Albion Environmental

News - Archive 5

CIWM Conference and Exhibition 2006

( June 2006)

We were located in the ‘Training and Education Centre’ at this year’s CIWM Exhibition in Torbay. 2006 possibly saw the busiest year ever at the stands and seminars. As with last year, we hope to expand the business through new contacts from exhibitions like these and increase our customer base. We generated a great deal of interest from Local Authorities as well as private firms and large companies in the wide variety of services we offer.

Whilst at the CIWM conference and exhibition in Torbay this year, Albion Environmental Ltd managed to raise £50.06 from visiting customers to our stand towards the Ayrshire Hospice. Many thanks to all who visited and donated to this worthwhile cause. Special praise also to Neil who managed to raise the majority of funds by asking most visitors to part with a pound or two for five jelly beans.

Return to top

Hard Work Brings Success for Paddy Knowles

( June 2006)

Paddy Knowles, Stoke on Trent Council’s Senior Waste Manager having recently successfully completed his WAMITAB COTC level 4 award in Hazardous Waste Transfer Station Operations has also been recognised as Albion Environmental Ltd’s best candidate for 2005.

In presenting the award Alasdair Meldrum said “Paddy’s work and efforts has not only been successful in gaining accreditation but has produced one of the best Portfolio’s I have seen from a candidate over the past 4 years. We are delighted to recognise his achievement by awarding him our Best Candidate 2005/06 Certificate”

Certificate PresentationFrom left to right Nigel Shearer (Assistant Director, Stoke on Trent Council) accepting certificate on behalf of Paddy Knowles, Jennifer McQuaid-Cook for SQA and Alasdair Meldrum, Albion Environmental Ltd.

Paddy, surprised to have won the award said. “I’m pleased that my hard work has been recognised by this award, Alasdair and his team have helped me throughout and provided me with the support as and when I needed it. Their ability to provide support on-line and through E-mails assisted my completion and was invaluable. I enjoyed all aspect of the assessment and also recognise the support the Council have given me”

Paddy is part of the growing number of Waste Managers receiving training from Albion. With over 170 candidates now registered, and over 70 having successfully completed awards Albion continues to deliver improvements to the training and assessment process. We are now launching a web based portfolio as part of their delivery of WAMITAB courses. This provides the ability for candidates to logon to Albion’s training Intranet to receive information on-line and submit work on to the intranet for information, assessment & feedback. Their training chat room also allows candidates to exchange information, experiences and team build.

Alasdair Meldrum, Albion’s Director said “the experience gained over the past four years by delivering the full range of WAMITAB awards has indicated that candidates sometime feel isolated in carrying out much of the work by themselves. By introducing new E-learning technology, we can not only provide candidates with the information they need to pass the core modules but also deal with issues as they arise. The chat room also allows candidate to link with others and deal with questions and build on shared experiences.”

This new E-Leaning Services is another example of the innovations in training being developed by Albion Environmental Ltd., apart from providing the full range of the more formal WAMITAB Assessments the Company have also developed a two-day introductory course for Waste Managers and Operational Staff wishing to gain underpinning knowledge and an understanding of the WAMITAB assessment system.

The company are also developing with Councils a half-day course for operational site staff to assist their understanding of the legal requirements and practical waste management issues they may have to address in their day-to-day work. These courses provide an opportunity for Waste Managers and Operational Site Staff to gain training and take the first steps to achieving more formal qualifications.

Albion has also recently recruited staff to assist their delivery of the CIWM Waste Awareness Certificate for employees involved with waste and also deliver a related a range of specialist Health and Safety training.
The Company’s Director Alasdair Meldrum said “We are now in a position to provide a the full range of training services to Waste Management Companies and Council’s and are keen to work with them to provide their staff with the training required to assist day to day operations and help them deliver quality waste services.

