Tag Archives: west midlands

News, Transport

Telent to transform communications for more than 1,500 buses across the West Midlands

Telent’s secure digital radio managed service will deliver increased flexibility and performance to support National Express West Midlands bus operations, integrating vehicle systems with its distributed control rooms

Warwick, U.K., April 6th, 2022 – Buses and control rooms across the West Midlands are set to receive transformational communications upgrades over the next 12 months, as Telent has been awarded a contract by National Express West Midlands (NXWM) to implement upgraded Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) communications and services to more than 1,500 buses in the region.

The major contract will cover nine bus depots, including all routes across the West Midlands conurbation. The new communication solution includes the phased replacement of the existing analogue technology and core communications infrastructure currently used in the vehicles, control rooms and associated radio base station sites. Upgrading to a DMR Tier III system will provide NXWM with digital speech clarity and system resilience. It will also deliver enhanced features and the capability to add increased functionality to meet business needs.

The long-term contract, valued at an estimated £14 million GBP will be provided as a managed services agreement. The migration will be fully managed and delivered by Telent and includes GPS positional tracking, emergency call prioritisation, status messaging, ticket machine integration, dynamic group call allocation and smartphone PTT application.

“As an engineer who has been working on analogue and digital communication solutions, and in particular this customer, for more than 35 years, I am thrilled that Telent will be playing such an integral part in modernising public transport in the West Midlands,” commented Solutions Architect at Telent, Adrian Philips. “It is essential that public transport receives the most up to date and sophisticated technology, and by migrating to DMR systems, this will ensure that buses in the region stay fully connected and maintained.”

Telent is partnering with radio solutions manufacturer, Tait Communications for the migration from analogue to DMR technology. The new radio systems will be initially deployed in analogue mode. When all vehicles in the fleet have been upgraded with the new technology, the system will be switched over to digital mode. This will ensure minimal disruption to regular bus services, and a seamless transition for the customer’s end users.

National Express West Midlands’ Operation Technology Manager, Steve Smith said: “When identifying suppliers to work with for this major upgrade project, we identified Telent’s fully managed service as, in our opinion, the most comprehensive and reputable solution. Working with Telent as a long-term partner will enable us to take advantage of the latest and most innovative radio technology for our fleet, which is critical to the smooth delivery of our operation and quality of service to our customers. The transition will increase overall passenger and bus driver experience by providing added protection on all of our bus services.”

The initial roll out of the upgrades will start later in 2022. As the biggest bus operator in the West Midlands and one of the largest in the UK, NXWM services are used by more than 2.8 million people across the region.

Telent has an impressive background in large fleet deployments, and is currently working with the Ambulance Radio Programme to deploy next-generation Mobile Data communications upgrades in ambulances across England and Wales.

To find out more information about Telent, please visit: https://telent.com/.

Charity & CSR, Midlands News, News

Kings Norton Rhinos start season in style thanks to Bellway’s sponsorship

A junior rugby team is now playing in brand-new kit thanks to local housebuilder Bellway.

Kings Norton Rhinos Under 13s received a donation of £1,400 from the housebuilder – which is building new homes at The Oaks in Kings Norton – and the money funded new kit for the team to start the season.

The U13 Rhinos are part of Kings Norton RFC, which was founded almost 100 years ago and now has members aged from six upwards. The club is based at Hopwood Park, off Ash Lane, Hopwood.

Bellway West Midlands is building a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes at The Oaks, located off Parsons Hill, approximately four miles from the club’s ground.

Jake Morris, lead coach for the U13 Rhinos, said: “All the boys on the team are 12 years old from Kings Norton and surrounding areas, from different schools and backgrounds.

“I reached out to Bellway as I know they were building in the local area, and I felt it important that all the boys had a matching unified kit. We wanted to enable everyone to look the same, play as one and enjoy themselves, no matter their background.

