MVIS Interviews the Next Generation of Workers

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MVIS are always happy to serve our local community. When MVIS staff were asked to assist with mock interviews at Highfields School, they quickly stepped up to help.

Over the course of a morning, our Commercial and Operations Director, Anne Ashman and Sales and Marketing Executive, Ben Ashman visited Highfields with the opportunity to interview three students each. The mock interviews help prepare the year 11 students for the near future when they will be attending real life interviews for colleges or workplace apprenticeships.

Anne, and Ben, were able to give the students the experience of sitting across from someone in an interview environment. Feedback was supplied to all students on areas they did well and advice on what they could do better, giving them the opportunity to improve their interview technique. 

Over the years, MVIS have worked closely with Highfields, whether it be providing VMS to promote the schools talented students in their annual musical, working on a year end challenge project set by the company or taking part in mock interviews and providing work experience.

Anne Ashman commented “With many members of the MVIS staff being Highfields Alumni, MVIS are always happy to assist.  The mock interviews are also a way for us to “tap in to the local upcoming talent at an early stage”, gaining many apprentices over the last 10 years from Highfields”.

Fighting the Winter Blues with Bakes and Brews

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Over 2023, the team at MVIS took part in the Journey to Wellbeing. This initiative was started by National Highways & SMP Alliance, it targets the wellbeing of staff who work in the highways industry.

The industry is everchanging and these new changes are stressful to upkeep and adhere to. Due to this, our company has decided to act and internally host our own wellbeing events.

During these events we stress the importance of the theme whether it be ‘Financial Wellbeing’ or ‘Reducing Overwhelm’ and stress.  At MVIS we have three well-trained Mental Health first aiders, Our Commercial and Operations Director, Anne Ashman, Delivery Supervisor, Jon Larkins, and Purchasing Supervisor, Rebecca Prince.

Expressing the importance of talking to these people in a safe and confidential environment can reduce stress in our team and informs them that there is always someone to help.

The 15th of January 2024 was Blue Monday, a day where we see stress levels rise due to Christmas being so far behind us and pay day so far in-front.

So MVIS decided to have coffee & cakes for the team and play a board game to distract them from the stress of Blue Monday, playing the sock game. A game about collecting specific items out of long socks. Two teams competed to collect Golf Tees, Ping Pong Balls, and Elastic Bands out of long socks. After many rounds Team Tickles won.

Congratulations Team Tickles and congratulations to MVIS on another successful Journey to Wellbeing!

2023 Review: Takeovers, Trails, Treecycles & TRUST – all to a tee (Part 2)

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As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on a landmark year for MVIS.

From sustainability initiatives to community engagement and technological advancements, not to mention a major acquisition, we have had a very significant year.

Looking back on the last 12 months, here we delve into some of the key highlights that defined our year:

 

July – Investing in Education and Community

Corporate Social Responsibility took centre stage in July, as MVIS paid a visit to The East Manchester Academy.

We spoke to a year 8 class about career paths and gave them a brief lesson in programming messages to display on its VMS via our web-based editing platform Web Studio.

Group Commercial & Operations Director, Anne Ashman & Marketing Manager, Ben Kettell spent the afternoon giving pupils an insight into MVIS, and the company’s journey since 2011. Both Anne & Ben then fielded questions from the group regarding everything from our technology, how to enter the industry, and how their career paths brought the duo to where they are today.

 

August – Cycling Championships in Glasgow

August marked a flagship event in MVIS’ history as the company provided VMS unit support for the 11-day World Cycling Championships.

The event served as a global platform for showcasing our innovative solutions and technological prowess, as well as our ability to power major international events when it comes to delivering information and aid with crowd control. With over 1 million spectators across Scotland during the event, only the very best would do.

 

September – Emergency Services Show

An event debut in September for us, as we exhibited at the Emergency Services show at the NEC Birmingham.

