ASM - Integrated Workplace Solutions

ASM strengthen board with appointment

Aberdeen-based ASM (Accommodation Services Management Limited) has strengthened its board with the appointment of John Gillespie as a director. This significant new appointment will assist ASM with its growth and development in the commercial property sector.

Mr Gillespie is a Chartered Accountant and worked with BP in a number of senior Finance roles through the 80s and early 90s where he first met ASM director Frank Maughan. From 1991 Mr Gillespie was with international firm Accenture, where he became a partner in the business, and latterly operated in the position of global operations director for the F&A outsourcing business (Accenture Finance Solutions). He retired from Accenture in 2007 and after a short break he has joined ASM to provide an added commercial focus and leadership to the team.

Frank Maughan, managing director, ASM said: We are delighted to announce the appointment of John who I first met when ASM worked with BP in 1989 - it is a fantastic turn of events that he is now joining us during an important stage in the companys development. Johns appointment will provide us with the necessary support and knowledge from which we can build on ASMs achievements.

John Gillespie added: I am looking forward to using my knowledge and experience to help take ASM to the next level. It is refreshing to be part of a management team that truly has its people at the heart of the business and together with directors Frank and Isobel and General Manager Ian Beaton, I am looking forward to being part of the continued success of ASM.

ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting the commercial, property sector, including space planning, partitioning, structured cabling, porterage and relocation services, with ongoing support from initial design to post-occupancy maintenance.

Space Planning for Success

Research conducted by the European Challenge Initiative has revealed that mergers are one of the top three business reasons for office relocation in Europe.

The difficulties which arise from the integration of two workforces can be both operational and cultural. Frank Maughan, managing director of Accommodation Services Management Ltd (ASM) discusses why office planning should be an essential consideration for companies during acquisitions, mergers and restructuring.

"Companies who complete a merger or acquisition often do not have sufficient desk space available on one site to accommodate the revised staffing structure. A new business structure may also have new organisational and cultural requirements. Apart from the obvious considerations of reorganisation and potential redundancies following restructuring, in many cases the change can result in employees being asked to work in any available space, rather than in an environment designed to maximise the business benefit to the new organisation.

There is still a popular misconception about space planning it is not about cramming as many people as possible into available space, but rather to optimise the use of available space to create a working environment which will help the business to operate. This is possibly even more important during acquisitions and mergers, when integration and team-building are key issues.

The desired outcome should support the business practices and aspirations of the organisation, and be a pleasant and efficient workplace for staff. Employees are likely to feel particularly vulnerable during any upheaval in their working life, and may feel devalued and unwelcome within an organisation if their new working environment is sub standard; this may lead to potential staff retention problems and ill-feeling amongst colleagues.

Consideration should also be given to other operational needs of the new organisation: office equipment may need to be ordered, including PCs, printers, furniture etc, and storage needs must also be planned for, in order to make the transition as smooth as possible for both employees and clients, who will expect business as normal.

Whether a company is looking at expansion within an existing site, or looking at a new building, working with an experienced space planner and relocations consultant from the outset can be both cost effective in terms of the operation, should certainly ease the transition, and can add value in terms of unifying any culture differences.

ASM have relocated in excess of 30,000 people to new offices and understand how important it is for the business that everything goes smoothly. Periods of change can be difficult for staff at all levels of the business, and while mergers or acquisitions can be one of the most effective ways to grow a business, it is important that consideration is given to the working environment to ensure future success.

End of Year Success for ASM

Accommodation Services Management (ASM) has ended the year with completed contracts worth approximately 4million. The company was successful in securing work for its commercial relocation and refurbishment services with companies including Central Insurance Services Limited, Petrofac and Advantica.

The contracts include a successfully completed project with Aberdeens largest insurance brokers, Central Insurance, for the space planning, interior design, fit-out of the building and also relocating the company to its new premises in Westhill, Aberdeen.

Frank Maughan, managing director of ASM, said: We are delighted to complete 2007 with these contract wins and look forward to further success in 2008. The work we have secured has utilised all of ASMs key services, using our expertise to design and fit out modern and professional office space for our clients, as well as assisting businesses relocate or expand in their existing premises. Our team at ASM works hard to offer a high level of service and it is fantastic to finish the year on such a positive note.

