Ben Kettell, Author at MVIS Ltd

Vast hire fleet supports major schemes nationwide

Posted on 30th October 2019 at 1:31 pm.

In 2012 following the London Olympics, VMS hire specialist MVIS had a fleet of 180 units. Their role at London 2012 was a landmark, being involved in one of the most prestigious events the UK has ever held.

Now, 7 years on, the hire fleet is gargantuan, with over 550 hire units – showcasing a 7-year growth that sees an increase of over 200% in fleet size.

General Manager of MVIS, Anne Ashman comments:

“Year on year we are having to increase the hire fleet by 100 units minimum just to keep up with the demand for hire from MVIS.

“Our reputation goes before us and our focus on service and quality is seeing consistent, fruitful growth.”

Anne continues:

“Over the years, we’ve developed a reputation for quality, and our capabilities have led to being trusted with the planning and implementation of major schemes.

“The way we work with a client is very simple; you give us your plan, and we’ll make it work for you.

“We’ll consult, plan how many units are needed and where they ought to be deployed via a site visit and evaluation, then we deploy and deliver the required number of units on time for the scheme to commence.”

Recently, MVIS has opened a new depot in the north east to further increase efficiency in servicing the north of England as well as Scotland. This additional space means more units can be housed for the hire fleet, as well as placing an increased demand for units with the capability to service more contracts.

As a result, MVIS has recently added another 40 Solar IP units which Bartco UK built, plus almost 70 VMS of various sizes.

Additionally, MVIS are looking to add another 40 HD compact units to the fleet over the next few months, as well as 40 new Solar IP units and 30 new VMS-C units.

MVIS can build 150 units in 5 months for large schemes and have them on the Highway, as they did with corridor orange on the M1.

Currently, the MVIS fleet contains over 500 units, with a breakdown consisting of 181 VMS-A, 192 VMS-C, 81 x Solar IPS and 43 x HD Compact amongst other refurbished units.

With the aim of 110 new units in the next few months, the fleet could now see a 20% boost in size by the new year.

Anne commented on the upscaling:

“Simply put, we need a larger hire fleet due to demand, as well as our increased presence in the North East.

“With our build capability and emphasis on servicing our clients, we’re striving to make these fleet additions in the near future as we continue to keep Britain moving.”

First published on HighwaysIndustry.com

For more information on how our solutions can help you, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

High speed capabilities goes above and beyond

Posted on 30th October 2019 at 11:42 am.

Written by Ben Kettell

We know how vital our high-speed road network is for the road user

We all have an idea of just how many users drive along our motorways and major A-roads daily, and if we don’t – we certainly can’t imagine an infrastructure and a road network without these high-speed carriageways.

So, when it comes to keeping Britain moving, MVIS are playing their part.

Keeping Britain Moving: High Speed

The relationship of MVIS with P&D Specialist Services for the use of hiabs, trained hiab operatives and slinger signalers for delivery, installation and removal. By having such a close working relationship with one major specialist, it means P & D fully understand MVIS as a company, the needs of their customer base, and the consistency & level of service expected.
Fully health and safety trained staff. Internally, MVIS has a programme of Health and Safety training that is ongoing for every operative, in addition to externally completed health and safety training to ensure quality across the board.
CSCS: Depending on their role on site, MVIS workforce are all on site with the appropriate and relevant CSCS card.

Expertise is shared…

The MVIS expertise in the high-speed arena means that very often, the company are consulted with and requested to aid with the planning and setup of major high-speed schemes.

MVIS regularly are called upon to plan the number of units for a major high-speed scheme, as well as where they should be situated for maximum efficiency.

