiency at the site.
The team is in charge of the
gas extraction system that
takes the landfill gas produced
by the site and converts it into
electrical energy.
The project focused on making
some adjustments to the control
systems in the compound. The
team worked out that the gas
could be extracted using suction
from only one booster instead
of two.
This has reduced the electrical
energy used to run the system,
saving 20MWh a month.
The unused electricity is then
exported to the grid, boosting
the renewable power output
for the site and helping the
company reach the renewable
energy targets we have set.
A big thank you to the site
team for their efforts.
Both Viridor and South West Water achieved high
scores in Business in the Community's (BitC) annual
Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index).
The CR Index helps organisations measure how successful
they are at developing responsible business practices, by
looking at areas including company culture, values and
engagement with local communities.
Landfill gas generator in action
Shadow Operation
In April 2017, the water industry will face the biggest
change to the way it operates since privatisation. This is
when the non-household retail market will open, meaning
all non-household customers, such as businesses, farms
and hotels, will be able to choose their water and sewerage
retail supplier.
The cut over to Shadow Operation in October will be a significant
milestone for us and will be the next step in the change needed
in the business to meet the needs of the new market, in terms
of how it will need to operate going forward. In the meantime,
a major training programme for staff and suppliers is well
under way.
To ensure readiness for this change, all water companies will
start a six-month period of Shadow Operation from 3 October
2016. During Shadow Operation, companies will operate ‘as-live’,
testing business processes and managing market data.
This is the first year that South West Water has appeared
in the CR Index, and the fourth year that Viridor has been
listed. Both companies achieved a score of 2.5 stars.
The 2016 CR Index was published as part of Responsible
Business Week in April this year. This is an annual campaign
to inspire more businesses to take action to create positive
change in society.
This year’s Index reinforced the important role that the
leadership of organisations plays in helping to integrate
responsible business into operations. It also recognised
the wider impact of a business’s supply chain.
Inder Poonaji, Director of Safety, Health, Environment, Quality
and Sustainability for Viridor, said: “Just as we’re transforming
waste for our partners, we’re transforming the sustainability
of our business. We’re embedding sustainability at the heart
of our business, creating shared value with our employees,
partners, stakeholders, communities and local environments.”
Monica Read, Business Services and Sustainability Director
at South West Water, continued: "The BitC guidance will provide
a useful framework on which we can continue to build.
While there is still work to do, this score demonstrates how
we are successfully embedding our customers' priorities into
everything we do."
The purpose is to ensure that companies and the national
operator have a period of time to rehearse operation prior to
the market opening. It is an opportunity for companies to test
their processes, procedures and systems ahead of the start
date, and to demonstrate that they can comply with all
the competition laws and regulations that will
come into effect.
For further information about the 2016 CR Index including
the full list of participating companies, please visit
bitc.org.uk/crindex
Award
winners
South West Water had further cause for celebration
after it collected two awards at Business in the
Community’s (BitC) 2016 ‘South West Local Recognition
Awards’ in June, scooping the prize in both the ‘New
Member’ and ‘Collaborative Action’ categories.
The ‘New Member’ award recognised the work carried out
across the business to integrate and promote sustainable
business principles.
The ‘Collaborative Action’ award recognises the outstanding
efforts of our Customer Relations team in building
collaborative, industryleading relationships
with organisations
such as Citizens Advice
and local housing
associations, all of
which help to promote
and develop the
Monica Read, Tammy Deakin,
support available to
Sophie O'Callaghan and
Nigel Fenn collect the award
vulnerable customers.
About Business
in the Community:
Business in the Community (BitC) is the Prince of
Wales' Responsible Business Network. Its members
work together to tackle a wide range of issues that
are essential to creating a fairer society and a more
sustainable future.
BitC is a business-led charity with more than 30 years'
experience of mobilising business. It engages thousands
of businesses through programmes driven by a core
membership of more than 800 organisations, from small
enterprises to global corporations.
See more at bitc.org.uk
10
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Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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11
Bee-cause they’re worth it!
Pollinating insects such as bees are essential for our
food supply; one out of every three mouthfuls of our food
depends on them, so without them we are in big trouble!
In July, the Devon Local Nature Partnership Trust (DLNP), which
brings together all those interested in protecting and enhancing our
environment, is celebrating Devon Pollinators Month.
4. A
void using pesticides wherever possible as they can harm bees
and other beneficial bugs.
5. Join up and learn more. Support one of the many conservation
organisations campaigning for, and conserving, our wild pollinators.
South West Water is a member of the DLNP. We are encouraging
as many of you as possible to sign up to the Pollinators Pledge and
commit to helping in at least one of the following ways:
Viridor’s Safety, Health, Environment, Quality and
Sustainability (SHEQS) team has agreed a new
sustainability partnership with Plantlife, a conservation
organisation which helps protect Britain’s wild flowers,
plants and fungi.
Working together, we’re going to make some real changes to our sites,
our health and wellbeing, and to the future of wild flowers and wildlife
in the UK.