Iain Henry, director of Central Insurance, added: Our new office is a major development in the growth of Central Insurance and we had specific requirements to ensure we provided first class facilities for both staff and visitors. The team at ASM provided an excellent service and we are delighted with the whole look and feel of the premises.

ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting commercial relocation and refurbishment and have 60 full-time employees including,architects, space planners, electricians, data engineers, joiners and porters.

ASM insures Aberdeen firm has first class facilities

Accommodation Services Management (ASM) has completed a successful project with Aberdeens largest insurance brokers, Central Insurance Services Limited. ASM relocated the company to its new premises in Westhill, Aberdeen, and secured the contract for the space planning, interior design, cabling and fit-out.

ASM provided a modern, open plan working environment for 80 Central Insurance staff within the two floor 3milion building named Crown House. The office is in a newly built business park in Westhill and is the first completed building within Arnhall Industrial estate, Phase 2.

Frank Maughan, director of ASM, said: This project has utilised many of ASMs key services and we are delighted to have not only relocated Central Insurance but also used our expertise to design a modern and professional office space for the whole team. Specific requirements included an open plan feel but with the need for individual offices and meeting rooms. To ensure this, we installed frameless glass frontage to all the individual rooms to allow privacy without reducing light or visibility. A productive and relaxing environment was essential so we also created a caf style breakout space it is a fantastic office for staff to work in but also for the future growth of the Central Insurance team.

Ian Fraser, director of CIS, added: The new office is a major development in the growth of Central Insurance and we had specific requests to ensure we provided first class facilities for both staff and visitors. The team at ASM provided an excellent service and we are delighted with the whole look and feel of the premises.

ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting commercial relocation and refurbishment and have 60 full-time employees including joiners, electricians, architects and space planners.

First Impressions Count

A RECEPTION CAN in many ways be the most important area of an office, performing two essential roles: on the outside, it reflects the companys image and brand values to clients and visitors, whilst on the inside, it must function effectively as the central hub of the organisation.

ASM redesigned the office reception of Production Services Networks (PSN) Dyce Headquarters after PSN took on its new status as an independent international service contractor in 2006.

The total refurbishment of the reception area including building work, followed by new carpets, lighting and furniture and has resulted in a modern, innovative area which reflects the growing importance of PSN as a key player in the global oil industry.

Frank Maughan, Managing Director, ASM, explained: The challenge was to create an environment efficient in terms of space, flexibility and cost and to effectively communicate the brand values of PSN. Our design team specialises in combining new technology and ergonomics with our clients knowledge of their market.

Duncan Skinner, Chief Financial Officer, PSN said: Production Services Network is a new Scottish success story. ASM has helped mark this exciting new chapter by cleverly incorporating our brands colours into our offices public space. Our reception area has been vividly transformed and provides a striking first impression for visitors.

Space Planning: Past& Present

THE LAST twenty years have seen an amazing change in the design of the modern office layout. In part this is due to changes in technology, but there has also been a fundamental difference in the approach to office design - a change of culture by many organisations.

The section of floor plan on the right is fairly typical of the old style of office design, with cellular offices for one or two people being the norm; office sizes were usually assigned on a hierarchical basis, with even the size and style of furniture being provided on the same basis. The allocation of offices and furnished contents was rigidly applied, sometimes even going so far as to specify allowances for pictures on the wall.

In the nineties, there were stirrings of change. Open-plan became the buzz word; this was often misunderstood, and frequently misapplied, as organisations started to look in depth at how they were organised and how they operated. Furniture manufacturers responded to the changing environment, moving away from the old-style rectangular twin-pedestal desks and producing more flexible options. Over the years these evolved to create variable solutions, including L-shaped and 120 degree desks, mobile storage units, and a variety of screens, with the introduction of colour making the design possibilities almost endless.

Interestingly, as computer design has also evolved, the modern flat-screen technology is permitting a return to the rectangular desk unit, but todays version is far removed from the old sapele veneer double-pedestal desk so common from the sixties right through into the nineties. Desking is now commonly made of lightweight materials which allow the desks to be mobile or fixed to a central spine for cable management, thus permitting an even more flexible way of working in todays modern office.