Over the last 7 years MVIS has been involved in, and had units being utilised on most of the major schemes nationwide. These include:

M1 J16-J19, J23a-J25, J28-J35a, J39-J42
MSM M60
M27 J4-J11
M62 J10-J12
M20 SMP
M23
Oldbury Viaduct
A14 IDT

Anne Ashman, MVIS General Manager comments:

“Over the years as we’ve grown, we’ve made a step up on the eyes of the industry I believe, to the point that we now provide lots of consultation on these major schemes. People trust MVIS, the MVIS brand and our level of quality is now our reputation.

“High speed works for us is about more than just having units out, it’s being involved in the planning and bolstering our reputation, it’s about making sure that the people delivering units are as qualified as can be from a safety point of view, it’s about making a genuine contribution to keeping Britain moving for the benefit of the road user.”

First published on HighwaysIndustry.com

For more information on how our solutions can help you, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS Call to Action New Internal Marketing Team

Posted on 24th October 2019 at 4:52 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

MVIS take a big step towards growth in their latest appointment of a new internal marketing team, they take over from the excellent job marketing agency Fig have done for several years.

After years of agency marketing management, MVIS are bringing their marketing in-house under their new marketing team. MVIS welcome newly appointed Marketing Manager, Sean Brown to the team in this confident move of growth.

The appointment reflects a marketing strategy more in-line with the growing needs of MVIS, being such a fast-paced and ambitious environment.

Indeed, Anne Ashman, General Manager at MVIS comments:
“Fig have been fantastic in the years we have been with them and they have done a really great job. The only downside is that they aren’t on-site with us and we have to share them! Taking on an internal marketing department allows us to be more reactive and experimental in our efforts, which is highly important in this fast-paced industry.”

By bringing a marketing team in-house as a company directive, they are working alongside the heart and soul of the business, allowing the new team to understand the company’s needs almost as second nature without it taking as much time and coordination as it would to bring a third party up to this level of understanding.

The team themselves are just as keen to get going, comprising of Sean Brown as Marketing Manager and Tillie Wooliscroft as Marketing Assistant. Sean, who’s new to the company, has a background in both B2B and B2C marketing, working with a diverse range of products during his career that include household brands to cutting edge display AV technology. Whilst he is new to the highways industry, he brings with him a solid marketing foundation that will help to diversify the company’s current marketing infrastructure, allowing them to perform to the highest level in this sector possible.

Sean notes:
“Working within a market where contracts play such a pivotal role is a brilliant opportunity for me as it’s not something I’ve done before. The pressure to constantly bring in new business has always been a huge part of my job. It’s clear that MVIS know what they’re doing; in the time they’ve been trading, they’ve achieved an awful lot and built this industry leading business. But there’s still so much to explore on the marketing front, which is what makes this such an exciting time for me as things can only get better from here.”

He brings with him years of marketing experience, fittingly specialising in digital marketing infrastructure.

He adds:
“In a nutshell, my career to date has largely encompassed helping businesses transition from traditional marketing practises to this new field of digital marketing. Having an intimate knowledge of what digital systems are best to achieve different goals is what I do well, so building an internal infrastructure of my own to manage seems like a perfect application of my skills at this stage.”

His experience equips him perfectly for the task before him, expanding on the work Fig have done as well as exploring and building new marketing avenues for the company that will see them through the next stages of growth that they ambitiously look forward to.

Sean is joined by MVIS veteran, Tillie, who previously worked in the Operations team and has been moved to marketing to grow her social media marketing skills further.

Anne explains:
“Tillie has been with us for a number of years now and during this time, she has taken on new responsibilities that do fall under the marketing remit, such as social media management. Without an in-house marketing department, Tillie’s role was kept in Operations due to her incredible ability to build relationships with customers. But since we made the decision to expand in this way, she can easily apply these skills here so it was a logical choice to move her.”

The part Tillie plays as Marketing Assistant is welcomed by Sean too, who has experience in teaching, education and IT / marketing related CPD.

He recalls:
“When I found out Tillie had been awarded Learning Unlimited Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award in 2018 for her work at MVIS, I realised I was going to be training a hard worker. Tillie is a bright and enthusiastic individual and I very much look forward to working with her and teaching her everything I know.”