MVIS had its friendly team on hand to showcase its latest solutions for the blue-light sector, and introduced its brand-new fire sign, a product that can assess its environment and alert people to the risk of fire in the area – looking to prevent a crisis before it even happens.

 

October – Highways UK 2023: Shaping the Future of Transportation

Event season continued into October, as MVIS took the roadshow to Highways UK 2023. The event has become the leading exhibition across the Highways sector over the last few years.

Centre stage was our brand-new Solar Barrier with a built-in ANPR Camera, as well as some key MVIS innovations of the last 12-18 months such as the HD Compact, Compact CCTV unit, and Environmental Sensor product integration.

November – Bake Off & Charity Total 2023: Blending Fun and Philanthropy

In November, staff took part in a company bake off – its latest fundraising endeavour for Ashgate Hospice.

MVIS invited David Storer & Natalie Bell from Ashgate as guest judges. After a lot of tasting, deliberation David & Natalie crowned Jacob Spencer, MVIS’ Technical Apprentice as 2023’s Great MVIS Bake Off winner.

The competition brought MVIS’ charitable efforts for Ashgate to a close for 2023, with all initiatives throughout the year raising a whopping £14,982!

 

December – Road Expo Scotland

MVIS exhibited at its final exhibition of the year recently, The Road Expo Scotland event at the SEC in Glasgow and Sales Director Graeme Lee spoke to us about the company’s experience:

“We had a great time at Road Expo Scotland.” Graeme said.

“Seeing our existing customers is fantastic and it’s always exciting to make some key new connections and be able to showcase MVIS and our product range.

“It’s an important exhibition for us, as our North hub is just south of Scotland, and so we’re set up to support contracts better than ever before in terms of both geographical locations, as well as the number of units in our fleet. It’s brilliant to be bale to go and spread that message and make people aware of just how well our service is as seamless as our products for the region.”

As we reflect on the year gone by, MVIS emerges as a company that has thrived, leaving an indelible mark on the industries it serves.

With a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement, MVIS looks forward to 2024 and beyond with continued success and growth.

 

Read about MVIS’ monumental year and the first six months of it here.

2023 Review: Takeovers, Trails, Treecycles & TRUST – all to a tee (Part 1)

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As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on a landmark year for MVIS.

From sustainability initiatives to community engagement and technological advancements, not to mention a major acquisition, we have had a very significant year.

Looking back on the last 12 months, here we delve into some of the key highlights that defined our year:

 

January – Ashgate Treecycle

Ashgate Hospice, a charity we have supported for many years found an innovative way to raise money for the hospice, as well as recycling used Christmas Trees to help, rather than hinder the environment. Enter ‘Treecycling’ where trees are collected by volunteers and given to local farmers so they can be chipped and recycled.

In January, our team members Jon Larkins and Ben Ashman took the MVIS service van for Treecycling collections in Matlock. Together, they collected 29 trees helping to raise over £400 for Ashgate in tree collections.

 

February – Employee Wellness Takes Centre Stage

On the mission for improved mental health and wellbeing across the sector, National Highways introduced the ‘Journey to Wellbeing’. An initiative devised to get operatives in the sector to be more open and comfortable in discussing their mental health.

Following that lead, we implemented the Mind charity’s ‘Time to Talk’ initiative, with MVIS’ mental health first aiders delivering to the rest of the team on the importance of talking if life is taking its toll for the worse.

we strive to ensure that our teams is happy and healthy, so implementing initiatives that align with National Highways Journey to Wellbeing is something we were proud to undertake.

 

March -Ashgate High Peak Trail

March saw MVIS sponsor the Ashgate Hospice High Peak trail for the 3rd successive year. Taking place on March 12th, the event sees a choice of three trails through the Derbyshire countryside – all to raise money for Ashgate Hospice.

David Storer, Ashgate Hospice Events Organiser commented:

“MVIS are a pleasure to work with. They are always on hand to provide support across all of our fundraising events.

