Seasonal Times

The seasonal newsletter from John O’Conner August 2015 ISSUE 14 Skills Celebration

More than 100 employers, training providers and representatives from the University of Hertfordshire and business support services came together at the Hertfordshire Skills Celebration at Elstree Studios in July 2015.

Managing Director, Matt O’Conner and Apprentice, Lewis Ainge, were proud to be honoured at the event and participate in a showcase video promoting Apprenticeships, sharing their achievements in growing the skills base of the workforce.

The video was filmed at Allum Lane Cemetery in Elstree with the support of our client team at Borough Council.

The video can be viewed at: www.johnoconner.co.uk/news Bellingham, who spoke about her work in hosted by Exemplas, Hertfordshire Growth championing young women to consider Hub and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise John O’Conner has won several accolades careers in science, technology and Partnership. for our Apprenticeships, including Highly engineering, while Roger Morris, Director Commended Newcomer Employer of the Year of Elstree Studios, spoke about how the for the Central Eastern region at the National film studios nurture upcoming talent Apprenticeship Awards 2013 and British thanks to its close relationship with Elstree Institute of Landscape Industries Principal UTC. Employer of the Year for 2013 & 2008. The event was funded through the Skills There were several guest speakers Support for the Workforce Programme including TV presenter and engineer, Kate which is managed by Exemplas, and was

much coveted Gold and Silver Gilt, so a We really have done well, thanks for all your From big thank-you from me to all of you for hard work! your help with supporting our clients with the top these achievements. A word from our Managing Director, It is also really pleasing to see how we Matt O’Conner have been interacting with our local communities. Over the past few years This summer our long term existing and new this side of our business has become ever contracts are looking fantastic due to all the busier and I am sure that will continue. hard work carried out by our operational, supervisory, management and field staff It has been a honour presenting our Long teams. Service Awards over the last year and I am proud to have received my own Long It has been recognised by a plethora of Green Service Award for 20 years service last Flag and ‘In bloom’ Awards, including the month! Matt receiving his Long Service Award In this issue Awards, News, Community Projects and Service

John O’Conner (GM) Ltd 2 Great North Road, Welwyn, Herts AL6 0PL Tel: 01438 717175 www.johnoconner.co.uk /johnoconnergm The Newsletter of John O’Conner August 2015 ISSUE 14 BINGO 2015 / 2016

Following the very successful Bingo Incentive Scheme in 2013/14 we have taken on your feedback to provide plenty of notice before the launch of the 2015/16 Bingo Scheme – so here it is! Therefore you CSR INCENTIVE 2016 BiNGO BiNGOA B C Will you and your A1: IMPLEMENT AN IDEA TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE B1: COLLECT 4 POSITIVE C1: COMPLETE A can start planning, taking photos of what you are doing and even get fully started if you want to! MOTIVATION AND TESTIMONIALS FROM team be the top COMMUNITY 1 COLLECT 5 POSITIVE CLIENTS & 1 FROM PROJECT TESTIMONIALS FROM RESIDENTS/VISITORS £50 EMPLOYEES

A2: IMPLEMENT AN B2: COMPLETE A C2: ORGANISE A The Prize will consist of a ‘Charity Fund’ - each team can donate to up to 3 charities of their choice! INITIATIVE TO SAVE FUEL/ ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT Bingo 2 NOMINATION FOR A WATER/POWER ON LOCAL AWARD £75 CONTRACT Dabbers& A3: ARRANGE FUNDING B3: IMPLEMENT A C3: ORGANISE A The scheme is designed to promote communication and projects with your colleagues, clients and FOR A PROJECT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING PROJECT FOR win the highest prize 3 BENEFITS THE LOCAL PROJECT WORKING WITH APPRENTICES/WORK COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS EXPERIENCE STAFF £10 0 local community, while providing you with the chance to have some fun and support your chosen fund for your charity? charities! CHARITY £50 £75 £10 0 PRIZE FUND Starts Monday 2nd November 2015 Ends on Thursday 31st March 2016 A bit of team rivalry is also good fun, let’s see who’s the first to finish this time!