“The boys were really excited when they got the kit and were inspired to come back and play rugby again after a turbulent year of cancelled training due to Covid restrictions.

“We are really pleased that Bellway was able to support us. It’s great to see a large housebuilder support the local community in which they build.”

The team is run by four coaches, including Jake, all of whom are volunteers and also have sons playing in the team.

There are 24 members of the U13 Rhinos and around 230 players in the Kings Norton RFC junior section. Each team is run entirely by volunteers.

Marie Richards, Sales Director of Bellway West Midlands, said: “We are pleased the team were happy with their new kits and excited to start the new season.

“It has been a rocky year for lots of young people involved in clubs such as this one, being unable to be involved in group activities due to Covid-19 restrictions. So we are happy these kits will enable them to come together and play as one again.

“Clubs like this one rely on funding and donations and are run entirely by volunteers, so we are glad to be able to show our support.”

Bellway is selling the final nine homes at The Oaks, where prices currently start at £257,500 for a two-bedroom house, with other three and four-bedroom properties also on the market.

For more information about the properties available at The Oaks, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands/the-oaks or call the sales office on 0121 756 2091.

Captions:

  • The Kings Norton Rhinos showing off their new kit, featuring Bellway West Midlands sponsorship
Construction, Midlands News, News

Confidence boost as West Midlands firm builds up top team

Malcolm Priest, the managing director of Greswolde Construction Ltd, the West Midlands based construction company specialising in the education, healthcare, housing, commercial and industrial sectors with an annual turnover of around £20- £25m, has strengthened the senior management team with two new directors.

Construction Engineer Perry Stewart and former PWC Chartered Accountant Shaun Walsh have invested in the business, with ownership now shared between them and Malcolm Priest. Perry Stewart has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Shaun Walsh as Finance Director. Malcolm is to transition his day to day role over the coming months.

Construction Director Chris Harrison continues in that role.

Malcolm Priest purchased Greswolde Construction Ltd in 1995 but felt the business should be less dependent on him and that the time was right to build a larger, stronger senior team to take the business to the next level.

Perry Stewart is an engineer with 40 years’ experience in construction, including thirteen years as CEO of Immediate Property solutions and six years as MD of The House group, based in Gibraltar. Prior to that Perry Stewart was project manager for Skanska’s construction and marine projects in Scandinavia, Denmark and Northern Germany in collaboration with Veidekke.

Shaun Walsh spent his early career at PWC and has been a Business Consultant and Portfolio Finance Director for a variety of small and medium sized companies across a number of different industries up to £50m+ turnover.

Perry and Shaun are building a group of mutually supportive construction related companies as the IBG Group.  This is their third investment.

Malcolm Priest said:

“I want to see the business thrive. The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for the construction industry, however as we are waking up to face a new normal, I think it is the right time for me to hand over some of my responsibilities to a highly experienced team who can meet those challenges, not least the current shortages of materials and labour, so that Greswolde Construction has a strong and resilient future.”

Perry Stewart comments that he, Shaun Walsh and the IBG business growth team intend to build on the solid and well respected business that Malcolm Priest, Chris Harrison and the Greswolde staff have built over the last 25 years. Perry and Shaun intend to grow the business and take it to the next level and will be growing the number of members of staff at the company to facilitate that.

“We’ve bought into a fantastic company that has a great team, so the potential is immense,” he said.

“With such a great company and solid, talented colleagues, if we don’t double the turnover in three years I’ll eat my hat!”
 William Senior of Watersheds, who led on the transaction for Greswolde, said:
“It’s pretty amazing that we completed this deal for Malcolm during the Pandemic after many lockdowns, but it’s been a pleasure to work with someone who wanted to ensure the business is as resilient as possible and has a strong and sustainable future.
“Our approach was to find the individuals with the right skills, drive, experience and personality to give Malcolm and Greswolde the best possible outcome.
“We knew Malcom required a blend of hard commercial skills and relevant industry experience, but equally needed people with similar values and aspirations, and who were passionate about the brand and the staff.
“When we found Perry Stewart and Shaun Walsh, we knew we had found two people who understood the true potential of the business, and who also had the industry-related experience to help achieve sustainable growth. Malcolm can now relax, secure in the knowledge that the business is in the most capable of hands.”

