KBM North News Issue No 3 May - Jul 10

THE NEWSLETTER FOR KIER NORTH TYNESIDE AND KBM EAST DURHAM

Customer Services

Throughout May, tenants were consulted with,

calls were listened into, and feedback was

gained from several managers on the levels of

customer service across Kier North Tyneside, all

with the aim of developing the customer service

training.

Viv Nichols from Housing Association, Newlon

Housing, will be taking you all through a day of

customer service with a diverse customer group

throughout July, August and September.

You will have received a letter to your home with your

dedicated training date in early July, the training is

important to ensure you get an insight into the

customer journey from start to end and how you can

add positively to that experience. You will also get an

insight into safeguarding yourself and tenants as well as understanding the diversity of our customer

group.

Viv Nichols from Newlon Housing with our Tenants group

Benton Dene School

On the 7th June the amalgamation

of Goathland Primary and Glebe

School was achieved as they both

took up residence at their new

school, Benton Dene.

The event was celebrated with a parade

of around five hundred pupils and their

parents taking the short journey from

their old to their new school joined by

Kieran the Kier safety mascot.

The excitement was captured by the

regional TV and press.

Gary Pattison, Construction Division

Manager said, “I would like to this

opportunity to thank everyone involved

in the development of the Design and

the Construction of this state of the

art new school. This facility will play a central part in the development of thousands of children's lives.

Each and every member of the team, no matter how small their part, should feel very proud of what we

have achieved. Thanks to you all.”

Kieran with members of the Construction team.

THE NEWSLETTER FOR KIER NORTH TYNESIDE AND KBM EAST DURHAM

Online Payslips From July 2010 KierPeople, the Kier

Human Resources IT system, will be

introducing a new employee self service

function. This will give you the ability to view

online payslips and change personal information

from any PC, even those outside the Kier

network.

• KierPeople has been in use since 2007 and

has been used to pay monthly paid

employees since 2008. The system pays

around 7000 Kier employees.

• The pilot, which is being run throughout

the summer, will include Kier North

Tyneside. The remainder of the Group will

come online in the autumn.

• You will still receive your payslip in July as

normal, but we also encourage you to

access KierPeople to view your details, and

make amendments as and when

necessary.

• You will be issued with a personal login and

from August your payslips will be available

online. You will, of course, be able to print

it each month should you want to keep a

paper copy.

This new programme, which is already being

used by central government departments, offers

you a safe and secure way to view payslips in a

quicker and greener manner. Please do not

hesitate to contact HR if you have any queries or

concerns.

Well Done…. …..John Hall from the SHE department at Kier North Tyneside who

raised £335.00 for the Teenage Cancer Fund at The Great North

Children’s Hospital in Newcastle. Money was raised between John

and his wife by running the London Marathon. The money came

from donations by the kind staff at North Tyneside.

Suggestion Box

Update

Since the launch of the suggestion box

scheme in December, 28 suggestions have

been received.

A number of these have been addressed, for

example:

• Providing a better standard of tools in stores

• The fumigation of the kitchen areas due to

ants

• The heating problems that we experienced

last winter have now been resolved

• The garden in the centre of C block now has a

seating area

We still have a few suggestions waiting to be

actioned such as providing drinking water in the C

block canteen, washroom vending machines to be

installed in the ladies toilets, and the provision of

an up to date internal directory from the Council.

June Moore wins the May prize for her suggestion

that Kier North Tyneside should allow staff to

volunteer one day a month to help out in the

community, look out for more information on this

scheme!

Well done June!

Ms Gallon from Rennington Close,

Cullercoats: would like to thank Kier “kindly

and from the bottom of my heart for the

work you carried out in my home. I’m

really over the moon and in the future if I

need more work done I hope it will be KIER

boys. Thank you once again.”

THE NEWSLETTER FOR KIER NORTH TYNESIDE AND KBM EAST DURHAM

A Message from East Durham

Dave Hodgson, Decent Homes Manager at East

Durham Homes would like to pass on the following

message to staff at Kier East Durham who worked

on the Edenhill West Decent Homes Scheme.

“Could I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their

hard work and commitment to ensure that the project

has been delivered with many successful outcomes.

In the true spirit of the decent homes programme, it

moves on to the next scheme!

So please keep up the good work, the team spirit and the

good performance.” Well done team!