Manager Contract Support Team CAPTAIN: Jody Frampton East Sussex County Council - Schools Martin Baker Ian Evans VICE CAPTAIN: Arron Smith Paradigm Housing, Red Kite Community Housing and Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils Graham Cobb Ray Baxter Team 1 Rob Low Soha Housing Julie Renshaw Peter Michael Serco + commercial services Tim Parker Myriam Anderson Rob Goater Machinery Workshop

CAPTAIN: Martin Perry Regional Manager Lorraine Sizeland Paul Timpson VICE CAPTAIN: Keith Warden East Herts District Council and Circle Anglia Housing Sean Griffin Team 2 Ian Edwards Borough Council - Cemeteries, University of John Haines Hertfordshire and Herts County Council Debbie Brown Ashley Green Midland Heart Housing Association John Messenger Commercial Manager CAPTAIN: Michael Conway Alexandra Palace and Octavia Housing Steve Webb Rob Irons VICE CAPTAIN: Geoff Kazer Hertsmere Borough Council Joan Needham All our field Team 3 Gareth Towson North Herts District Council Debbie Winsor staff and James Nicoll Affinity Sutton Homes Max Clifford operatives Martine Dorrington Office Manager CAPTAIN: Richard Smith Aylesbury Vale District Council Kayleigh Wiltshire Steve Chilton VICE CAPTAIN: Steve Cooper Leicestershire County Council Paul Louis Stan Hayden Isle of Wight Council Team 4 Beth Carter Simon Redhead Vehicle Workshop Chris Turner Paula Warren David Hutchinson Company Accountant Dave Baxter Hightown Praetorian & Churches Housing Association CAPTAIN: Shaun Nicholls Regional Manager Callum Goodall Volunteer ProjectAnne Josey VICE CAPTAIN: Ben Stilling Aldwyck Housing Martin Cross John Marlow Bedfordshire County Council - Schools Team 5 Thank you to Keith Byles who gave Gabriellaup his Saturday Ede to volunteer at Paul Brady St Albans City and District CouncilRyde Esplanade Station to develop Petea Botanic Watts Garden on Platform 2. Matt Loader Arboriculture works Andrew MacCuish ISM/SHEQ Manager Supporting local Brownies Arboricultural Team John O’Conner and Isle of Wight We have set up our own specialist Arboricultural teams headed by Council invited the 8th Ryde Arboricultural Officer, Matt Loader. Methodist Brownies to participate in the annual planting of bedding The teams will be commencing projects in September, operating in displays along Ryde Seafront. South West and Southern England for new customers such as Soha Housing, Serco, Natural England and various town and parish councils. The Brownies worked with staff from John O’Conner and members For further information please contact Matt Loader on: of Ryde Town Council to plant a selection of summer bedding 01793 782 784 plants in the raised tubs at Western 07958 599 804 Gardens and The Rose Garden. [email protected]

2 The Newsletter of John O’Conner August 2015 ISSUE 14 Green Flag Awards 2015

Alexandra Palace, London Vale Park, Aylesbury John O’Conner is proud to have supported our clients and local Alexandra Park & Palace community groups to achieve 30 Green Flags across our contracts, • Alexandra Park in Wood Green - 8th consecutive award bringing considerable social, safety and environmental benefits to • Alexandra Park Green Heritage Award - 6th consecutive year the local neighbourhoods. Aylesbury Vale District Council th Clarence Park in St Albans received the Green Flag Award for the • Vale Park – 8 consecutive award th 10th consecutive year under the partnership of John O’Conner and • Bedgrove Park – 6 year St Albans City and District Council. We manage the submission East Herts District Council process for the Council’s Green Flag Awards from application to • Southern Country Park in Bishops Stortford – 8th consecutive year judging stage, under the partnership we have achieved an award • The Ridgeway Local Park in Hertford – 7th consecutive year for Hatfield Road Cemetery and a Heritage Award for Verulamium Park for the first time. Harpenden District Council • Harpenden Common – 9th consecutive year Neil Cain, John O’Conner Operations Director and National Green Flag Awards Judge, said; “We are delighted to have successfully Hertsmere Borough Council retained our Green Flag Award status for our clients, including • King George Recreation Ground in Bushey – 17th consecutive year maintaining the flag for Clarence Park for over 10 years and achieving • Oakmere Park in Potter Bar – 13th consecutive year many new awards. These results have been achieved by working in • Aberford Park in Borehamwood – 8th consecutive year partnership with our clients and local communities to enhance our • Parkfields in Potters Bar – th8 consecutive year parks and open spaces. Well done to all our grounds maintenance • Fishers Field Nature Reserve - special Green Flag Community teams for delivering consistently high standards and participating in Award for the 7th consecutive year volunteer projects to promote the health and wellbeing of our park • Bushey Rose Garden: Green Heritage Award for the 5th users.” consecutive year