“Anne (Ashman, Group Commercial & Operations Director) and the team have provided VMS units to us for multiple events now, and their appeals have really helped to raise awareness of Ashgate Hospice and the vital end of life care that we provide across North Derbyshire”

 

April – #TRUSTINMVIS Launch

In April, we launched our #TRUSTINMVIS campaign, with the TRUST acronym symbolising the values the company holds dear: Teamwork, Reliability, Understanding Flexibility, Solutions, and Technology.

Anne Ashman, Group Commercial & Operations Director spoke to us about the initiative earlier in the year. Anne told us:

“MVIS is committed to providing the best possible service and support to our customers. With #TRUSTMVIS firmly in place as a publicly available statement of intent, MVIS is confident that we can deliver the most innovative, sustainable, and dependable portable VMS solutions on the market.”

May – Under New Ownership!

In what was perhaps 2023’s most significant landmark, MVIS underwent a change in ownership in May when Quadrant Management, a US-based private equity investor added us to their portfolio of businesses.

The acquisition provides opportunities for collaboration and innovation across a range of industries as well as increase capability in Research & Development to further bring innovation.

After over a decade of driving innovation including being the first to introduce colour VMS signs, the acquisition marks an exciting new chapter and provides the perfect platform to further propel the company.

 

June – Renewed Constructionline Platinum

As we hit the mid-year mark, we achieved the renewal of our Constructionline Platinum certification. This accolade underscores the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest of standards, providing clients with the assurance of quality and reliability in its products and services.

It ensures that our customers know extensive checks into quality, health & safety, environmental impact, social responsibility and adherence to legislations and regulations have all been carried out and rubber-stamped.

The Ideal Air Quality Monitoring Network

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Last Summer we teamed up with Catplant Quarry in Doncaster to provide them with a bespoke traffic management and safety solution for vehicles coming in and out of their one-way track at the waste disposal area of the quarry. Catplant had multiple lorries driving into the area, which had limited space, causing a backup of vehicles with no area to turn around, leading to congestion and safety issues in all areas of the quarry.

A solution was required that allowed only one vehicle into the unloading area at a time, allowing the lorry to unload, turn around safely, and exit before the next vehicle drove into the area. MVIS supplied a Variable Message Sign (VMS) which allowed the driver to remotely activate a message on the VMS, instructing a “NEXT VEHICLE” message and a further “WAIT HERE” instruction. However, due to poor connectivity within the quarry, the standard mobile app could not be used to operate the VMS. As a result, we implemented an alternative solution – a remote fob with a direct connection to the sign, allowing the driver to control it simply, at the press of a button.

Alongside this, we also provided Catplant with a trial of our Environmental Sensor. This clever little addition to our VMS is able to measure dust pollution, air quality and decibel readings. 

The Environmental Sensor can even measure levels of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. With moderate levels causing headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, as well as coughing and difficulty in breathing.

Higher levels can cause shock, convulsions, coma, and in the worst cases, death. This solution is a low-cost system that offers the ability to build a high-density ambient air quality monitoring network that records data in real-time.

To speak to our dedicated and knowledgeable team about buying or hiring a VMS with Environmental Sensor, you can call 01629 580570 or email: sales@m-vis.co.uk.

MVIS In The Spirit Of Giving

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Christmas is famous for the notion of ‘Giving’. With the cost of living ever rising, it is good to help those who are less fortunate than us.

Every year the volunteers at Clay Cross Food Bank graciously give their time to help families at Christmas and have an equal opportunity at the festivities we all take for granted.

Over the course of December, they have been bagging up items from generous patrons to give to families across our local area in Derbyshire.

Over 100 bags have been packaged to give out at the sessions leading up to Christmas, and they expect 25+ families to attend the session to make sure they can celebrate Christmas.

The team at MVIS have this year given items containing tinned meats, tinned fish, biscuits, cakes, and sanitary products. 

The foodbank explained “dried and tinned goods are best, if we don’t give them all out over the Christmas period, then we save them for the new Year, so we can continue to help in early 2024”.

