Author: Patrick Harrington, Operations Manager

This week we celebrated World Mental Health Day and I felt that as a firm we could not let it pass without posting some thoughts. 

As a male in my late fifties, I am of the generation where the advice given if you were feeling down was to “snap out of it”! Mental health was never on the workplace agenda, and you would only ever ask for time off work for a “tangible, physical” illness or a bereavement. Even when employers began accepting the concept, I suspect I was not alone amongst my peers in initially dismissing the notion of an alternative approach.

My belief is that as an employee, you owe a duty of care to your company, manager, and colleagues, meaning you should only miss work for “genuine reasons”. This has always been the case, but what needed to change, and rightfully continues to evolve even to this day, is what constitutes those “genuine reasons”.

So where do we go from here? It’s clear that a balanced approach is needed when handling employee mental health. Although larger corporations have the resources to provide ongoing support throughout the year, as an SME we also remain committed to continually improving the mental health support we offer our team here at Quinns.

So far, we have instigated a range of benefits designed to support not only our employees, but also their families. We ensure that tools and confidential helplines are available to support mental wellbeing and our team are regularly reminded of these resources.

But more importantly, our Managing Director, Kris, is unwavering in his genuine support of his employees both in and outside of the workplace, for example if they face any issues with their children, sick family members or emergencies at home. He is also incredibly supportive of those who require extended time off – aiming to remove as much from the shoulders of employees and their families as possible.

Finally, taking the lead from Kris, we all look out for each other. People proactively ask after each other’s welfare and lend a listening ear whenever needed. In some ways, building a culture like this adds more value than any external resource and ensures that every Quinns team member knows they never have to struggle in silence.

Since joining the company, my attitude to mental health has certainly changed and I am proud of how we look after our people here at Quinns.                  

Quinns M&E is delighted to announce the expansion of the company’s Construction Team, with the addition of two new employees, and the progression of the construction team’s first Apprentice who is moving onto his second year at college.

Luke Denton continues to act as the player-manager, so to speak. His role is primarily to project manage and organise the team, but also to continue to undertake his carpentry works.

New to the team are Garry Beardsley, who is a plasterer by trade but possesses a full range of building skills, and Richard Neate, who is primarily a flooring contractor but again provides a wealth of experience in general building work.

Lewis Russell will continue his work towards his full carpentry qualifications.

In March this year, Quinns achieved the FIRAS certification for the company’s electrical and mechanical teams. The voluntary, third-party certification scheme promotes good practice for the installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products and provides reassurance to customers that fire protection installed by Quinns is correct to specification and will provide the required level of fire protection.

With the Construction Team now also accredited by FIRAS, any preparatory or remedial works that may be required for these jobs can now be carried out in-house by Quinns.

Kris Quinn, Managing Director commented, “This new string to our bow means Quinns can offer complete building refurbishment packages, which is something we have been working towards for almost 18 months. The team has made a flying start, having already undertaken projects in educational buildings and veterinary practices.

We are delighted to have two such experienced people join the business and look forward to sharing future successes from the Construction Team.”                   

Author: Patrick Harrington, Operations Manager

I am now approaching my fifth month as Operations Manager at Quinns, and given I had no previous Mechanical & Electrical experience whatsoever, I have learnt so much already.   

One aspect of the industry that has surprised me is the volume and regularity of audits which the company must pass to keep its accreditations live. Without these, the business cannot continue to offer our diverse range of specialist services. Indeed, since my first day with the company on 23^rd March, Quinns Ltd has been subject to and passed as many as five audits with a six due next month. 

There are three key reasons I wanted to raise this: 

Firstly, audits are time consuming in terms of preparation and, in addition to membership costs for the various bodies, in some cases are chargeable as well. To cover these costs, the company must regularly revise its hourly rates so that our customers continue to be provided with fully guaranteed, quality installations and maintenance.

Secondly, I wanted to express my admiration for the Technical and Operational Directors at Quinns who prepare meticulously for the audit days themselves, presenting detailed folders of information and in many instances accompany the auditors on site visits. There is a feeling of pressure in the lead up to the day itself and this dedication has led to all audits being successfully passed.    

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the auditors themselves. Our MD, Kris Quinn, is at pains to ensure a warm welcome is received, each guest is treated with respect and of course offered regular refreshments. In return, I have to say that each auditor has been incredibly supportive, pulling in the same direction as the company and giving guidance where appropriate. This enables us to demonstrate continual improvement and keep up with the inevitable changes that occur.  

Audits are not going away; they are necessary for businesses like ours to maintain integrity, continue operating in our niche sectors and add to our skillset. For a company of our size, it can be a challenge to keep so many plates spinning, but we will continue to embrace rather than dread the events and use them in a positive manner. Wish us luck for the next one!                  

As more people become conscious of reducing their carbon footprint and minimising the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity. In the UK, EV adoption has been growing rapidly, and the government has set ambitious targets to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the state of electric vehicles in the UK.

How many electric vehicles are out there?

In recent years, the UK has seen a steady increase in the number of electric vehicles on its roads. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), over 100,000 EVs were registered in the UK in 2021, which represents a 91.2% increase from the previous year. Electric cars now account for around 7% of all new car sales in the UK, with the most popular models being the Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.3, and the Nissan Leaf.

Is charging infrastructure accessible?

One of the main challenges to EV adoption is the availability of charging infrastructure. Fortunately, the UK government has been investing in expanding the charging network. As of 2021, there were more than 26,000 charging points across the country, including over 5,000 rapid chargers. Rapid chargers can charge an EV battery to 80% in just 30 minutes, making them ideal for long journeys.

In addition to government efforts, private companies and local councils are also investing in charging infrastructure. For example, Shell has partnered with Waitrose supermarkets to install EV chargers in their car parks, while Transport for London has installed more than 300 rapid charging points across the city.

How is the UK Government supporting EVs?

The UK government has set ambitious targets to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. To support this transition, the government offers several incentives to encourage the purchase of EVs. These include a plug-in car grant of up to £2,500 for eligible vehicles, a reduced rate of vehicle tax for zero-emission cars, and exemption from the London congestion charge. In addition, the government has also announced plans to invest £500 million in EV charging infrastructure over the next five years.

What are the environmental benefits?

One of the main reasons for the growing popularity of EVs is their environmental benefits. EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, which means they do not contribute to local air pollution. They also produce less greenhouse gas emissions than petrol or diesel cars, even when considering the emissions from generating electricity to power them.

In addition to the environmental benefits, EVs can also save drivers money in the long run. EVs have lower running costs than petrol or diesel cars, with electricity being cheaper than fossil fuels. They also require less maintenance, as they have fewer moving parts and do not need oil changes.

What does this mean for the future of EVs?

Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly popular choice for UK drivers, and with government support and investment in charging infrastructure, their adoption is likely to continue to grow. As we look towards a future with cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, EVs are an important part of the solution.

Looking for EV charger installation?

We’d be more than happy to help! Our friendly team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have. Get in touch here or call us on 01980 625449 today to chat with our experts.