MVIS Stand Out in Hi-Vis for World Mental Health Day

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This World Mental Health Day, MVIS  Ltd and Bartco UK are saying #HelloYellow in support of the charity Youngminds to show young people they’re not alone with their mental health. Everyone at the companies did their bit, donning the ‘loud and proud’ Hi-Vis clothing that couldn’t say #HelloYellow in any better way.

Kyle giving Tom a cuddle on World Mental Health Day

Mental health is an issue that is particularly close to MVIS and Bartco UK; suicide claims an alarming number of lives each year, with many in the Highways and Construction industries. As transport safety is one of the main cornerstones at MVIS and Bartco UK, there is no denying the moral obligation the two companies have in raising awareness of this to help make the industry safer for everyone.

There are wider obligations tied to MVIS and Bartco UK in the fact that suicide is the biggest killer of men aged between 20 and 49, with three quarters of registered deaths in 2018 being among men, which has been the case since the mid-1990s. It is well known that the Highways and Transport industries are heavy employers of men, so when research from a Samaritans survey uncover that 41% of men still don’t seek mental health support when they need it, something must be done to remedy this with more young men joining these ever increasing industries.

So, in support of this cause on World Mental Health Day 2019, the MVIS and Bartco UK team donated money and wore hi-vis yellow clothing in support of Youngmind’s #HelloYellow campaign, which encourages businesses to wear yellow at work to raise awareness.

Anne Ashman, the General Manager and one of two Mental Health First Aiders for both MVIS and Bartco UK comments ‘It’s always great to be involved in events that are clearly so important, to us, to our industry and to wider society. Too many people are affected by suicide and with an issue that is so close to our business, we felt this campaign was perfect to take part in to help raise awareness and make our contribution to such a worthy cause.’

Useful Links and Support:
– Youngminds – Parents Helpline – 0808 802 5544
– Samaritans – Support Helpline – 116 123
– CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – 0800 58 58 58
– NHS Mental Health Support – Advice on access to mental health services

Zero Incidents in 8 years as the industry buys into ‘Aim For Zero’

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The Highways England ‘Aiming for Zero’ programme targets those working on the Highways England network who are directly at risk from road users.

Companies within the industry have aligned with Highways England on this, as the aim for zero incidents via a focus on worker safety has come to the fore.

Roadworker safety: Highways England’s Aiming For Zero programme

The Aiming for Zero programme:

  • Sets a clear goal for the Agency’s health and safety performance
  • Confirms Highways England’s leadership role in the industry
  • Brings together health and safety work across the whole business

MVIS and Bartco UK are dedicated to ‘Aim for Zero’ to fall in line with both Highways England and Tier 1 contractors across the network.

The companies place safety at the heart of their operations, with in-house, on-site and off-site training, holding regular briefings and safety workshops as well as attending site instruction meetings.

MVIS and Bartco UK are proud to be able to state that they are both zero-incident companies. This exemplary safety record goes right back to day 1 of the businesses meaning zero incidents is an ‘ever’ statement and not a ‘this year’ statement.

Anne Ashman, General Manager of MVIS and Bartco UK spoke to us about the prized ‘0’ as well as the approach to safety that keeps it intact:

“We invest heavily in our safety ethos to do all we can to remain on zero incidents. Safety is at the centre of the 2 companies, with our ethos ‘Safe Mind, Work Safe, Work Well’ leading the way internally.

“We make sure we support our workforce with site safety workshops, courses and briefings as it’s paramount everyone that goes out on the roads for MVIS or Bartco UK gets home safely at the end of the shift.

“In September, I’ll be starting my NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) to carry on working on continual improvement of our safety practices and protocols.”

 

 

All Eyes on CCTV: Benefits of Portable CCTV

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We all know the saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and never has this been more appropriate than when talking about CCTV.

