Staff Newsletter - January 2019

Jan
2019

What’s happening at Breyer Group…?

Issue 9 Breyer Group Pages
are available on
Health & Safety News
Human Resources News Follow, Add and Like For
Regular Updates and News
Roofing News
Construction News

Community News
Watch this Space…

Congratulations…
A Fond Farewell…

New Starters

Health & Safety News Human Resources News

2018 has been a very positive year in regards to Long Service Reward
Health and Safety at Breyer Group. Further to discussions with the staff forum group, Tim
Breyer and the Board of Directors are pleased to
Through our site visits and continued monitoring we announce they would like to recognise the contribution,
have seen our Roofing, Construction and B-Line loyalty and service of our staff and have agreed to
Divisions maintain a high level of safety during all of honour the commitment shown by rewarding long
our activities which is a great team effort. serving employees with additional holiday days on top
of your annual holiday entitlement already offered,
2018 saw several managers achieve a 5-star rating of starting from January 2019.
their site together with the support of their teams.
Employees with continuous service as of the 1st
In Construction, Maciej Lesniewski (our Site Manager January 2019, of five years and up to ten years of
working on the Clarion Internals contract) achieved an service will receive one additional day’s holiday and for
audit score of 0- and therefore 5-star rating a fantastic those employees with ten years’ service or more will
6 times. This is a great achievement working receive two additional days holiday. Please note for
consistently with his team and subcontractors. part-time employees your additional days will be pro-
rated. This award is discretionary and does not affect
Debbie Howick (Assistant Site Manager) achieved 5- your terms and conditions.
star rating working on our LB Islington – Braithwaite
House project. Whilst all employees who meet the service criteria are
eligible please note this will not apply to TUPE
In Roofing the following Site Managers achieved an employees who transfer under separate terms and
audit score of 0- and 5-star rating: conditions compared to those of Breyer Group staff.

Colin Johnson – Dorchester and Eastbury We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our
Neil Chantry – Gravesham Roofing employees for their contributions to the Breyer Group
John Pender – Bethnal Green Library and look forward to a positive 2019.
Dennis Ponti – Westside Community Hall
New Absence Management System for January
Many more Site Managers achieved low scores and 2019
are a credit to Breyer Group so please keep up the As from 1st January 2019 we will no longer use Breynet
high standards we set as a company and any and Open HR for booking absences, training etc. A new
assistance you need please contact either myself at system called Natural HR (https://www.naturalhr.com)
[email protected] – 07930 193446 or has been rolled out replacing both.
Jacey on [email protected] – 07930 193920.
It is very simple to book holiday on Natural HR and
2018 saw Breyer Group presented with a Silver replaces a lot of Breynet’s functions such as storing
Award by the Royal Society for the Prevention of policies and looking up members of staff in a much more
Accidents (RoSPA) which is a great achievement and modern environment.
next year we will be aiming for Gold!!
By now you should have received an invite for online
Please keep contacting us for assistance on initial site training which can be completed from any location.
set ups. However, if you have not received this invite please
contact Dan Eastham at [email protected]
We need to raise how we report ‘Near Misses’ as
certain projects have not reported as many as Well Done Laura
previously. Reporting ‘Near Misses’ is a really Breyer Group would like to
proactive control to prevent accidents and incidents congratulate Laura Musguin our
so please ensure you are recording and reporting Human Resources Advisor on her
them. recent graduation. Laura collected her
CIPD Level 5 certificate at the
Jacey and I would like to thank you all for your graduation ceremony on Monday 5th
continued team efforts in 2018 and hope you and your November, she passed back in
families have a good and safe Christmas and a Happy February.
New Year.
All your serious efforts have paid off
Andy Le Marie – Group Head of Health, Safety and and you deserve every bit of our
Environment. congratulations, well done!

Roofing News Construction News

Breyer Group’s Roofing Division continue to go from Our Breyer team have been working hard installing
strength to strength and during the school summer Kitchens and Bathrooms for London Borough of
holiday period they delivered £2.2m of roofing works. Islington within 84 properties including Earlstoke Estate,
Attneave Street, The Triangle, Steadman Court, The
They completed their project with Stevenage Borough Chestnuts, Amwell House, Cyrus House, Brunswick
Council completing over 1600 roof renewals. The Client Court, Moorgreen House, Midway House and Sherston
were very pleased with the works achieving a final Key Court which are scattered around the Borough.
Performance Indicator percentage of 98% which is Residents included those with special needs and
excellent. vulnerabilities.

