Bellrock is rolling out a new mobile app to track the health and wellbeing of its remote workforce during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond. The technology-enabled property and facilities management services company has partnered with field service management software specialist ,Totalmobile, to deploy its Employee Wellbeing solution for 150 engineers
Social housing must be at the heart of devolved governments’ plans to steer their economies through the impacts of coronavirus, sector bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said. Lockdown measures imposed by ministers across the UK in a bid to bring the pandemic under control have had a
A disused site in Dorset is set to have fresh life breathed into it with a new commercial property development. Penton Motor Group is building four units on the former Boyland Joinery site in Stony Lane, Christchurch, to create a trading hub for businesses. The hub is to be known
Bellrock is rolling out a new mobile app to track the health and wellbeing of its remote workforce during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond. The technology-enabled property and facilities management services company has partnered with field service management software specialist ,Totalmobile, to deploy its Employee Wellbeing solution for 150 engineers that are providing vital maintenance services to public sector customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The system enables Bellrock’s remote workers to use their mobile devices to provide regular updates on their mental and physical health. This includes recording their mood, if they are displaying any coronavirus symptoms and if they have been required to self-isolate and are unavailable to work. Information captured in the field is automatically relayed to Bellrock’s HR and operations teams in real-time who can monitor app use and actions, make timely interventions and track key metrics using analytics tools. The app also provides remote workers with immediate access to approved guidance documents, contacts and support networks. David Smith, CEO of Bellrock, said: “It’s essential to do everything we can to support all employees, particularly those on the front line delivering essential maintenance services to the public sector during this crisis. “Totalmobile’s Employee Wellbeing app gives our workforce a quick and easy way to communicate how they are feeling and access to important resources. “The ability to efficiently monitor and track how hundreds of workers are feeling supports our duty of care and the powerful insights the app generates will help us continually improve the support we provide.” Following the initial successful deployment to engineers, Bellrock plans to roll the solution out to a further 950 employees by the end of June.
Social housing must be at the heart of devolved governments’ plans to steer their economies through the impacts of coronavirus, sector bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said. Lockdown measures imposed by ministers across the UK in a bid to bring the pandemic under control have had a huge financial impact, but are now slowly beginning to ease. Proponents of investing in social housing argue that it can boost a wide range of industries with less risk attached than with new homes for market sale. Construction and the housing market remain on hold in Scotland as part of the measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. Sally Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “Building affordable housing will need to be at the heart of Scotland’s recovery from coronavirus as part of a government and public sector-led approach, giving confidence to full-scale economic renewal, and at the same time ensuring everyone has the home they need.” She added: “Now more than ever, Scotland needs a long-term housing programme that will help to rebuild our economy, create jobs, and keep our people and communities safe and healthy.”
A disused site in Dorset is set to have fresh life breathed into it with a new commercial property development. Penton Motor Group is building four units on the former Boyland Joinery site in Stony Lane, Christchurch, to create a trading hub for businesses. The hub is to be known as Penton Business Park. Over the past eight years Penton Motor Group has built four new showrooms for its franchised motor business and renovated a further three separate investment buildings. This is a new direction for the long established Wilson family business, which has locations in Christchurch, Poole, Andover and Salisbury, to develop a ground-up commercial investment property other than for its own use. Fellow Christchurch firm John Reid & Sons Ltd (REIDsteel) has designed and manufactured the steel frames, decking, cladding, glazing and doors for the project. An estimated, circa 30 new jobs could be created in a boost for the local economy providing a total of 1,885 sq metres / 20,300 sq ft for trade counter, light industrial, storage and possible gym uses with ample parking for 50 vehicles. Leading national chains have already taken space, with up to 12,000 sq ft remaining available. Simon Boyd, Managing Director at 130-strong REIDsteel, said: “We work across the UK, Europe and the world so it is great to work on a project a little closer to home. “We have been able to provide our design, fabrication and manufacturing expertise for the entire building envelope, including its cladding, glazing and decking requirements. “We are delighted to support the Penton Motor Group to create this high-quality development which will bring significant jobs and economic benefits for the area.” The scheme involves demolition of the former Boyland Joinery building on the site to create up to a five unit split measuring from 4,000 sq ft, to 12,000 sq ft. REIDsteel is due to erect the steel work on site when the coronavirus pandemic eases and regulations allow. It will use 65 tonnes of British Steel as well as British made Tata composite panels for cladding. The development will be wholly owned and managed by the Penton Motor Group. Penton Group Managing Director Robert Wilson said: “This new development demonstrates our confidence in the commercial property sector and the Christchurch area. “With the possible creation of 30 jobs, it represents a significant boost for the local economy and regeneration of a disused brownfield site. “It is an exciting circa £2.5m investment for our business, on which we can use our expertise and experience in showrooms and service centre development to expand further into the commercial property market. Jan Dibden our Financial Director and his team have successfully headed up this project and we have been delighted to work with REIDsteel a local firm. “We all look forward to seeing this development progress as soon as conditions allow.” Penton Motor Group is a 100% family business of 50 years standing in the new and used car market with over 120 staff and turnover of £60 million. It has Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and DS new and used dealerships in towns across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, including Christchurch, Poole, Andover and Salisbury. REIDsteel remains family owned and celebrated its centenary in 2019. It has exported to more than 140 countries to date. The firm specialises in providing entire steel frame and building envelope solutions all under one roof. Thanks to its in-house capabilities and expertise, it is regularly contracted to design, manufacture and supply complete steel structures including the cladding, glazing, louvres and staircases for projects anywhere in the UK, Europe and across the world. They include bridges, hospitals, sports stadia, disaster resilient buildings, defensive structures, churches, schools, industrial & commercial buildings, warehouses and advanced aircraft hangars. Visit www.reidsteel.com for more details and www.pentonmotorgroup.com