The nineties was also a time for revolutionary working practices to be introduced: flexiworking, homeworking, and hot-desking were enthusiastically adopted (and often quietly dropped!).
The failure of some of these practices was not necessarily that they were wrong, but they were sometimes wrongly applied or were not the right solution for that particular business.

Legislation has also impinged on office design, with the introduction of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations having perhaps most effect (although it also seems to be ignored by many businesses). The most recent piece of legislation, the Disability Discrimination Act, is having a profound effect on the working environment, and has led to new challenges in its implementation.

Again, office designers, space planners and furniture manufacturers have responded to the legislation, and there is now an almost bewildering selection of furniture types and designs to choose from; desks come in almost every shape or form, with rectangular benching becoming increasingly popular, seating ranges are available to suit every budget, and the range of finishes and colours stretches the imagination.

With this vast range of choices available, the unknowledgeable should tread warily, and should seek professional advice. An experienced Space Planner will consult with you to understand the way you work, and will help you arrive at solutions which will suit your needs.

Space planning is not all about cramming as many people as possible into a space - it is about optimising the use of the available space to create a working environment which will help the business operation, which will be a pleasant workplace for staff, and which will support the business practices and aspirations of the organisation.

Isobel Electedto WIP Chair

Isobel Maughan, Director of ASM has been elected as Chairman of Women in Property (WiP) Northern Scotland for 2007.

The organisation, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, exists to provide an opportunity for women in the property sector to network and do business with each other, to develop professional skills to address the changing needs of the industry and to identify new talent to bring fresh perspectives to the table.

Isobel explained: As the need for skilled, competent and creative individuals increases, so the networks within the wider property sector need to grow and develop to meet this need. Our programme for 2007 offers a variety of opportunities to meet through our networking lunches, develop professional knowledge within the context of CPD at our information sessions, attend site visits and increase understanding of the property sector.

Additional activities to celebrate the birthday year include participation in WiPs national Award scheme for undergraduate students, developed in conjunction with the Robert Gordon University; Building Opportunities - a schools event for S5 pupils and for our members; developing our city-to-city link between WiP (Northern Branch) and our sister organisation, CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Houston.

WiP have a steadily growing membership of professional women, from a diverse field of disciplines, including surveying, architecture, town planning, law, landscape, interior design, construction and engineering. The organisation looks forward to extending both the membership and their activities in 2007 to meet the needs of a varied, exciting and growing property sector in the North East of Scotland.

Combatting IndustrySkills Shortages

UK CONSTRUCTION industry skills shortages have been well documented and remain a significant problem for many Scottish companies.

With this in mind ASM has become the first company in the north-east to support their employees through an SVQ Level 3 in the installation and inspection of data cabling systems.

Isobel Maughan, ASM Director, explains: One of the main goals set by ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, is to have a 100% qualified workforce - in all disciplines - by 2010. At ASM we are keen to support this initiative, recognising that higher skill levels within our own workforce shows investment in our industry and gives us an edge over our competitors.

The internationally recognised qualification is being completed by three members of ASMs data cabling team and is a major part of their modern apprenticeship. Upon completion of the course, taking approximately 1 year, the candidates will be qualified data cabling engineers as recognised by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board).

Isobel continued, We are committed to developing our staff into new areas, supporting both their professional and personal development. By providing training opportunities for our workforce we are able to improve the levels of knowledge within our own company and the construction industry as a whole.

Moving Experience

Thanks a million to you allcant believe how easy you made it all look.

Thanks for all your help with the big move -you made it painless.

.Brilliant!

You were all wonderful

.Some great quotes from happy customers! And theres lots more too.

However, theres a lot more to an office move than is often apparent to the Client or their staff. They may see our Porters working away, may see crates being delivered, vans being unloaded and unloaded, etc, but what they are often unaware of is the amount of pre-planning, scheduling and general organising going on behind the scenes.

