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NVQ Apprenticeships with Ascend Training

October saw the spark of a new relationship between Ascend Training and AM Support Services.

At Ascend Training we aim to deliver a flawless service whilst catering for our client’s demands and needs with 100% perfection as our target. In order to achieve such successful results we rely greatly on the support and co-operation of the clients themselves.

Since the very start of our collaboration, Ascend have experienced a great deal of input and support from AM ‘Support’ Services. As a result of working so closely together we have created a bespoke, individually specific, fully funded, Facility Management Apprenticeship which we are in the process of rolling out to a total of 72 members of staff so far.

The apprenticeships range from level 2 to level 3 and cover subjects such as; Health and Safety, Customer Services, Security, Cleaning, Waste Management  and Staff Management. The apprenticeships are extremely useful tools, for the learner to aid professional development, for the company as a whole which gains accreditation and for the end customer whose level of service will increase as the industry specific training is provided.

With our access to Governmental funding and our industry specific training team we are not only delivering accredited Facility Management NVQ’s and Diplomas to the AM support team but also Food Hygiene courses for those staff that requires them. This effective working together can be when catering for our client’s needs.

The deliverance of work place training is a challenging task to say the least, even more so in the facility management and waste management industries. We know this first hand due to our experience and expertise in this field, therefore client co-operation is must. The past month has shown a successful and promising start to our partnership together and it’s all thanks to the support which both Ascend and AM Support have shown each other. As in all duo’s it always takes two!

On behalf of Ascend Training we would like to thank all at AM Support Services for their outstanding contribution over the last few months. We look forward to the many months ahead of this flourishing partnership.

Aaron Larkin

Managing Director

Ascend Training

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Safe driving during winter period

As the cold is now setting in and ice will surely start to form during the build up to Christmas it is important to stay safe whilst driving. Here at AM Support Services we want to help out as much as we can so have listed some tips which have also been approved by the AA.

In some parts of mainland Europe it is a legal requirement for drivers to have 2 sets of tyres: “summer” tyres and “winter” tyres. Winter tyres are not a legal requirement in the UK but action needs to be taken when the roads are icy, so there are some things to consider:

If you live in a remote area and will use your car a lot during the winter months it is worth considering buying winter tyres if you struggle with the conditions.

All season tyres are available which offer a compromise between summer and winter tyres and can be used all year round; these won’t be as good as specialist tyres but are worth considering for the cost implications.

Snow chains can be used in an emergency if there is a layer of snow or ice on the road and can be awkward to fit when it is cold and wet.

If you are considering fitting winter tyres you should contact your insurer to inform them that you are now using winter tyres and make sure they are fitted correctly to avoid accidents.

Always ensure that the tyres you fit are 3mm in tread depth and no less than 2mm and that your tyre pressure is as normal as any lower will affect handling.

Check your vehicle is ready for winter and always carry an emergency kit. Regularly servicing and checking your vehicle is in good running order, before setting out, will reduce your chances of breaking down on the road.   

It's worth making the following checks regularly - and particularly before a long winter journey: 

Check and replace the anti-freeze in the radiator

Make sure your lights are clean and check the bulbs 

Ensure your windscreen is clean (inside and outside) 

Replace the battery if it's not reliable

Your Emergency Kit 

Just gather together the items below and pack in the car at the start of the winter season. You never know when you might need them. Your emergency kit should include:

Ice scraper and de-icer

Torch and spare batteries - or a wind-up torch

Warm clothes and blankets - for you and all passengers

Boots

First aid kit

Jump leads

A shovel

Road atlas

Sunglasses (the glare off snow can be dazzling)

Before each journey in severe weather

Clear any snow and ice from all windows, lights and number plates. Make sure you can see clearly and be seen.

Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged - but don't use while driving.

Take some food and a warm drink in a flask in case you get stuck. Don't forget to take any personal medication too!  

We hope that you found this information to be useful - keep safe!

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Brilliant feedback from Lancaster CityBlock!

Recently we have had some very good feedback from our clients CityBlock in Lancaster, who offer student accommodation. The feedback comes from students in the CityBlock 1 and CityBlock 2 locations.

We always like to see feedback from our clients and reward our staff for going the extra mile and being singled out as doing a particularly good job. Below are a few quotes from the complimentary email about the cleaners at the CityBlock 1 and 2 locations:

"Cleaners- they are a pleasure to be around and chat to. They go out of their way to make sure they dont interrupt the tenants living"

"They are highly approachable and really seem to like their job and have a positive attitude- generally a really good representative of CityBlock's values"

"Cleaners- whenever I bumped into them they were always lovely and friendly"

"They were always really helpful if I had any questions and handled everything in a very friendly and professional manner"

We would like to congratulate the cleaners in CityBlock 1 and 2 for their hard work and for being such a good representative for AM Support Services. Well done!

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AM Support Services achieves its highest ACS score

AM Support Services has achieved the highest SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) score in its history.

The score of 126 out of a theoretical maximum of 174 is attributed to AM Support Service's continued investment in employee training, and the development of a software platform that facilitates improved contract management and measurement of performance across key areas to ensure customer satisfaction.

126 places us securely within the top 10% of approved contractors in the country. 

Five years ago, AM Support Services had an ACS score of just 65. Today it holds an ACS score of 126, employs 300 people and has a turnover of £4 million.

Whilst the official ACS report concludes there are no areas where AM Support Services is required to make formal improvements, the improvement options identified will ensure that client and employee satisfaction remains high across our whole organisation.

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Trialling new camera system in security

Very recently we have been trialling a small camera on our shopping centre security teams throughout AM Support Services. 

This camera is another technological measure we have decided to implement into our security team to ensure their safety as well as the public. You can see a few pictures of the camera below which will be fixed onto each member of the shopping centre team's uniform and at the touch of a button can record what is being seen and heard. The reason for this is so that if there is any disturbance at our shopping centre sites the whole incident can be recorded for evidence and reviewing of the action taken and how to prevent this in the future.

We are always looking at ways to combine technology with our services to remain innovative and attentive to our customers and staff. Using these cameras is a way that we can ensure the safety of the public as well as reviewing individual incidents that occur and identifying ways to improve.

We are sure that the trials will be a success and look forward to using them in all aspects of our security locations.

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25 posts!

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Eric Julier appointed as business development manager!

We are delighted to announce that we have a new business development manager, in the form of Eric! We have seen multiple candidates for the position but wanted to make sure we got the right person in to help further improve AM Support Services.

A little bit about Eric... He has over 20 years experience in the security industry with several major security providers. He has gained experience in every area of the "sales process" including the initial client contact, contract mobilisation and after sales service. He has worked mainly in the North of England, an area which we specialise in.

He stated how he has been successful due to maintaining customer relationships and customer service to a high level, something we strongly believe with our customer relationships. We believe that Eric holds the same values and ethics as AM Support and can see him being a huge success for us in the future!

Welcome to AM Support Services Eric!

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Great Places Expo 2014 Overview

Hi everybody, as you know from our previous blog posts we were at the Great Places expo at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester yesterday! The event was a great success and we met lots of interesting people who were keen to see what we do. 

There were lots of interesting topics discussed by professionals for all different markets and everybody seemed to get a positive outcome from the event. Our space looked great and we look forward to doing more events like this in the future!