Efficient water treatment technology
Mouchel, working with Thames Water and Blue Earth Labs, has perfected a water cleaning process that is significantly cheaper and quicker than existing methods.
In order to maintain efficiency in a water treatment plant, the filter media must be kept free of biofoul and inorganics. These processes take up valuable filtration time, leading to a media replacement scheme that is expensive and often takes weeks to complete.
Ashford Common treats water from the River Thames with a process that uses 24 Rapid Gravity Filters. Seven of these had reduced filtration capacity and, in March 2010, were treated using a bespoke application rig devised by Mouchel's innovations department. This streamlined and simplified the application process to ensure a precise dosage without disruption to plant operations or manual handling risks.
After treatment, microscopy performed on the filter samples showed that the visible deposits had been removed and the media successfully restored to near-new condition.
Flat pack classrooms
On behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council, Mouchel was tasked with creating a temporary 120-place primary school at Jeavons Wood in Cambourne. The site was provided by the Parish Council for a period of two years on the understanding that it would be returned for future use as a burial ground. The building, therefore, had to be sustainable, quickly assembled and capable of relocation.
Using an innovative timber 'flat-pack' prefabricated design, Mouchel was able to deliver the four new 60m2 classrooms in just 26 weeks - providing a stylish, energy-efficient facility that could be unbolted, relocated and reused on another site - significantly reducing the amount of construction waste and vehicle movements associated with a traditional design and build project.
100 per cent customer satisfaction
Mouchel has been awarded the prestigious ICE North West Community Award for its work on a £9m pioneering scheme to remove contaminated soil from residents' gardens in a housing estate situated on a former chemical works in Wigan. To address local community concerns during the project, a residents' liaison group was formed at the outset, involving local families at every stage of the works, including project design, selection of consultants and contractors, progress meetings and first-hand visits to similar schemes. Mouchel's approach to engaging local stakeholders on the project resulted in 100 per cent customer satisfaction for some phases of the works - recorded by questionnaires issued to all residents.
Excellent ageing
Excellent Ageing aims to transform Lincolnshire Council's approach to its older citizens by exploring how to use the total resources and assets within the county more effectively to deliver better outcomes for the older population at a lower cost.
By working alongside local professionals, councillors and central government, Mouchel will help understand and respond to the views, needs and priorities of older communities, which will enable people in Lincolnshire to enjoy an active and happy later life. Forty per cent of Lincolnshire's population is over 50 - compared to 34 per cent of the UK as a whole - and this is set to rise in the county to 49 per cent by 2033. Consequently traditional organisational boundaries need to be overcome in order to deliver real improvements for older people, their carers and families.
Investing in people
Following a two-week assessment period, and combining more than 150 face-to-face and telephone interviews, Investors in People (IIP) has confirmed that Mouchel continues to meet all ten requirements of IIP framework; upholding the standard for a further three years. The IIP assessment also provided some useful feedback on areas for improvement including the need for greater understanding of what makes an effective manager and the need for more consistency in the induction process across all business streams.
Integrated transport solutions
In 2010 Mouchel was appointed to review the passenger transport operations within Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council's various transportation departments.
An initial assessment revealed that the provision of the service was fragmented, and offered an inconsistent level of quality for the end user and little in the way of useful management information.
In helping the client transform this service Mouchel developed proposals for an Integrated Transport Unit, comprising new service level agreements, a management information system, a procurement strategy, communications plan and new IT specifications. Oldham agreed to adopt these proposals and has since seen significant improvements to the management and procurement of Oldham's passenger transport, with the added benefit of projected savings of £420k per annum against an annual budget of £3.5m.
Steps to Success
Mouchel is working in conjunction with Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council to implement its 'Steps to Success' programme, focusing on black and minority ethnic groups in the community and providing them with opportunities to engage with the Partnership on career development issues. Initiatives include basic skills training, CV support, and apprenticeships (including mature apprenticeships) and, more recently, a mentoring scheme for 15-16-year-olds. Under the scheme, employees of the Partnership act as mentors to young people in the community, helping them to find career direction and work placements.
Rosscommon Way road project
Mouchel, in partnership with JFG Recycling, has been employing an innovative and sustainable method of reusing carpet tiles to move Great Crested Newts as part of Essex County Council's Roscommon Way road project.
Mouchel and JFG Recycling received a national Green Apple Environment Award in 2010 for 'best product use' after Mouchel ecologists identified synthetic carpet tiles as an ideal way to catch the newts. The nocturnal creatures shelter in damp, dark areas during the day to prevent them from drying out so, finding the conditions under the carpet tiles perfect, they were collected easily by the ecologists each morning.
Almost 500 carpet squares were needed for the Roscommon Way project, so Mouchel approached JFG Recycling for a cheap and ready supply and was able to purchase tiles that were unsuitable for re-use as flooring, diverting them from landfill for use in the trapping programme.
Reducing occupational road risk
Our driver risk assessment and training programme - facilitated by DrivingMonitor - is now a mandatory requirement for all employees travelling on company business (both in commercial vehicles and cars).
The system allows Mouchel's safety team to profile employee driving patterns helping to identify which areas of Mouchel's business pose the greatest level of risk so that these can reduced. Support is given in the form of a driving handbook, online hazard identification training and vehicle inspection checklist.