1. P
lant bee-friendly flowers. Flowers (including those on shrubs
and trees) provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. The
Bumblebee Conservation Trust has a ‘Beekind’ tool for assessing
how bee-friendly your garden is. You can find it online at
bumblebeeconservation.org
The goals of our partnership include:
• Saving a threatened plant species – many native plants are being
wiped out by development and invasive species. Working together,
our goal is to increase the population of an endangered plant
species by 2017
2. C
reate and protect wild flower meadows, small or large. In gardens
sow an area with wild flower seed; leave it to flower and set seed
before cutting.
3. D
on’t be too tidy. Leave wild corners, dead wood, walls and grassy
banks undisturbed over winter to provide shelter. Leave an area to
grow wild and build a ‘bug hotel’ in your garden.
Plantlife!
Bees are essential
for our food supply
One year of the Scottish
Landfill Communities Fund
Viridor Credits is celebrating a first successful year of funding in Scotland
under the new Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF).
Welcome!
The Viridor Credits team in Taunton would
like to welcome Alison Salvador into the
role of Applications and Administration
Manager. Alison brings with her a wealth of
management experience and enthusiasm.
A new scheme to administer Viridor’s contribution to SLCF was introduced in April
2015 following the introduction of devolved taxes to Scotland.
Find out more
about Plantlife
on social media:
Plantlife International
@Love_plants
•Developing a network of Butterfly Meadows across the UK –
Plantlife is going to help us create flower-rich meadows on 12
sites so we have more wild flowers, butterflies and bees. If you
have a plot of land on your site that would make a great meadow,
please get in touch: [email protected]
For 50% off of a one-year, personal
Plantlife membership, visit
plantlife.org.uk and use
one of the following codes:
•Help us all get outside – through volunteering activities, local
wildlife guides, and discounted membership fees, we’ll all have
opportunities to get outside and spend some time in nature.
Individual membership: VIR50
Joint membership: VIRJ50
Family membership: VIRF50
“This partnership will give us all excellent opportunities to spend
time outside, in the communities where we live and work, exploring
and supporting the habitat around us. As we all know, getting out and
about in the countryside is good for our health and happiness,” said
Mel Huggins, Head of Sustainability and Health & Wellbeing.
If you have questions about
Plantlife, or our commitment to the
environment, contact Steph Rooke at
[email protected]
More details on these activities will follow, but for now, we’re going
outside to celebrate!
In the last year, Viridor Credits’ Scotland steering group has funded
22 projects totalling £803,583
"Nature can survive
without us, but we
cannot survive
without nature.”
Below is a selection of projects in Scotland from the first year of the SLCF.
Inder Poonaji,
Director of SHEQS
Alison Salvador
Wishaw Bowling Club £17,700
12
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National Museum of Flight £48,628
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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13
01
Problem solving is
part and parcel of
being a Leakage
Technician
A day in the life of
a Leakage Technician
Ben Lambert is a Leakage Technician
for Bournemouth Water. He spoke
to us about the challenges of the job
and the importance of building good
relationships with customers.
Describe a typical day:
My current role straddles a few different areas. For example,
we are currently completing a major pressure management
project. This has involved me installing, configuring and
maintaining the controllers that tell the pressure management
valves (PMVs) what they should be doing. I’ve also been
monitoring the affected area and feeding data back to the
office for further analysis.
I am also part of Bournemouth Water’s leakage team. This
part of my role can cover anything from a newly formed river
running down a high street, to a damp patch in a verge, or
spending days searching an area for a burst main that only
shows itself once the repair crew start digging.
What’s challenging about your role?
The introduction of a large number of new PMVs has highlighted
the odd quirk on our network that we hadn’t foreseen: for
example, two supposedly separate mains cross connected in a
pub’s basement. These issues are often easy to resolve once you
find them, but finding them can be easier said than done.
World
safety day
As part of our activities, we asked you to
send us your ‘safety selfies’ showing off
your pledges to watch out for each other
and work more safely.
Here are some of
our favourites.
At the end of April, Viridor joined thousands of companies
around the world to mark the UN’s World Day for Safety
and Health at Work, an initiative to promote safer and
healthier workplaces.
What changes, if any, would you make to improve it?
I think we can always find ways to improve the way we
communicate, both internally and with our customers.
Good communication helps us to build
good relationships. That’s vital as we
often rely on customers to work with
us to find solutions, either by giving
us access to their property or agreeing
to lower water pressure to help
reduce leakage.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Everyone – employees, contractors, even visitors – has a duty to
challenge unsafe activities. By changing the way we think and
act about safety, we’ll improve our safety record and reduce the
number of incidents that occur. That’s why we hosted a whole week
of activities focused on health and safety, including a “Stop Shift”
brief which was delivered by managers across the business.
The six
GRREC
Maintenance
Team
Anna Marie Hughes,
Weighbridge Operator,
Longley Lane
Golden Rules
Maciej
Szubrycht,
Recycling
Operative,
Crayford
of SHEQS
I enjoy the challenge. Problem solving is great fun – I almost
prefer it when things aren’t going smoothly. Almost!
1. It is your duty to take care of
What do you like to do in your spare time?
2. You must follow all safety and
your own and others' safety.
environmental rules and policies;
these are non-negotiable.