Albion Environmental Ltd are a small independent Company specialising in providing a range of services for Waste Managers in both the Public and Private Sectors. Following their recent expansion, Albion Environmental Ltd are now able to offer a comprehensive range of services to support Waste Managers in their day to day work and help them shape future service provision. Over and above the comprehensive range of training services described above these services include:

  • Waste Analysis and Recycling Performance review
  • Technical Support Services
  • WML and PPC applications
  • Specialist Support Services
  • Health and Safety Support

Return to top

Waste Management Licence for William Munro Construction (Highland) Ltd

( June 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd have recently secured Waste Management Licence (WML) for William Munro Construction (Highland) Ltd, for their new Waste Recycling and In Vessel Composting Facility at Evanton Industrial Estate, Evanton, Ross-shire. Besides providing a facility for handling and recycling domestic and commercial waste the site has also been designed to accept and process animal by-product waste. The site has recently gained approval from State Veterinary Service (SVS) to process category 3 animal by product waste and catering waste, making it the only site in the Highlands to be approved to handle these waste types. The in vessel composting system makes use of a single Vertical Compost Unit (VCU) provided by VCU Europa

Albion Environmental Ltd are pleased to be involved with the installation of the first VCU Europa composting system in Scotland. Through a range of projects we are currently working on Albion have built up considerable expertise in developing facilities handling animal by product and catering wastes. Services range from support with planning applications, WML applications and preparation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan for State Veterinary Service (SVS) approval. Albion are now involved with the site providing WAMITAB training for site staff and consultancy for future site developments.
If you are involved in setting up a composting system and need assistance please do not hesitate to contact us for an informal chat.

For more information on this story visit the LetsRecycle website.

Return to top

CIWM EXHIBITION - TORQUAY 2006

( June 2006)

COME AND SEE US ON STAND - SG24
IN THE BIG TENT ON THE SOUTH GREEN
Following our recent expansion Albion Environmental Ltd are now able to offer a wider range of services to support Waste Managers in their day-to-day work and help them shape future service provision. These services include:

  • Waste Analysis and Recycling Performance review
  • Training and Staff Development
  • Technical Support Services
  • WML and PPC applications
  • Specialist Support Services
  • Health and Safety

If you are interested in any of the above please come along and have a chat about your requirements or just pop in to see us.

CIWM EXHIBITION
TORQUAY 2006

FREE DRINKS RECEPTION
JOIN US AT STAND SG24
FOR AN EARLY EVENING DRINK

4pm - WEDNESDAY 14th JUNE

If you going to the show and able to attend our reception please contact either Dave Sneller on 07799 658515 or email dave@albion-environmental.co.uk or Alasdair Meldrum on 07789 902678 or alasdair@albion-environmental.co.uk

Return to top

Albion Environmental Ltd SQA / WAMITAB Centre

( May 2006)

SQA carried out a detailed audit of all the qualifications currently delivered by Albion Environmental Ltd on 5th April 2006. We received an extremely positive report, which is a compliment to the staff who have invested a lot of time and effort to ensure we deliver a quality service.

Under the heading “Internal Assessment”, Dr. Jennifer McQuaid – Cook was pleased to note-
“Good Structure & increased use of e-mail, making systems more efficient”
Also under the heading “General Feedback”, she noted -
“This centre has developed very commendable systems of information provision to candidates methods of tracking candidate work and in-house recording systems. There is on-going development of efficiencies across all activities”
And finally under the heading “Good Practice”, she was pleased to note-
“There is a creative approach to enhancing both learning and applicability in the workplace through underpinning knowledge exercises.”
“Overall, this is an efficient, progressive centre”.
If you wish to see a complete copy of the report or wish to talk to any of our existing candidates please do not hesitate to contact us.

Return to top

Ross and Cromarty Enterprise

( May 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd continues to successfully gain work and accepted a project from Ross and Cromarty Enterprises (RACE) to write a proposal for a study into the type, quantity and cost of commercial waste disposal in the Wester Ross area in April this year. The project covered many areas including commercial, farming, household and fishery waste. A member of our team visited the Wester Ross area and conducted a survey of the waste produced by the hotels which meant more accurate data.