A second pair of eyes can be a valuable asset to any task – especially a pair that never misses a thing and is never wrong! If you’re responsible for managing large-scale events with high volumes of traffic and people, well placed CCTV can be extremely beneficial.

MVIS provides portable CCTV for hire across the UK. Ideal for road works, school zones and any event with high footfall or traffic, the system incorporates the latest video technology that enables us to balance the image quality and frame rate in order to provide the best footage even in poor signal areas – so no matter where your event is, MVIS delivers excellent coverage.

Benefits of hiring CCTV from MVIS

Monitoring Activity

Mobile CCTV can quickly and accurately keep track of real-time activity and movement within any area. Couple it with MVIS’ HD Radar to support speed detection and data collection.  The CCTV unit features a 10x optical zoom, offering the user great visual control.

Crime Deterrent

The presence of CCTV has been proven to reduce theft of, and from, vehicles. At large-scale events which see huge volumes of parked vehicles, CCTV acts as a deterrent to would-be car thieves.

Long Lasting Battery Life

All of our trailers are solar powered and come with a large battery back-up on board, enabling them to run autonomously for months at a time.

Robust and Hardworking

Our CCTV units are tried and tested, and have been put through the toughest conditions to ensure they are up to any task. Made with a flat and toughened glass window and including a built-in camera lens wiper, our units are extremely strong and durable. But just because they’re hard working, it doesn’t mean they’re hard to use – our portable CCTV are very easy to operate and reliable under all conditions.

24/7 Support

MVIS is proud of the high level of excellent customer service it provides. All hire customers can access our 24/7 support service which guarantees an initial response from our team within 4-hours, the issue will then be explored further with the customer updated on progress from there.

For more information about portable CCTV from MVIS, please contact us on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS achieves Achilles registration as the latest addition to a long line of accreditations

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MVIS are proud to announce that they have been registered with Achilles after passing the accreditation.

Achilles Building Confidence is a UK construction industry accreditation and risk management scheme.

MVIS are now proud recipients of Achilles registration

What is Achilles certification all about?

Achilles was founded in Norway in 1990 with the goal of helping organisations to identify, assess, qualify, and monitor suppliers throughout the supply chain with the aim of reducing operating costs.

A standardised pre-qualification questionnaire streamlines the procurement process and manages risk.

Achilles enables communities of buyers and suppliers to build better business relationships through a more open, trusting and proactive approach. Sharing knowledge, standards and best practice leads to buyers and suppliers sharing success.

MVIS – Yet another mark of quality

For MVIS, Achilles registration cements their commitment to both quality and safety. The company has 20% of its entire team IOSH trained to ensure ALL departments have top quality H&S standards in place and upheld. 75% of staff are first aid trained, and 90% of staff have health and safety CSCS.

Impressively, the company has been awarded ISO 45001:2018 for safer systems of working, measurability and continual improvement, in addition to holding ISO 14001:2015 for environmental standards and ISO 9001:2015 for quality.

General Manager of MVIS Anne Ashman told us:

“We have done this audit process and registered as it shows customers and potential customers even further that we work in a Quality, H&S and Environmental manner.  It is our further alignment as a SME with large contractors within the industry.

“We’re really proud to achieve registration with Achilles, and add it to our other accreditations to cement the fact we practice what we preach when it comes to standards, service and quality.”

Reliable Safety With New Overhead Solution

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Since our launch in 2012, we’ve been working in partnership with major construction firms to deliver temporary intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions to help them promote the safety of their workforces.

And this summer, in response to customer demand, we have just launched a brand new safety solution, which we believe to be the most reliable and easily installed on the market.

Our Overhead Service Unit protects the safety of highways construction personnel by warning them of overhead structures – including those where work is underway – and is the first to feature in-built radar as opposed to separate sensors, which can accidently reposition after installation.

The cost-effective solution created by Bartco UK, uses the in-built radar to activate an HD Compact VMS message when a vehicle is detected approaching the structure, removing the risk of accidental repositioning while minimising the amount of equipment required.