The foodbank team heavily rely on local companies assisting at this time of year when the need is higher to help families who have found themselves in a dire situation.

This is a cause the team at MVIS believe in and have been happy to take on and contribute again in 2023.  A massive well done to the team at Clay Cross Food Bank.

Come and find us at Road Expo Scotland on Stand C25.

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On 28th & 29th November, Road Expo Scotland welcomes MVIS Ltd as we take our place at Scotland’s only dedicated Roads & Mobility Event. Road Expo is Scotland’s largest dedicated road, transport and mobility event for Scottish Local Authorities, Government and it’s commercial suppliers.

The event takes place in Glasgow and sees the industries fellow industry big hitters get together including Kier, Markon & Transport Scotland. This will provide us with a great chance to further raise awareness of our products & presence North of the Border on the back of our involvement in the Glasgow World Cycling Championships which took place back in August.

The event provides the platform for debate and discussion around the areas of:

  • Adaptation to Climate Change
  • Future Mobility
  • Decarbonisation
  • Asset Management & Resilience
  • Road Safety
  • Delivering safer roads
  • Roadworks

Visitors to Road Expo Scotland are invited to pick up a brochure and head over to stand C25 to discuss MVIS’ capabilities, with our strategically placed hub in the North East of England which facilitates the ability to build and deliver more units for our sales & hire fleet.

Our Sales Director based at our North Hub, Graeme Lee commented:

“We’re looking forward to heading to Road Expo Scotland and seeing both our existing customers, and potentially, some new ones too. With our North hub just South of Scotland, we’re set up to support contracts better than ever before in terms of both geographical locations, as well as the number of units in our fleet”.

The Great MVIS Bake Off Final 2023

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We have had so much fun raising funds for Ashgate Hospice through various events and activities in 2023. Between September – November we held our in-house baking competition, The Great MVIS Bake Off, Inspired by the popular channel 4 show. This year the competition stepped up a level, with more fierce competition, more star bakers and a different theme each week. 

Throughout the weeks, we saw delicious bakes including cupcakes, brownies, cookies & fudge cakes. Throughout the competition, the best bakers rose to the top and progressed to the knock-out stages, until there were just 2. 

On Monday (6th Nov) we held our grand final between Purchasing Supervisor – Rebecca Prince  & Technical Apprentice – Jacob Spencer. Jacob (Chucky) was going in to his second final in two years after being crowned the Great MVIS Bake Off Winner in 2022. Both bakers were required to bake a Red Velvet cake and neither finalist disappointed.

As the Bake Off is held in order to raise funds for our charity partner Ashgate Hospice, we felt it was only right to get our own guest judges involved. David Storer & Natalie Bell took up the rolls of Paul Hollywood & Prue Leith. After a lot of tasting, deliberation and consulting, not only on flavour but on appearance and texture, David & Natalie crowned Jacob the 2023 Great MVIS Bake Off winner.

We also felt that with our guest judges in attendance, this was the perfect chance to announce our grand total raised for Ashgate Hospice throughout 2023.

We provide support & funds for Ashgate Hospice throughout the year and try to get involved with as many events as we can. These include:

MVIS, also provides the hospice with VMS to promote events throughout the year, including The High Peak Trail & Sparkle Walk.

When. we combined everything we have contributed to Ashgate throughout the year and our grand total is……..£14,982!  An incredible effort by all members or our amazing team. 

David Storer from Ashgate Hospice said:

“MVIS are a fantastic supporter of Ashgate Hospice and always go above and beyond to help us out wherever they can. Whether that’s supplying their digital signs to help with the promotion and safety of our events, helping at our events or even hosting a Bake Off challenge with all proceeds kindly being donated to the Hospice.

