Tag Archives: safety

Food & Drink, News, Packaging

Celebration Packaging introduces new range of tamper-evident food packaging made from rPET

Celebration Packaging has introduced a new range of tamper-evident food packaging made from a minimum of 30 per cent recycled PET.

The new range, introduced under Celebration Packaging’s SolutionWare brand, includes sandwich packs, rectangular salad containers with hinged lids, and deli containers with separate lids.

“Our new ranges of high-clarity tamper-evident food containers feature a patented safety lock lid, giving tamper proof protection to prepared foods,” says Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton. “These new ranges are manufactured with a minimum of 30% post-consumer rPET recycled plastic, and are therefore not liable for the plastic packaging tax. Once used, the packaging can be rinsed and recycled through kerbside collection.”

Both the rectangular tamper-evident rPET salad containers with hinged lids, and the square tamper-evident rPET deli containers, with separate lids, are available in 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, 24oz and 32oz sizes. An rPET tamper-evident triangular sandwich pack with hinged lid is also available.

Celebrating 40 years of innovative off-the-shelf packaging solutions

Celebration Packaging has been supplying innovative off-the-shelf catering disposables since 1983. Today, the SolutionWare brand encompasses a wide range of essential foodservice packaging solutions, from hot and cold drink cups and salad and deli containers, to platters, trays and bar accessories, and microwavable and tamper-evident containers.

The SolutionWare brand sits alongside the PrintPac brand which offers a wide range of custom print and bespoke packaging options from drinks coasters to placemats and cutlery sleeves, and the EnviroWare® brand which was established over 17 years ago to deliver exciting and innovative sustainable food and drink packaging.

Ensuring product integrity while enhancing reputations

“Tamper-evident food packaging helps to ensure product integrity by providing a visible indication as to whether the container has been opened or compromised. It also helps to prevent contamination and preserve the quality and freshness of the product,” concludes Nick Burton.

“These new high-clarity rPET packaging solutions ensure excellent product presentation, and whether it is for fresh salads, deli products or sandwiches, the use of tamper-evident packaging in any foodservice business delivers added confidence for consumers. Ensuring tamper-proof protection for food while also specifying packaging which is made from a percentage of recycled material and can be recycled, can also enhance an operator’s reputation.”

 

News

Evri Extends Trials Safe Place Photos Concept to Include Collections

Evri (formerly Hermes UK), is trialling an extension of its ‘safe place delivery photo concept’ to include courier collections to further improve its communications with those consumer customers using the service to send or return parcels. These photos will then be available to the customer alongside their tracking information.

The trial involves a sample of couriers nationwide taking photos of parcels once they have been successfully collected including from a ParcelShop and/or Locker location and also when an attempt has been unsuccessful in order to explain why and find a solution. This could include: access issues; problems with the size and/or suitability of the parcel; no response from the address and problems finding the address. It will also enable the courier to flag problems such as road closures and any technical issues.

Commenting on the initiative Joe Tarragano Chief Product Officer at Evri, said: “We are always looking at ways to improve our service and, if the trial is successful, sharing these photos with our customers will provide another layer of communication about the journey of their item. In addition, where there is a problem it will be easier to identify and resolve quickly.”

News

Make your cyber habits stick for better online security

It can take as little as 18 days to form a habit, and 66 days for this new behaviour to become automotive. Once you do learn a habit, however, it becomes second nature.  

Why does this matter for online security? Well, forming a more robust security culture around yourself takes commitment, but once you get it and stick to it – it’s not going anywhere. You can then rest easy knowing your data and credentials are being kept safe from cyberattacks.  

The UK is dealing with a rising national security threat from online scammers with nearly two-fifths of businesses experiencing a cyber-attack in the past 12 months. The market is clearly in a weak spot, and the cost-of-living crisis may be adding fuel to the fire. Businesses are now cutting back on expenses to manage the rising costs, but this will be detrimental to online security. Simple changes that could prevent cyber-attacks, like not repeating the same passwords, are not being implemented as 64% of breached passwords were used across multiple accounts. It is important to develop habits that ensure cyber health, whether it’s for personal or professional use.  

  

Start a routine for good cyber habits 

We often assume that data breaches won’t happen to us. We read the news about somebody’s accounts getting hacked, or a business having a breach, and we never imagine that we could be on the receiving end. However, this is exactly how cyber-attacks happen and targets are often unsuspecting, unaware users. 

