A  solar panel array the size of 18 tennis courts and costing about £1.1m is to be installed on the roof of Leicester City Council’s Aylestone Leisure Centre. . It’s part of a citywide programme of investment in low carbon, energy efficient improvements to council buildings which will help make them cheaper to run. Work is currently under way to remove and replace the leisure centre’s existing roofing in preparation for the installation of the 3,600m² solar array. Once up and running, the new PVs will allow the centre to self-generate an estimated 270 MWh (megawatt hours) of clean energy in a typical year, also achieving annual carbon savings equivalent to around 60 tonnes per year. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “This new investment in major energy efficiency improvements at Aylestone Leisure Centre represents another step forward in our citywide response to the climate emergency. With over 800 panels, it will be the largest array of PV panels we have installed on any of buildings so far. “We are acutely aware that the need to retrofit and decarbonise existing buildings is amongst the biggest challenges presented by the climate emergency. “Through an ongoing programme of investment in making our buildings more energy efficient, we can dramatically cut carbon emissions. In doing so, we will also help to save hundreds of thousands of pounds each year in energy costs – something that’s very welcome in these extraordinarily challenging times.” The work at Aylestone Leisure Centre is supported by up to £500,000 from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Leicester City Council’s successful bid for over £4million of match-funding to support a range of projects that aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Work is being carried out by construction partners Stepnell under contract to Leicester City Council estates and building services. It will be the first project to be delivered under Stepnell’s new ‘Step Energy’ service. Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Working with local partners throughout the project, such as Leicestershire Cares, LEBC and Leicester Environmental Volunteers, will enable us to deliver on our commitment to social value. We prioritise leaving a lasting legacy in the communities where our projects take place, not only on the quality of works but also our impact on supporting the next generation to thrive, making the environment better and improving local economies by providing valuable work opportunities.”

Running a warehouse requires precision, experience and perseverance. It also takes a willingness to explore new options. If you don’t optimise your operations, then you could be wasting resources, time and, ultimately, money, which can affect your budget and business. In these challenging economic times, where many businesses are cutting back on staff and other expenses, but while demand for logistics services is still high, warehouse managers need to be more efficient than ever before. Demand for warehouse space is particularly high, and so organisations need to be focusing on making the most of the warehouse facilities they have. Here are some tips that can improve your warehousing efficiency and ensure that you deploy all your resources effectively. Focus On Health And Safety Health and safety is a vital part of managing any warehouse, as accidents can be costly and time-consuming to deal with. So, you need to make sure that you prioritise health and safety by taking every precaution possible. Simple actions like adding more safety signs and highlighting escape routes or potential dangers can provide major benefits. Explore Label Source’s health and safety signs to find ones that will benefit your warehouse and improve the safety of your workers and visitors. Make The Most Of Warehouse Management Technology Technology is revolutionising the warehousing and logistics markets, so it’s worth implementing the latest tools in your space. Some of these solutions might cost money to implement, but they have the potential to revolutionise your warehouse and automate repetitive tasks. From inventory management to HR, there are lots of ways that warehouse management software tools can benefit your organisation. So, whether your warehouse is currently conducting processes manually or you have technology but it’s outdated, you should consider checking out the new options on the market today. You can then find one that will deliver all the functions you need to save time, effort and energy. Improve The Layout Of Your Space It might seem surprising, but there’s a lot to be said for optimising the layout of your warehouse. It’s not about appearance: rather, it’s about focusing on ways you can save time and make the process of finding items and completing tasks easier. Even a small amount of wasted space can cause silos in the picking and packing processes, so it’s worth exploring ways to optimise your warehouse layout. Consider simple ways you can improve the way you manage your work by reorganising your space. It might take some time to move everything, but it’ll be worth the effort. Collaborate With Your Team Choosing the right approach and finding ways to improve your processes can take a lot of research, but it can be quicker if you talk to your employees. If you’re unsure about the best approach, then talk to your warehouse staff, who do the work and will understand how your processes can be streamlined. Your employees might have unique ideas that you hadn’t considered, and could help you to narrow down your choices. Making the most of your warehouse space and current resources can save money for your business, while also improving the service you offer to your customers. These tips are designed to help you find inspiration and make the process of optimising your warehouse space straightforward.

Colleges and training providers in Greater Lincolnshire are being asked to submit proposals for Skills Bootcamps to reflect future training needs.