Return to top

Waste Recycling Group (WRG)

(May 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd is pleased to provide support Waste Recycling Group to cover office and sampling work for their monitoring team. Our experienced team who have extensive knowledge of environmental monitoring and PPC permit requirements, are working alongside the existing team to ensure work commitments are met. If you require assistance or require support for your environmental monitoring please do not hesitate to contact us.

Return to top

Licence Application and WAMITAB Training

( May 2006)

Albion are currently submitting a Waste Management Licence (WML) application for an extension to the current recycling operation for GR Service Company, Falkirk. In addition to this Albion Environmental Ltd is providing site procedures and training one candidate for their WAMITAB COTC qualification. GR Service Company wish to expand their recycling facility in Falkirk in order to double the area capacity for the site. This will involve the submittal of a new WML application and the surrender of the original licence.

Return to top

Falkirk Council – PAS 100 Composting Accreditation

( April 2006)

Albion Environmental Limited recently helped Falkirk Council set up procedures in order to attain the PAS 100:2005 accreditation for their composting operation at their Kinneil Kerse site, Bo’ness. A quality management system was set up along with corresponding quality control documentation. These were reviewed with site staff and tool-box talks set up with key personnel to ensure all training points were covered. Guidance and ongoing system reviews are carried out on a regular basis.

Return to top

WAMITAB Training and Assessment

( April 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd continues to consolidate their position as the most innovative WAMITAB training and assessment centre in the UK. This is recognised by the number of new clients we have already taken on in 2006. Albion Environmental Ltd, do not believe in standing still and are pleased to announce the following new services for 2006 to compliment our existing services.

• 2 day Background to Waste Management Course – This course will cover the basic knowledge and understanding required to complete a WAMITAB award. Ideal for candidates who are new to the industry or simply wish to improve their knowledge. To find out more please contact us.

WAMITAB Assessment by email – Over 50% of our candidates are having their work assessed by sending work by email. This allows candidates to complete small sections of work and have it assessed prior to moving on to the next section. It also significantly reduces costs by reducing assessor travel time. This option is currently offered to all candidates.

• Web based WAMITAB portfolio – Albion Environmental is currently testing a system where a complete portfolio can be developed and assessed on the internet. This option can be offered to candidates on a trial basis. In addition to the cost savings from being able to prepare and assess a portfolio on line this option also provides a discussion forum for all candidates operating through the Centre.

As always we ensure that training and assessment is carried out by experienced Waste Managers who understand the pressures of managing an operational site. Relevant C.V's detailing levels of expertise can be provided for trainers.

Return to top

WAMITAB Section of Web Site

( April 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd continues to evolve their methods for training and assessing WAMITAB candidates. In the four years we have been operating our methods have changed and we have provided additional services. The WAMITAB section of the web site has been updated to reflect these changes.

Return to top

Computer Back Up

( April 2006)

Albion Environmental Ltd currently handles many important transactions for clients including liaising with SEPA, planning authorities and State Veterinary Services. As part of this service we hold important correspondence on behalf of clients.

We have recently commenced using the services of Back-up Direct who provide secure, simple, affordable offsite data storage. Data backup service is provided to secure our data offsite and the data is stored in encrypted form in two state-of-the-art UK data centres, underpinned by BS7799 processes.

Alasdair Meldrum, Director Albion Environmental Ltd is delighted with the service provided. He says “Back Up Direct system is easy to use, and ensures essential data is backed up on a regular basis – the system is much simpler and easier than backing up to discs”

Return to top

Web based Intranet – Team Space

( April 2006)

In order to provide the optimum service to clients and also to reduce the environmental of our operations all Albion Environmental Ltd staff are set up to work from either their home or from clients premises. The company chosen to provide the intranet solution are Teamspace.

Return to top