The HD Compact frame features high-visibility chevrons to ensure that it is easily spotted by construction workers.

For more information on how our new Overhead Service Unit can help you to promote work zone safety, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

World-first Solution Promotes Safety Of Construction Personnel And Road Users

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MVIS is an industry leader in the delivery of innovative portable intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions for hire, and since our launch in 2012, we have worked in partnership with major construction firms to help ensure that they operate safely.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve just launched the first temporary ITS solution to combine modular electronic perimeters and variable message signs (VMS) to promote the safety of construction personnel and road users around the exit points of roadside work zones.

The high impact Works Egress Safety Solution targets both highways and work zone traffic and as such, presents a superior alternative to the standard fixed-plate signs used to communicate with highways traffic only.

We launched the product in anticipation of the likely increase in the work zone speed limit, which has the potential to raise the risk of accidents as works vehicles approach and join the carriageway more quickly.

A pair of sensors are located at the beginning of the acceleration zone within the works area. They connect to a HD Compact VMS deployed within the zone, and, when triggered by an approaching works vehicle, the VMS message changes from “wait here” to “merge when safe”.

The sensors also connect to a roadside, traffic-facing VMS-A, and warns highways road users of the imminent arrival of a works vehicle joining the carriageway. After a set time the HD Compact VMS reverts to its “Works Egress Wait Here” message and the VMS-A goes blank, allowing traffic to flow freely when there is no works vehicle present, keeping traffic moving for longer. In the event of an emergency, the VMS “works traffic merging” message can be overridden with an alternative message.

All messages may be tailored to the precise requirements of the site, and every message activation is recorded and may be reviewed for audit purposes. The product was developed and manufactured by our sister company Bartco UK.

For more information on how our new Works Egress Safety Solution can help you to promote work zone safety, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS & Bartco UK | Continued Investment in staff growth sets the standard for retention

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There is a very well known, often seen ‘conversation piece’ that says it all about investment in staff.

We’d be surprised if you haven’t been privy to some version of it on a course or flying around social media.

It goes a little something like this:

CFO: “What happens if we invest in developing our staff and they leave?”

CEO: “What if we don’t and they stay?”

Ring any bells?

As overused as this particular scenario may be, the message is a valid one.

MVIS and Bartco UK are two companies that pride themselves on investing in their team for the benefits of both themselves and their clients.

While we all know that competitive pay and good benefits factor into an employee’s decision to join and stay at a company, there are many other overlooked desires that can be as important as the money in the bank.

According to a report by Forbes in 2018, a ‘commitment to well-being’ and ‘working with a purpose’ are right up there on the scale of what employees want. It seems a feeling of genuine care from employer to employee goes a long way to ultimate job satisfaction.

Anne Ashman, MVIS & Bartco General Manager told us:

“We don’t fear to invest in staff and potentially see them leave, we push our team and support their career development.

“We’ve found our approach incredibly fruitful. We find that investing in staff to further their knowledge and skills creates a level of job satisfaction that keeps employees with us long term. It really aids the company continuity to not have to be replacing and hiring new staff on a regular basis.

“This approach creates consistency within the company for the benefit of all stakeholders.

“It means our clients and customers work and liaise with the same team, internally we all know how we work most efficiently, the staff become engrained in the ethos of the business and their knowledge of the company and industry only grows.”

So how are MVIS & Bartco investing in their staff?

Anne continued:

“There are many examples of how we do this. I, myself have just passed a business degree with the Open University after 7 years – and this was funded by MVIS and Bartco UK.

“Our Assistant Operations Manager Dom Bridge has been with us for 6 years, having originally started with us as an apprentice. Dom will soon be doing his Fleet Managers course which will swiftly follow the Operations Managers Course that he is currently enrolled in.

“Additionally, Tillie Woolliscroft our Operations Support is currently doing a customer service qualification and Tom Berry, our Sales Admin, a sales course.  Cain Gregory and Tim Hill have also both done soldering courses which supported their work in our workshop and repairs centre.