Wandering a slightly overgrown footpath somewhere in the
countryside, something good on my headphones, and a backpack
full of snacks (and cider) is my idea of heaven. My boots have
many miles under them, and I spend an unhealthy amount of
money on maps. Just letting my mind switch off while following
those little yellow arrows stapled to gates and fences is a great
way to spend a day.
Mark Lowe,
SHEQS
Business
Partner,
North and
Scotland
Piotr
Szubrycht,
Shift Team
Leader,
Rochester
3.You are expected to report, challenge
and intervene to address any unsafe
act, condition or hazard.
4.You have to assess the risk:
if it looks unsafe or you're unsure,
stop immediately and report it.
If I didn’t do this I would love to…
When I hiked along the rim of the Grand Canyon, I couldn’t help
but spot the fire hydrants along the way. Someone must have to
maintain them; I would happily do that. What an office view.
5.You have a duty to keep your work
area safe, clean, and tidy.
6.You must take care of the
Just letting my mind switch off while
following those little yellow arrows
stapled to gates and fences is a great
way to spend a day.
Ben Lambert
14
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Summer 2016
environment by not wasting
resources or causing pollution.
Report and challenge any wasteful
practice or environmental hazards.
SHEQS = Safety, Health, Environment, Quality and Sustainability
Summer 2016
Matthew Watts and Nigel Harris, Plant
Operatives at Dimmer Compost Facility
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15
BeachCare
Get to
know
keeps Britain tidy
For the last few years we have been working in partnership with Keep Britain
Tidy on their BeachCare programme, encouraging people to work together to
reduce the litter on the beaches and care for our coastline.
Last year 1,776 volunteers took part in the
programme, cleaning 114 beaches and
filling more than 900 bags of rubbish in
the process. We support the programme
through our own employee volunteering
scheme and this year our programme
gives you the opportunity to give back to
the community by taking part in a range of
projects, during work time.
The beach cleaning programme started in
April, when eight colleagues made the trip
to Downderry and Portwrinkle in Cornwall.
We are also working on a number of other
projects which support our vision of Pure
Water, Pure Service and Pure Environment.
Our beach clean volunteers get stuck in
Everyone will have the opportunity to take
Planting saplings at Park Lake
part in one event per year, and former
employees are more than welcome to join
us. You can view a full calendar of events on
the staff community pages of the intranet
or contact Nancy Cooper, Organisation and
Employee Development Administrator, on
01392 443874, [email protected]
Stroke
advice
Fighting fit
At South West Water we do all we can to support all
our colleagues to be as fit and healthy as possible.
There are a range of health benefits, including a
cycle to work scheme and bicycle users' group, and
excellent shower and changing facilities available to
staff at Peninsula House.
We offer regular free health
checks, discounted gym
membership and private
health insurance, while our
Sports and Social Club offers
subsidised entry into various
events, such as Rock Solid. We
also encourage participation
in activities and campaigns,
such as Bike Week, during
which we held a cycling selfie
competition, which was won
by Abe Gosavi, Billing and
Contracts Analyst, for his
photo taken on his commute
into work along Exeter’s
cycle paths.
16
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Saher Safi
Earlier this year, for example, 22 volunteers
planted saplings at Park Lake on Bodmin
Moor, creating a native woodland to support
wildlife and increase biodiversity at the site.
There has also been a conservation day at
Burrator Reservoir in May, and in August
we will be helping to manage the habitat
at Wimbleball.
There is also a Body Mass
Index (BMI) machine at the
top of the rear stairwell at
Peninsula House, which
measures your blood
pressure, weight, height and
body mass index. It’s free to
use and is a great way to
keep up-to-date on your
general health.
For more information on
employee benefits please
visit the Hub, the South West
Water intranet.
Mark Smitheram, with wife
Beverley, and granddaughter Kayla
More than 100 South West
Water colleagues took
advantage of free blood
pressure checks and
advice at the beginning of
June, thanks to a visit to
Peninsula House from the
Stroke Association.
High blood pressure is a
common cause of strokes, with
many people unaware that
they have it, due to it being
symptomless. A blood pressure
check is quick and easy, and if
identified, high blood pressure
can be treated.
Our cycling selfie winner Abe Gosavi,
on his commute to Exewater
Your
Health
For more information on the
Stroke Association and the
support they provide please visit
stroke.org.uk
If you’d like some tips and advice on staying
fit and healthy then check out our monthly
newsletter, Your Health, which is available
on the staff wellbeing page on the intranet.
Summer 2016
Saher Safi has recently joined Viridor as Head of
Performance Management. He talked to us about
engineering, health and safety and folk dance!
You join us as Head of Performance
Management – what does your role involve?
I am responsible for developing our frameworks and reporting
procedures that give us a comprehensive and clear overview
of the efficiency of our operations.
This means I will be working with business partners, senior
management and the operational teams to drive performance
in the Energy and Recycling & Resources divisions, through
dedicated programmes and targeted activities.
We will be looking at historic and
current data so that we can develop
transformation plans and initiatives to
keep driving forward improvements to
the way we work.
You came to us from Veolia, so you are familiar
with the industry. What differences do you think
there are between us?
Of course there are a lot of similarities between the
companies, but every company has its own culture and values.