 

Picture Caption

Growing  the business. Greswolde  Construction’s Malcolm Priest (second left) is pictured with (from left) Director Chris Harrison, new Managing Director Perry Stewart and Finance Director Shaun Walsh. Picture by Andrew Carpenter Photography.

News, Property Buyer News, Property News

Housebuilder helps fund festive front door competition in Shrewsbury

A competition which aims to get Shrewsbury in the festive spirit is being backed by a local housebuilder.

Bellway West Midlands, which is building new homes at two developments in the town, is one of the leading sponsors for My Shrewsbury’s Decorate your Doorstep competition.

The competition encouraged people in Shrewsbury to make their doorsteps look festive for Christmas, with prizes awarded for the best decorations in the following three categories – ‘fun’, ‘stylish’, and ‘over the top’.

The winning ‘fun’ decoration will secure family tickets for four to all Shropshire Festivals events in 2021, the most ‘stylish’ decoration will be awarded a voucher of £80 off any photoshoot from Birgitta Zoutman Photography, and the most ‘over the top’ design will secure a guided family tour of Shrewsbury Prison.

Prizes will be awarded on Wednesday 16 December, the night of the town’s Carols on the Doorstep initiative, which is encouraging people to sing carols on their doorsteps in household bubbles.

In the spirit of the competition, Bellway has decorated the doorstep of its showhome at Copthorne Keep, off Copthorne Road.

Katy Rink, editor of My Shrewsbury magazine, organising the competition with photographer Birgitta Zoutman, said: “We love the idea that Shrewsbury will be the most decorated town in the UK! We are making a big noise, nationally, with our Carols on the Doorstep event and if everyone decorates their doorsteps, it will make for a fabulous atmosphere on the night.

“We loved working with Birgitta during lockdown and we are delighted to join up again to run this festive competition, whilst hopefully raising lots of money for Shrewsbury foodbank at the same time.”

Bellway West Midlands Sales Director, Marie Richards, said: “We are very proud to be supporting My Shrewsbury’s Decorate your Doorstep competition, which is a wonderful event that will help to bring festive spirit to residents in Shrewsbury this Christmas.

“It hasn’t been an easy year for many people, and we feel the competition will serve as a very light-hearted and fun way for the community to celebrate and get creative together.

“As well as decorating our own showhome doors, we are also organising food bank collection points at our sales centres at The Spinney, off Oteley Road, and at Copthorne Keep from 1 December.

We’d like to encourage those in the area to visit our developments and contribute to the cause, to help those in need this Christmas season.”

Food donations will go towards Shrewsbury Food Bank, which is run by Barnabas Community Projects. More information about their Christmas campaign can be found at barnabascommunityprojects.org/christmas.

Details of the Decorate Your Doorstep competition and the Carols on the Doorstep initiative are available at doorstepcarols.co.uk.

For more information on the new homes being built by Bellway in Shrewsbury, visit bellway.co.uk.

Charity & CSR, News, Property News

Staff at Bellway step up to the Snowdon challenge for Cancer Research UK

Staff for a Tamworth-based housebuilder have raised more than £7,000 for Cancer Research UK by completing the Snowdon challenge.

The 17-strong team of Bellway West Midlands staff – who work at the division’s office in Tamworth – hiked up the highest mountain in Wales last month (September), reaching its peak at 1,085 metres above sea level in five hours.

Since 2017, Bellway nationally has raised nearly £1.48 million for Cancer Research UK and has been working hard to help increase awareness across the board at all its divisions.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the housebuilder has been unable to organise many of its usual fundraising events and has been working hard to find different ways to continue to raise money for the charity.