John O’Conner have been celebrating the success by supporting Leicester County Council Love Parks Week in partnership with clients in most of our Green • Watermead Country Park Flag Parks. Activities included photo opportunities for children on • Beacon Hill Country Park • Market Bosworth Country Park our tractors, games, fitness activities and competitions to engage the local community and young people. North Herts District Council • Howard Park and Gardens in Letchworth - 3rd consecutive year International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: • in Letchworth - 6th consecutive year “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year • Priory Memorial Gardens in Royston - 6th consecutive year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a • in – 1st year testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both • in – 1st year staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award scheme.” St Albans City & District Council • Verulamium Park – Heritage Award – 1st year Well done & thank you to all our staff for your support! • Verulamium Park – 3rd consecutive year • Hatfield Road Cemetery – th1 year • Clarence Park – 10th consecutive year • Rothamsted Park – 8th consecutive year • Bricket Wood Common – 5th consecutive year • Sopwells Nunnery – 8th consecutive year

Welwyn Borough District Council • Welwyn Hatfield Lawn Cemetery – nd2 consecutive year

Wycombe District Council • Higginson Park in Marlow - 13th consecutive year Welwyn Hatfield Lawn Cemetery, Hatfield

3 The Newsletter of John O’Conner August 2015 ISSUE 14

Long Service Notice Board It’s always great to be able to reward hardworking staff whose loyalty over long periods of Congratulations to: time has served our company so well. As the company grows we really do want to continue to recognise staff and the value that they add to the business with their support and loyalty. Lee Draper (MOD Serco contract) and partner, Louis, on the birth of baby Congratulations to the following Long Service Award employees: girl, Mia on 01/07/15 - 7lb 4 oz! Steve Main and Alison on the birth of 10 Years baby boy, Theo. Andy Thraves 31st May 2015 (Leicestershire County Council) Richard Smith (Aylesbury Vale th Richard Pilsworth 13 June 2015 (North Herts District Council) District Council) on the birth of his granddaughter, Rosie on 16/07/15. 20 Years Congratulations Granddad! Matthew O’Conner 1st July 2015 (Managing Director) Dean Baker (North Herts District Council contract) and his partner, Michelle Dearman, on their birth of baby girl, Daisy May, on 10/06/15 - 7lb 13ozs!

Michael Stocks (North Herts District Awards 2015 Council contract) and partner, Chantelle, on the birth of baby boy, John O’Conner were delighted Arnie, on 16/04/15 - 8lb 6ozs! to nominate Senior Chargehand, Martin Currell, for the inaugural University Of Hertfordshire EHCS News: Supply Chain Awards 2015. Well done to John Messenger, The nomination was for the Commercial Manager, for completing category ‘Individual who has the London Marathon and raising over contributed positively to the £3000 for MPN Voice, a charity which helps people with rare blood disorders. Student Experience’, recognising Martin’s commitment to going The Alexandra Palace contract team above and beyond his duties. have been assisting the Allotments Association by moving compost for “Martin Currell, Senior Chargehand, has worked for John O’Conner (GM) Ltd at The University them. The Allotment Association has donated £100 to Perennial Gardeners of Hertfordshire for over 6 years. He is known for his positive outlook on all aspects of the work charity on their behalf, well done! he undertakes. He leads a happy and enthusiastic team of grounds maintenance staff who, as well as maintaining the existing grounds, have recently transformed the front of the College Maurice Richards from our Isle of Wight Lane campus from a muddy building site to a beautifully landscaped area. contract has kindly donated stem cells to the Anthony Nolan trust, a charity During adverse weather, Martin has put himself out to arrive early and stay late to assist in that saves the lives of people with making the University a safe place for staff, students and visitors. blood cancer.

Martin understands the University’s emphasis in relation to an excellent student experience and is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that the campuses look their best at all times.” The University of Hertfordshire

Lead Generator launched - Open to ALL John O’Conner staff

Simple and easy process….. 3. Provide details Provide the required information. This can be 1. Identify a NEW CLIENT opportunity which taken over the phone or emailed. is not part of our existing contracts or frameworks for: Please note that this scheme excludes contracts Our Lead Generator scheme provides an • Grounds Maintenance published under OJEU notice as we receive these excellent opportunity to receive an incentive • Hard Landscaping bulletins automatically. Any contracts advertised payment for NEW CLIENT leads worth over • Fencing in trade press such as Prolandscaper and £1000 per annum or project. Hortweek will also be excluded. 2. Contact us The incentive payment is a flat Telephone 01438 717 175 and ask to be put For a copy of the Briefing Pack and full details rate of 3% of the initial annual contract through to Lead Generator. You can also call 01438 717 175 or email value - up to a maximum of £1000 for leads email [email protected] [email protected] which lead to a CONTRACT AWARD.

John O’Conner (GM) Ltd 2 Great North Road, Welwyn, Herts AL6 0PL Tel: 01438 717175 www.johnoconner.co.uk /johnoconnergm