The money that MVIS save and raise for the Hospice each year is phenomenal, this year alone the total is just shy of £15k! Amazing!  This can do so much at the Hospice and goes towards ensuring that Ashgate Hospice will be here for the future when people need us the most. Thank you to Anne and all the team at MVIS. It’s such a warm and friendly place and we’re always made to feel welcome. We’re really looking forward to working with MVIS again in 2024.”

Investing in Our Most Valuable Assets

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Here at MVIS we pride ourselves on investing in one of our most valuable assets… our staff.

Many of our staff members have had time and effort put into them to ensure they have the best qualifications. This is both to benefit our customers, MVIS as a company and to benefit the team member in their future endeavours. We always showcase our own certifications such as our ISO, FORS and Constructionline Platinum.

But our staff also have their own certifications to ensure customers that all onsite staff are qualified to the required standard. This is no different for our newest member of staff, Connor Dickson. Our Northern Hub Supervisor. Connor joined us from another company within ITS TM, but only had in-house training. We have fast- tracked him through external training for:

  • First Aid 3-day course
  • Fire Marshall
  • Manual Handling
  • Working at Height
  • Handheld Tools
  • Abrasive Wheels
  • IOSH Managing Safely
  • CSCS & 1 days Health & Safety

Giving him the skills and qualifications to work on the High-Speed network, using his HE Passport, and allowing him to deliver an excellent service to our TM lower speed schemes in the North region. Delivering nothing less than the Platinum Level Service that our customers have come to expect from MVIS.

Well done Connor on this great achievement!

MVIS takes on MR & MRS

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MVIS Staff have been taking part in the ‘Journey to Wellbeing’ over the past year now. This is an initiative started by the team at National Highways.

With Long working hours, exposure to noise and pollution, traffic-related risks, and the pressure to meet deadlines, mental health in the highways sector is an issue on going for many years, this initiative started by National Highways is bringing workplaces together.

This month MVIS participated in MR & MRS, randomly pairing people in the company to see how well they know each other.

This idea gets staff members conversing and learning more about each other by simulating “married life” between two members of staff.

After four rounds of questions such as ‘who is the better driver?’ or ‘who has the best dress sense?’. Augustine and Juliette came out on top as the winners of the first MVIS MR and MRS.

MVIS returns to Highways UK

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We are exhibiting at Highways UK and we’re now only one week away. Highways UK is the sector’s must-attend event, it offers companies the opportunity to showcase their latest products or solutions, as well as explore other innovations in the market, and network with others in the industry.

If you are attending, make sure that you stop by Stand 312 in Hall 3 & 3A to say. Our dedicated Management and Sales team will be at the event to field any questions that you will need answering.

We will also be debuting our newest solution for people visiting our stand. Our brand-new Solar Barrier with a built-in ANPR Camera, perfect for programming. Also being showcased is our amazing HD Compact, Compact CCTV, and our Environmental Sensor.

Celebrating 10 years of Pat Musgrave

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Our CEO, Pat Musgrave, is celebrating a decade since he first became MD of MVIS.  We were able to find time in Pat’s schedule to sit down and talk to him about his time in the highways industry and working at MVIS and the team that runs it.

Here is what Pat had to say:

 

Where does your passion for ITS come from?

 

“I guess it stems from when I was a kid. I’ve always liked electronics and messing around with technology. I started off my career as a qualified electrician. Involved in highways, street lighting and that kind of stuff. Rapidly becoming more involved with CCTV and ITS products.

It’s always been more interesting than domestic, industrial and commercial wiring. So, it kind of progressed into that. “

 

Tell us about your past experience in ITS?

 

“I mean, obviously, back in the day, I first got involved with MVIS and help set up the company back in 2012 when we became a limited company with ambition, but I guess it was meeting up with Tony Price.

We used to install ANPR cameras something we still do today, and Tony price was working for a company called NDI technologies. I was at a trade show in London, went onto his stand, got chatting and realised that he owned a property at the mill just below our offices in Tansley. I won a few jobs For NDI technology installing ANPR cameras. That was my first sort of involvement in this side of the RTS side of things.”

He continued: “Tony reappeared a couple of years later with his VMS product that he was bringing in from Australia and was struggling with the product. He set up the company Colour Mobile VMS. He was struggling to do anything with it because the competition had already got supply chains in place from America and Canada and amber signs only, and they couldn’t see the value in a colour sign.

Tony, who was in the early stages of marketing the sign, contacted me to say he was displaying it at Traffex and asked if I would like to go along. I jumped in the car, drove to Darley Dale, had a cup of tea with him and it went from there.”

 

What has been your greatest challenge in the last 10 years?

 

Pat told us: “It has always been funding. It’s always been my role within the business, pre MVIS and post Colour Mobile to raise the relevant funding to do the projects.

That’s always a challenge, having the money to execute projects from start to finish. So yes, that’s the greatest challenge.”

 

Do you have a favourite product?

 

“I guess the Solar IP trailer is my favourite product because we worked really hard to get that developed back in 2011. It’s a very versatile product and the first of its kind to market.”

When asked about MVIS VMS, Pat told us: “The VMS are good and obviously the mainstay of the business. But I take a lot of pride in the solar IP because that was one of the things, we developed on the back of a cigarette packet in the early days.”

 

Which scheme has given you the most satisfaction?

 

“I think the first ROTTM scheme that we won along the M6 Junction 10 to 13. Apart from the Olympics, the Olympics is the main one, going back to 2012, but since then, I guess the ROTTM Scheme 10 to 13, because we were basically only really known as a portable supplier. We managed to break into the fixed market against the big boys which was a massive achievement.”

 

How has the industry changed over the last decade?

 

“More and more people have come on board and the competition has grown. We were very premature in things that we did in the early days. We had vehicle mounted VMS with CCTV cameras on, 6, 7, 8 years ago, we couldn’t get people engaged in those products back then.

 

More and more people have come into the market and these things are now coming to the forefront. The biggest thing is the amount of people involved in the industry. The number of competitors is the biggest change.”

 

What is your greatest achievement since you started MVIS?

 

“I think it’s having the key people in place and obviously the biggest challenge is having the right management in the right places.”

Pat reiterates: “So, it’s not necessarily my achievements. It’s the team’s achievements. Then there’s achievements of running the business on a day-to-day basis for the last 10 years. So, it’s not about my greatest achievements.

It’s the team’s greatest achievements. Having the right people doing the right roles. Having a pride and passion in that role.”

 

How many years have you worked in the Highways Industry?

 

“I guess I’m coming up now for my 40th year having just turned 58. When I left school, doing electrical work and progressed into the streetlighting arena, which had got me first into the highways industry, subcontracting to various streetlighting companies.

So, yeah, you could say I’m in my 40th year of being involved in the highways industry and the ITS arena.”

 

How has your role changed since promotion from UK MD earlier this year to Group CEO?

 

“I stayed on, was moved up to Group CEO and continued with the shareholding. I guess, it gives me more of an oversight role. I’ve got more involvement at a higher level. It’s very difficult to have an involvement in the business when it’s being run day-to-day.

Some clarity on my role and that role is basically overseeing strategic decisions, bringing the team together across the world and making us one company. So that’s my role now. I’ve got more involvement at a higher level.  Anne runs the UK day to day with assistance from Graeme and Anthony runs Australia day to day.”

 

What does the future look like for MVIS?

 

“I suppose previously MVIS had got its own limited opportunities. Now that we are working more as a team between here and Australia, the Research and Development department is working together much more.

We can take MVIS and Bartco Australia together into new markets, new countries with new products. So, it’s an exciting time. If we can keep pace with recruiting the correct people to bring into the business to support the team we’ve got and keep on top of the R&D. Making sure that we are constantly bringing new products to market, that we’ve proved and tested and are fit for purpose.

We have the Solar Barrier coming through and also the new solar IP version 6, which will integrate more equipment and be more powerful. It’s exciting times for the group.”

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