ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 nurturenews Welcome Welcome to the winter edition of Nurture News which contains a review of our activities. As I write our winter gritting teams are hard at work keeping clients sites safe and open for business. This year we expect to undertake 60,000 visits weather permitting. Our gritting capability has expanded greatly with many more services so please call or look at the website for more details: www.nurturelandscapes. co.uk/winter-gritting/ I was delighted to be able to meet so many of our 450 staff during the recent series of roadshows. It provides a valuable opportunity for me and the management team to hear directly from our site based and mobile team employees, who make us what we are. Our first employee survey provided great feedback and I m delighted that we secured BALI s Employer Excellence award. On behalf of all at Nurture, Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year. Peter Fane Managing Director SEE OUR NEW G.E.M. AWARDS SECTION ON PAGES 4 5 Roll on Winter Winter has arrived and Nurture is ready. The start of the winter gritting and snow clearance season on 1st November is the culmination of months of planning and preparation and this season promises to be the busiest yet. With responsibility for approximately 2,000 sites and the numbers increasing each year, Nurture has invested in additional equipment and resources to keep clients sites safe over the winter months. Four new salt bays have been installed across the country securing 2,000 tonnes of capacity and guarantee stocks even during prolonged cold weather. More machines have been added to the extensive gritting fleet which includes 18 tonne and 7.5 tonne gritting lorries, flat-bed trucks, adapted transit vans and tractors, all wrapped in Nurture s seasonal livery. In addition to this, we have a UK Rishton Depot wide network of snow clearance providers to assist with our existing in house snow clearance capabilities should they be required. To ensure the gritters hit the streets where they are needed before the frost, we use the comprehensive Met Office Gold Standard daily weather forecast which provides exceptionally detailed regional data of roadside temperatures, pinpointing those sites that need to be gritted. The daily weather data is automatically uploaded into Nurture s bespoke service activation software which in turn activates our gritting teams.
BALI Marvellous Nurture Landscapes is delighted to have won three 2016 BALI National Landscape awards: Grounds Maintenance Limited Public Access for Farnborough Business Park, Interior Landscape Maintenance for the Swiss Re offices in London (The Gherkin) and the third for Employer Excellence. A static team of five full time gardeners led by Davinder Kajla maintains the 125 acre Farnborough Business Park which comprises an attractive mix of hard and soft landscaping, extensive hedgerows and a mix of shrubs and seasonal Teresa Stevenson, Swiss RE, commented: The troughs have been a great addition to our workspace, providing a real focal point and an interesting way to liven up storage cabinets. Staff and visitors to the office regularly tell us how much they love the new plants. planting. With its wide range of occupiers and a renowned heritage quarter with listed buildings, the park encourages public access to many events, keeping Nurture s team busy all year round. The iconic building The Gherkin built by Swiss Re is one of London s most recognisable profiles. Plants have been provided for four floors: Nurture created an equally dramatic indoor planting scheme for the newly refurbished 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th floors which will also be rolled out over the remaining levels. Around 60 bespoke troughs have been planted up with more than 900 plants representing 30 species of differing colours and shapes. Careful monitoring and revision produced a final selection of plants that respond well to low light with a growth rate commensurate to the space available. A comprehensive range of initiatives aimed at maximising the potential of every employee enabled Nurture to secure the Employer Excellence award. Strong and respected leadership across the business, regular and open dialogue with employees, recognition and reward including share ownership, and a tangible commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, demonstrated that Nurture places its people at the heart of the company s operation. Lifelong learning applies to all levels of staff and recruiting apprentices provides a constant pool of new talent. CHISWICK PARK Environmental Success Receiving the award at the Houses of Parliament (left to right) Steve Packman, Emma Mendonca and Scott Jules, proud GOLD Winners for Eco-Tours, Environmental Best Practice. Chiswick Park-Enjoy Work has an unswerving commitment to engaging with its guests and the local community to create a sustainable future which they call Enjoy- Tomorrow. Nurture has been working in partnership with Chiswick Park on a range of initiatives which have been recognised with the prestigious Green Apple award Gold. A key platform for this engagement has been an outreach programme with local schools to help them and their pupils develop more sustainable behaviour. As well as visiting local schools, Nurture hosts eco-tours at Scott Jules, Nurture Team Leader, commented: It s a pleasure to host the young people who are so passionate about caring for the environment. Individually and collectively we can all make a difference to protecting the natural world, and the children can take away lessons that they can put into practice at school and at home. the park to enable the children to learn about good environmental practice. This includes building Bug Hotels, Planting Wild Flowers, talks on the park s bees and a visit to the 100,000 strong wormery which aids composting. 02 ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk
