The last few weeks may have seen the UK take the largest collective step in a change of day to day working practice in our lifetimes.

An increased amount of home working being carried out due to Government guidelines as we fight the challenges COVID-19 pandemic brings challenges for us all.

MVIS has had office staff transition to working from home for a few weeks now, and the company are extremely aware of the need to support those in lockdown and isolation.

Anne Ashman, General Manager of MVIS told us:

“Some of our staff are now into their 4^th week of working from home, and at times I have really noticed the mood change.

“People hit lows for various reasons across various days as a combination of new realities is beginning to dawn; the severity of the virus and death rate being one, spending large amounts of time indoors in their own homes another and missing socialising both in, and out of work is another.

“I’m sure we can’t be the only company experiencing this amongst staff, so we wanted to share some of the things we do to keep staff connected, share some ideas and promote some best practice of aiding employee mental health throughout this time.”

“We’re not trying to promote what we do as the model to follow, but more raise general awareness of the fact there are things we can all do, and what those things may be.

“We aim to promote positive actions that keep our team in contact.”

Some of the things MVIS are implementing are:

• A daily 9 am team call, with everyone working from home on Microsoft teams, to make sure everyone is ok and have a plan in place for the day ahead
• Daily update from  management via email, this can cover the latest from the government with health and safety updates, but always has something positive in it as well as a thank you to the guys on the frontline delivering, and those working (within social distancing measures) in the workshop
• Reassurance that jobs are safe
• Handwritten letters to a couple of staff who work at a distance to tell them how well they are doing and how we appreciate them
• An online staff social night
• A good old-fashioned personal phone call asking how someone is feeling

Furlough

Although not a path MVIS has had to tread, the company are encouraging others to not forget about the mental health needs of any furloughed staff.

Additionally, some companies have employees currently not working, with the government job retention scheme leaving some workers on indefinite furlough.

Whilst furlough leaves employees safe in the knowledge 80% of their salaries are covered and their job is secure for when the furlough period ends, the isolation has the potential to feel even more severe as all work interactions are postponed indefinitely.

Anne continued:

“Those on furlough could feel intense isolation throughout this period. Whilst their jobs are secured, their social interactions could be severely reduced, and we’d encourage other businesses to make sure they are finding ways to reach out to their furloughed staff on a personal level.

“Whilst those employees won’t be performing daily tasks as normal, they are still an integral part of the workforce and will need support as we all stand together to beat COVID-19.”

---

Source: highwaysindustry.com

It’s fair to say that there is a lot of information flying around right now. The government and health service are reacting daily to COVID-19 and their moves are being tracked and monitored by the nation.

As instructions change, information regarding those changes needs to be relayed quickly and efficiently.

Enter MVIS

From their control centre at MVIS HQ, MVIS utilise their web studio to rapidly change key messages across the UK as and when needed.

Whether that’s journey time information, notifications of roadworks, or in what may well prove to be the case, how to stay safe in the pandemic we find ourselves experiencing.

Static signs just can’t react as quickly as centrally controlled VMS units, meaning key information could be missed.

When you think about it, it really isn’t worth the risk.

Spreading the message

All MVIS VMS units can be deployed to assist Highways England, the government and the general public.

Whether it’s the VMS-A in a city environment, or on a major motorway or A-road with their VMS-C, MVIS can spread the word, and change the message when needed at the push of a button.

Their range of trailer mounted, solar-powered variable message signs means MVIS can display live information to the public, adapting to a constantly changing situation via their web-based portal.

Messages can be programmed remotely, without the need to attend site and display current updates within seconds.

Requiring no external power source and operating silently, MVIS’ LED signage has been proven to have maximum impact in the highways and events industries.

COVID-19: Stop the spread

Currently, as COVID-19 is so prevalent, MVIS is working in support of government agencies to spread the ‘stay safe, stay at home’ message.

Units across the country are displaying a variety of messages to assist with getting the message across, based on government-issued guidelines on the current Coronavirus epidemic.

These adaptable VMS units can respond to the latest government guidelines as they are released, with remote management from MVIS’ Web Studio facilitating rapid response.

Change the message, keep the culture

MVIS is renowned for its level of service and their strong company culture. Now more so than ever, this culture and the values held within it is crucial.