There are many steps you can take and tools you can easily implement to ensure your data is kept safe online. If it seems like a hefty task at first, start small, and build it up over time. Forming a habit is all about routine, and once you’re in the swing of things it will become second nature. Kick off your cyber secure future by following these tips: 

Trust your gut, don’t click on suspicious, untrusted links – Phishing links, credential harvesting sites, and other forms of social engineering can come through a suspicious text, an odd message through your social media account, or a weird phone call. Stay one step ahead by using the same caution and skepticism regardless of where the message comes from.    

Update Software and Backup Devices – Keeping software updated and backing up data is important in case your computer breaks down, but it’s also a smart idea to do this in case you fall victim to a cyberattack. No one wants to have their data held hostage or, worse, permanently deleted.  

Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication (MFA) – A strong password is the first and most essential line of defence against a cyberattack. While a password is the most common form of authentication, it’s worth noting there are others. Each time you add another form of authentication to your tool belt, you improve your cyber security.   

Take advantage of wider tools, such as a password manager – A password manager organises all of your passwords in one place. It provides security to protect those passwords and makes it a lot easier for you to have a strong, unique password for everything.  

 

Password managers for safety 

When creating strong passwords, utilising a password manager is a major benefit. It is a software application that is designed to store and manage online credentials, ensuring your private details are secured.  

Password managers prevent cyber hackers and scammers by using strong encryption. These devices use industry-standard protection, making it virtually impossible for hackers to access your passwords. There are other benefits included in password managers besides just protecting your accounts with hard-to-decipher passwords, such as: 

  1. Simplifying online shopping – your password manager website will fill in all your payment and shipping details on the checkout page whilst online shopping, saving you time and effort. 
  1. Dark web monitoring – data breaches are becoming a regular occurrence with data being leaked online. This feature will alert you if any of your personal information is at risk and if your logins have appeared online. It will also advise you on the next steps to protect your account. 
  1. Storing information – you can store other critical pieces of information, documents and notes safely on your password manager. If you have important travel documents or itineraries or emergency contact information you want to keep safe, it is in one safe and secure vault. 

 

Honouring new habits 

It is imperative that we all start taking precautions to secure our online selves and prevent cyber hackers from gaining access before they have the chance. While never a one-stop shop, it’s never too late to start incorporating safe practices and tools. Think of it like going to the gym – you need to keep at it to see the benefits. After all, ensuring your safe online and passwords are secure should be something you don’t even need to think about. 

  

News

Paul rejoins Scanlans in new role as fire risk assessor

Property management and surveying practice Scanlans has welcomed back an experienced property manager who has retrained as a fire risk assessor, bolstering the firm’s specialist team in line with growing demand for its services.

Paul Christopher initially joined Scanlans in 2005 and remained with the firm until 2016.

He returned a year later and stayed as a property manager until early 2022. He has now re-joined again, this time in a new role as part of the building surveying team led by Tony Mancini.

Paul is based in Scanlans’ Manchester office and is working across the north west as the firm expands its fire risk assessment service beyond its own portfolio of managed apartment blocks to cover commercial buildings, including shops, offices and warehouses, and residential sites such as sheltered accommodation, houses in multiple occupation, local authority and housing association properties.

He has been accepted as an associate of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and is already an associate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a member of the Institute of Residential Property Management and a member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management.

Scanlans’ partner Ian Magenis said: “Paul spent many years as a senior property manager and built a reputation as a well-respected practitioner in the north west market providing the highest standard of service.

“He’s always enjoyed working at Scanlans and appreciates that we are a supportive organisation which offers exciting and fulfilling career development opportunities.

“We will always look to develop the skillsets of our staff, even in new specialist areas. Paul was seeking a new challenge and so we sponsored him through his training to enable him to become a fully accredited fire risk assessor.

“With an increasing emphasis on fire safety across the property sector, Paul’s new role enables us to expand our offering and it’s great to have him back with us.

“We believe that his experience and qualifications will provide clients and colleagues with an excellent and knowledgeable perspective in this field, as he has an insight into not just the regulatory requirements but also into how these impact on the residential market, and practical solutions within leasehold legislation.”

Paul said: “After 17 years in property management, I decided to change direction and take on a new challenge.

“I saw an opportunity at Scanlans to move into fire risk assessment and I’m extremely grateful to the partners for supporting me with the required training to achieve the necessary accreditation. I’m excited to embark on this new phase of my career with the firm.”

Alongside property management and fire risk assessments, Scanlans provides commercial and residential property valuations and surveys, expert witness, building surveying and LPA Receivership services.

News, Property, Proptech News

Proptech platform Symple checks in with Sykes Holiday Cottages

Fast-growing proptech business Symple has struck a deal to offer its certification services to thousands of UK holiday home owners whose properties are listed with leading rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Sykes has registered Symple as a preferred partner as part of its Added Value initiative, which provides exclusive discounts and rates to property owners.