FARNBOROUGH flies the GREEN FLAG The Green Flag Award scheme is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces which recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country while encouraging others to achieve high environmental standards. Traditionally awarded to public open spaces, Nurture was delighted to secure an award on behalf of client Farnborough Business Park. Nurture has provided grounds maintenance across the 125 acre site for three years. The park is home to The Judges commented: It was refreshing and a little unconventional that a contractor maintaining a business park was applying for a Green Flag. The site and its management were both very worthy of being awarded the Green Flag standard. The client should be very pleased and proud of their contractor. Davinder Kajla (left) with Paul Robins Facilities Services Director (center) and Steve Packman (right) numerous national and international companies and a wide array of social and leisure amenities. The Judges noted that the design uses horticulture to present the park very well and scored the site on a number of measures including sustainability and praised the bee hives and battery powered machines and 100% composting on site. Paul Robins, Facilities Services Director, commented: The award is testament to the One team approach we have at Farnborough Business Park. Nurture, like all of our suppliers on site, work interdependently with us to ensure that we continually deliver a high quality environment for all of our tenants and occupiers to enjoy. Other comments included a fantastic programme of events for business park workers and local community and that the park was very clean and well maintained. very clean and well maintained fantastic programme of events for business park workers and local community the design uses horticulture to present the park very well www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 03
The G.E.M. awards are given in recognition to employees for GOING the EXTRA MILE. Nominated employees are recognised and celebrated for their commitment to both the company and the client sites by being awarded a certificate and a 100 voucher. A very big thank you from the management team to all our worthy winners! Piotr Pamfil (left) and Nick Hills (right) Piotr constantly uses his initiative to overcome issues on site and is a greatly valued employee. Nick Hills Nurture Director Xavier Herring (right) with Director Greg Basire (left) Xavier is fantastic and an absolute delight to have around. He is incredibly knowledgeable of his area of expertise and is always happy to offer advice and tips. Ben Thompson Old Mutual FARNBOROUGH BUSINESS PARK Left to right: Steve West, Luc Hinton, Steve Packman, Charles Gale, Davinder Kajla Congratulations to our GREEN FLAG and BALI AWARD WINNERS 2016. It has been a great year for the team and they should be incredibly proud. This would never have been achieved without the exceptional teamwork of all our staff who give great customer service, day after day. Jack Stacey (left) with Manager Tom Glancy (right) Jack was particularly amenable, helpful and went out of his way to ensure I felt nothing was too much trouble. Felicity Adams Office Manager, Biocompatibles UK Ltd Ian Millward (left) and Robin Sergi (right) For his consistent hard work and effort to keep the clients site in top condition. 04 ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk
CHISWICK PARK Left to right: Nelson Milburn, Steve Packman, Scott Jules, Arkadiusz Bednarek Congratulations to the team for winning the GREEN APPLE Gold Award for Eco-Tours, Environmental Best Practice. James Ketteringham (left) and Steve Packman (right) Being presented his award from manager Steve Packman at Croxley Park. Tony Prestage (right) and Will Petit (left) Tony provides help and support across the northern region, giving up a lot of his personal time to support our teams whenever required. Simon Rust, Head Static Gardener at Fawsley Hall Hotel He is always very responsive to any request which the maintenance team have and nothing is too much trouble. We now receive endless comments about how lovely the grounds and gardens are. Charlie Wilson Maintenance Manager, Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa Staff Stories One of the proudest guests at Stockley Park s 30th anniversary celebration was Nurture groundsman David Gittings (right) who has worked at the park since it opened in 1986. Still active on the tools, David is a walking encyclopaedia on the history of the park and the evolving landscape. He passes his knowledge on to