MTMS hits the gold standard as it goes beyond the call of duty to support the UK’s armed forces
Specialist rail depot maintenance firm MTMS has been recognised for going beyond the call of duty to support the country’s armed forces by being awarded the highest accolade in a national employers’ scheme.
The company, based in Moira, Leicestershire, is one of nearly 200 that have been given the gold award in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme this year.
The announcement is the culmination of a years-long initiative at MTMS to support former and serving personnel, as well as supporting local army, sea and air cadets.
It specifically targets former service personnel when recruiting and currently gives 15 days’ paid leave for any reservists working at the firm, six days’ paid leave for cadet force adult volunteers and two days’ leave for any spouses of serving personnel.
Its group chairman, Malcolm Prentice, has also become a familiar face at local cadet corps, including the local 1211 Squadron RAF Cadets in Swadlincote, to hand over hundreds of pounds a time to support its activities.
He has also helped Derbyshire Army Cadet Force and Chesterfield Sea Cadets, as well as the TS Osborne sea cadets, in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, where he has other community commitments.
MTMS picked up its silver award three years ago and has made the step up to gold following the recruitment of its strategic lead, Bruce Spencer, who is himself ex-military.
Bruce spent most of his working career in the Army, having served with the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia.
He joined the Adjutant General’s Corps in the 90s, where one of his roles was that of military attaché in Kathmandu, Nepal.
During his time at MTMS he has organised various events and activities related to its work with former and ex-military personnel and says the firm’s receipt of a gold award, which followed having previously earned the silver and bronze awards, was long overdue.
He said: “MTMS’s commitment to helping the military community has been gold standard for years, whether that’s employing former military personnel, giving them time for military duties or helping to fund activities for the servicemen and women of the future.
“As someone who served with the Army, I understand what a difference that level of commitment makes, especially to someone who has just left the forces and needs to take a job in civilian life, which can feel like very unfamiliar territory.
“There are a host of advantages to employing former military personnel and MTMS has benefitted from that over the years, while also actively encouraging other companies to sign up for the covenant and support the armed forces as well.”
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme was launched in 2013 and 1,000 firms across the country have previously joined the ranks of its gold award winners, including Marks & Spencer Plc, Motorola Solutions UK Ltd and Toyota Manufacturing UK.
This year’s recipients include construction equipment manufacturers Caterpillar BCP and the East Midlands Ambulance Service, Google and B&Q.
Malcolm Prentice, group chairman of MTMS, said: “We’re incredibly proud to achieve our gold award, which means we now stand in line with some of the country’s biggest and best-known companies to ensure our cadets, reservists and veterans are embraced for the future, present and past.
“It is a huge endorsement of the work we put in, both at our HQ and out in the community, to support our armed forces, whether they are currently with the forces or used to serve – or will even serve their country in the future.
“Whichever of this applies to them, as a British company we feel that it’s important to support them. They’re willing to put themselves in positions we would find unthinkable in order to keep us safe, so it’s only right that we show our gratitude in return.”
Business wins food waste recycling tender with Lincolnshire County Council
BioteCH4 has secured a new contract with Lincolnshire County Council to recycle food waste from all districts within Lincolnshire.
BioteCH4, the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) operator, handled over 600,000 tonnes of food waste in 2023, producing power equivalent to the electricity used by over 30,000 homes for an entire year.
When food waste is disposed via Energy from Waste, the energy and nutrient benefits are not fully harnessed. By separately collecting food waste and recycling it through AD, these greenhouse gases are captured and converted into biogas and renewable energy, which is then injected into the national grid and the digestate by-product is recycled to land to help grow more food.
Following confirmation that all Councils must provide a weekly food waste collection from March 2026, Lincolnshire County Council has moved quickly, securing an in-county solution with BioteCH4 which will see up to 50,000 tonnes of food waste captured annually from homes and businesses across the county.
Starting in Autumn 2025, BioteCH4 will collect the food waste daily from a network of six transfer stations throughout the county for up to 9 years. BioteCH4 will use its experience to collaborate closely with the councils as they implement these food waste collections for the first time, ensuring a smooth rollout of services and maximising the amount of food waste recycled across the county.
Pamela Woolcock, Group Public Sector Lead for BioteCH4, said: “Although the Simpler Recycling journey has been long, we are nearing the finish line. We are thrilled to now be partnered with Lincolnshire County Council with a year to work on perfecting the implementation plans before we kick-off in September 2025.