At ASM we carry out office relocations and internal moves as part of a specialist service within the range of support services we offer to commercial property occupiers. We do not carry out domestic work, and our team are experienced in relocating furniture, filing systems, computers and servers, etc. Our staff are experienced at working within occupied office environments, and are have earned a deserved reputation for politeness, courtesy and helpfulness.

We have a first class operational safety record, in line with our aim to avoid harm or damage to people, property or the environment.

Our relocations service includes using specialist Data Technicians for the location of computers, servers etc, experienced Joiners, Handymen and Fitters for the relocation of furniture, notice boards etc, surveys, preparation of schedules, supervision, crate hire, etc, to give our client a genuine end-to-end service.

Supporting services from ASM can include DSE (Display Screen) Assessments and reports, PAT (Portable Appliance) Testing of electrical items, packing and unpacking of crates etc.

ASM excels with Accenture move

Aberdeen-based ASM (Accommodation Services Management) has completed an office refurbishment and relocation contract on behalf of Accenture Aberdeen, the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

The contract, worth a significant seven figure sum, involved ASM extensively adapting almost 30,000 sq ft of the Excel Centre at the Offshore Technology Park, Bridge of Don. The company has worked with Accenture for the past 15 years, with this being one of the biggest projects to date between the two companies.

Design began in July 2006, when it was established that approximately 300 members of Accenture staff would be moving to the new premises. The fit out commenced in November 2006, with completion in March 2007, and has involved all of ASMs in-house services.

Roy Longair, ASM Design Manager said: The needs of Accentures IT organisation were pivotal to the project. A new Data Centre was constructed, with heavy duty raised floor, air conditioning, water detection and a fire suppression system.

The existing layout of the building was an open plan, and ASM designed a solution resulting in a mix of open plan and cellular space including a boardroom, meeting rooms, cellular offices, breakout areas and specialist service areas. A significant amount of technology hardware was moved out-with normal working hours, giving zero production downtime to Accentures national and international operations. We are delighted with the outcome and the smooth transition of our clients relocation.

ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting commercial relocation and refurbishment and have 60 full-time employees including joiners, electricians, architects and space planners.

Houston calling for RGU students

2007 is ASMs fifteenth year in business and, whilst not being great ones to boast, we do want to mark the occasion in some way. We have one or two things in hand for later in the year, but occasionally something crops up which is simply too good to ignore. Scottish and British & Ireland Lions rugby legend Gavin Hastings was in Aberdeen recently, and was only too pleased to pose for this photograph. Gavin was an outstanding wearer of the number 15 shirt, and its a very appropriate memento of our fifteen years in business, in view of our support over the years for local rugby.

Gavin was in Aberdeen to help promote the 17th World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival, which is to take place in Edinburgh in September 2008. Aberdeen Strollers have been Scotlands only representative at World Festivals since 1985, and are currently looking for new members. Dave McDonald, Secretary of the Strollers and President of the European Golden Oldies Rugby Committee is keen to stress the less demanding nature of the Golden Oldies games, with unlimited substitutions allowed, over-vigorous play not condoned and playing time reduced!

Weve now employed almost 40 rugby lads in the last few years, mainly from Aberdeen Grammar RFC, the top local club. In many cases our offer of employment, either full-time or part-time, has enabled the club to retain or attract players; its a win-win situation, as we gain the benefit of a strong healthy workforce, used to teamworking, and able to show initiative when required. The downside is that occasionally we need to juggle our workload a wee bit to fit in with rugby schedules when ideally it should be the other way round!

Several of the lads have gone on to play at a high level, including Chris Cusiter, Scotland and British Lions scrum-half, Stuart Corsar and Moray Low, both Glasgow and Scotland A front row players, Sean Crombie and Dave Millard, who both also went on to play professional rugby, and many others.

The Maughan family are keen to support local rugby development where possible, with Isobel having undertaken the role of Youth Coordinator for Aberdeen Grammar, and also involved with Granite City Reds, the local U-17 rugby development squad. Son Patrick is currently undergoing a gap year in Brisbane, Australia, developing his own rugby skills with local team North Sea Eagles. Frank is also involved locally with the national rugby charity Wooden Spoon, established to help disadvantaged children.