Mr Coxon from Lawnside, Seaham

would like to thank the staff from Kier

East Durham. “The quality of

workmanship can not be faulted and

it was clear that the lads worked

together as a team.” “They even

obliged - as I am disabled - by fitting

a shelf in my shower and a bathroom

cabinet for me. I cannot speak highly

enough of them.”

Red Hot Partnership

Starting in May, Fire and Rescue Service staff have embarked on a programme for training of

25 gas fitters from Kier North Tyneside to fit smoke alarms in the borough. It is part of an

initiative that will see over 4,000 homes in North Tyneside safer from fire over the next 18

months.

25 gas fitters from Kier North Tyneside will receive training to install the smoke alarms, including being

given advice on the best place to site an alarm. They will also be trained to give advice on how to test

them once they have been fitted. As part of North Tyneside Homes’ annual programme of inspections,

the gas fitters will check the alarms that they install, as well the systems already in place in over 10,000

other homes, every year. Fire and Rescue Service staff will provide ongoing training and quality

Neil Peverley Senior Operations Manager

for Kier North Tyneside said:

“As a key partner working with North

Tyneside Council, Kier North Tyneside

welcomes this opportunity to help deliver

improved fire safety in the homes of

tenants of North Tyneside Homes.

The fitting of the fire alarms, at a time

when the gas appliances are being

inspected as part of their annual

maintenance check is a cost effective use

of resources while enhancing the safety of

the residents of North Tyneside Homes.”

Dean Ash and Roy Hewitt with Denise Boyd from Tyne and Wear

Fire and Rescue Service

Coming

Soon….

THE NEWSLETTER FOR KIER NORTH TYNESIDE AND KBM EAST DURHAM

Kier North Tyneside

Staff Feedback Sessions

At a meeting between the trade unions and senior

management on 26 April, Keith Watson - National

Operations Director - stated that as part of Kier’s

ongoing commitment to open communications he would

organise some workshop sessions to give employees an

opportunity to hear from and question the Kier Building

Maintenance leadership team about Kier North Tyneside

Ltd.

Every member of staff from Kier North Tyneside was

invited to a 3 hour interactive session to discuss the

following:

• Promises made at the point of transfer and what

has been achieved

• Financial performance of Kier North Tyneside Ltd

• How you feel about Kier, look at what Kier could

do better and look at how we can make it happen

• Blu-print and Communications group.

The sessions were well attended and well received with

everyone taking an active interest in what we could do

to make Kier North Tyneside a better place to work.

Staff were asked to volunteer to be part of a focus

group that would follow up on actions required by

managers and we also asked for people to volunteer to

become part of the Communications team. If you put

yourself forward, expect to hear from us soon!

PPR’s Personal Performance Review - what’s in it

for me?

Your appraisal is due throughout July & August –

this is your opportunity to receive feedback from

your manager, discuss your job role and ask for

the training you need to do your job.

Historically, we know that some appraisals were

not taken seriously, but in commitment to you,

all managers that carry out the appraisals are

being given training to make sure it is

meaningful for you.

Ask your manager for your time and date.

Broadening your Horizons

KBM is providing those interested with an

opportunity to study for a work related

qualification starting this September. All you

need to do is have a chat with your line

manager to discuss any appropriate courses,

and then demonstrate your commitment to

learning by sourcing the qualification, course

outline, enrolment details, cost and institute

of learning as well as how your course will

benefit the business. In return, KNT will

contribute to your course. This may be in a

range of different ways, from financial

assistance, to time off to complete your

studies. Other KBM organisations have

supported courses such as HND in Building

Studies to GCSE Maths.

Registered interest does not guarantee your

application will be successful. The final

decision will be determined by John Norton,

Regional Director. Deadline for applications is

13th August 2010. For more information on

the above or to obtain an application form,

please contact Vicky Gardiner, Training

Manager.

Kier have submitted a bid for an ‘aids and

adaptations’ contract with Housing Hartlepool

on 24th May and are awaiting a formal

response. We are also still waiting upon a response to a

PQQ we submitted to Newcastle City Council

for the public buildings contract. Kier have also submitted a number of bids

recently for heating & electrical replacement

schemes for East Durham Homes and Three

Rivers Housing.

Bids

Mrs & Mrs Harding from Goathland Ave,

Benton: “I must admit that my

experience with Kier was a pleasant

surprise, after years of Council repairs,

done by people who were not tradesmen.

E.g. The previous bathroom took 4 weeks

to complete, the new one took less than 4

hours, no mess, no fuss and an excellent

job. The tradesmen were polite and left

the house as they found it. Thank you

and your men.