“For Tim, this is in addition to being put through IOSH training for Managing Safely, so it’s fair to say that the investment across our team is proving we practice what we preach with these company-funded courses.”

Company Ethos puts safety at the centre of its universe

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As part of their ever-growing commitment to health, safety and wellbeing, MVIS has recently introduced their Safe Mind initiative.

MVIS, along with sister company Bartco UK, recognise Health, Safety and Wellbeing in every task they complete. Plainly put:  It is their most important value.

To ensure they keep staff, customers and stakeholders safe, just a few of the things they implement are:

  • Daily checks on all units and vehicles before they leave the depot.
  • Call ahead to the site traffic safety control officers in advance of site visits.
  • Use Full personal protective equipment (PPE) and traffic management for every site visit.
  • Risk assessments completed by delivery team prior to deployment.
  • Near Misses Reported and Investigated.
  • Monthly in-house toolbox talks.
  • Distribution of site contractors H&S briefings.
  • CSCS training.

Safe Mind - Work Safe, Work Well

MVIS have 75% of staff first aid qualified, in addition to 90% of staff having the health & safety CSCS.

The company also have 2 mental health first aiders, along with 20% IOSH trained team members to ensure all departments have someone who is fully aware of the H&S standards they need to meet.

Recently, MVIS were awarded the 45001:2018 ISO. As an SME with 19 employees across two companies, this is something MVIS and Bartco UK are extremely proud of.

With this accreditation, new safer systems of working, measurability, and continual improvement are in place to ensure MVIS get everyone home safely at the end of every single workday. This is communicated throughout the company because as General Manager Anne Ashman explains “We need buy in from the top down to the bottom, and everyone has an equal part to play.”

The MVIS ideas board. Safe Mind is a well and truly thought out ethos
The MVIS ideas board. Safe Mind is a well and truly thought out ethos

 

“There are two internally trained mental health first aiders, and how the company speaks about the impact of mental health is brilliant in order to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

“The construction industry has an alarming suicide rate in men and the work being done here to help was a hugely satisfying discovery to make when joining MVIS. The attitude to wellbeing is top drawer.”

Through their Safe Mind: Work Safe, Work Well campaign, MVIS are encouraging all staff members to always have a well state of mind, and if not, to come and talk to one of the in-house mental health first aiders.

Anne added:

“We aim to make sure that our staff always work in a safe manner, be it on site or in the office, and if they do then they will have a far greater potential for being well both physically and mentally.

“Staff wellbeing can only be enhanced by the peace of mind that comes with knowing we have trained mental health first aiders, and a ‘safety first’ attitude for both on and off-site works.”

“We may be an SME, but we believe in leading the way. So, why shouldn’t we promote and encourage the same values and targets as the large construction companies we work with? As an SME it is equally important to get the message across, if not more important. We have less resources, so need to ensure the whole team look out for both each other, and external parties.”

Expansion sees a new depot opened in the North East

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MVIS sees tangible growth in 2019 as their North East depot opens its doors for the first time.

June has seen Newcastle house the new depot and enable MVIS a number of benefits moving forward.

Firstly, the company will be able to house and hold more products with the second depot’s ability to store constructed VMS units. Therefore, more VMS units will be built for the hire fleet and more beavertails are ordered to aid delivery, and the environment as multiple units can be transported on each driven journey.

Strategically located, the depot location will enable MVIS to service these clients across the north of England, as well as Scotland with greater efficiency in regard to deployment, servicing and repair.

July 19th will see the doors opened, and MVIS will be inviting visitors, suppliers and clients to an open day to tour the facility and see the capability added with this expansion.

Anne Ashman, MVIS General Manager spoke to us about the depot and the need to expand:

“Every business is looking to grow- that’s a bit of an obvious statement – but for us to need to expand to carry on servicing the clients we have to the level they have become accustomed to is great.

