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Hertfordshire Skills Celebration Seasonal Times The seasonal newsletter from John O’Conner August 2015 ISSUE 14 Hertfordshire 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 Hertsmere 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 Welwyn Hatfield 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 – 8th 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
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