Each supplier has to go through a rigorous interview and checking process before being admitted to the scheme, to ensure a high standard of service and a product offering that owners will welcome.

Sykes, which is based in Chester, is one of the UK’s leading independent holiday home rental agencies with 17,000 owners on its books and a portfolio of over 22,000 properties, ranging from cosy cottages to larger accommodation for 20 or more guests. In total, Sykes hosts more than a million holidaymakers each year.

Symple is an online platform for landlords, estate and letting agents and homeowners which manages the property certificates they require by law for single and multiple sites, such as those for gas safety, boiler servicing, electrical installations, PAT testing and energy performance.

It is a one-stop shop that manages the entire renewal process for certifications, including sending reminders that they are due, managing bookings for inspections and arranging with key-holders for accredited and strictly-vetted service providers – gas engineers, electricians and energy assessors – to carry them out.

Registration is free for landlords and for service providers. Users can check the progress of each job and are then charged for each completed inspection.

Symple, which has its headquarters in Swinton, Greater Manchester, and an office in London, was launched last year by founder and chief executive Simon Dresdner.

From a standing start, its team has grown to 15 and its portfolio to 5,000 properties. Symple is aiming to double its pool of service providers to 2,000 over the next 12 months in line with increasing demand, as it also looks to expand its offering to include repairs and maintenance, cleaning, pest control and property valuations.

Simon said: “Our preferred partner agreement with Sykes Holiday Cottages is a superb opportunity to grow our business by taking our services to holiday home owners across the country.

“We pride ourselves on taking away the headaches for property owners with a straightforward process that manages the entire renewal process for certifications.

“Becoming a preferred partner with such a prestigious company as Sykes is a real feather in our cap as we continue our growth journey, and we look forward to working with holiday property owners across the country through this arrangement.”

Dominique Morelis, Sykes’ Added Value & Estate Agent Specialist, said: “We aim to help our owners in any way we can, including with setting up, managing and maintaining properties, and Symple will definitely support us with this.

“The platform will aid with the management of health and safety requirements and other certification that is required by law.

“Owners can book inspections that will not conflict with guest check-in times, and Symple will liaise with the key-holder if the owner lives in a different part of the country.

“We believe that having Symple on board will strengthen our offering for property owners across the country as we work towards being the number one provider of UK breaks.”

Health & Safety, News

The Vita Group takes a day out for safety

On 27th June, The Vita Group held their annual Safety & Wellbeing Day at the Accrington site; the first one since the Covid-19 pandemic.
A core ethos at Vita is that, through teamwork, all injuries are preventable, and safety is always at the heart of everything the company undertakes. Vita actively promotes ‘safety comes first’ and all employees are expected to take a proactive role in safety.
The Safety & Wellbeing event sees production being paused for the day, allowing all colleagues to take part in the activities.
After a warm welcome from Michael Worden, General Manager of Vita Accrington, the 120 colleagues were divided into competing teams for essential safety training and safety-themes enrichment activities. Ian Robb, Vita’s CEO and Stuart Roby, the Divisional Managing Director also both attended to demonstrate their personal commitment to the importance of employee safety.
Site wide training was also completed, with courses on offer that benefited employees for both their work and home environments. The activities included fire extinguisher training, manual handling training and, in recognition of the importance of mental health, a mindfulness session involving pottery painting.
Further activities involved reaction testing and archery. As an extra incentive to make the most of the day, colleagues had an opportunity to win an extra day of annual leave and a range of gift vouchers. Additionally, each team visited different parts of the factory on safety tours, having the chance to look for safety and environmental hazards; the teams were encouraged to offer improvement suggestions.
The day also benefited the local community with employees bringing in donations for a local foodbank.
The day is always well received by all team members and is something the whole site looks forward to each year. At previous events there have been sessions on important health and safety topics such as the safe and effective use of the Heimlich manoeuvre; a skill that one Vita colleague had to use in real life.
Clare Duckworth, Health & Safety Manager, The Vita Group Accrington, said: “At The Vita Group, we put safety at the heart of everything that we do. That is why safety is one of our core values. Today is all about getting the team together; to enjoy some team bonding exercises and activities, whilst also focusing on how we keep our people, and those around them, safe at work.”
“The key message today is safety first. But also, about refreshing and learning new skills. It is those skills that allow us to continue meeting our high safety goals.”
News

RECOM Solutions on the Rise with new framework appointment

Construction project management consultancy RECOM Solutions is celebrating a major boost with its latest framework appointment.

RECOM has been appointed following a tendering process to a £600m framework for ethical regeneration schemes across northern England and North Wales.