MVIS has a 24/7 response line, ready to react to emergency needs and deliver on short notice. However, this isn’t on a whim whilst taking risks. The company are accredited to ISO9001:2015 as well as both ISO14001:2015 and ISO45001:2018 so have a proven track record when it comes to safety and quality management.

In the current pandemic, MVIS delivers with additional social distancing protocols amongst other processes to protect their workforce amidst this unprecedented situation we find ourselves in.

MVIS General Manager Anne Ashman spoke to us about MVIS’ role in making sure messages are changed promptly and effectively:

“Our units always carry important information. Whether that’s roadworks information or journey time solutions.

“These messages can change at any time, and we have to be able to respond.

“The challenge we now face as a country means that we may have more units displaying non-highways related messages than ever – yet the importance of these messages may actually be increased.

“Our government needs help, and the public needs to play their part. Using our units to reinforce key safety messages in order to combat the spread of coronavirus is vitally important and we’re proud that as a team we can step up and help.”

---

Source: highwaysindustry.com

With our range of trailer mounted, solar powered variable message signs, we can display live information to the public, adapting to the constantly changing situation via our web based portal.

Requiring no external power source and operating silently, our LED signage has been proven to have maximum impact in the highways and events industries.

Messages can be programmed remotely, without the need to attend site, and display current updates within seconds.

To assist with the ever-changing environment, we have a large fleet of units in depots throughout the UK.

We can deliver at short notice, without causing any disruption to your already overstretched workload, and we are always available on the end of a phone should you have any issues.

---

Please feel free to contact us for very competitive weekly rental rates at sales@m-vis.co.uk

or tel: 01629 580570

As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to sweep across the world, companies in the UK are taking on more and more responsibility to prevent further spread.

Going above and beyond are MVIS, who are taking major steps both in-house, and outside of the office to spread the right message, and culture towards containing COVID-19.

Whilst it’s business as usual where possible in these testing times, the company is making adaptations to keep all safe and well throughout the situation we all now face.

Spread the right messages…

Outside the offices, MVIS is helping get key messages to the public across the UK in these unprecedented times.

With their range of trailer mounted, solar-powered variable message signs, the company can display live information to the public, adapting to the constantly changing situation via their web-based portal.

Requiring no external power source and operating silently, MVIS’ LED signage has been proven to have maximum impact in the highways and events industries.

Messages can be programmed remotely, without the need to attend site, and display current updates within seconds.

To assist with the ever-changing environment, MVIS has a large fleet of units in depots throughout the UK that can be deployed quickly.

MVIS can deliver at short notice, without causing any disruption to already overstretched workloads, and are always available on the end of a phone should you have any issues. 24/7, 365 days a year.

Care packs: create the culture

Internally, the company has taken the step of providing care packs to employees. These packs include hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, and the ‘modern-day gold’ that is toilet paper.

As some MVIS staff are now working from home, the company has seen that they have some of the essentials to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.

Anne Ashman, MVIS General Manager told us:

“Don’t forget your staff at home and invest in safeguarding them – they are still your responsibility during working hours even if they’re not in the office.

“We’ll do all we can to keep our people safe.”

Marketing Manager Sean Brown added:

“I feel very lucky to work for a company that cares in this climate. Hats off and thanks to our senior management team at MVIS Ltd and Bartco UK for such a caring act. All staff are very grateful for this gesture.”

---

Source: highwaysindustry.com

MVIS Ltd and Bartco UK are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak closely and its impact on our customers, suppliers, staff and their families.

We have put measures in place to limit the spread of the virus and protect all our staff. Due to this several of our staff are now currently working from home.

The business has implemented a contingency plan to be able to continue the supply of our services and products to our much-valued customers and answer all enquiries in a timely manner.

Therefore, at present it is business as usual to ensure we are able to supply VMS units to the much needed areas to give out the information the public needs.

Our position, and therefore this statement, will be updated as per government and the World Health Organisation updates.

Anne Ashman

Group General Manager

MVIS Ltd & Bartco UK

IT’S BEEN ANOTHER BIG YEAR…

As we embark on another year, MVIS and Bartco UK have been reflecting on the highlights of 2019 in what has once again been a busy and productive year, with major developments in our operations, products, service, vehicles and staff, along with advancements in health and safety, including mental health.

