An independent, multi-utility approach to connections can help mitigate the risk of delays to new industrial and commercial developments, resulting in significant time and cost savings, according to a new guide from Energetics.

A guide to independent utilities for industrial and commercial developments, published this month, aims to provide industrial and commercial developers with an overview of the utilities connections market and highlights the benefits an independent, multi-utility approach can bring.

“Our aim was to produce a useful reference document for customers, to help them understand the options available to them when connecting new developments to the mains electricity, gas and water networks,” explained Energetics CEO Bill McClymont.

The guide includes an introduction to the utility connections market, outlining the changes brought about by privatisation and the introduction of competition in connections in the late 1990s.

It emphasises that independent connection providers and independent gas and electricity network operators are well-established, viable alternatives to statutory utility companies, detailing the strict licensing and regulations under which they operate and pointing to some landmark UK projects that have independent utility networks, such as MediaCityUK in Salford.

“We want to reinforce the point that working with an independent multi-utility connection provider is a low-risk approach that can bring significant benefits,” McClymont said. “If the entire connection process is managed by one provider, communication is clearer, there is greater control of legal and construction processes and, ultimately, customers can save time and money.”

Energetics’ Guide to independent utilities for industrial and commercial developments can be downloaded for free from www.energetics-uk.com

Having recently launched our bespoke Multi Utility Craftsperson Apprenticeship Scheme in the North of England, Energetics is pleased to introduce the new team all looking forward to getting started.

Based at Energetics’ north west Depot in Birchwood Park, working on sites across the region are Scott Johnson and Matthew Whitty, and having already met the Yorkshire team and looking forward to getting stuck into the apprenticeship is Megan Davies, our first female Multi Utility Apprentice who will be based from Energetics depot in Barnsley.

So without further ado, please meet our youngest Apprentice, 22-year-old Megan who has joined Energetics wanting to learn new skills and to test her abilities. No stranger to tough challenges, Megan’s previous role was with the Army where she worked for 5 years most recently as a Logistics Driver. Megan tell us “The Open Day was really helpful for me and having been over to the Barnsley Depot to meet the team, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Scott Johnson is 24 and lives in Stoke with his family including his father, who is a Mains Layer also working from Energetics’ Birchwood Depot. It was Scott’s father who told him about the apprenticeship opportunity, and with 3 generations before him working in the utilities industry, the decision to apply was easy for Scott. “I’d been working in security roles for G4S and local nightclubs but had been looking for a trade to learn as a specialist skill that is always going to be needed.”

Finally, meet 25-year-old Matthew Whitty who seems to have landed his ideal role having been searching online specifically for multi utility apprenticeships. “I’ve been wanting to get into the utilities industry since leaving school but unable to find work, so the Energetics apprenticeship advertised on Monster.com was perfect.” Matthew has been working in customer service roles for 6 years and previously as an Engineer in a security firm but didn’t want to get stuck in a “dead-end job”. He found the Open Day a great opportunity to assess whether the role was indeed what he was looking for, and is delighted to be starting an exciting career with Energetics.

Based at Energetics’ Coleshill office, Design Coordinator, Dan Rawe, has taken up the challenge of competing in a charity boxing match on 17^th September to raise money for Help for Heroes, a great cause which Dan feels deserves more awareness.

Surprisingly, this is the first time Dan has ever boxed although he’s been interested in boxing for the past few years as a way of keeping fit. Even more surprisingly, all the other competitors in the forthcoming event have either boxed in similar events or at an amateur level, so we asked Dan why he decided to take up this challenge (!), to which he replied: “I watched my friend compete in a similar event earlier this year and after hearing about how good the team spirit was between the boxers, and the rush of competing in front of 500+ people, I decided to give it a go. The fact that it is going to a good cause also made me want to go for it, and I think it will help that I am a very competitive person!”

Dan has donated to many charitable causes in the past but felt Help for Heroes was a relevant charity to raise money for with this boxing match. After watching documentaries on warzones and the aftermath of returning home, he felt it was important to raise awareness of what Help for Heroes does, supporting the people who have defended the country, often suffering physically and mentally returning from a warzone or helping in crisis zones.

Training after work 3 days a week and once again on the weekend, Dan says he now has greater respect for professional boxers, as the training is extremely intense. “I think everybody at work is fed up of me complaining about aches and pains though!”