I am intrigued by Viridor’s strategy and how its business
has been transformed over the last few years, including the
delivery of eight ERFs, now operational, and a further three
more under construction.
Summer 2016
What challenges do you see ahead of you?
Health and safety performance remains the main challenge
in the waste management industry. There have been definite
improvements, but more is needed. Despite some difficult market
conditions I think we are well equipped to meet our objectives,
particularly with the help of our strong senior leadership and
new organisational structure.
Our Stop and Think mind-set will put us in good stead and I will
be focusing on working with teams across the company to find
ways to make our operations even more efficient and reduce risk.
What do you hope to achieve in this new role?
I would like to support Viridor in
becoming the UK leader in processing
valuable resources in a sustainable
way and inspire other companies in the
industry to follow suit.
What one thing might people be surprised to
learn about you?
I am into music and literature. I play a “percussion” drum and
I’m a founder of a folk dance group; we’ve performed a few
times in London, Liverpool, Germany and Poland. As age kicks
in, and I take on my responsibilities as a new father, I will have
to channel my free time and energy into music.
How do you unwind after a long week at work?
I like to wind down either by spending time with my wife and
my new baby son or, when time allows, by having a beer and
watching football with my friends, or having a badminton game.
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17
H5O scoops Health and
Safety award
South West Water’s H5O delivery alliance is celebrating after winning the Health
and Safety Initiative category at the 2016 Water Industry Achievement Awards
(WIAA) for its innovative ‘Sight Specific’ training course.
Sight Specific training was developed to educate managers, supervisors
and site staff involved in street works, about the challenges facing
people who are blind and visually impaired.
More than 100 staff participated in the Sight Specific training organised
by Andy Woolston, H5O Operations Manager, in partnership with the
WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment,
based in Exeter.
Andy said: "I felt we needed to do something with our street works site
teams, so I approached WESC to ask if they would like to get involved
and they were really keen to raise awareness. There are so many things
I learned from them that you wouldn't even consider – simple stuff like
telling someone with a visual impairment whether steps go up or down.
Who gives
you extra?
Viridor Extras is a brilliant new employee benefits
scheme available to all Viridor employees.
Richard Ellis, Head of Visual Impairment (VI) Services at the WESC
Foundation, said: "Generally people are very prepared to do what they
can to support visually impaired people, if they know what practical
things they can do. This training provides practical experiences which
raise awareness of the difficulties experienced by blind and visually
impaired pedestrians."
Bargeddie Transport achieved the maximum five stars – a
remarkable achievement. Congratulations to all involved.
This was done by explaining to the drivers the
importance of reducing vehicle idling. The company
used the Microlise tracking reports to monitor
vehicle idling, allowing them to praise drivers who
minimise idling hours and focus on drivers with
higher idling hours.
This has been a fantastic journey for the team
and shows what can be achieved through good
communication and commitment.
The Bargeddie team celebrating their success
James Pearce, Andy Woolston and Ken Nicholl with the award
Extra extra
Read all about it
Sweat for less: Discounts on your local gym membership.
You can even request your gym to be added if it’s not on the list.
Shop till you drop: Exclusive savings on hundreds of brand-name
retailers, both online and in-store, and deals with restaurants,
spas and more.
Viridor Extras is also now home to some of your old favourites
like cycle to work, childcare vouchers and payroll giving. To find
out more on the scheme go to: viridor.co.uk/extras
On your bike: Spread payments on a new bike with Cycle to
Work, you’ll even benefit from great discounts at Halfords
and Evans Cycles.
There will be even more benefits added to the scheme later in
the year.
Simply Health: Healthcare costs can quickly add up. The Simply Cash
Plan helps you claim back some of the costs of visiting the dentist,
optician, physiotherapist and a number of healthcare professionals.
Child-care vouchers: Keep down the childcare costs by making
the most of our childcare voucher scheme.
Take the coast
path challenge:
The South West Coast Path is an incredible 630 mile walk
from Minehead in Somerset, through Devon and Cornwall,
and on to Poole in Dorset. The South West Coast Path
Association (SWCPA) is one of South West Water‘s chosen
charities and we do all we can to support those who work
so hard to maintain and promote the path.
This year we are throwing our support behind the South West
Coast Path Challenge, which will take place throughout October,
and will set out to break the record for the number of times the
coast path can be covered in a month. You can get involved by
either choosing your own route, or you can sign up to join an
organised event.
It costs £10 to register for the Challenge but South West Water will
cover the cost of entry for the first 100 employees who register.
Anyone who registers to take part, will be able to do so as their
annual volunteering day. We hope that all those that take part will
fundraise ahead of the walk. Half of the proceeds will go to repairing
and maintaining the path, the other half will support WaterAid.
You can find out more at: southwestcoastpath.org.uk
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Within the last four months, the Bargeddie Transport
team has reduced the idling time of its trucks from
97 to 22 hours. This has had a dramatic effect on fuel
usage and vehicle emissions.
Congratulations to all those involved in both programmes.
Give more for less: Payroll giving lets you donate to your
favourite causes straight from your pay, saving you tax, so you
can give more for less.
18
Bargeddie Transport –
becoming an ECO Star:
Meanwhile South West Water’s apprenticeship programme was also
shortlisted for the WIAA People Initiative of the Year award.