It is the latest to be launched by Liverpool-based framework operator Rise. RECOM has won places for general construction, refurbishment, safety and compliance and project management work.

Users of the new framework will include NHS Foundation Trusts and clinical commissioning groups, schools, academies and universities, social housing providers, local authorities, community-led housing organisations, charities, emergency services and third sector groups across the north west and North Wales, Yorkshire and Humber and Lincolnshire.

Rise is a pro-social business procurement group which provides agency services to construction frameworks, and supports communities by investing profits into local initiatives.

RECOM director Jason McKnight said: “Securing places on the new Rise framework is a tremendous endorsement of the quality and range of work that we currently undertake, and presents a fantastic opportunity for the company.

“It’s a very prestigious and significant initiative for our client base, as well as ourselves.

“Rise is very focused on social value, which chimes with our own ethos as a company. We are involved with a number of local organisations as a way of giving back to the community, including The Broughton Trust to offer employment opportunities to disadvantaged young people, and Salford Lads Club, where our head of operations James Holmes is on the board of trustees.”

RECOM, which has 30 staff, recently moved to new headquarters on the Waters Edge Business Park at Salford Quays.

The company, which was founded by Joseph Dillon and Jason, undertakes construction project management and main contracting work across sectors including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, commercial and residential.

It also provides consultancy services to assist in the delivery of projects, such as design, risk, quality, health and safety and sustainability alongside passive fire protection and cladding.

Clients of the company include Barry’s Bootcamp, Pot Kettle Black, Urban Village Bars, WUKPG, Arrowsmith Investments, The Derwent Group, Fletcher Bond, the University of Manchester and the NHS.

RECOM already has places on frameworks with the University of Manchester, NHS Shared Business Services and Fusion21.

RECOM’s roles on these frameworks involve project management, passive fire protection, facilities management, main contracting and building safety and compliance work.

News, Transport

Speedcast Signs Partnership Agreement with Lars Thrane to Deliver Iridium® Safety Solutions

Speedcast portfolio addition offers certified safety communications services for maritime customers

Aberdeen, United Kingdom — April 5, 2022 — Speedcast, a leading communications and IT services provider, announced today its partnership with Lars Thrane, offering a suite of terminals and the ability to deliver Iridium® Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) services. Following Iridium’s launch of the GMDSS service in 2020, this contract formalizes the addition of the service to Speedcast’s Managed Services portfolio.

As part of the agreement, Speedcast will offer the full range of Lars Thrane terminals – models LT-3100, LT-3100S and LT-4100, with the LT-3100S as the only Iridium GMDSS certified terminal available today. Connectivity service for the terminals will be delivered through Iridium’s low-latency global network, providing reliable coverage even in adverse weather around the entire globe, including over the Arctic and Antarctic waters. As the most advanced mariner safety service in the market, Iridium GMDSS encompasses a set of protocols, equipment, and communications systems designed to ensure that if a ship is in distress, aid can be dispatched from anywhere in the world. The contract scope also provisions Speedcast as a strategic partner for Iridium GMDSS, with trained engineers ready for deployment worldwide.

“Speedcast strives to continuously provide the latest advancements in technology to best equip our customers for operational success,” said Jeffrey Irwin, Vice President, Product Management at Speedcast. “We’re pleased to offer certified safety solutions via our partnership with Lars Thrane. By combining the delivery of Iridium GMDSS services via Lars Thrane’s best-in-class terminals, with corporate and crew connectivity provided by Speedcast’s global mobility network, customers can realize ubiquitous communications to meet all their fleet needs. This is a game changer for maritime industry safety.”

“The decision to partner with Speedcast was straightforward, given its global footprint, maritime expertise, professional field engineers and status as a long-term partner with Iridium,” said Thomas Flinth, Sales Manager at Lars Thrane. “We look forward to revolutionizing maritime safety by joining forces to deliver the communications tools necessary to keep mariners safe.”

To learn more about Iridium GMDSS service, visit www.speedcast.com/Iridium-GMDSS or email info@Speedcast.com.

Construction, News

RECOM Solutions expands in fire protection

A new training academy is to be developed by RECOM Solutions as part of a major investment underpinning the company’s rapid expansion in the fire protection sector.

RECOM, which is currently based in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, has experienced huge growth in demand for its fire protection services, with its number of specialist operatives increasing from five to 30 in the past 18 months.

In addition to its specialist operatives, RECOM employs a team of surveyors, contract supervisors and project managers in its fire protection arm.