“Both MVIS are growing, and as more people discover what we can deliver for them and the level of service we deliver it with, the demand for our products and service goes up.

“With this expansion, we are reacting to that demand and showcasing that we will ensure the delivery of the same high-quality service we’re known for- by investing in the expansion for the benefit of our clients.

“It means we can put down roots in more areas of the UK and operate from more than one strategic location when it comes to servicing clients. The Newcastle depot is in the perfect spot to service the north of England, as well as Scotland- a growing market for us.

“Additionally, we’re continuing to raise awareness internally with staff about environmental issues, as well as continue to expand upon their product knowledge as we introduce new units.”

Exciting times for MVIS and Bartco UK, which could beg the question…where next?! 

Sustainability isn’t all about production and distribution

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As companies continually look for ways to become greener, MVIS has taken a further step in their approach to sustainability by incorporating a bee house at their HQ in Matlock, Derbyshire.

The bee house is on the wall at MVIS HQ
The bee house is on the wall at MVIS HQ

‘Just’ one bee house (for now) it may be, but with some species under threat in Britain, MVIS are doing their bit to take action for the benefit of everybody, and not just the company.

Bees play a key part in the ability to grow food crops and around a third of bees and hoverflies across the UK are in decline. While some pollination is carried out by honeybees in hives, much of the pollination of food crops and wild plants is carried out by their wild relatives and other insects, especially hoverflies.

“Every square kilometre in the UK has lost an average of 11 species of bee and hoverfly, between 1980 and 2013, according to the new analysis,” said Dr Lynn Dicks of the University of East Anglia.

Matt Shardlow, chief executive of the charity Buglife, said the new paper provides further evidence that our pollinators are in trouble and that the health of our environment and food supply cannot be taken for granted.

“Solitary bees, rare bees and bees and hoverflies that live in the uplands are in particular trouble and need urgent help,”  he said.

Anne Ashman, MVIS General Manager told us:

“We’re always looking internally at ways we can make our operation more sustainable and friendlier on the environment. So, we took a look at things we could do that go beyond just us as a business.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MVIS SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK

“Someone in the office made reference to an article they read regarding bees, and their decline in number across the UK as well as the consequences that this could have if it continues. So, we thought – why not? Let’s get a bee house and encourage pollination”

MVIS were awarded with the accreditation of ISO 14001:2015 Environmental in March 2017 ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS).

Above the flower bed the bee house proudly sits
Above the flower bed the bee house proudly sits

 

Anne continued:
“Being accredited with ISO14001:2015 for our systems and processes, we feel it’s a company duty to continue to explore ways we can continually work towards being greener and as environmentally friendly as possible.

“We try and buy as much as we can locally for both environmental reasons, as well as keeping the local economy sustainable. We develop solar powered products and are opening a new depot to reduce travel times and carbon footprint.

“We also reuse what we can, wherever we can, and use Beavertails so that we can carry out deliveries of multiple units with one vehicle rather than two- again reducing carbon footprint.”

Safe Mind: Work Safe, Work Well

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Our Ethos

As part of our growing commitment to health, safety and wellbeing, we’ve recently introduced our Safe Mind initiative.

MVIS, along with our sister company Bartco UK, recognise Health, Safety and Wellbeing in every task we complete.  It is the most important value within our workplace. 

To ensure we keep staff, customers and stakeholders safe, just a few of the thing we complete are:

  • Daily checks on all units and vehicles before they leave the depot.
  • Call ahead to the site traffic safety control officers in advance of site visits.
  • Use Full personal protective equipment (PPE) and traffic management for every site visit.
  • Risk assessments completed by delivery team prior to deployment.
  • Near Misses Reported and Investigated.
  • Monthly in-house toolbox talks.
  • Distribution of site contractors H&S briefings.
  • CSCS training.

We have 75% of staff first aid qualified, in addition to 90% of staff having the health & safety CSCS.

