Staff Newsletter - October 2017

Breyer News Oct
2017

What’s happening at Breyer Group…?

Issue 8 Breyer Group Pages
are available on
Health & Safety News
Roofing News Follow, Add and Like For
Regular Updates and News
Human Resources News
IT News

Compliments Corner
Other News

Charity News
Perkbox

New Starters

Health & Safety News Roofing News

October 2017 = Zero Harm PWA Designs Limited appointed Breyer Roofing to carry
out works to Aylesbury High School in Aylesbury,
I don’t like to use ‘Zero Harm’ terminology as I think it Buckinghamshire.
encourages people not to report accidents or
incidents but for this month ONLY I will bang the Scope of Work:
Breyer Drum and congratulate you all, as for the first
time in my time at Breyer Group we have all achieved FLAT ROOF REPLACEMENT
Zero Harm with no reported accidents or incidents to
the Health and Safety Department this month which is Duration:
an outstanding achievement.
18 weeks
The previous best performance was in April 2017 and
June 2017 with one accident reported in each month. Value:

To date in 2017 we have had 38 accidents and 3 £359,000
RIDDORS (one for each department) and for the
same period in 2016 we reported 57 accidents and 5 Aylesbury High School was founded in 1959 and has
RIDDORS. approximately 1200 students. Breyer Roofing recently
completed works consisting of the strip up of 8 roofs and
So it is a very positive step forward and goes to show the installation of a full Bauder system with tapered
how everyone at Breyer Group takes Health, Safety insulation, new handrails and access ladders, fascias
and Environment seriously with the right attitude, and drainage works. The School remained fully occupied
looking out for each other and themselves. during the works.

Keep up the good work but please always report Due to the successful completion of the first phase of
accidents and incidents as that is exactly what they works Breyer Roofing were instructed to complete an
are and will always occur in genuine circumstances. additional roof and drainage works which was carried out
Regardless of statistics the most important thing is for during Half Term. Thanks to Tom Titler, Colin Shepherd
people to go home in one piece at the end of the our Site Manager and his team for all their hard work.
working day.
Before and After …….
Andy Le Marie – Head of Health, Safety & Environment

Stay Safe This Bonfire Night

1. Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable
2. Keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a

time
3. Read and follow the instructions on each firework
4. Light the firework at arm’s length and stand well back
5. Keep naked flames including cigarettes, away from

fireworks
6. Never return to a firework once it has been lit
7. Don’t put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
8. Direct any rockets well away from spectators
9. Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
10.Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are

made safe

RRooooffiinngg NNeewwss Human Resources News

A Rather Special Find Annual Leave – Use it or Lose it !

Breyer Roofing were recently working at West Town As we are nearing the end of 2017 we’d like to remind
School for Peterborough Borough Council to renew the you that the holiday year runs from January to
slate roofs above the Main Hall when one of the Roofers December. So you’ve only got a few weeks left to ensure
mentioned to our Site Manager – Tony Williamson that that all your annual leave is booked before the
whilst he was taking off the old slates he had found one Christmas 2017 holiday (unless other arrangements
with writing on it. Tony said that he would keep it for exist).
School staff to see.

Please note that B-Line employees are not automatically
given time off over the Christmas and New Year period
so can you please speak to your Line Manager if you
wish to take time off over Christmas and New Year
otherwise you will be added to the Christmas rota which
will be communicated to you shortly.

Annual leave cannot be carried over into 2018 unless in
exceptional circumstances which must be agreed with
your division’s Director.

The School’s Caretaker/Manager – Kevin Adcock read Free Flu Vaccination
the writing on the slate and said he knew the area of
Whittlesey, near Peterborough and a few people who Our HR Department are pleased
live there. Kevin made enquiries and found out some to announce that Breyer Group
information on the Roofer who had left the message on are offering all staff the option to
the slate. have a Flu Vaccination – please
not that this is purely voluntary.
The writing belonged to Tony Papworth, aged 23 and
via Facebook, a couple who live next door to Tony’s If you feel you would like to have the Flu Vaccination our
Mum and Dad got in touch. Kevin took the slate to HR Department will shortly be liaising with each Division
Whittlesey and presented it to Tony’s Mum and Dad. to compile a list of staff who are interested. A fully
trained Pharmacist will visit both Head Office and our
Unfortunately, Tony also known as Tonna by his site offices to administer the vaccine. You will be asked
mates, passed away on the 1st April 1997 and his to complete a consent form by the Pharmacist who will
Mum and Dad said how happy they were to read and provide further information to you prior to the jab.
hold the slate knowing it had been written by their
son. It is a lasting memorial after his early and very Alternatively, for those of you that would prefer to have a
sad passing. voucher so you can have the vaccination at your local
Tesco, this option is also available.