junior members of the team while embracing the innovation of new technology. In recognition of his sterling service Nurture s Stockley Park team have marked David s anniversary with a few gifts. David said: I love working outdoors and the team at Stockley Park are a great bunch. I m very happy where I am and not ready to retire just yet. Darren Dunn (right) with colleague Tom Price (left) My clients have noticed a real difference to the grounds over the last month and have been very pleased with the progress. Through the teams hard work at Rugby I know 14forty are looking to give Nature more contracts so it s only right that Darren is recognised for his hard work. David Franklin Soft Services Manager, 14forty / Compass Alex Lyle on the left and John Glover, right Our colleagues did such a great job, they were knitted woolly hats for the winter by a happy resident at Trust Housing Association, Glasgow. Eddie hits the road Eddie Cooke (left) is part of the landscape at Gloucester Business Park which he has helped maintain since 2002. Now approaching semi-retirement Eddie was treated to a fabulous 66th birthday by the Nurture team. In addition to a surprise birthday lunch Eddie enjoyed an exhilarating driving experience in an Aston Martin DB9. Eddie will not be accelerating into retirement just yet and will continue to work at the Park part-time. www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 05
Northern stars A regional structure based on strategically located offices and locally-based staff enables Nurture to deliver an efficient and responsive service. As well as reducing our carbon footprint by minimising travel distances, our local staff have an intimate knowledge of the seasonal and climatic conditions within their patch. Our northern region has enjoyed a great year under newly appointed Regional Director Nick Hills (right). Nick started his career on the tools in 1995 with Parkview Landscapes which was acquired by Nurture in 2012. Nick has extensive horticultural experience gained through working with key clients such as Greene King, Whitbread plc and numerous facilities companies. He is supported by a very confident and knowledgeable management team in the north. Greene King is one of Nurture s largest clients with more than 900 sites nationwide made up of pubs, restaurants and hotels including the Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns, Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse and Loch Fyne brands among others. Nurture undertakes grounds maintenance, hanging baskets and planted troughs, internal displays and increasingly Christmas displays. Nick Hills, Nurture Regional Director, commented: There is huge potential for growth in the region. Our winter gritting service is proving very popular both among existing clients and as a separate service to facilities managers. Keeping Greene King s estate in tip top condition is Nurture Key Account Manager Gayle Pugh (left). Gayle also joined Nurture following the Parkview acquisition and is a valued member of the team. I have really been able to grow within Nurture, said Gayle. From starting as a receptionist and then moving into customer service, I have had the opportunity to further my career internally and now have responsibility for one of our key clients. Each day brings new challenges and it s rewarding to work with so many great people within such a dynamic environment. Commenting on his career, Paul said: I have been incredibly lucky in my career to work with such great people because everything we as a company have achieved is down to the team. Creating new opportunities through growth is enabling others to fulfil their career aspirations as well. Growing from within Nurture s philosophy is that there should be no barrier to ambition staff should progress as far as their talent and abilities allow, and as a growing business there are always new opportunities at Nurture. A preference for promoting from within incentivises staff to remain with the company. Paul Bean is a prime example, he has been with Nurture from the beginning and was promoted to Deputy Managing Director on 1st April. Peter Fane, commented: Paul has been a pleasure to work with. He is playing a key role in guiding Nurture through the next phase of development with the implementation of many of the company systems while continuing to provide operational guidance to ensure we deliver great customer service. Paul began his career when he joined Waterers Landscapes as a student from Merrist Wood on a year s placement. After being offered a full time position on completion of his HND in Landscape Management, Paul worked his way through the ranks and rose to become a Director, leaving with Peter Fane to found Nurture in 2008 with Greg Basire. In addition to his horticultural knowledge, Paul s array of skills has enabled him to hold a variety of positions around the company, from business development to site operations and regional management. Among many highlights he is especially proud of securing the contract for landscape maintenance at Stockley Park Business Park which has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Outside of work Paul has many interests, but cycling and competing in triathlons are two of his greatest passions. He competes in numerous events throughout the year and one of his greatest sporting achievements to date is completing a half Ironman triathlon with the ambition of taking on a full Ironman in the future. 06 ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk
Engaging & Listening Regular and open communication with staff is an essential part of Nurture culture. Employees receive information through many channels such as Nurture News, team talks and digitally. Communication is a two way process with employees being encouraged to raise questions and rewarded for suggesting improvements. A key platform for employee engagement is a series of annual roadshows delivered across the country by Managing Director Peter Fane and the national management team. Staged across eight venues and covering every region, Peter addressed nearly all Nurture s 450 staff on the previous year s achievements. These included acquisitions, national awards, new contracts, environmental initiatives such as electric vans and biodiversity and the results of the first staff survey. He also outlined the strategic goals and plans for the future while also reaffirming the company s values and mission statement. Peter was followed by Health and Safety Manager Robin Jackson who reinforced the message that the safety and welfare of staff is the number one priority, and Training Manager John Bevan has so far this year overseen 396 people improve their qualifications. HR Manager Karen Bish reported on the measures to develop future leaders at every level of the business. At every meeting the Regional Director gave a detailed insight into local performance and recognised and www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk Kilmarnoc k North Midlands Peter Fane, commenting on the roadshows said: The energy and passion of our staff fills me with great pride. I leave each meeting even more motivated and enthused and privileged to work with such great people. Chiswick Stockley London est South W South rewarded staff for long service and achievement. The management team then answered questions as well as engaging in informal chats in the car park! The roadshows have proved extremely valuable in ensuring every member of staff has a consistent view of the company, no matter where they are based or what they do. A prime example of positive feedback came at the Edenbri dge 2014 Roadshow. Our employees suggested moving the show to the Autumn as it would cause less disruption to operations during the busy season. The idea was implemented in 2015, demonstrating a commitment to deliver a quality service by the gardeners and a management team that listens to its employees. ISSUE 20 DECEMBER 2016 07
BUZZING WITH FLAVOUR Nurture Business Plan Award 2016 Angela French and Richard Elliott receiving their Nurture Business Plan Award Nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills and on the banks of the River Thames, Howbery Business Park near Wallingford occupies an enviable location in the grounds of a former manor house. The idyllic rural environment has been enhanced by the installation of two Honey Bee colonies in May. The estimated 16,000 bees have rapidly made themselves at home, feeding off the nectar among the flowers, meadows and diverse habitats maintained by Nurture across the park. In the first season the bees produced 19 jars of delicious honey which is being used by the chef in the park s restaurant as well as made available for sale. Bees are one of Nurture s specialisms, caring for in excess of 20 hives with the Howbery Park colony being managed by Robin Sergi and Ben Nash. To ensure the bees thrive during the winter hibernation, hard fondant feed has been added to the hives which have also been treated to combat any mite infestation. Donna Bowles, Howbery Park Estates Manager, commented: The bee hives were introduced to make the most of our landscape, improve bio-diversity and provide an added interest for our Tenants. We were so surprised to receive our first 19 jars in the first year. We are looking forward to offering a bee workshop to the Tenants on site as so many of them have shown a keen interest in the hives on site. They certainly are a topic of conversation on the park. We hope that you enjoyed this newsletter and discovered something new about Nurture. If you want to know more about us, or have any news you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Email: info@nurturelandscapes.co.uk Tel: 01344 234000 Follow us on Twitter The Nurture Business Plan Award seek to encourage and reward entrepreneurial students within the Business and Law School at the University of West of England. SOUTHERN REGION gets a boost Nurture s southern region has been boosted with the arrival of 15 new colleagues from Proground who joined on 1st November. Serving clients in the Kent and Surrey area from a depot at Edenbridge, the new team bring an additional 109 contracts to the Nurture portfolio. All staff have already been integrated into the Nurture family under the direction of Regional Manager Paul Figg. We extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues as we expand our presence within the Garden of England. The team at our new Edenbridge depot www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk