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!

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

Paving the Way with Solar-Powered Solutions

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In today’s fast-paced world, the push for sustainability has become more crucial than ever. As one of the UK’s leading providers of portable VMS & Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS), we have taken a significant step towards a greener future by ensuring that all our solutions are solar-powered.

We have placed great emphasis on sustainability and environmental factors since our inception in 2012, and a fully solar powered fleet is one of the major elements of our sustainability policy.

Harnessing Solar Power for a Cleaner Environment…

The first and most apparent benefit of using solar power is its positive impact on the environment. By harnessing the sun’s energy, our solutions significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Solar-powered  solutions such as Variable Message Signs and CCTV towers not only operate efficiently but also do so with minimal environmental impact.

The Road to Net Zero

The UK highways sector plays a crucial role in achieving the country’s ambitious environmental targets on the road to net zero emissions. As a key player in this sector, we have recognised the importance of adopting sustainable practices to align with the UK’s environmental goals. By utilising solar-powered ITS solutions, we help the highways sector transition to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

Human Factors

In addition to environmental benefits, solar-powered ITS solutions have a positive impact on the wellbeing of operatives working on the UK’s highways. A sustainable factor often overlooked is human sustainability – with environmental and economic factors often placed number 1 & 2 in the priority list.

By eradicating the need for frequent battery changes, our solar-powered devices reduce the exposure of workers to potentially hazardous conditions on the busy roads. This not only promotes the health and safety of operatives but also contributes to increased operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

“Solar is incredibly important to us.” Says MVIS Sales Director Graeme Lee.

“As the UK, and the UK highways sect strives to achieve its environmental targets and work towards a net-zero future, MVIS continues to lead the way, and we’re extremely proud to be able to say that our entire fleet runs from solar energy.

“Whilst we’ve always had an eye on our environmental impact – it shouldn’t be lost that the solar model also keeps our people out of harms way, as well as reduces exposure to any potential abuse whilst on a scheme or site.

“Sustainability is not just a buzzword to us, but a core value driving real change. We continue to learn and evolve and act accordingly – in both our product range and the way in which we deliver it, never losing sight of how our people fit into that equation too.”

 

MVIS Go Back to School as Part of Manchester Week.

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As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we are only too happy to get out into communities and not only educate young people on what we do on a daily basis but also give advice and information on careers available upon leaving school and college.

Our latest visit took us to The East Manchester Academy. The school is an age 11-16 High School, located in the heart of East Manchester’s regeneration area in Beswick and is a member of the Greater Manchester Education Trust. We spoke to a year 8 class about career paths and to give them a brief lesson in programming messages to display on our VMS via our web-based editing platform Web Studio.

Group Commercial & Operations Director, Anne Ashman & Marketing Manager Ben Kettell spent the afternoon giving the pupils an insight into how MVIS has grown since 2011 and also how their varied careers paths have brought them to this point.  Both Anne & Ben fielded questions from the group regarding all sorts of queries including salary expectations, day-to-day challenges, and the best route to go down in order to get into the industry.

It was then the students turn to programme their very own messages to be displayed on MVIS VMS-A positioned outside the school. Children learnt about just a few of the features a VMS-A has to offer including the 5 LED colour options and also getting to grips with the ability to resize their message depending on character size and length. They also turned their hand to creating their own imagery and pictograms to display, with some fantastic results.

Molly Reeve Year 8 Teacher said “It was great to host MVIS Ltd as part of TEMA’s Manchester week celebrations. Students were thoroughly engaged in the Q&A with Ben and Anne, and they loved the opportunity to try a design task for themselves and then to see their work displayed on a sign.”

Anne added: “It’s always nice to get out in the community, speak to students and help them get a better understanding of what MVIS signs do and how they work. Lots of the students that we spoke to had seen the MVIS signs before in and around the Etihad Stadium next to the school, so next time they see them, they will have a much better understanding of how the message has got there and the work that goes into it”.

MVIS Newest Temporary Recruits!

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MVIS has always been open to receiving students for Work Experience. 

 

Pupils from local schools come to MVIS to be taught on daily life working in a business. We teach them about our company and how we operate, this is no different for Lucas who joined us the week commencing 03/07/2023 in the workshop and Connor joining the week commencing 17/06/2023. 

 

At the beginning of his week Lucas completed our “New Starter” pack. He undertook a right to work check, was given an employee handbook, shown around all the buildings facilities. He then met the team and had an induction on the workshop and our health and safety processes. He was also informed as to where the fire assembly point is and what to do in an evacuation situation. 

 

He worked alongside our Workshop Supervisor, Cain Gregory, who showed Lucas how the workshop runs and operates during a week of work with us. Helping Lucas to understand what goes in to servicing after a VMS sign and giving him a better understanding of how the electronics of a sign works. Lucas was kept busy, washing signs and testing batteries. He learnt about the benefits of using solar panels and how we are an environmentally friendly company. 

 

 

Connor assisted our Management Accountant, Augustine Shaijan. Working with an experienced member of staff ensured that Connor developed a deeper understanding in the world of accounting regarding VAT and the HMRC. 

 

Connor then continued to work with Ben Kettell, our Marketing Manager, to analyse the trends of social media, researching when we need to upload posts to maximise traction from our social media posts. As the week drew to a close, Connor was tasked with inputting and analysing data and creating our latest CO2 emissions report.  

 

 

The opportunity for pupils to work with industry professionals and benefit from their wealth of knowledge is one of the many benefits of the work experience scheme. 

It was a real pleasure having Lucas and Connor with us and would happily have them back! 

MVIS and the Ashgate High Peak Trail.

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On the 30th of April, Ashgate Hospice hosted their annual “High Peak Trail 17 Mile Sponsored Walk”, raising vital funds for the hospice.

Over the past 2 years MVIS has sponsored the walk by supplying VMS prior to the event, allowing promotion to a wider audience and also on the day to give supportive messages to the walkers undertaking the 17 miles.

Participants of the walk and the team at MVIS has helped to raise over £30,000 for the hospice.

 

MVIS are proud to sponsor events the Ashgate team run as they work tirelessly to give end of life care to those who need it.

David Storer at Ashgate Hospice said:

“MVIS are a pleasure to work with. They are always on hand to provide support across all of our fundraising events and go above and beyond to offer solutions that enhance our reach and help us to promote our brand across the region.

Anne and the team have provided VMS for multiple events.  The VMS have really helped to raise the awareness of Ashgate Hospice and the vital end of life care that we provide across North Derbyshire. Huge thanks to MVIS from all of us at Ashgate Hospice!”

Do MVIS Staff Know Their Royals?

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Before the coronation of King Charles II, MVIS staff enjoyed a Royal Quiz as a part of the ‘Journey to Wellbeing’ initiative from National Highways.

Once every month the team at MVIS spend an hour attending an activity to improve mental health in the workplace.

To celebrate the historic event, that is the Kings coronation, we planned a Royal Quiz for the team. The quiz consisted of questions about our monarchs and royal related characters from popular culture.

Spending an hour each month to break up the work schedule and take part in fun activities, allows conversations between staff, and to build the teams relationship.

We believe that the Journey to Wellbeing  events continue to have a positive impact on the team, from our Darts Tournament through to our Desert Island Discs.

MVIS hits the Bullseye

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Just before Easter Sunday the team at MVIS competed in a Darts Tournament as apart of the ‘Journey to Wellbeing’ initiative from National Highways.

MVIS has been taking part in the initiative over the past months with our Desert Island Discs and the Time to Talk Day. Aiming to improve staff moral and improve mental health in our sector.

April’s theme was stress awareness month, we wanted the team to blow some steam off over an afternoon by playing darts and chatting with other members of the team.

Journey to Wellbeing, the MVIS Staff take part in a Darts Tournament.

76% of employees report moderate-to-high or high levels of stress, small opportunities to reduce stress such as a Darts Tournaments or Desert Island Discs goes a long way in improving the #PlatinumLevelService that we deliver daily.

Our Digital Content Creator, Ben Ashman, said:

“I am really enjoying these events; they bring the team together and ensure that staff moral and mental health is safe and secure.

It is nice to spend time with fellow staff members and have experiences with them”.

 

See the Journey To Wellbeing Calendar below:

Mobile Visual Information Systems

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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