MVIS welcomes both Sean and Tillie to the marketing team, eagerly awaiting what’s to come in future. If you have any questions related to marketing, you can contact them via marketing@m-vis.co.uk.

Event safety made easier with MVIS

Posted on 11th October 2019 at 3:57 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

When you’re tasked with organising a large scale event, we know that there is a long list of things you need to consider. So why not depend on MVIS to help make your event planning easier.

In a recent trend report event planners surveyed highlighted event security as one of their main concerns. As one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of portable variable message signs (VMS) and Portable Solar Powered CCTV, MVIS aims to offer effective solutions to help ensure your event runs as smoothly and safely as possible.

Starting a week or so prior to your event, we deploy VMS to notify road users of the upcoming event, giving them time to find an alternative route. Not only does this reduce frustration for local traffic during the event but it also eases congestion for those attending. Pair this with CCTV and Web Studio™ and you’ll be able to monitor traffic and manage messages on multiple signs, updating them in an instant from any internet enabled device or using the Bartco Live app, as situations change.

Unsure which sign you would need? Our VMS-A is perfect for notifying road users on roads with speeds up to 50mph while our larger VMS-C is more commonly used on roads where the speed is greater than 60mph.

Whilst you’re setting up the event and have personnel and valuable equipment on-site CCTV is a natural deterrent, helping security staff to monitor the site 24 hours a day.

During the event, onsite VMS will help to communicate messages in both text and pictograms, from important safety messages and directional information to promoting sponsors logos (creating another opportunity for event revenue) to visitors. The appearance of CCTV will continue to help deter criminals, monitor visitor activity and help to direct security and medical staff to any incidents whilst also giving reassurance to visitors that their safety and security is a priority.

Both our VMS and CCTV are solar powered, easy to operate and require no external civils, so you can position them exactly where you need them. And with strategic depots located across the UK, MVIS delivers a fast, reliable service that you can depend on. Why not take the hassle out of your next event and pre-hire portable VMS and CCTV units to help take the strain prior to your event starting? And don’t just take it from us, listen to what our happy customers have to say:

“I found the booking process very easy and all the staff were extremely helpful. The system worked well for us as it deterred visitors who were unfamiliar with our area from going down a restricted road. The team who delivered and picked up the system were also very helpful and flexible. As the system worked so well we did not hesitate in booking it again for our forthcoming events.”
Nottingham Trent University

To find out more about hiring from MVIS, call us on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

Make MVIS a fixture at your next event

Posted on 11th October 2019 at 3:52 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

With eight years’ experience of working with event managers to help accomplish successful, large scale events and shows, MVIS delivers flexible solutions that enable event managers to communicate information effectively and respond to event changes in an instant.

MVIS has provided event management technology for some of the UK’s biggest music festivals, sporting fixtures, stadium events and country shows. With strategic depots based across the UK, MVIS is perfectly placed to deliver innovative event management technology right to where you need it most.

Our portable variable message signs (VMS) are designed to communicate important information to high volumes of traffic – either vehicular or pedestrian. Fast to install and set up, these mobile units can be easily repositioned if needed, and thanks to our handy BartcoLive app, creating and changing the messages on the LED display screens has never been quicker or simpler.

MVIS has continually provided event managers with not only high-performing and high quality equipment, but with round the clock customer support too. All hire customers have access to 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 working with MVIS at your next event, please contact us on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk

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

Posted on 10th October 2019 at 5:09 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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.

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’

Posted on 25th September 2019 at 10:15 am.

Written by Ben Kettell

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

Posted on 2nd September 2019 at 1:03 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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

Posted on 13th August 2019 at 4:51 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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

Posted on 1st August 2019 at 5:38 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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

Posted on 1st August 2019 at 5:37 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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

Posted on 1st August 2019 at 5:18 pm.

Written by Ben Kettell

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.”