We hope this relationship with the sport is one we can continue to maintain and develop in future years.

Celebrating Fifteen Years inBusiness

2007 is ASMs fifteenth year in business and, whilst not being great ones to boast, we do want to mark the occasion in some way. We have one or two things in hand for later in the year, but occasionally something crops up which is simply too good to ignore. Scottish and British & Ireland Lions rugby legend Gavin Hastings was in Aberdeen recently, and was only too pleased to pose for this photograph. Gavin was an outstanding wearer of the number 15 shirt, and its a very appropriate memento of our fifteen years in business, in view of our support over the years for local rugby.

Gavin was in Aberdeen to help promote the 17th World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival, which is to take place in Edinburgh in September 2008. Aberdeen Strollers have been Scotlands only representative at World Festivals since 1985, and are currently looking for new members. Dave McDonald, Secretary of the Strollers and President of the European Golden Oldies Rugby Committee is keen to stress the less demanding nature of the Golden Oldies games, with unlimited substitutions allowed, over-vigorous play not condoned and playing time reduced!

Weve now employed almost 40 rugby lads in the last few years, mainly from Aberdeen Grammar RFC, the top local club. In many cases our offer of employment, either full-time or part-time, has enabled the club to retain or attract players; its a win-win situation, as we gain the benefit of a strong healthy workforce, used to teamworking, and able to show initiative when required. The downside is that occasionally we need to juggle our workload a wee bit to fit in with rugby schedules when ideally it should be the other way round!

Several of the lads have gone on to play at a high level, including Chris Cusiter, Scotland and British Lions scrum-half, Stuart Corsar and Moray Low, both Glasgow and Scotland A front row players, Sean Crombie and Dave Millard, who both also went on to play professional rugby, and many others.

The Maughan family are keen to support local rugby development where possible, with Isobel having undertaken the role of Youth Coordinator for Aberdeen Grammar, and also involved with Granite City Reds, the local U-17 rugby development squad. Son Patrick is currently undergoing a gap year in Brisbane, Australia, developing his own rugby skills with local team North Sea Eagles. Frank is also involved locally with the national rugby charity Wooden Spoon, established to help disadvantaged children.

We hope this relationship with the sport is one we can continue to maintain and develop in future years.

Charity Starts at Work

Environmental awareness and social responsibility are central to the company culture and with this in mind, ASM continue to support and develop sustainable projects which have delivered real benefits to the community.

Samaritans
In celebration of our 15th birthday this year, we are holding a charity ball in aid of Aberdeen Samaritans. Funds are needed for the refurbishment of the Dee Street facility which houses the volunteers who provide a counselling service to those in need.

Sport
In sport, links with local Rugby Clubs remain strong as ASM continues to support rugby development in the North East, with players from Australia and New Zealand working for the company this year alongside local players.

Environment
ASM strives to be environmentally responsible and supports the community through an unwanted furniture donation programme. Grateful recipients of furniture and other goods are schools, Scottish Business in the Community, the National Trust and Barnardos. Furniture donated to Cults Primary School helped to solve some recent storage issues. Ian Smithers, Head Teacher said: We are delighted that ASM have been able to provide additional furniture for the school. It has allowed us to use the money that would otherwise have been spent on desks and cupboards to be reassigned to other areas for the childrens benefit.

ASM Journal - Summer 2006

Please click here to download the journal in PDF format.

Industry First for ASM

ASM has become the first company in the north-east to support their employees through an SQV Level 3 in the installation and inspection of data cabling systems. Skills shortages have been well documented in the UK construction industry and remain a significant problem for many Scottish companies. ASM (Accommodation Services Management) director, Isobel Maughan explains that investing in staff is the best way forward for the industry.

One of the main goals set by ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, is to have a 100% qualified workforce in all disciplines - by 2010. At ASM we are keen to support this initiative, recognising that higher skill levels within our own workforce shows investment in our industry and gives us an edge over our competitors. Isobel explained.

The internationally recognised qualification is being completed by three members of ASMs data cabling team and is a major part of their modern apprenticeship. The course is split into eight separate modules - covering safety at work, planning and installation of structured cabling systems and professional communication skills - and takes the form of work based assessment, measured to company standards by an independent third party. Upon completion of the course, the candidates will be qualified data cabling engineers as recognised by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board).