“We’re delighted Lincolnshire have taken the step of introducing their food waste collections so soon and we’d urge other local authorities currently looking at their procurement to speak to operators and get the ball rolling as soon as is feasible. We’d welcome any questions, and our sites are open for visits to meet our team of experts.”
Chris Yorston, acting head of waste at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Having secured our treatment solution, we can now focus – with our district council partners and BioteCH4 – on designing, procuring, and implementing the other elements of our food waste collection service. We are looking forward to bringing all our knowledge and experience together to bring food waste recycling to households across the county.”
Chesterfield asbestos expert to deliver lecture in Colombia
The United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association is to take the message about the dangers of asbestos to a conference in the Colombian city of Bogotá next week.
UKATA Director Adam Harding will deliver a presentation on “Asbestos Identification in the Workplace and in the Home” aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with asbestos, he will share his knowledge and lessons learnt from the asbestos ban in the UK .
The conference will give Colombians the opportunity to learn from other countries on how to implement asbestos awareness campaigns among the general population, after the implementation of the Ana Cecilia Niño Law, named after a campaigner whose work led to the banning of asbestos in the country.
Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, and the legislation that banned all forms of asbestos in the UK is a model of how comprehensive and enforceable laws are crucial to effectively manage and mitigate asbestos risks. Dealing with the legacy of asbestos, in older buildings requires ongoing awareness and training.
The Events & Marketing Manager of Markham Vale-based UKATA Victoria Castelluccio said: “we look forward to contributing to this international event, working with key stakeholders to highlight the dangers of asbestos and continuing our efforts to forge relationships with likeminded organisations worldwide.”
Severn Trent says its waste message is getting through and preventing blockages
Severn Trent’s community partnerships are reducing the number of drain blockages because of fats, oils and greases, says the company, which clears about 30,000 blockages from the waste network every year, and each week pulls two and a half tonnes of wet wipes from sewers – the weight of a Range Rover.
However, the company says its ‘Be A Binner, Not A Blocker’ message has proved a huge success throughout the last year, including over the summer Olympics in France with 14 million litres of FOG successfully cleared from sewers, saving customers unnecessary and potentially costly issues if it caused problems in homes.
The work includes a ground-breaking new partnership with local Gurdwaras across the region, including in Birmingham and the Black Country. The campaign, run in conjunction with Environmental Compliance & Services, Lifecycle Oils, and community group Gurdwara Aid, sees fat-traps installed at the Sikh places of worship to collect the FOG, rather than it going down sinks or drains.
Other Food Service Establishments have also signed up for the FOG-trapping scheme, including Nandos restaurants in the East and West Midlands.
Grant Mitchell, sewer blockage lead at Severn Trent, said: “With the help of our Be A Binner, Not a Blocker message we have collected some 14m litres of fats, oils and greases that may otherwise have been poured into out sewers.
“That is close to six Olympic sized swimming pools of FOG – putting us in podium position in terms of this campaign!”
He added: “Blockages like these are a real menace as they can lead to flooding if not detected and dealt with. Putting the wrong things down the toilet or drain can have a devastating impact on communities and the environment and we know blockages can be a horrible experience for our customers.
“We can all play a part in helping keep our sewers free of fats, oils and greases. To do that, it’s vital we put fats, oils and any food in the bin, and remember to only ever flush the 3 Ps down the toilet too – poo, pee and paper.”
University of Leicester uses AI to boost hospitals’ staff retention
A team from the University of Leicester is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to support and retain NHS staff in the city’s hospitals.
Anonymised staff data from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has been fed into an AI model, which then uses the information to predict where future staffing needs will be required. The model maps how closely colleagues identify with their place of work – the results of which can be used to shape more people-centred human resources policies. This, in turn, should he help slow staff turnover at the Trust and increase the number of people developing successful careers there.
The team working on the ‘organisational self-identification’ computer model is led by the University’s work psychology expert, Dr Dennis Pepple, who is an Associate Professor in human resources management. The project team also includes clinicians from UHL and University data scientists.
He said: “The NHS staff shortage was been at the front and centre of the recent 2024 General Election. However, simply hiring new staff is insufficient, given the lengthy training pathways and the limited pool of international recruits available to hospitals.
“Sustaining or increasing overall staff numbers is impossible without retaining current employees and their valuable skills and experience, making retention critical for a well-functioning NHS and organisations generally.”
He added: “Our solutions help significantly reduce staff turnover intention and improve the overall functioning of organisations and, more significantly, are within management’s ability to implement.”