The busy period continues, recently securing a £6m Our Site Management Team of Chris Taylor (Senior Site
roof renewal project for Swindon Borough Council and Manager), Ulkina Kuka (Resident Liaison Officer) and
most recently £1.6m of roofing works for Gravesham Alex Day (Site Manager) have worked hard to
Borough Council. Further contract wins include: understand the specific requirements of each and every
resident and estate.
Clarion Housing Group – Roofing Programme –
Duration: 48 weeks – Value: £2m The feedback from the Residents has been fantastic
Surrey County Council – Walton Leigh School – with lots of Resident Satisfaction forms being returned
Duration: 13 weeks – Value: £408,120 with 10 out of 10 for all areas including:
LB Tower Hamlets – Blue Gate Fields School –
Duration: 12 weeks – Value: £440,559 • Information about the works
LB Havering – Havering Schools x 4 – Duration: 15 • Attitude and politeness of staff
weeks – Value: £357,629 • Adequate notice of appointments
Limpsfield Grange School, Surrey – Roofing – • Property left clean and tidy
Duration: 4 weeks - £119,042 • Service provided by Breyer Group
Milton Keynes – Wolverton Chapel – Duration: 6 • Finished product
weeks – Value: £75,000
Some of the comments received:-
Roofing Representatives on Staff Forum • “I’m very happy with the works.”
Breyer Roofing have 2 representatives on the Staff • “I am happy with the quality of my new kitchen.
Forum. Neil Chantry (Site Manager) and Dave Perry
(Business Development Manager). Breyer staff have been brilliant. I was very worried
about these works. Ulkina has advised and
If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments for reassured me throughout, she has gone above and
discussion please email Neil on beyond her duty to ensure this experience was
[email protected] or Dave on stress free. All my enquiries were answered
[email protected] promptly by your staff. Thank you for everything.”
• “Your staff were very accommodating. The
A Big Thank-You Operatives worked clean and tidy. A job well done,
Jon Davies (Roofing Divisional Manager) and Mark thank you.”
Plant (Commercial Manager) would like to thank all of • “The workmen were very good. My new wet room
the Roofing Team for their hard work and commitment. and WC look amazing. Is a big improvement from
what I had before. The Breyer Site Team have been
very helpful throughout these works.”
• “The team were nice and courteous, the Operatives
always cleaned after themselves very respectful of
the household. I like the finished produce even
though I am aware these works are on Council
budget the job is
• very well done. Thank you very much for your work,
is a pity you guys were not down to renew my
kitchen.”

Our on-site Resident Liaison Officer (Ulkina Kuka) was The workshops cover 5 main themes:
singled out for particular praise by one Resident who • Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
stated, “Ulkina was very approachable and helpful”. • Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
• Dementia is not just about losing your memory
One Resident of Moorgreen House was particularly • It is possible to live well with dementia
pleased that in addition to installing a new kitchen, • There is more to the person than the dementia
bathroom and WC our Operative also fixed their child’s
door which had been hanging off for a long time. By helping our teams understand Dementia better we
hope it will assist us in tailoring our works better to the
A Resident at Steadman Court sent a some treats for the need of this group both when in engaging with
whole team with a lovely ‘Thank you’ card which read, individuals and in the design of projects.
“Thanks for all your hard work, much appreciated”.
Rebecca commented, “Our teams regularly meet
We are continuing to work in Islington and hope that the Dementia sufferers and our programme will help us
feedback gets even better. Thank you and well done to deliver a better service to sufferers, their families and
all the team for your hard work. carers.”