We are introducing this as a positive step and we hope
you will give it your consideration. Our HR Department
are hoping to start this process over the next couple of
weeks. Should you have any queries or require further
information, please contact our HR Department.

IT News Compliments Corner

New User Support Function by Utilize Our compliments received during October
2017.
We would like to thank Gareth Bannister who recently
left Breyer Group after nearly 9 years for his contribution Great work from all concerned – Tim Breyer
to the IT Department.
Stevenage Borough Council Roofing Works, Elbow
As the business has grown during that period and Lane – Resident completed a satisfaction survey rating
become ever more reliant on IT, particularly in our B- the overall service as ‘Very Good’ and added, “Very
Line Division, it has become increasingly difficult to pleased with the whole works”.
meet the needs of all our users. We have therefore
taken this opportunity to assess our IT requirements Also in Elbow Lane works were rated ‘Very Good’ with
moving forward and have decided to outsource the User the Resident leaving the comment, “Done a lovely job
Support function. and scaffolding wasn’t up too long”.

After careful consideration we have chosen a company Thanks to our Divisional Manager – Jon Davies, Site
called Utilize who are based a few doors along from our Manager – Anthony Forster and Resident Liaison Officer
Head Office in Romford to provide User Support. Utilize – Mark Giltrow.
state, “Our vision is simple – to give every business the
technology to succeed”. Lewisham Homes – Southbrook Road, Lee, London,
SE12 – Resident advised, “All in all, I am very happy
Utilize were established in 1997 and have a lot of with the works carried out”.
experience in this field, are well resourced with very
good references. Utilize have worked very hard to Thanks to our Contracts Manager – Duncan Johnson,
achieve our ‘Go Live’ date at very short notice. Site Manager – Jamie Knipes and Resident Liaison
Officer – Ali Ahmed.
They employ 142 staff and have achieved top
partnership status with leading technology vendors and
pride themselves on keeping one step ahead with
technology trends in a rapidly changing industry.

Dan Eastham our Business Process Manager will London Borough of Havering - Hendon Gardens,
continue to support users on OneServe and will be Collier Row – Resident was very happy with the work
working with the business more generally, looking at our commenting, “The Plumber did a great job and he was
business processes and our use of application software. very polite and courteous and left my home tidy”.

I am very pleased to announce that Michael Adlam has Thanks to Tony Strange our Responsive Plumber –
re-joined Breyer Group as Business Systems another very happy Resident.
Technician to work alongside Dan with a focus on our IT
infrastructure and liaising with Utilize and other London Borough of Havering – Anne House, Royal
providers. It is inevitable that Dan’s and Michael’s roles Jubilee Gardens, Romford – Following the works the
will overlap to some extent and in fact this will help Resident phoned to say, “Thank you to your Operative
provide seamless cover within the Department. who attended my home. He was very pleasant and
sorted out the fault which I was very pleased with. He
If you require IT support services please contact Utilize:- was so nice and reminded me of my Grandson.
Telephone: (7am – 7pm) – 0333 006 9060
Email: (7am – 7pm) – [email protected] Thanks to Craig Daley our Responsive Plumber – nice
Portal: (7am – 7pm) – request your portal details from feedback from a happy Resident.
[email protected] then log calls at:
https://portal.utilize.co.uk