The scheme, launched at the beginning of July, gives you
discounts on your local gym membership and some of the
biggest retail brands around.
For more information on Viridor Extras please contact Debbie
Mosley, Head of Employee Engagement and Reward:
[email protected]
Congratulations to the Bargeddie Transport team, which
is the latest fleet to join ECO Stars. This is a free scheme
established to help fleet operators improve efficiency, reduce
fuel consumption and emissions and make cost savings.
The scheme is supported by all local councils in the UK. ECO
Stars work with operators to carry out audits covering fuel usage
monitoring, vehicle idling, harsh braking and harsh acceleration.
"The main benefit is making it easier for everyone who is blind or
visually impaired to negotiate our sites and educating our people to
take into consideration the needs of people who are visually impaired or
blind while setting up sites."
The programme has proven a great success, with the likes of Balfour
Beatty and Thames Water choosing to implement it across various
projects throughout the country.
Bargeddie are ECO Stars!
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
The coast path is one of
the jewels in the crown
of the South West
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19
OurCommunity
OurCommunity
The Viridor Vikings
row again
PURE Awards
South West Water’s Pure Awards recognise the
contribution of colleagues to our vision of delivering
Pure Water, Pure Service and Pure Environment and
Pure Safety. Congratulations to all those that have been
recognised for their valuable contributions.
LATEST WINNERS
PURE SERVICE
The Vikings ready to row
In June, a team of Viridor colleagues came together to compete
in the fourth annual Taunton Dragon Boat Race. The event raises
money for Headway Somerset, an independent charity that
provides social and cognitive rehabilitation for adults with brain
injuries and support for their families.
The team included Colin Hawken, Toby Howarth, Russ Humphrey, Nico Irving,
Lee Gomersall, Jean Paul Atangana, Emma Wood, Matthew Porter, Harris
Litinas, Phil Davies, Steph Rooke, Ben Carter, Simon Wright, Louise A Peet,
Hallie Mason, John Anthony and Peter Philips.
Heading to the starting line
Congratulations to the team who came in a respectable
sixth place and also had a great day out in the
Somerset sunshine!
The bowling team (l-r) Brett Walter, Dean Johns, Jenny
Thorne, Mark Smitheram, Bev Smitheram and Lucy Cooper
Dan Cole
Repairs and Maintenance
Site Agent and
Peter Chapman
Customer Service Manager,
South West Water
Following our victory last year, our teams have been pitting themselves
against businesses across Exeter, including the Environment Agency,
Flybe and the Met Office, in a number of different sporting activities.
We had a strong start, securing a win in the first activity, ten-pin
bowling. Unfortunately we were not quite so successful in the next
event, table tennis, where we finished fourth from bottom. However,
at this point we still remained joint first on the leader board, so our
teams were confident that there was still plenty to play for.
Despite everyone's best efforts in a range of events, including pub
quiz, ultimate frisbee, Clip n Climb, dodgeball, tennis and bell boat
racing, we were unable to repeat our previous success.
20
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Geoff Taylor
Leakage Technician
went above and beyond when he
discovered an injured person on
the road, who’d been thrown from
a horse, when driving around
the Lizard. Geoff called the
emergency services, and followed
instructions from paramedics
to give the person necessary
first aid, while waiting for the
air ambulance to arrive. He also
directed vehicles away from the
scene to keep everyone safe.
Let the
games begin
South West Water has been battling hard to retain our
position as reigning champions of the Exeter Business
Games over the last couple of months.
Geoff Taylor receives
his award from
Richard Cardew
along with their teams, worked
tirelessly to complete the
extensive £320,000 Crediton
sewer rehabilitation scheme.
Diligent planning and the use of
sophisticated technology helped
to minimise the impact on the
local community and ensure
that the project finished ahead
of schedule.
Chloe Norris
Training and Quality
Specialist and
Jeremy Parker
Client Liaison and
Proposals Manager
have made significant
contributions towards
protecting South West Water
and Bournemouth Water SIM
scores. They spent two months
working away from home at the
Bournemouth Contact Centre
in order to experience and
document all front-line contact
centre activities. They then
created a six-week induction
package for new staff taking on
Bournemouth Water contacts.
Emily Taylor
H5O Streetworks
Co-ordinator
has been the driving force in
seeking recognition for the
outstanding work done by H5O, by
submitting entries for a number
of national awards, in addition to
her day-to-day responsibilities.
Her efforts have resulted in a
number of award wins including
the Ivybridge bathing waters
team being named overall
winners in the New Installation
category at the UKSTT awards
and the Holbeton bathing waters
team achieving similar success at
the Utility Week Star Awards. H5O
also won in the Health and Safety
category at the prestigious Water
Industry Achievement Awards,
which you can read about on
page 18, and has been shortlisted
at the Construction News,
Utility Week and UK Society of
Trenchless Technology Awards.
Richard Cardew
presents Dustin
Holmes with his award
Dustin Holmes
Leakage Technician
While everyone else flashed their
lights and blared their horns,
Dustin pulled over to one side,
wearing his high-vis PPE, and
offered to help. He then pushed
the lady’s car out of the way, on
his own, clearing the way for
other road users and putting the
lady in a safer situation, where
she could call for help.