“This is a long-term project, which, over time, will provide robust data analysis and insights to support decision-makers as they seek to make Leicester’s Hospitals an even better place to work.”
Assistant Chief Nurse Antonella Ghezzi is one of a handful of UHL staff who have met Dr Pepple to find out more about the model. She said: “This is an excellent example of collaborative working practice between institutions in Leicester. We are proud to be able to support this project. Our aim is to use innovative approaches to support the workforce, which in turn will benefit the care we deliver to our population.”
Leadership podcast attracts names with lots to offer
Brand and human transformation agency Q Branch Consulting has landed star names for a new podcast offering insights into leadership.
Founders Matt Clutterham and Jenny Jarvis have so far welcomed former top Disney executive Ezequiel Abramzon – responsible for bringing Marvel and Star Wars blockbuster films to Spanish-speaking countries – to their new ‘Leading Boldly’ podcast.
The podcast guest list also includes Sam Schlimper, formerly head of talent acquisition for Barclays Bank, along with internationally best-selling author Robert Raymond Riopel, creator of the Success Left a Clue book and podcast, who started off at Domino’s as a delivery driver and went from being $150,000 in debt to financially free in just nine months.
Jenny said: “We’re really proud of our podcast and the guests we’ve lined up so far. Robert Riopel’s story, for example, is so interesting, and how people can change their thoughts about money and become financially free with just a different mindset.”
Upcoming guests include Neil Smith, co-founder of Mettle Men’s Mental Fitness app with famous adventurer Bear Grylls.
Jenny said: “Our aim with the Leading Boldly podcast is to create something similar to Stephen Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO – but with more relatable guests. His podcast is brilliant, but it sometimes feels a bit out of reach for people. We want to bring people stories and tales of people who have done what they wanted to do, and are experts in whatever field they are in.”
Dalton Roofing builds string of successes
Two apprentices working at Chesterfield’s Dalton Roofing have scored successes in the Skill Build Competition through Leeds College of Building, with Levente Szasz winning and Sam Jinks, finishisg. Both have secured a place at the final which takes place in London this November.
Sam also entered the BMI UK and Ireland Apprentice of the Year Competition in Cirencester and received the Highly Commended Award.
Elsewhere, Dalton Roofing has been been shortlisted for Family Business of the year 2024 at the East Midlands Business Masters Awards.
In addition, the firm is among the finalists for Outstanding Contribution to Workforce Development 2024 in the Sheffield Business Awards.
The company has been shortlisted for the East Midlands Chamber Derbyshire Business Awards for Commitment to People Development.
By September 2024, Dalton Roofing will have seven apprentices, with three in their second year of their course, and four beginning their apprenticeships this year.
Company owner Philip Dalton said: “We are so proud of all our apprentices – each of them has their own story and we’re glad to be playing our part in growing their skills, and growing them as people as we help build their careers.
“Here at Dalton Roofing, we understand that the construction sector needs fresh talent to drive our industry forward into the future. Without skilled people, the places we work, live and play in wouldn’t be built – so it’s vital to showcase how great our sector is to work in, and this is reflected by the fantastic achievements of our current apprentices. We’re excited to watch them grow and develop further in the coming months and years.”
Competition and Markets Authority highlights competition concerns in ventilation company deal
A Phase 2 review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally found competition concerns in ventilation company Lindab’s purchase of HAS-Vent, in the local areas around Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent.
The CMA has been carrying out an in-depth Phase 2 inquiry into the deal after identifying competition concerns during its initial Phase 1 inquiry. The independent CMA group leading the Phase 2 inquiry has probed in more detail the impact of the deal on the supply of circular ducts and fittings in England and Wales.
The group has scrutinised a wide range of evidence, including the parties’ internal documents and evidence from installers of ventilation systems and other suppliers of circular ducts and fittings. Based on that evidence, the group provisionally considers that competition for these products occurs at a local level.
Having assessed the impact of the deal in various local areas, the group has provisionally found that the deal has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition in the supply of circular ducts and fittings in the local areas centred around Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent.
In these areas the parties are close competitors and face only limited competition from alternative suppliers. This could lead to reduced choice and higher prices in the construction sector, particularly for specialist installers of ventilation systems in those areas.
Kirstin Baker, Chair of the independent inquiry group, said: “We’re concerned this would remove one of two main suppliers of circular ventilation ducts and fittings in the Nottingham and Stoke areas, risking installers of these systems paying over the odds and then having to pass these costs onto their own customers.
“Our findings are provisional, and we now welcome responses on our preliminary conclusions and the potential remedies in this case.”