Other News Teams Wanted for the Tough Mudder
Challenge
We would like to welcome…..
Brett Bussey our Contracts
Mihail Giurgea our new Senior Bid Manager at Islington is currently
Manager. Mihail has previously worked organising teams to take park in
in this position for companies including The Tough Mudder Challenge on
Lakehouse, ProQuest, Liftec Lifts and 28th April 2018 in Henley-on-
SICPA. Thames.
Tough Mudder is a 12 mile mud run and obstacle course
Prior to 2006, Mihail worked for 12 years as a TV based upon teamwork, designed to take you out of your
reporter covering financial news. comfort zone, testing your strength, stamina and mental
grit. It is not about how fast you come across the finish
Outside of work Mihail loves trees and tries to avoid line rather it’s a challenge that emphasises teamwork,
printing when/if possible. He hasn’t saved a tree yet camaraderie and accomplishment.
but hopefully at least some leaves! Mihail also Currently signed up are Brett Bussey, John Walsh
donates blood, he is an O+ Universal Donor and he (Construction Director), Spencer Marshall and Kevin
receives regular vampirical messages from Blood Adams (Contracts Managers) and Dan Williamson
UK saying, “we need your blood again….”.! (Managing Quantity Surveyor) along with a couple of our
subcontractors. Please could you let all your Breyer
Mihail also loves horses, Mozart and the Beatles. He Teams know that we are taking part and should anyone
loves impressionism and spends almost every weekend wish to join us please feel free to let me know – the more
at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He loves martial arts people the better!! Details of the charity to follow…
and practiced Shotokan for 22 years but gave this up 2
years ago. Brett’s telephone number: 07930 196485
[email protected]
We would like to wish Mihail all the best in his career
with Breyer Group. Welcome to the World….

Vicky’s Volunteer Trip to Ghana We would like to welcome little
Eva-Mae Marshall. Both Dad
In September 2018, Vicky Curtis our and Grandad work for Breyer
Senior Customer Service Advisor at Group so congrats to Jack on
Dartford will be travelling to Kwahu in the birth of his first child and
Ghana for 2 weeks to teach English congrats to Pete on the birth of
to children and help build new his 6th grandchild!!!
facilities for them with the volunteer Beautiful Eva-Mae was born on Sunday 29th October at
group ‘Original Volunteers’. 2.10pm and weighed in at 8lb 3oz. Both Mum and Baby
are doing very well.
Vicky has started a GOFUNDME page to help raise
money to be able to travel out there and also to help buy We would also like to say
building materials for new classrooms, toilet facilities and congratulations to Sharon Guile
water pumps. our Surveyor Administrator at
Affinity Sutton on the birth of
Vicky said, “I will be mainly working within schools her first grandchild.
teaching primary and secondary age students the
English language and on other days I will be helping Lovely Alouette was born on
build more facilities so that children in the area can get Sunday 22nd October weighing
involved, get an education and socialise with others like in at 6lb 6oz.
themselves to broaden their horizons and life chances”.
Vicky would very much appreciate your support and if
you would like to make any size donation please visit:
https://www.gofundme.com/vickys-volunteer-trip-to-
ghana

THANK-YOU…

Charity News

Dartford Office are ‘IN THE PINK’

On Friday 13th October 2017 our Dartford Office had a ‘Wear it Pink’ Day organised by Vicky Curtis our Senior
Customer Service Advisor.
Breast Cancer Now’s Wear It Pink Day was organised to raise
money and make life-saving research happen. Why? Breast
Cancer is still here. It’s still tearing apart the lives of families and
it’s still taking the lives of the women we love on a heartbreaking
scale.
Vicky said, “I would just like to thank you all for taking part, it was a great success and I enjoyed every moment”.
Well Done to Dion, Darren, Cassie and Steve for winning raffle prizes, I hope you enjoy them. An extra well done
to Darren for winning ‘best dressed’, you earned it.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DONATIONS – DARTFORD RAISED A FANTASTIC £227.45

Who recently joined Breyer Group?

Mihail Giurgea Michael Adlam Reece Davies Samantha Blake
Senior Bid Manager Business Systems Junior to Assistant Resident Liaison
Quantity Surveyor
Technician Officer

Many thanks to all those who contributed to this month’s Newsletter.
Keep sending us feedback, ideas, news, success stories, events and suggestions to

[email protected]

Breyer News