Last summer, we launched not only two new intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions, but also an entirely new ITS category, designed to enable traffic management companies to better protect the safety of road users and construction workers alike.

The Works Egress Safety Solution is 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, via dynamic text.

The Overhead Service Unit protects construction workers 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 accidentally reposition after installation.

Both solutions are already currently in use on a major UK smart motorway scheme and are performing exceptionally well.

Strategically located to serve the North of England and Scotland, our new Newcastle depot increased our storage capacity and stock level, enabling us to respond with increased agility to customer demand, whether it is for deployment, servicing or repair of ITS solutions.

Already ISO registered in quality and environmental management, in 2019 we also added health and safety to that list. What’s more is that we also achieved another accreditation to our name, with Achilles Building Confidence. The construction industry accreditation and risk-management scheme helps companies like MVIS to streamline the procurement process, enabling them to cost-effectively manage risk on behalf of their customers.

Health and safety lies at the heart of MVIS, and 2019 has been a year of great progress in this area. Training, workshops and briefings have enabled us to remain a “zero incident” company, in line with Highways Englands’ Aim for Zero road worker safety campaign. In order to continually improve our safety protocols and practices, our general manager, Anne Ashman, embarked in September on a course with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health.

Our new ‘Safe Mind, Work Safe, Work Well’ strategy saw us further extend our health and safety policy to embrace mental health, amongst other things to help address the high male suicide rate in the construction sector. MVIS has two mental health first aiders and encourages staff to approach them if they are experiencing a poor state of mind. In keeping with our commitment to mental health, on World Mental Health Day, the team donated money and wore hi-vis clothing in support of the Young Minds charity.

Towards the end of the year, we made a big structural change to the MVIS and Bartco UK marketing operations that brought on a new marketing manager, Sean Brown to the team. Bringing with him 6 years of digital marketing infrastructure experience, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s move away from marketing agency management. MVIS have also restructured internally with the promotion of Tillie Wolliscroft from Operations / Customer Service Assistant to Marketing Assistant. Charged with building the company’s internal marketing infrastructure, this new department represents a major change for both MVIS and Bartco UK, allowing us to be more responsive and experimental in our approach to marketing and ultimately, the image we put out to our customers and partners.

Along with the changes to the marketing department, MVIS and Bartco UK have also seen other changes in staff, representing growth as the group expands and requires additional team members to keep up with demand.

Being welcomed to Bartco UK earlier in the year was Pip Wood as Purchasing Apprentice, working under the guidance of newly promoted Rebecca Prince, who has been promoted to the role of Purchasing & Stock Control Supervisor this year.

A little later in the year saw the appointment of Jacob Spencer to the Bartco UK workshop team as a 1st year technical apprentice. Closely following Jacob came Liam Griffiths as Workshop Technician. Both are working under the guidance of Tim Hill, who has also been promoted within Bartco UK to Workshop supervisor. Also working hard in the workshop at Bartco UK has been George Sheldon and Cain Gregory, both advancing their work related qualifications and development. Cain reached notable milestones in his apprenticeship as well as achieving his forklift operators licence whilst George finished his apprenticeship this year.  

Finally, Bartco UK saw the side step of Tom Hooton from Workshop Supervisor to Technical Development Supervisor, working alongside Research & Development Manager Matt Felce, assisting him in the development of new products that are in high demand from customers as well as keeping Bartco UK’s product offering innovative and cutting edge to new or prospective customers.

MVIS have also seen a number of new staff members join their team, including Mizzy Watson, to resume Tillie’s role in Operations and Customer Service. Mizzy joins us with a strong background in customer service having previously run the national repairs desk for a major automotive glazing company. 

Such changes to the group’s team have come with enormous benefits that enrich and develop our growing companies, bringing with them skills, experience and perspective from other industries, shaking up the internal dynamics ready for the next stage in the group’s development.

Heading into the new year, both MVIS and Bartco UK have big announcements to make that will truly demonstrate our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, in terms of the environment, the community, our staff and the industries we operate in.

So, like we said, it’s been another big year, and we’re already looking forward to the next one, as we strive to further improve our customer offerings and protect the physical and mental well-being of the hard-working people in this exciting industry. We also have a number of new products in development ready for this year, moving us forward technologically and keeping us innovative. If you would like to find out more, please call us on 01629 580 570.