Further information can be obtained from the following
website: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk

Dementia Champion Community News
Breyer Group are joining other large companies such as
the Met Police, Fire Brigade and Financial Sector in Harold Hill Community Christmas Lights Switch On
encouraging staff to become “Dementia Friends”. Breyer Group were approached by the Harold Hill
Residents Facebook group and asked if we could assist
According to recent information approximately 850,000 in any way as they were organising a community event
people across the UK are living with dementia and this to celebrate the ‘Christmas Light Switch On’.
is due to increase to 2 million people by 2051. There are
over a hundred different strains including Vascular Tim Breyer was
Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal
Dementia to name a few. The media have reported more than happy
recently that the youngest ever person in the UK to be
diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia is just 32 years to support the
old.
event by
Rebecca Maher (Breyer Group Customer Services
Manager) has attended a Dementia Friends Champion supplying
Induction at The Alzheimer’s Society and is rolling out a
programme of workshops across the Group. Staff can barriers and
also use the Alzheimer’s Association online system to
become a Dementia Friend directly. signage ensuring

public safety.

The event was held on 29th November 2018 in the
Shopping Centre with 30 stalls selling festive bakes,
Christmas decorations, food and Father Christmas
popped along too. Local dance groups and school choirs
performed before the big light switch on

Breyer Foundation Charity Game – Leyton Orient v of people applying for rental properties, job applications
Gateshead etc could only do this over the internet.
On Saturday 1st December 2018 the Breyer
Foundation helped raise money for Richard We are pleased to announce that Hope4Havering’s
House Children’s Hospice by holding a large- application was successful and the area will be called
scale collection at Leyton Orient the ‘Breyer Foundation Learning Zone’.
Football Club during their match with
Gateshead. Breyer Staff Donate Selection Boxes to Needy
Children
Richard House Children’s Hospice is in East London and In December 2018 we collected 100
provides palliative care to children with life-limiting and Christmas Selection Boxes for Children
life-threatening conditions. For more information please in Foster Homes in the London Borough
visit their website: https://richardhouse.org.uk of Havering.

We would like to say a huge thanks to the Breyer LB Havering held a Children’s Party on
Foundation volunteers and those who gave so Thursday 20th December which Breyer
generously raising nearly £1,000 on the day. Winners of Group attended to hand out the
the @breyerGstadium twitter competition also took selection boxes.
penalties at half time with Theo the O’s club mascot.
Thank you to everyone who donated….

For further information: Lambeth Office Get into the Christmas Spirit
Our staff at Breyer’s Lambeth office did a collection and
http://www.breyergroup.co.uk/breyer-group-stadium instead of doing a Secret Santa they put all the money
follow@breyerGstadium together and bought chocolates, sweets, Christmas
#breyergroupstadium puddings etc for the Thames Reach Hostel a Homeless
#LOFC Shelter based on Stamford Street, SE1 where we are
currently carrying out works. They also collected warm
Helping the Homeless in Havering coats and blankets and donated these.
Breyer Group staff all pulled
together before Christmas Joell Reid, Marcia Whittaker and Eve Lewis dropped the
collecting 53 bags of clothes, items off to Laura Pilcher (the Hostel Manager), who
toiletries, blankets, hats and plans to gift the items to 18 people who reside at the
scarfs for the Hope4Havering Hostel over the Christmas period. Further information
homeless charity. Thank-you for can be found at https://thamesreach.org.uk/what-we-
all those who helped out. do/response/hostels/waterloo-project

Hope4Havering was set up in 2011 and is a ‘pop-up’ Staff at our Dartford Office Give Their Support
homeless shelter that moves from location to location Our staff at Dartford collected
and provides a warm bed and food for people in need. chocolate boxes and toys
Hope4Havering have recently rented a permanent before Christmas to donate to
centre near Romford station and worked hard to open Home-Start in Dartford. The
the centre over the Christmas period. children and families that
Home-Start support attended a
Hope4Havering recently made an application to the
Breyer Foundation for funding to provide a Learning
Zone at the Romford centre with computers, printers and
tablets for use as digital inclusion is key as the majority

party held at a local community centre where the Vikki collected money from friends and family as well as
goodies were given out. across the Breyer Group. In total she raised over £380
which was the second highest total of all 350 individuals
Home-Start is one of the leading family support charities taking part. As recognition of that Vikki was presented
in the UK and their volunteers help families with young with a special medallion.
children deal with the challenges they face. They
support parents as they learn to cope, improve their
confidence and build better lives for their families.

During 2018, Home-Start received
sponsorship from the Breyer Foundation
to support 2 of their volunteers that offer
support to local families.