Having said that however, Dan says of his colleagues that they have been very supportive, with a few of the staff going to the event and many others having donated.

This charity boxing match will be taking place at the legendary Coventry Cathedral on 17^th September 2016.

As part of the World Health Organisation’s awareness of Injury Prevention during 18^th – 21^st September, at Energetics we wanted to highlight the emphasis we place on health and safety throughout our organisation.

Building multi utility connections requires the highest attention to detail when it comes to health and safety and injury prevention, and Energetics has a strong track record working on the construction sites for our many housing and I&C customers. According to the Health And Safety Executive (HSE), 3% of workers in the Construction industry sustain an injury:

Injury prevention is key to Energetics and the operation team, and with over 400 employees across 10 UK locations this ethos is introduced with a health and safety training session within the first week as part of an induction process for new staff joining Energetics, whether on site or office-based.

Our emphasis on Health & Safety and injury prevention is one of the reasons our customers choose Energetics, and for which we have been recognised including at the British Safety Council Awards in 2015 and 2016 as well as winning a Silver Award Occupational Health and Safety from RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents).

Energetics’ Quality, Safety & Environmental Manager, Martin Burke comments, “We have a national team of highly qualified health and safety professionals implementing regular audits and incident prevention tools both on and off-site. It is this detail that has helped us to deliver a strong track record.”

So during Injury Prevention week and always, we are proud of our commitment to Health and Safety at Energetics.

*image source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/

During the week of 5^th – 9^th September 2016, it’s National Payroll Week and at Energetics we’re recognising the initiative by educating all of our employees on the hard work undertaken by our HR and Payroll team.

Over the past two years, Energetics has grown at a rapid pace with the number of employees doubling in number to a total 470 currently (!) including permanent and temporary staff based at our regional offices, and operational staff working on site building multi utility connections for our construction customers. As a result, we’ve grown our HR team with a specialist role focussing on Payroll.

Linda Bryden joined Energetics in 2015 as Payroll Officer and has since managed the processing of monthly and weekly payroll, and in August 2016, this included 391 monthly and 95 weekly wages!

In addition, Linda’s role covers the responsibility for the tricky task in managing the administration of accurate calculations and overtime payments, across many different disciplines of work at Energetics, and that everyone is paid on time.

Being responsible for the company’s payroll also means that as well as processing wages and distributing weekly and monthly payslips, Linda also works collaboratively with the HR team on other employee related activity such as the Energetics employee induction process for all new employees; the annual employee appraisal scheme; and managing annual holiday forms.

Linda comments “I thoroughly enjoy my role at Energetics, albeit a challenging one given the changeable weekly payments as is the nature of the Utilities and Construction sectors.”

First ever electricity industry three-digit number gets thumbs up from Energetics.

Energetics is backing the launch of a new telephone service offering help and advice to people suffering an electricity power cut.

Many people don’t know who to contact during a power cut and wrongly call the electricity supplier they pay their bill to. The helpline will provide a single telephone number for people anywhere in Britain to contact their electricity network operator to report a power cut or safety concern, or receive reassurance during a blackout. It puts callers through to the people who will repair their local power network and restore their power.

Energetics is supporting the introduction of 105 as it provides a simple, easy to remember number for emergency reporting regardless of your location or network provider. It will help to make the emergency reporting process quicker and less stressful for the people we work with.

Andy Halpin, Electrical Network manager from Energetics said:“We welcome the introduction of 105 and believe the service will be of great benefit to our customers. Power cuts can leave people feeling confused about what to do. 105 will help to tackle this. We believe the number will be particularly important when there’s bad weather, as severe storms can cause disruption to the electricity supply into homes and businesses.”

105 - the new electricity helpline number, is available to electricity customers in England, Scotland and Wales. The number can be accessed from most landlines and mobile phones. It doesn’t matter who you choose to buy electricity from - anyone can call 105.

105 is jointly funded by electricity network operators - the companies that manage the cables, wires and substations that bring electricity into homes and businesses. Network operators can also be contacted directly by phone or via their website, and most network operators can be contacted through social media too.

The public can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put them, or someone else, in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, the emergency services should be called too.

Visit powercut105.com to find out more about 105 and electricity network operators.