The CMA is welcoming responses to its provisional findings from those interested in the deal by Thursday 12 September. These will be considered by the inquiry group prior to issuing its final report, which is due by Thursday 17 October.Leicester SPS strikes called off
Strikes by Leicester SPS Technologies workers have been called off after an improved offer was secured by Unite, the union.
The nearly 200 workers, who produce specialist nuts, bolts, pins, screws and collars for the aerospace and defence industries, voted to accept the two-year eight per cent pay deal.
The workers will receive five per cent for 2024 and three per cent for 2025, as well improvements to annual leave and time off for medical appointments.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is what trade unionism in action looks like: SPS workers demanded an improved offer, showed they were prepared to strike to achieve it and won a better deal. Yet again, Unite’s laser-like focus on improving jobs, pay and conditions has put money in our members’ pockets.”
The workers were due to begin all out indefinite strike action on 21 August. Following negotiations with Unite and SPS a deal was reached and the dispute settled without industrial action taking place.
Final phase of Derby’s £175m Nightingale Quarter Development gets underway
Wavensmere Homes has commenced construction on the final phase of its £175m Derbyshire Royal Infirmary redevelopment. Located on London Road, Nightingale Quarter’s final apartment block – which has a value of £20m – will deliver over 100 new homes to Derby city centre.
The 18.5-acre development incorporates a total of 125 family houses and 800 apartments, together with an extensive range of community amenities. The Florence Nightingale-designed former hospital had lain derelict for a decade prior to Wavensmere Homes’ acquisition and start on site in 2019.
The groundworks associated with the final block commenced in April and took four months. Installation of the steel frame begins this week, with the five-storey, red brick building due for completion and occupation in late 2025.
Produced off-site, Smethwick-based Hadley Group’s structural panellised system utilises modern methods of construction and will result in less waste needing to be removed from site, whilst also minimising any potential adverse weather delays.
The final ‘E6’ block will feature solar PV roof panels, with battery storage, to enable the green energy generated on site to be captured and used to power a proportion of the building’s electricity use. 7kW EV chargers and rapid charge bays will also be incorporated into the new development, enabling future residents of the 79 one-bed and 24 two-bedroom apartments to minimise their carbon footprint.
Craig Gee, Construction Director for Wavensmere Homes, said: “The Nightingale Quarter remediation, restoration, and construction programme commenced in late 2019 and within six years, we will have proudly delivered this £175m project in its entirety. With five phases underway simultaneously at the peak of our delivery programme in 2023, this redevelopment has captured national and regional attention, and is already home to over 1,000 new city dwellers.
“The stunning Pepperpot restaurant – situated at the heart of the scheme – opened in February, receiving high acclaim from food critics and local residents. It was only a few months ago that Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner enjoyed meeting with Nightingale Quarter residents and the construction team, followed by Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project’s summer unveiling of the community garden. The conclusion of the groundworks and start of construction for the final block of 103 homes is yet another milestone.
“Utilising an element of MMC enhances our eco-credentials and provides more certainty to the 16-month build programme. This new £20m building will create and safeguard around 100 construction jobs and continue to provide a significant boost to Derby’s economy and housing needs. By working alongside stakeholders and residents during this final construction phase, the entire team will be focused on the conclusion of an outstanding new community and delivering a highly sustainable legacy.”
The Derbyshire Royal Infirmary opened in 1894 and closed 15 years ago. While the vast majority of the Victorian hospital had been bulldozed, Wavensmere Homes pledged to save and restore the imposing pepperpot buildings, despite one being previously consented for demolition.
Pepperpot South opened as the marketing suite for the 925 houses and apartments in 2021. With 95% of the homes now sold, the building has been re-purposed as a gym for residents’ use. The second (North) Pepperpot has become The Fulton Partnership’s sixth hospitality venue in the Midlands. Styled by the interior designer for Gleneagles hotel – to introduce a new concept in luxury dining to the city of Derby – no expense was spared on the Art Deco-inspired furnishings and refined heritage colour pallet.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “When we acquired this vacant site five years ago, we set out to design a landmark scheme that embraced the DE1 location and didn’t turn its back on the city centre.
“We are proud that our 925 apartments and houses have transformed the city living market, acting as the catalyst for thousands more homes to be delivered within central Derby.
“By installing new footpaths, cycle routes, roads, co-working space, a gym – and making a restaurant Nightingale Quarter’s new focal point – this redundant hospital site is once again a vibrant community asset.”