Isobel continued: Candidates are required to demonstrate a broad range of skills on-site. ASM are currently carrying out a variety of data cabling related work at sites throughout Scotland for organisations including BP, Accenture and the NHS. Investing in our people assures that our clients receive that highest standard of work at all times.

We are committed to developing our staff in new areas, supporting both their professional and personal development. By providing training opportunities for our workforce we are able to improve the levels of knowledge within our own company and the construction industry as a whole.

Modern apprenticeships are a key strand of the Skills and Learning Strategy defined by Scottish Enterprise who are supporting ASM in this new training initiative. Scottish Enterprise is set to work closely with ConstructionSkills, exploring the strategic approaches required to ensure the long term success of the Scottish construction industry.

Ian Heywood, director of skills and learning at Scottish Enterprise Grampian said: We are delighted that ASM is willing to invest both time and money into training its staff to the highest standard. The qualification will be of great benefit to the candidates as they progress through their careers.

ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting commercial relocation and refurbishment. Investment in the professional development of staff enables the company to play their part in combating skills shortages in the construction industry as well as retain a highly motivated and dedicated workforce.

Women have a part to play in addressing skills shortages

According to Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish construction industry plays a vital part in our economy estimated to have been worth approximately 10 billion to Scotlands economy in 2006. Isobel Maughan, Director of local workplace solutions firm, ASM (Accommodation Services Management Ltd) suggests more women in the industry are need to achieve greater innovation and to protect this economic asset against skills shortages.

Between 2006 and 2010 Scotland is predicted to experience growth of the 8% in construction industry output, developing new buildings and improve existing ones with concerns that a skills deficit could inhibit this growth. ASM, who provide an integrated workplace solutions service, employing 55 staff including joiners, electricians, architects and space planners, have first hand experience of dealing with the construction industry skills shortages and recognise that action needs to be taken to prevent further shortfall.

Isobel, who attended the launch of the 2006 NCW (National Construction Week) at the Scottish parliament, where Scotlands ability to prevent any possible future shortfall in skills provision was high on the agenda, said: The continued success of the Scottish construction industry is dependent on the industry building on current resources while continually developing new skills and technologies to take full advantage of every opportunity. The key areas of workforce development, image and best practice must be addressed by both businesses and government if we are to work together to develop a modern progressive industry in Scotland.

Within ASM we have taken steps to address each of these issues through industry driven training whereby our employees can gain access to internationally recognised qualifications. We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and working together with local schools and community organisations to help tackle industry stereotypes; we hope to show many young people that a career in the construction industry is an exciting and rewarding prospect.
The need to capitalize on unexploited resources was highlighted by Marilyn Livingstone, MSP and Chair of the Cross Party Working Group on Construction, who recognises that one simple way of combating these skills shortages is to increase the number of women with the industry.

Isobel continued: Im an active member of the local WIP (Women In Property) group, which aims to support the professional development of women in the sector and improve knowledge of the property industry. Through links with educational institutions WIP aim to encourage and support women entering the construction industry and enhance business opportunities through networking and professional development.

As one of the few female Directors in the property and construction industry I feel that my input has helped us attract and retain a diverse workforce of both sexes from varied cultural backgrounds. At ASM we are conscious of helping create a new generation of construction professionals and Id certainly encourage other women to investigate the variety of opportunities the industry offers and to become instrumental in one of Scotlands thriving industrial success stories.

Local businesses rally round to make Samaritans Christmas wish come true

The Aberdeen Samaritans is desperately seeking help from businesses to aid the refurbishment of its premises. Several local companies have already come onboard, donating thousands in products and services to aid the charity through the early stages of the 230,000 project but, there is still a long way to go before the Samaritans get their Christmas wish.

For many people the joys of the festive period can only intensify feelings of loneliness and isolation; making this time of year the charitys busiest period. It is expected that the Samaritans will answer a call every six seconds this Christmas and New Year from callers experiencing feelings of distress, despair and even suicide.

