NEWS


Britplas now officially employee-owned


The owners of North-west based commercial glazing specialist, Britplas, have announced that they have transferred their equity to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), in what they dub ‘a significant milestone’ in the business’s ‘journey towards sustainable growth and employee empowerment’. An Employee Ownership Trust is a legal entity that holds a stake in a company on behalf of its employees. Kevin Gorman and John Blackwell have transferred 100% of their equity in Britplas companies to its EOT, but will continue leading the business with the same management team, ‘ensuring continuity of service and ongoing commitment to the company’s vision and established values’. Britplas, whose head office and


manufacturing facility are in Warrington, is probably best known for its ‘ground-


breaking’ Safevent anti- ligature window – which was specially developed for mental health environments, but also designs, manufactures, and installs, glazed façades for commercial buildings nationwide. Established in 2004,


the company says it has experienced ‘remarkable growth’, seeing expansion in the UK and international markets, and now boasts a group turnover of over £30 m. Britplas Group MD, John


Blackwell (pictured), said: “The move to an EOT model is a hugely positive step for Britplas and its employees, which now stand at over 100. I am immensely proud of what our team has achieved, and we are already seeing that by further empowering our employees as stakeholders in the business, we are helping promote a strong sense of shared purpose and responsibility which will create a platform for further growth.”


New resources for parents and teachers of neurodivergent children


A ‘child-centred suite of resources’ for parents and teachers of neurodivergent children – reportedly the first of its kind to be based on research – has been launched. Designed for autistic children and those


who have ADHD, dyspraxia, or were born prematurely, the EPIC Think Learn toolkit can be used from the point a difficulty is noticed – whether the child has an existing diagnosis or is on a waiting list for assessment. Currently, the authors say, ‘depending on where you live, the waiting time to be diagnosed for many of these conditions can be up to five years’. Neurodevelopmental psychologist and EPIC founder, Dr Sinead Rhodes, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for


Clinical Brain Sciences, has researched neurodivergence in children for 28 years, and co-developed the resources with children, parents, teachers, and clinicians. She said: “Having conducted research with neurodivergent children for over 25 years, I have witnessed the waiting times get longer and longer, and parents and teachers feeling unsupported. Many myths exist about these conditions, such as that they present in isolation when, in fact, meeting the criteria for more than one condition is the norm rather than the exception. I see the need for parents and teachers to learn about up-to-date research on neurodivergence, and to receive that information in a way they can implement straight away with the children in their care.” With public engagement specialist and neuroscientist, Dr Iona Beange, on board, and the support of Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, EPIC Think Learn has now spun out into a Community Interest Company. Pictured, left to right, are Drs Sinead Rhodes and Iona Beange.


8


Willmott Dixon to build £20 m LD and autism facility


Willmott Dixon has been chosen by Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board to build a new £20 m mental health unit in Bristol for people across the northern half of the south west region with a learning disability or autism.


It will support up to 10 patients at


any time, and is specifically intended for those whose needs cannot be met by existing hospital or community-based services. With completion set for 2025, the unit will reduce the need for patients to be admitted to facilities far from their family and friends. Ben Stunnel, an autism peer mentor whose lived experience, along with that of others with the condition, helped influence the design, said: “It’s been very rewarding and confidence-building to have our thoughts and ideas listened to, and it will be very exciting to see the building going up and taking shape knowing we’ve contributed so much. I really hope that in future many people and families will benefit from what this new building can offer.” The new unit will be run by Avon and


Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, and complements another similar facility currently under construction in Devon. Laura Ambler, Executive lead


for Learning Disabilities and Autism, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, said: “I know, from speaking with local people, that having something like this based in our region will make an enormous difference to those who may have otherwise needed to have travelled significant distances for the right care and treatment.” Willmott Dixon was procured for this


project under the ProCure23 framework, and is working with Ryder Architecture, Edmond Shipway & Partners, and Hydrock Consultants as part of its wider team.


NOVEMBER 2024 | THE NETWORK


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