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.

‘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).

 

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.”

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.”

As the years go by, the International Women’s Day movement gathers momentum, and more and more awareness is raised of females campaigning for equality and innovating for change.

Diversity is a word most, if not all companies will tell you is something they adopt and promote – perhaps without the data or evidence to back it up.

Stereotypically, it’s fair to say that the highways and construction sectors have been portrayed as ‘a man’s industry’, however, the presence and success of influential females within these sectors continues to grow.

This is celebrated and exemplified by organisations such as ‘Women into Construction’ and the Women in Construction Summit – which will take place on May 16^th this year.

One woman who has been in the industry for a number of successful years and climbed through the ranks to now head a company strategy and vision is Anne Ashman of MVIS and Bartco UK.

Anne began working at MVIS & Bartco in 2011, prior to the company’s involvement in the London 2012 Olympics, initially coming into the business as Office Manager.

We spoke to Anne about the presence of females in the sector, how times are definitely changing, and if there are still any barriers to females in the highways sector.

We asked Anne, ‘how did you first get into the highways industry – given its reputation as a ‘male industry’?’

“Purely by chance, there was a sales job advertised and I wanted an exciting new role.

“I applied after being a purchasing manager for years, the company only had two employees and I felt my organisational skills would be of huge benefit to the company- especially when I knew it was aiming to win the 2012 Olympic project.

“During the interview, I talked the then Director into a full-time role as the office manager rather than a part-time role in sales – showing my determination.  After we won that project, I was a huge part of getting the goods into the country, working with customs and excise and shipping agents, in addition to working with the guys on the ground to help oversee the operational side.”

And is there a big change in the number of women in highways and construction in the 8 years you’ve been involved?

“There’s a noticeable change, but it’s fair to say women in construction are still a minority.

“The number is certainly growing and if you walk around some of the major exhibitions there are certainly more females on stands as the face of the company with product and service knowledge. At Traffex 2019 I noticed there were far more females present than ever before-  and not just in the capacity of marketing as in previous years.

“Another noticeable change is seeing more and more women finding roles in the sector that perhaps in the past may have been blocked off.

“We’re starting to see ‘the first female…’ being mentioned in a variety of ways whether it be Traffic Management Operatives or Road Markers and that’s just fantastic to see.”

As a female, have you encountered any resistance or attempted barriers to ascending a company in the sector?

“Oh yes, even being told that I was a ‘woman playing in a man’s world’ which if I’m honest just makes me dig my heels in and be more determined.

“Gender should be absolutely irrelevant when it comes to the workplace, it should be about the best person for a role and should be indeed purely about getting the job done.”

And do you still encounter anything like this in 2019?

“Rarely, but unfortunately, yes. It’s fewer and further between nowadays, but it exists. In fact, the ‘woman in a man’s world comment wasn’t actually very long ago at all!

“Anyone who knows me knows I have a very strong personality and am extremely passionate about the company and my role within it.

“But the facts are, it should be about the qualifications, skills and experience of a person. I shortly will have completed a business management degree – I am just one exam away from the golden goal, after working my butt off for the last six years.  This adds to a string of other qualifications in HR, accounts, health & safety etc. that I have, so I never stop trying to learn and better myself – and the company with it”.

With that in mind, what would you say is the key for any female embarking on a career in this sector, or any sector that may be portrayed as male dominant?

“Firstly, stay true to yourself. You know you have a battle on your hands before you come into a stereotypically male orientated sector.

“Secondly, be respected for your mind and what you bring to the table and respect the people already in the sector who have knowledge to share – whether they are male or female. Also, be prepared to get stuck in – I am at my happiest when I am out on the ground in high-vis with the lads from my team, be it battery changing or delivering if the need arises.

“Finally, remember what you have to offer and that everyone in any role should only have to prove they’re capable of doing the job.”

You can meet the rest of the MVIS team here, and can keep up to date on all our news by following us on Twitter @MVISltd