Linda Pritchard, Samaritans Project Co-ordinator, explained: The facilities available to us are, at the moment, very basic. We desperately need to refurbish the building to a high standard to giving our dedicated volunteers the working environment they deserve.

The Samaritans three story building, situated in Aberdeens Dee Street, is in varying states of disrepair, requiring substantial construction work as well as fresh decoration and disabled access. The basement which is currently unlivable will be developed to hold two new training rooms and a bedroom for those answering calls through the night, the ground floor will be refurbished as office space and the first and second floor will be refurbished and let out to another charity.

Although the refurbishment project is still in the early stages of securing funding, two local companies ASM (Accommodation Services Management) and Converged Communication Solutions have already offered their expertise and support to the project. ASM provide a fully comprehensive package of services supporting commercial relocation and refurbishment and have assisted the Samaritans with fundraising for over two years.
Isobel Maughan, Director of ASM, said: ASM has supported the Samaritans throughout the planning stages; assisting them maximize the available space through professional space planning techniques. People are the most important part of every organization, whether it is a large multi national or a local charity office, and it is essential that the working environment reflects their value. Once the structural work is complete we hope to be able to assist the Samaritans furnish their new and improved premises.

Converged - a young technology company that offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services - has donated over 4,000 to the charity in the form of a new telephone system, two new computers with web cams and a new structured cabling network.

Andy Pearson, Director of Converged, said: We are delighted that we have been able to help the Samaritans this Christmas. The technology that we are implementing should make a huge difference to the training facilities; the new phones will allow calls to be handled much more efficiently and with the new PCs and webcams the volunteers will be able to train more effectively. We have also been able to advise on the most appropriate call plan so as to keep cost down in the long term.

In a recent poll the Samaritans was voted one of the most admired charities in the UK for the confidential emotional support they provide 24hrs a day 7 days a week. If you or your company think you can help the Aberdeen Samaritans Christmas wish come true please call 01224 574488

Bad Backs are Bad News for Business

An estimated 4.9 million working days are lost due to back pain every year. In light of the launch of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Better Backs Campaign - which aims to reduce the incidence of back pain caused or made worse by work Ian Norrie, Contracts Manager at Accommodation Services Management (ASM) discusses how employers and employees can work together to manage the risks of back pain.

With an estimated 80% of us in the UK likely to suffer from back pain at some point in our working life, local firm ASM, who provide integrated workplace solutions, are dedicated to functioning in a socially responsible way and have demonstrated their commitment to managing the risks of back pain at work in a variety of ways. Working together with Aberdeenshire based health and safety training and consultancy firm, Safe Path, ASM have undertaken reviews of all unavoidable manual handling operations and increased awareness among staff through specialist training.

Ian Norrie says: At ASM we provide an integrated single-source workplace solutions service. Manual handling operations are central to day-to-day activities for many of our staff; whether it be assisting in an office move, regular maintenance from our in-house tradesmen or refurbishment projects. We have supported the better backs campaign from an early stage having integrated several of the recommendations into our current health and safety procedures.

Businesses who look after the best interests of their staff and take steps to manage the levels of risk will benefit from having a good reputation for health and safety management, and will have a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting the best people, continues Ian.

ASM are encouraging their staff to follow the guidelines set-out by the HSE to prevent back problems in the workplace:

If possible, always opt to push rather than pull when moving a load.
Make the best use of lifting and handling equipment and make sure you are using them correctly.
Share the load work together with a colleague.
Speak to a manger or safety representative if you have persistent back pains.
Stay active and try to get regular exercise.

For further information on the HSE Better Backs campaign logon to www.hse.gov.uk/betterbacks

ASM Support National Construction Week

In support of National Construction Week (NCW), Isobel Maughan, Director of Accommodation Services Management (ASM), attended the launch hosted by the Construction Cross Party Group at the Scottish Parliament in October.

NCW is a UK-wide campaign which gives young people the chance to experience the wide range of exciting opportunities available in the modern Construction Industry. The Construction Skills Network report has forecast that 348,000 more employees will be needed to meet the expected demand within the industry by 2010. NCW provides a platform for companies and organisations involved in construction to reach these essential future recruits.
Marilyn Wilson, MSP and Convener of the Cross Party Group on Construction, spoke of the need to encourage young women in particular to become involved in the construction industry. Government and businesses must work together if a modern, progressive and attractive industry is to be developed.