The Snowdon fundraiser was organised by Charlie Bickley, who is working as a quantity surveyor based at Bellway West Midlands, under the Bellway Graduate Programme.
Charlie, 26, said: “I am working as part of a team of eight graduates nationwide who have been tasked with fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

“We were given a brief to raise £5,000 for the charity and I chose the Snowdon Challenge for the team at Bellway West Midlands, as it was easier to follow Government guidelines on social distancing with an event like this whilst safely raising money for the charity.

“Bellway Wessex also walked Snowdon the same day to raise money for the charity, and so far between us eight graduates we have raised more than £13,000.”

Sales Director for Bellway West Midlands, Marie Richards, said: “We are very proud to be supporting a charity that has made a phenomenal difference to the lives of millions of people.

“The team at Bellway is always ready to rise to the challenge when it comes to important fundraising projects, and we have really enjoyed working together for such a worthwhile cause, which is close to so many of our hearts.”

To help raise money for Cancer Research UK, visit cancerresearchuk.org for more information.

Bellway West Midlands is currently building a variety of new homes across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. For more information, visit bellway.co.uk.

For more information on Bellway’s Graduate Programme, visit bellwaycareers.co.uk/graduate-programme.

News, Property Buyer News

Last chance to secure a five-bedroom home at Tidbury Heights

Just three five-bedroom homes remain for sale at a new housing development in Tidbury Green.

Bellway West Midlands is building 231 new homes at Tidbury Heights, off Fulford Hall Road, including 98 affordable properties for local people.

Nearly 90 per cent of the homes have now been built, and just 15 properties remain, including three executive five-bedroom homes.

One of the final homes is the five-bedroom Chadwick, which features an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a utility room, family room, dining room, two en suites, a double garage and an attractive bay window at the front of the property. Prices for this property start at £745,879.

Construction work at Tidbury Heights started in May 2017, with 206 new homes now occupied by their new residents. Sales have been progressing well since the site reopened in May this year and work on site is set to be complete by June 2021.

House-hunters are able to book an appointment for a personal tour of the five-bedroom Cedar Supreme showhome, which is located at the back of the development. There are also Chadwick and

Laurel view homes which can be explored at the site.

Sales Director for Bellway West Midlands, Marie Richards, said: “Tidbury Heights has provided a great selection of high-quality homes for local people in the Solihull area. We are now down to the final 15 homes for sale, so I would encourage anyone interested to visit the site to avoid missing out on being part of this new community.

“The last house types remaining for sale have been appealing mostly to upsizers, professional couples, and growing families, although we have been helping a whole range of residents find their dream homes at Tidbury Heights, including downsizers, families with young babies, single people, retirees, and couples of all ages.

“Tidbury Heights is a very attractive and well-established development with lots of public open space, surrounded by beautiful oak trees. The leafy village of Tidbury Green is an extremely aspirational area to live, with several residents commenting that it’s like living in the countryside, yet being close to key towns, local amenities and the city centre of Birmingham. There is also a children’s play area and pond on site for people to enjoy.

“Good transport links are a key part of the development’s appeal, with the M42 close by for quick access to the motorway network, while it’s less than 10 miles from central Birmingham and less than a mile from Wythall railway station. As well as this, the Solihull Sears Retail Park can be reached in under ten minutes by car.

“Meanwhile, many buyers have said they’re keen to buy now and take advantage of the stamp duty holiday – in place until next year – which has saved them a considerable amount of money on their purchase.”

As part of the planning permission, Bellway will be making financial contributions of £802,479 to provide additional secondary school places, £257,397 for additional places at Tidbury Green Primary School, £228,000 for transport, and £16,442 for Dickens Heath and Cheswick Green surgeries.

For more information on the homes available at Tidbury Heights, call the sales team on 0121 756 0260, or visit bellway.co.uk.