For more information please go to
https://www.home-start.org.uk/about-us

Celia Hammond Animal Trust Need our Help Incredible Amount Raised by Dress Down Days
We are pleased to announce the return of our monthly
Heather Baker (our ‘Dress Down’ Day in 2019 and we would like to thank
everyone who took part and donated during 2018 raising
Administrator on the Clarion an incredible £1,820.89 for several charities nominated
by members of staff.
contract) is asking for our
Staff at Breyer Group
support for the Celia Hammond got into the Christmas
spirit by wearing
Animal Trust who are based in Christmas Jumpers in
aid of Crisis at
Lewisham and are in urgent Christmas. Crisis provide food
for the homeless and just £10
need of bedding for rescue cats awaiting new homes. will give a Christmas meal for
somebody less fortunate.
Tins of cat food and old and unwanted clean towels, Raffle prizes and cakes for
blankets, throw, sheets, duvet and covers would be sale were also generously
perfect if you could have a hunt around at home and donated and in total raised
bring them in to either Head Office, Romford (please £200.
leave with Faye Gabriel in the Construction Department)
or bring them along to the Clarion Area Office at 5 The next ‘Dress Down’ Day will be in the New Year, the
Ravensquay Business Centre, Cray Avenue, Orpington, last Friday in January in aid of Richard House Children’s
BR5 4BQ. Hospice.

If you wish to contact Heather, please email
[email protected].

Thank you

Royal British Legion Poppy Run If you would like to nominate a charity please contact
Breyer Group employee Vikki Holt, her 6 yr old daughter Barbara Duck in the MD’s office or Alex Vella in B-Line.
Bella and Nicole Turner who works for one of our clients
Clarion Housing Group completed the Royal British Watch this Space…
Legion Poppy Run in Victoria Park, London on 27th
October. This is a 5km run to raise money to continue Paul Darbinson (a Site Manager in our Construction
the charity’s financial, social and emotional support to dept) – PROUD DAD MOMENT.
the millions who have served or are currently serving in
the British Armed Forces and their dependents. It was a His 11-year-old son Matthew represents the U13/14’s
very cold day but despite that they completed the run in Kent County Golf Squad for 2018/19 season.
under an hour.

Matthew started playing golf at the age of 2, A Fond Farewell…
using a young guns 7 iron on the range, he
now plays using Callaway woods and After 11 ½ years of service
Taylormade irons. Practising 3 times during and commitment, it
the week and at the weekend, at the age of saddens us to announce
just 10 he was the youngest ever to be Jim Demetriou (Senior QS
selected for the team. in Construction) has
decided to leave us.

In 2019, Matthew will be playing in In his own words “I’m going to hang up my boots (oops
Regional and National Championships meant books) and give the retirement lark a go. I have
including the European Junior Open and enjoyed my time at Breyer and have made many true
the World Junior Golf Championship in friends and I will miss you all. I take this opportunity to
America. express my gratitude to all the Directors and staff for
putting up with me for over 11 years!! Thanks to you all”.
Well Done Matthew for such a great achievement at
such a young age! Jim came into the office to say goodbye on Tuesday 11th
December and was shocked to see many old faces turn
Paul – keep us posted with Matthew’s progression. up to wish him all the best. A few speeches were given
and with that came a few tears, but a lovely afternoon
Congratulations to… was had by all!

Congratulations to Amelia Elson (our Bid Co-ordinator) Good Luck for the Future, Jim!
who recently got engaged as Chas finally popped the
question! Welcome to Breyer Group

Amelia was surrounded by her family
and friends at a surprise party where
Chas got down on one knee. We wish
you all the best and will look out for
our wedding invitations.

Congratulations to Mark Osborne
(our Senior Roofing Estimator) on the
birth of his first granddaughter. Ella
Grace was born on Wednesday 31st
October at approx. 07.44am
weighing a little 6Ib 8oz.

We would like to congratulate Michael
Warren (our Bid Writer) on his recent
marriage to Priyanka.

Michael and his new Wife spent 2 whole
weeks in Sorrento on their honeymoon.

We wish them all the best in their future lives together.

If there are any other Breyer Staff News we should know
about, please email it over to
[email protected] for the next issue!