Attending the event on behalf of Women in Property (WIP) Isobel said: It is essential that we support the professional development of young women in the sector and improve knowledge of the property industry. Through links with educational institutions WIP aim to encourage and support women entering the industry and enhancing business opportunities through networking and professional development opportunities.

As one of the few female Directors in the property and construction industry I feel that my input has helped us attract and retain a diverse workforce of both sexes from varied cultural backgrounds. Our competitive edge comes from the people we employ, who deliver the highest quality service for our customers.

Women In Property Aberdeen will be working with educational institutions in the new year to raise the profile of the industry and to attract more females to consider construction as a career.

Sparks Fly at Local School

ASM have made it possible for eco-friendly children from Hazlewood School in Aberdeen to help the environment and save money for their school. Electricians from ASM have worked together with the children and are to carry out several electrical projects over the coming months to help save electricity.

Supported by the Enterprise in Education Challenge Fund, the pupils have undertaken a good electricity project to reduce the amount of electricity used in their school. With the help of ASM the children have learned about the environment and have attained valuable life skills associated with the business of saving energy.

Hazlewood School supports young people with a variety of additional support needs and covers the entire school age spectrum. Enterprise in education and environmental issues have a strong focus throughout the school with several classes working together to reduce the amount of electricity used by the whole school community.

ASM provide integrated workplace solutions, with expertise in electrical works and maintenance, structured cabling design and installation, premises and personnel relocation as well as commercial property refurbishment and design and space planning. Linking with ASM has provided the pupils with the technical expertise needed to explore how they can directly influence the energy budget in their school.

The children worked in teams to complete different sections of the project carrying out regular electricity inspections since November 2005 to identify problem areas, writing a brief to obtain quotes from companies to carry out the electrical work, deciding on the winning bid and working with the tradesmen to learn what changes have been made and why.

Isobel Maughan, ASM Director, said: Based on the inspections carried out by the children we re-wired the light switches of three teaching areas and installed a sensor to one of the offices that would automatically switch off any lights when no-one was in the room. The work is to be carried out by electrician Steve Simon - who has recently completed his Final Integrated Competence Assessment - and will be his first major project since receiving the qualification.

Since the company was founded 1992 environmental awareness has been central to our company culture. Our participation in this project has been extremely rewarding for those staff involved and we hope that we have been able to pass on some of our skills and principles in the area of environmental awareness to the next generation.

Jill Barry, Head teacher, said: This has been an excellent project and the students have been totally involved in it. Their teacher, Dr Ken Thomson, has worked very closely with the group, providing support and assistance as they planned the project, made and submitted the bid to the Enterprise fund and worked with the technicians from ASM. The group has learnt valuable lessons in team-working, leadership skills and project management.

The success of the project will be evaluated through weekly readings and review of electricity costs. We believe that having learned about the importance of saving electricity combined with the newly maintained electrical infrastructure within the school we will save money as part of the Eco School Programme and Hazlewood School will reduce its global footprint.

ASM Wins Silver

ASM has been awarded the prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Silver Award 2006 for Occupational Health and Safety. 2006-06-09 14:03:19

The RoSPA awards, sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), have the aim of reducing the number of accidents and cases of ill-health at work. The awards also focus on ensuring that organisations have good health and safety management systems in place.

Frank Maughan, managing director, ASM, said: High standards of health and safety performance are integral to our practices at ASM and receiving this award demonstrates our commitment to Health and Safety for the benefit of our customers and staff. The awards help to reinforce the message that good health and safety is good business and clearly demonstrates an organisations commitment to the achievement of high levels of performance in this crucial area.

David Rawlins, RoSPA Awards Manager said: ASM have demonstrated how seriously they take health and safety management and are a fine example to many other companies. We would like to see more organisations following their lead by providing a positive example.

The Silver Award was presented at a special ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, National Exhibition Centre on Wednesday May 10th during the Safety and Health Exhibition 2006.