Cannock Chase Cannock Chase
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber members
learn from Amazon Businesses from across the West Midlands have had a sneak peak at how a multi- national retailer has stepped up its safety measures to keep staff safe. Amazon, which has a fulfilment centre in
Rugeley, has been providing tours of the site in an initiative with British Chambers of Commerce. Local Chamber members were some of
the businesses which got a behind-the- scenes look at the new measures. Amazon has put in place a number of
new measures to make the premises Covid- secure, including enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures, issuing of personal protective equipment and temperature checks of workers. Gary Norton (pictured), site leader at
Amazon Rugeley, said: “We’re proud to be part of the immediate Rugeley and wider West Midlands communities and want to do all we can to help fellow Chamber members return to work safely and effectively whatever their line of
work or occupation.” Chris Plant, director
of Burton and District Chamber of Commerce,
said: “We’re hearing from businesses of all shapes and sizes about the difficulties in adapting their workplaces to new ways of working during the Covid-19 crisis. “Amazon, an international retailing giant,
has stepped up during this virus crisis to keep its massive warehouses safe, clean and secure. All businesses, regardless of sector or size, can learn via these dedicated, Chamber of Commerce exclusive tours how they too can make their premises Covid secure for customers and staff alike. We’re really grateful to Amazon for providing these tours in order to help other firms during these unprecedented times for business.” Two businesses which took part in the
tours were Burton and District Chamber of Commerce patrons Document Network Services and Bromley Hays. Steve Lockwood, managed services
consultant for Document Network Services, said: “For me, key takeaways were the importance of being vigilant at all times and providing temperature checks for everyone.” Jay Hensman, managing director of
Bromley Hays, said: “Visiting Amazon highlighted how much best practice evolves and that implementing the most effective Covid-19 safety measures is a journey, not a one-off activity and all businesses need to be reactive to changing government guidelines.”
34 CHAMBERLINK August/September 2020
Development at power station is back on track
A multi-million pound project to turn the old Rugeley power station (pictured) into a low carbon housing development is ploughing ahead, despite the Covid-19 outbreak. Developer Engie UK is continuing demolition
work at the site, which will be transformed into a development of 2,300 homes, as well as business units and a school. Work had temporarily stopped on the project due to restrictions, but has since restarted.
‘This will be a tremendous development for our county’ The developer is also now working with Keele
University on a Rugeley-wide low carbon energy network, known as a Smart Local Energy System (SLES). The aim is to reduce carbon and energy costs
for current Rugeley residents as well as those moving to the power station development. If successful, the project may see Rugeley
recognised as an energy innovation zone, which will allow new approaches to energy distribution to be trialled on a district wide scale. It is hoped that this will help to establish a
standard for many similar UK places to transition to zero carbon.
Professor Chris Fogwill, director of Keele’s
Institute for Sustainable Futures, said: “The SLES has the potential to significantly drive the UK forward towards a zero-carbon future, and Keele University is ideally placed to support this landmark initiative. “Our research into smart and sustainable
energy is already leading the way, providing unique test beds for the development of new equipment, techniques and energy sources, all of which will inform the design of the new energy systems in Rugeley.” Staffordshire County Council’s economic
growth leader Mark Winnington said: “This will be a tremendous development for our county and one of the first of its kind in the country. It will demonstrate innovation in a number of ways – low carbon, efficient and green. “It is also pleasing that Keele University is on
board to support the development of the Smart Local Energy System – using its expertise on a local development.” “The old Rugeley power station site will be
transformed into a modern and sustainable community with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles. New industry on site will lead to the growth of our key sector businesses and creation of high-value jobs which is good news for Staffordshire people and our economy.
Manufacturer’s new online platform
Staffordshire-based incinerator manufacturer Addfield Environmental Systems has been forced to turn to the virtual world to help engineers commission its products. The problem for the company is that its
incinerators are sold all over the world, and in most instances an engineer flies out from the UK to complete the installation and train the new users. That hasn’t been possible due to Covid-19, so
the firm has launched an online platform that has a detailed programme dealing with the commissioning and operation of the incinerators. The firm’s marketing manager, Ian Gilbert,
said: “When the travel restrictions first took hold, we knew we had to act fast. “As the demand for medical incinerators grew
we had to ask ourselves: ‘how can we best support our customers anytime and anywhere, without being affected by travel restrictions?’ “Several of our team had completed various
online courses in the past as part of their personal development and proposed we make our own. “Putting together a team from across the
company each with their own expertise, in just a couple of weeks we were able to launch it just in time for the arrival of several of our machines in Cambodia.”
Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650
Chase Chamber Patrons
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