PURE SAFETY
Jason Harvey
DWS – Operations
Manager (East)
has produced his own innovative
design modification to existing
manhole keys to address a health
and safety issue. Currently it is
estimated that around 20% of all
reported accidental twists, slips
and back sprains are related to
operations where manholes are
lifted. The modification has been
so successful that we are now
looking at the costs associated
with producing a greater number
of the keys, with a view to rolling
them out across other parts of
the business.
helped a young lady who had
broken down at the Gallows Gate
roundabout in Torquay.
The bell boat team dig deep
Congratulations to all our winners
Everyone who took part had a fantastic time and left determined to get
back on top next year.
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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21
OurCommunity
OurCommunity
Snowdon charity climb
Congratulations to Ray Arrell, South West Water Renewable
Energy and Generation Engineer, and his partner Teresa,
who battled fog and hail to reach the summit of Mount
Snowdon to raise money for PHASE Worldwide.
Ray and Teresa joined 130
other climbers, including 13
volunteer Mountain Leaders
and some Nepalese Sherpas,
to raise more than £15,000
for the charity, which
provides practical help to
the people of Nepal.
for over a year in one of
the regions affected by the
earthquake last year.
The group were rewarded
with a break in the weather
as they reached the summit,
allowing them to enjoy the
spectacular views.
The money raised will be
enough to run a health centre
Funds for Force
South West Water Control Centre has raised £363.14
for Force Cancer Support by hosting dress down
days, cake sales, a guess the baby competition and
a Christmas draw.
The team with their cheque for Force
The intrepid team
enjoy the view
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Helping out at
Glasto 2016
Volunteers from South West Water got down and dirty
on Worthy Farm in Somerset in June, campaigning for
WaterAid’s Toilets Save Lives at Glastonbury Festival.
Last year, world leaders made the first ever commitment
to reach everyone, everywhere, with clean water and
safe toilets.
WaterAid’s Toilets Save Lives petition asks the Government
to provide a clear plan to achieve this. If you would like to
sign the petition, go to wateraid.org/uk/get-involved
Congratulations to South West Water’s teams of intrepid
walkers, who took on this year’s WaterAid Mountain
Challenge to Bag the Wainwrights in June.
Ray (front left) and his partner
Teresa fly the flag for Nepal
Our volunteers spoke to festival-goers at WaterAid’s
water kiosks, toilet queues and at the She Pees, to raise
awareness that one in three people in the world don't have
a proper toilet and ask them to sign the petition.
The Cloud Walkers, led by Peter Youd, Contracts and Framework
Manager, walked 14km and scaled the dizzy heights of Great Carrs,
Grey Friar, Swirl Howl and Wetherlam, part of the Coniston Fells.
Aqua Consultants Limited hiked 7km over the Wainwrights: Loft Crag,
Pike O’Stickle, Thunacar Knott, Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle, which
comprise the Langdale Fells.
Cornwall
The Cloud Walkers raised around £610, while Aqua Consultants
Limited raised £1,455. Well done to both teams, whose contributions
will help support WaterAid’s goal of reaching everyone, everywhere
with taps and toilets by 2030.
gig rowing
Volunteers at last year's festival
Join the fun at
the St Austell
garden party
The St Austell WaterAid fundraising group will be
hosting its annual garden party in August, in Sticker,
near St Austell. Keep your eyes peeled for further details.
There will be garden games, Cornish cream teas, plant and local
produce stalls and a raffle. There is no charge for entry but you
can enjoy a delicious cream tea for just £3.
More details of their epic challenge
can be found on the team’s website,
rowcornwall.co.uk, or Facebook page.
Donations for the raffle or any of the stalls would be gratefully
received – please contact Louise Garner, Management Assistant,
Waste Water Services (WWS), on 01726 626 174 lgarner@
southwestwater.co.uk
Dave Swiggs
If you would like to sponsor the team,
please make a donation via
justgiving.com/row-cornwall-for-pancreatic-cancer
22
Children from the Philippines benefited from second-hand
books that were donated by the Viridor Re-use shop in
Priorswood, Taunton.
Wainwrights for
The pair, accompanied by a group
of friends, will row a gig around the
Cornish coast in August. The trip,
which is expected to take eight days,
will see the group row from Fowey to
Calstock, before cycling to Bude, then
rowing the rest of the coast back to
Fowey. The team has already beaten
its fundraising target, having raised
more than £15,000 already.
Well done to everyone
who contributed to the
fundraising efforts.
around the world
The books were delivered by Maria Chandler, a local
resident in Taunton. Recycling at its best!
South West Water’s Mark Cook, Catchment Operator, Waste
Water Services (WWS), and Dave Swiggs, Wholesale WWS
Treatment and Pumping Station Team Manager, are setting
sail on a challenge to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer
Research Fund.
Force is a local charity
in Exeter which helps
people with cancer
and their families.
It is a cause that is
particularly important
to David Corcoran,
Process Controller, who
has a close friend who
has benefited from
the invaluable support
offered by the charity.