Its bespoke facility, which will be developed for a six-figure sum, will feature a live environment for training RECOM operatives in the latest fire protection measures, legislation and products which are new to the market, and will be a showcase to the company’s nationwide client base in the residential, care home, healthcare, commercial, leisure, education, heritage buildings and industrial sectors.

The academy will be a key element of RECOM’s one-stop shop offering in fire protection, which includes passive fire protection and cladding replacement services.

RECOM is an approved contractor under the UK’s Fire Accreditation Scheme (FIRAS) for its fire protection services, which include fire door surveys and installations, repairs and upgrades, fire strategy reviews, compartmentation surveying, penetration sealing, advice and guidance, training, development and support.

Director Jason McKnight said the academy is due to be launched in the spring ahead of the implementation of the Fire Safety Act in England, which seeks to improve fire safety in multi-occupancy buildings.

He said: “We have positioned ourselves ahead of the field by being able to provide a holistic approach to projects, linked to the new legislation.

“We act in both client side and contractor roles, utilising innovative cloud-based software to ensure clients have up-to-date relevant information on fire safety. This is the ‘golden thread’ of information that will become a legal requirement for building owners, developers and the like.

“The new academy will further demonstrate our commitment to retaining our leading market position in the provision of fire safety services.”

RECOM acts as a construction project manager and main contractor in addition to its role as a fire protection and cladding replacement specialist.

The company is also approved as a project facilitator on behalf of Homes England, providing clients with support and funding applications to the Building Safety Fund in relation to cladding remediation works.

Jason said: “The need for robust fire protection measures in buildings has been brought into sharp focus in recent years, and we are proud to be playing our part in helping to improve building safety and create smart, safe and sustainable places where people thrive, across the north west and beyond.

“Our academy will enable us to train and develop new employees and to educate our clients on the importance of fire protection measures within buildings.”

He added: “We fully expect that the Fire Safety Act will lead to further expansion of our fire protection operations.

“To this end, we want to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of compliance, hands-on training and education by demonstrating best practice in a live environment and partnering with leading manufacturers bringing the latest specifications and products to the market.”

RECOM Solutions, which was founded in 2015 by directors Jason McKnight and Joseph Dillon, undertakes construction project management and main contracting work across a range of sectors, including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, commercial and residential. It also provides consultancy services to assist in the delivery of high-quality projects. These services include design, risk, quality, health and safety and sustainability alongside passive fire.

Clients include Barry’s Bootcamp, Pot Kettle Black, Urban Village Bars, KAMPUS, The Derwent Group, Fletcher Bond, the University of Manchester and the NHS.

COVID-19, News

6 reasons why facemasks should be worn in shops now

Since the mandatory introduction of face masks in shops across England on Friday 24th July, there has been much discussion over the decision to formally implement this practice now rather than earlier.

Alastair Lockwood (MA, BM BCh, FRCOphth, PhD) is a consultant ophthalmologist specialising in glaucoma, currently residing at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. In 2004, Mr. Lockwood was involved in a randomised control study which proved the reduction of droplet travel using dye to colour saliva for surgeons performing ophthalmic procedures and less contamination of the surgical site. Drawing on this knowledge, Mr. Lockwood has long been endorsing the use of face masks within enclosed public spaces to protect others, until the pandemic is over. He was recently featured on BBC News discussing his views on the use of face masks as a preventative measure in the UK.

Whilst the delay in implementing mandatory use of face masks continues to be questioned, there is no doubt from Mr. Lockwood that it is still extremely important to wear a mask whenever you are in a close contact situation.

Here, Mr. Lockwood’s explains the key six reasons why you should wear face masks in shops:

1) Coronavirus is still present – We know there is still infection present in the population. This is evidenced by recent local spikes, such as in Leicester.

2) Vulnerable people are still at risk – There are people still in the population at risk of becoming seriously ill or dying if exposed to the infection.

3) Masks do lower the risk of transmission – Masks reduce the risk of transmission of virus from nose and mouth, caused by sneezing, coughing or talking,

4) Public spaces are higher risk – Enclosed public spaces where people mix, and where common surfaces are touched are the most risky areas.

4) Asymptomatic people could be infective – People can have the infection and be asymptomatic. Even if they do become symptomatic they can be asymptomatic and infective early on (i.e. have no knowledge of being ill during illness development)

5) Masks help delay transmission infection – Even if we cannot eliminate the virus we are attempting to delay the infection transmission while effective modes of vaccination and detection are being developed. Eventually we may have a finger prick test we like we do for diabetes where viral detection will be instantaneous.

6) Masks help businesses to reopen and stay open – Keeping the virus to a minimal level will allow companies and the economy to continue to reactivate and reduce the risk of a repeat lockdown, causing further economic misery.