To support of our operations we have a number of policies in place to make sure our work is not only legally and regulatory compliant but also delivers value, efficiency and satisfaction to our customers. These policies are enforced, regularly reviewed and maintained by management review.
Customer focus, quality of service and health & safety are the foundations of the business and to ensure excellence in these areas, the Directors are committed to maintaining a Quality Management System (QMS) based on the requirements of the International Standard ISO 9001:2015.
Maintaining the standard means that the strategic objectives and inherent risks and opportunities of the organisation are kept under constant review and that the processes, by which the organisation achieves these objectives, are ensured to be effective by a continuous process of audit, action, review and enhancement.
This policy is communicated to all employees and active participation is encouraged.
Our experience of working in the domestic, commercial and industrial construction industry allows us to be confident in our ability to minimise risks to clients, occupiers and our own staff. Equally our long term working arrangements with major builders confirms our ability to work safely with them and alongside the large number of trades on a major construction site.
All our staff understand the need for cooperation and openness on health and safety issues in order to prevent anyone coming to harm.
We will ensure a safe working environment by continuously improving our health and safety management systems.
These are key aspects of our health and safety management system:
- It is revised through regular review by Senior Management and the Health and Safety Committee that includes representation of all employees.
- We plan for the appropriate skills equipment and work methods to be employed on each contract by preparing a Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan for each contract; including appropriate risk assessments and method statements.
- Performance is reported to the Senior Management on a monthly basis.
- There is a monthly programme of inspection and reporting on safety performance for each contract and a programme of auditing for each operating division.
- Communication to all staff is through bi-monthly Safety Bulletins and monthly Toolbox Talks.
Training is provided with regard to project need in specific areas such as asbestos awareness, first aid, working at heights and operating equipment.
We realise that in order to provide a continuity of service to our customers we have to plan for the unplanned!
Be it an outbreak of debilitating flu amongst our staff or the loss of our offices due to flood or fire, we aim to keep our services running throughout. To this end we maintain a Business Continuity Management System based on the requirements of the International Standard BS 25999.
By a continuous process of review of our critical activities we have plans in place to mitigate the effect of any incident that disrupts our normal operations, and to quickly respond in the aftermath to make sure our service is as seamless as possible.
Our policy is established and operated in the context of the Quality Management System and is, therefore, intended to be consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001, the Standard for Environmental Management Systems and the Company’s ISO 9001 registration.
We pro-actively develop ways in which to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner throughout all our activities and to promote environmental awareness to staff, suppliers and clients.
The environmental message is communicated via promotional information packs, supplier correspondence, the footers of our emails, employee induction & training, and the publishing of reports and statistics on the company Intranet.
Our aim is minimise environmental disturbances from noise, dust, emissions and traffic and avoid pollution of the air, ground or water in all our activities.
We make efficient use of natural resources, conserving energy and water and, wherever viable, use materials and products from renewable, sustainable or recycled and recyclable sources as well as publicising the need to minimise waste whenever possible. For example:
- all office non-essential energy sources are automatically switched off outside working hours;
- where specialised facilities are available we segregate paper, cardboard, ink cartridges, fluorescent tubes and mobile phones for recycling;
- we only select Waste Management Contractors who sort and recycle at least 80% of our general waste;
- unused materials on site are transferred to other contracts;
- supplier packaging is reused to protect materials during transit to site;
- site vehicle use is minimised by group transport whenever feasible and where site waste clearance is required this is scheduled as return loads following materials delivery;
- motorised plant is turned off when not in use;
- no site burning of rubbish is allowed;
- wherever feasible we limit our paper output by messaging and reporting electronically and maintaining software based management systems.
While accepting that the design, specification, materials selection and procedures associated with operations are customer requirements and thus may be wholly, or partly, outside our control, we are proactive in offering more environmentally satisfactory materials and procedures to our Clients whenever possible.
Any environmental problems encountered in carrying out our operations to Client’s instructions are brought to the attention of the Client with a view to finding a satisfactory solution.
We actively support Suppliers who positively show their commitment to protect the environment.
The policy and its effectiveness is reviewed by the Senior Management team at bi-monthly meetings.
We fully recognise that the success of the Company is dependent upon the achievement of high standards of efficiency and performance by all our managers and staff. We consider the development of individual managers and staff to be of great importance in bringing this about and therefore priority is given to training individuals in the skills and knowledge of their jobs.
We make sure that anyone employed in a technical or trade capacity has served a recognised trade apprenticeship and can demonstrate holding certification to the particular technical or skilled standard. Anyone involved in the installation or servicing of gas appliances must have the relevant ACS, City & Guilds or NVQ Level 3 certificates and be GasSafe registered.
In addition, specialist training is included on a needs basis, driven by task or legislation. Examples of specialist training include abrasive wheel regulations, inspection of scaffolds etc. and Health & Safety (CDM) manual handling skills.
We believe that diversity in a workforce is beneficial and promotes fair and equal treatment for all employees, job applicants, customers, suppliers and visitors, irrespective of any personal characteristics such as gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age.
Our policy relates to all aspects of employment, including individual standards of behaviour, the advertisement of jobs, recruitment and selection, training and development, appraisal, pay, promotion and leaving the company. The principles apply equally to all dealings with customers, suppliers and visitors.
Full or refresher training in the application of the policy is given to all those involved in any people selection exercises such as recruitment. All employees are instructed on the policy at induction.
During the course of our activities we will process personal data (which may be held on paper, electronically, or otherwise) about our staff and our customers and we recognise the need to treat it in an appropriate and lawful manner, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires that personal data is:
- processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals;
- collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes;
- adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is processed;
- accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date;
- kept no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed unless (as above) it is for public interest, scientific or historical research or statistical purposes and subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals; and
- processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures.
All our data processing systems are documented in a register against which the appropriate lawful basis and retention period is stated. For data processing with 'consent', evidence of opt-in is, additionally, kept with personal data. Personal data is kept within our Office 365 document management system which has in-built security. Personal data s securely archived or destroyed to the schedule documented in the register. Individuals have the right to access their personal data on request.