Bookworms
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
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23
OurPeople
OurPeople
Fond farewell to Brian
After nearly 44 years, Brian Blake,
Network Services Manager, finally
hung up his PPE, head-loss slide
rule and retired from South West
Water in April.
sign to LAB Records
More than 100 friends and colleagues
joined Brian and his family to give him
a proper farewell at our Dowrglann
office in St Austell – a fitting venue
for a proud Cornishman.
Brian was absolutely overwhelmed and
said: “South West Water has been, and is,
a wonderful company to work for. I don’t
have a single regret and the send-off has
been perfect. A big thank you to all of you.”
Ben Chanter, Project Support Administrator for
H5O, and his band Witterquick are hoping to hit the
big time after recently signing a record deal with
LAB Records.
Ben and the band describe their music as alternative rock
with a subtle 80s vibe, and have a range of influences,
ranging from Pink Floyd and Radiohead to Guns N' Roses
and Bon Jovi, to name but a few. They have had a busy
few months, supporting Nothing But Thieves on tour,
featuring in Kerrang! magazine and playing at Camden
Rocks Festival, and launching their debut EP, Beneath the
Spinning Lights.
Brian with his wife Margaret and daughter Jo
Congratulations to Alan
Swan who has accomplished
25 years with Viridor. Ian
Morrish, Landfill Energy
Director, presented Alan
with his Continuous
Service Award. The South
West Environmental team
and Guy Coxeter, Landfill
Energy Technical Manager,
celebrated this momentous
achievement with him.
24
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The band perform live on stage
They have ambitions of becoming a stadium rock band,
and writing huge anthems, and have already developed
their own fan base which has enthusiastically welcomed
the EP, launched at Exeter Phoenix in June. It has already
attracted some great reviews, and the video for the main
single, Rise, had its first exclusive play on Kerrang! TV.
25 years
for Alan
Swan
Witterquick
Ben said: “The band is my passion. The five of us have
really been through a lot together over the few years
since just three of us started writing demos in one of our
bedrooms. Just playing music on stage with each other
was all we wanted, after all, that’s why we do it, but we’ve
really been blown away with our sudden surge of fans. I’m
very proud of how far we’ve come, and more than excited
to keep moving forward.” witterquick.co
Witterquick already has a strong fan base
Alan Swan (left) receiving his award from Ian Morrish
Alan began his career in the waste
industry at Westbury Landfill in 1991 and
recounts comical tales ranging from the
complicated equipment (sticks with a
nail in the end were a favourite tool) and
searches through waste with anxious
members of public who had been storing
cash and valuables in bin bags.
Alan later moved from operations to
work across the South West as part of
the Environmental team involved with
landfill gas management and power
generation. As a result, he still regularly
works at Westbury and while things have
transformed, if you bump into Alan, ask
him about the recent part he played in
the notorious ‘Westbury Deer Rescue’.
Many thanks to Alan for all of his efforts
and we’re hoping he’ll continue to
entertain us for many years to come.
Summer 2016
Precious
new
addition!
Summer 2016
Viridor Power Generation
Operations Manager – East, Lee
Francis, and his wife Stacey
welcomed baby Ruby to their
family on 16 March.
Weighing 8lb 8oz, Ruby joins
big brothers Freddie and Ted.
Congratulations to you all!
FlagStaff
25
OurPeople
OurPeople
Heroes
Saluting our mentors
Our award-winning apprenticeship programme continues
to go from strength to strength. This is, in part, thanks to the
support our apprentices receive from their ‘mentors’ who
take the time and effort to pass on the benefit of
their skills and experience.
for the day
Emily Stephenson, Digital Apprentice, said: “Having a mentor to assist
and offer support to you throughout your apprenticeship is a really
good way to develop new skills.
Three Viridor colleagues from Manchester are being praised for
the efforts they made to reunite a purse with its lost owner.
“As you learn from them, they help you grow as a person. I’ve
been really lucky to have a supportive mentor in Becky Moran
(Communications Officer), and I would say she is the best mentor ever.”
And it’s not just a one-way street, our apprentices also have plenty to
offer, sharing their knowledge of new technology, social media and
changing culture with their colleagues.
Dave Hawkins, Distribution Technician, said: “When I was told I was
having an apprentice I was full of trepidation and really didn’t want
some kid out of college that knew it all. But I can only say that I am
so pleased with James Millington and his progress.
“The mentoring has helped me, as you pick up bad habits over
the years and sometimes forget the proper way to carry out work.
David’s
desert
challenge
David O’Brien, Balfour Beatty Project Manager for South
West Water's Mayflower Water Treatment Works, has
recently completed the gruelling Marathon Des Sables,
raising money for Unicef in the process.
The Marathon Des Sables sees more than a thousand competitors
run and walk the 257km route across the Sahara Desert over six
days in temperatures of up to 50 degrees.
This year’s event was the longest in the race’s history, and many
said amongst the toughest courses, with temperatures during
the race reaching the low 40s during the afternoon.
David said: “I had expected that we would be eased into the race
with a fairly straight-forward first day, but I was wrong. During this
initial 34km we were greeted with gale force headwinds and 15km
of sand dunes.
“The toughest part of the race came on Day four, an 84km stage
26
FlagStaff
Driver Tom Guest found the purse, containing money and bank cards,
on site at Trafford Park and handed it in to Traffic Controllers Linzi
Wallace and Tracy Dean.