We also have 2 mental health first aiders, along with 20% IOSH trained team members to ensure all departments have someone who is fully aware of the H&S standards we need to meet.

Recently we were awarded the 45001:2018 ISO. As an SME with 19 employees across two companies we are extremely proud of this. 

However, this brings with it new safer systems of working, measurability, and continual improvement to ensure we get everyone home safely. This is communicated throughout the company, we need buy in from the bottom to the top.

Through our Safe Mind: Work Safe, Work Well campaign we are encouraging all staff members to always have a safe state of mind, and if not, to come and talk to one of the in-house mental health first aiders we have.

We aim to make sure that our staff always work in a safe manner, be it on site or in the office, and if they do then they will have a far greater potential for working well. 

Staff wellbeing can only be enhanced by the peace of mind that comes with knowing we have trained mental health first aiders, and a ‘safety first’ attitude for both on and off-site works.

This message aligns with the site safety that all the main contractors are trying to achieve of Zero Tolerance of accidents within construction.

Anne Ashman General Manager commented: “We may be an SME, but we believe in leading the way. So, why shouldn’t we promote and encourage the same values and targets as the large construction companies we work with? As an SME it is equally important to get the message across, if not more important. We have less resources, so need to ensure the whole team look out for both each other, and external parties.”

Community outreach projects with local schools showcases sustainability and safety

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MVIS work in their local community stretches far and wide. Sponsoring sports teams, combat athletes and providing work experience opportunities for local young people are just a part of what they do to give back. Additionally, the company often reach out into their local schools and work with the children on a wide variety of projects.

Recently, MVIS teamed up with Highfields High School, and specifically, their Year 8 and 9 children to set up two challenging, intriguing tasks.

Firstly, Year 8 children were tasked with a safety initiative. The children were briefed on site safety and its importance then were set the challenge of developing a new safety idea that could be adopted on sites nationwide.

The children identified ‘Hat before that’, a safety initiative aimed at driving all on construction and highways sites to think about wearing a hard hat before carrying out any task.

Anne Ashman, General Manager of MVIS told us:

“It was very clever of the Year 8’s to think of this. Whilst we all know about the importance of PPE when on site, the children highlighted that all visitors generally will have to report to a reception or site office and even this journey can encounter possible risk on some sites.

“So, their solution was to have safety focused around hard hat wearing when arriving to the site to eradicate some risks in that first entry. Ideas that were discussed were an intercom + escort system where the site office brings out hard hats to arriving people to make sure they enter wearing one and then escorting them to vehicles as they leave to cover the reverse journey upon leaving.”

Highfields’ Year 9 children were informed of Bartco UK’s decision to foray into VMS hire across International markets and were tasked with discovering ways in which Bartco can stand out from the crowd in a new market.

The Year 9 school children developed an idea around sustainability and in addition to MVIS signs carrying essential highways and journey time information, they could also be utilised sustainably using solar power to preach sustainability across France.

The children focused on programming MVIS VMS signs with messages surrounding anti-pollution and climate change in order to become more than ‘just road signs’ for the French market.

Upon Year 9’s ideas, Anne continued:

“This really impressed us, as these are key issues within our sector and indeed, globally. Carbon footprint, climate change and environmental concerns are at the forefront of the evolution of so many company strategies going forward as the pressure builds to go greener. We’re in a position that we can use very environmentally friendly solutions to spread that word, literally put it in the faces of people and make it a part of everyday life.

“We thought this was a very forward-thinking approach from the children and reflected fantastically on Highfields school that their students are so vigilant of these worldwide issues.”

Mobile Visual Information Systems

01629 580 570

MVIS, Units 6-8, Brookfield Way, Brookfield Industrial Estate, Tansley, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 5ND

© 2022. Company registered in England No. 8130402 - Registered Office: Units 6-8, Brookfield Way, Brookfield Industrial Estate, Tansley, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 5ND