Apprentices with
their mentors
Standing back now and watching their progress is enjoyable, as you
can see what you have taught them. We can also learn as we do our
job, knowing if we do not teach them properly it will reflect badly on
us. I now don’t know who is learning the most!”
Recently two of our mentors, Mark Beckerleg and Dave Hollington,
both Catchment Operators, received Pure Awards to acknowledge
their valued contribution and commitment to mentoring.
After some sleuthing, the owner was tracked down via her bank cards
and then a Facebook search – before she had even realised the purse
was missing. Taking dedication to customer service even further,
Linzi then returned the purse to its owner on her way home from work.
Tom, Tracy and Linzi
Logistics Manager Michael Keane said: “It’s great to see our employees
representing the company so well with this ‘above and beyond’ attitude.”
Richard’s goals
for Gambia:
For the last seven years, Richard McCreanor, Shift Team Leader
at Viridor’s Runcorn energy recovery facility, and family, have
been supporting a charity doing vital work in Gambia.
We asked him more about it.
David and his team take
time out for a photo
which included several large hills, numerous dunes and miles
of hard stony ground.
“The final leg was a relatively flat 42km, or marathon length,
race. On the final day of the challenge we completed an 18km
charity ‘solidarity’ race, donning Unicef T-shirts for the occasion.
I completed this stage in just over two hours, coming in the
top 50 participants.
“The Marathon Des Sables is an amazing event and tough challenge
for even the fittest athletes. The heat and tough desert environment
make it incomparable to other races and justifies its claim as ‘the
world’s toughest foot race’. It will certainly stick in my memory as
an awesome and unique adventure of a lifetime that will be
difficult to match.”
If you would like to support David’s efforts, his Unicef fundraising
webpage is still open for donations at
virginmoneygiving.com/DavidKWOBrien
Summer 2016
The charity is Goal for Gambia which was set up in 2006 to support
education and training opportunities, primarily for young people
in Gambia.
Most recently they raised an impressive £840 by asking colleagues
at Viridor, and their friends and family, to sponsor their challenge to
walk Yorkshire’s three peaks.
The money was used to build a new toilet block at Bantangba Nursery
School in Somita in Gambia, where the family sponsors a three-yearold little girl.
The family also sponsors another two children in the country and
are committed to continuing to support the vital work undertaken
by the charity.
If you would like to be involved in future fundraising activities please
get in touch with Richard: [email protected] or you can
make a donation by visiting:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Richard McCreanor
Summer 2016
Richard and family on their latest visit to Gambia
FlagStaff
27
Be
and sun safe
Crossword
Summer is now well and truly here and we are hopefully
enjoying some warm, sunny days! Whether at work,
chilling out on the beach or in the garden, here are
some tips to help you stay safe in the sun:
Be UV aware
Even when there are clouds in the sky you are still at risk of
burning. There is an app you can download through the App Store
or Google Play called Ultraviolet (UV Index), which will show you the
UV index in your area using a large, vibrantly coloured circle. Blues
and greens mean you’re in the clear, while reds and purples mean
a dangerously high index. General sun safety advice will tip you off
for when it’s time to put on a hat or apply sunscreen.
Check the small print
When you buy sunscreen, check for one that blocks both UVA and
UVB rays. Apply it liberally and regularly to make sure you are fully
protected. Go for a product that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
of at least 15 for UVB protection, and a high star rating, at least four
stars, for UVA protection.
Stay hydrated
Sip cool drinks regularly throughout the day and avoid too much
tea, coffee and alcohol to prevent becoming dehydrated.
Cover up
It sounds obvious but loose cotton clothes and sunglasses can help
you feel more comfortable as the temperatures rise. And don’t
forget your hat! Try choosing one with protection for your neck too.
For more tips on staying safe on the beach this summer,
visit beachwise.uk
Across
1. Seafarer (7)
4. Attain (5)
7. Cat-like mammal (5)
9. Type of rock (7)
10. Respire (7)
11. Gaze (5)
12. Resembling a horse (6)
14. Unit of time (6)
18. Pandemonium (5)
20. Melodious (7)
22. Elusive (7)
23. Fibbing (5)
24. Foe (5)
25. Distinguished (7)
Down
1. Gruesome (7)
2. Variety show (5)
3. Elevated (6)
4. Parts of a ladder (5)
5. Fruit (7)
6. Precipitance (5)
8. Colossus (5)
13. Unwitting (7)
15. Tripod (5)
16. Joy (7)
17. Hinder (6)
18. Pancake (5)
19. Glossy (5)
21. Percussion instrument (5)
For your chance to win £25 Love 2 Shop vouchers,
please send your completed crossword to:
Communications Team
South West Water
Peninsula House
Rydon Lane
Exeter
Devon
EX2 7HR
or email a picture of your completed entry to
[email protected]
Don't forget to include your contact details!
CONGRATULATIONS ZOE ROBERTS
You were our spring sudoku winner
Zoe Roberts, Viridor Business Support Administrator, South West Landfill
and Aftercare, based in Uffculme, Devon.
Spring issue
solution