Supply Chain Stability

With the increase of headlines around the topic of supply chain stability, we wanted to discuss the importance of developing strong, flexible relationships in the current fluctuating market.

At Air Technology Systems Ltd, strengthening our supply chain is crucial to ATS’ core ideology of putting the customer at the centre of what we do. We promote a culture of forward-thinking and innovation; designed to provide our clients with relevant products and services; sustainably procured from like-minded organisations.

This approach has enabled our business to prosper through the toughest of market conditions, which in recent years has been impacted by the housing boom recession of 2008 and now, more famously, the Global Pandemic.

These changes to our current market offer up varying challenges: inflation & rising costs of raw materials; delayed supply & increased demand; longer lead times; changes to consumer trends; and the contracting giants bulk buying.

These challenges levy high pressures on SME’s and the supply chain, resulting in higher operating costs and programme delays. This is further supported by Glenigan UK’s recent Construction Industry Forecast, which highlights a significant dip in industrial project commencements for 2023 vs 2022.

With this in mind, one of our strengths as an organisation is to build long-lasting relationships with key suppliers.

Our strategy for 2022/23 is to continue to grow new and nurture existing relationships in our supply chain, in order to offer our clients a guaranteed delivery model.

Historically, we have overlooked the single points of failure associated with a smaller, less dynamic, supply chain.

In answer to this shortfall, we have bolstered the quantity of suppliers we work with and continue to engage with comparable suppliers within the industry.

As we continue to grow our supply chain portfolio, we encourage all prospecting suppliers to get in contact with us: info@atsclimate.com

Three Peaks Challenge for Tiny Tickers

Date: 14th July 2022

On the 9th July at 6:45am, our Dan Milton and his Wife Jemma started their 1st climb up the Ben Nevis as part of the 3 Peaks Challenge. Ultimately, was a tough climb and they met many new faces who joined them on their climb. They summited at 10:00am before descending and jumping on what would be their new lounge & bed – the hot minibus with 12 other people…

The next stop was Scafell Pike, setting off at 20:15 they were under strict orders to climb quickly and be back down by midnight. The climb took place with the sun setting over the neighbouring mountains, and they hit the summit at approximately 22:10. The pace was tough and not all of them made it. The decent involved walking in the dark with their headtorches on to ensure they got down – they arrived at 00:06 for a quick refresh and then on to Snowdon.

They arrived for a quick breakfast and briefing, instructing the group that all of the group will summit Snowdon. They set off at 06:10 and climbed confidently until they summited at 09:05, the Pyg track was the accent and with the morning sun rising in the East made the climb that much tougher as there was little to no breeze. The decent was down the Llanberis Path, which essentially was the end of their journey. Upon the arrival in the village at 12:15 a celebratory ice cold lager went down a treat.

The walk was in support of the charity, Tiny Tickers, in memory of their son Noel who sadly passed away at 8 weeks old, who would now be 12, and this week marks 12 years of him suddenly passing away.

Dan and Jem would like to thank everyone at Air Technology Systems & ATS Plastics for their support and donation. They would also like to thank ATS for making a big donation which kick-started the fundraising to allow them both to undertake the challenge fully sponsored, and also meant the Tiny Tickers Charity received more money. To date they have raised £2,221.00.

For anybody looking to partake in this challenge, and wants to know how much work needs to be put in:

• 15hr 13mins walking
• 41.72km
• 2,919m elevation
• 5,341 Calories burnt
• 21min /km average pace
• 10 litres water
• Lots and lots of sweets, snack, nuts, fruit, and protein bars
• 22hrs in the fun bus traveling from and to Chester Train Station.

A huge congratulations to Dan & Jem in completing this extremely brave challenge, for the best possible cause. 🤍

Click & Collect Healthcare

With automation and artificial intelligence becoming the future of the world, is Click and Collect Healthcare the next step to a fully automated healthcare service?

As we emerge from a global pandemic, we can now begin to review and measure the impact it has had on the evolving world. This article aims to inspire free thought and debate around the topic of healthcare within the UK, and how demand and consumer trends are developing as a necessity in the wake of a stretched healthcare system.

In truth, we find ourselves now more isolated from our already stretched national healthcare service than ever before. The national healthcare service is on the brink of being overwhelmed, more so now than it has been, and yet it keeps on going irrespective of the ever-growing demand and challenges thrust upon it.

Its success is owed to the valiant efforts of its skilled and dedicated personnel, who work tirelessly to ensure the health and wellbeing of others – amid the most strenuous of conditions.

The NHS is the single biggest employer in Europe, and the world’s largest employer of skilled personnel, employing over 1.3 million people – this represents 1 in every 25 of working age adults within the UK .

However, over the years it has become even more evident that pay and working conditions have not been maintained in line with other sectors. This has seen a decline in workforce growth, which is in direct conflict with the needs of a growing and ever ageing population[1].

Over the past 18 months we have begun to see a swing in how healthcare is being delivered and received, this change is a catalyst to the systematic transformation of how prescription medicines are being prescribed transactionally, and more specifically to manufacturing industry – handled and delivered.

With patient waiting lists ever growing and it being an impossibility to get a face-to-face appointment with our General Practitioners – unless we are of course one of those few people who manage to obtain that one available emergency

Are we now seeing and witnessing an ever-growing demand for medical healthcare services outside of the NHS?

The evidence for this would suggest yes. With app-based healthcare platforms on the rise, which offer quick response times and diagnosis – as well as where appropriate private prescriptions and referrals – the path of least resistance seems all too obvious for the general consumer.

Not only does this service provide instant healthcare, but also provides a prescription service that can delivered direct to your door. The absence of face-to-face personal interaction, providing reassurance and certainty, is where this current automated system is lacking.

In contrast, this also could bring in to question the quality of service being provided as well as a ‘self-diagnosing’ culture, we must also on balance appreciate that any advice or consultation given is only as good as the information that is provided. Do we, then increase the risk of miss-diagnosis, extracting a higher demand on manufacturers to produce and distribute these medicines?

This swing in trend is further supported by the announcement of Royal Mail’s new business division: Royal Mail Health. Divisions such as these have been created to support the healthcare industry, including local pharmacies, to ensure consumers have easy and efficient access to healthcare and medical products.

This then further supported by the demand for more intelligent and technologically advanced industrial climate-controlled buildings that we are beginning to see appear within the marketplace.

Are we at the beginning of an online shift in consumer trends, the very same that we witnessed during the pandemic, which changed the way we as consumers procure goods, potentially forever?

Growing for 30 Years!

This month saw ATS partner with South Bromsgrove High School in a tree planting initiative for our 30th anniversary.

Our Initiative

A team of eight from Air Technology Systems paired with a group of very enthusiastic students from South Bromsgrove High School. This formed part of a tree planting initiative linking to our 30th anniversary.

ATS wanted to give back to the local community, whilst considering our environmental responsibility and aim to eventually be net carbon zero.

It made sense for ATS to plant 30 trees at the school, all bought from Willowbrook Garden Centre, an established family-run business within the local community.

Our Community

ATS have established links with the school and have supported South Bromsgrove on several occasions before.

This includes the year 11 mock interview process and at the school’s annual careers fair.

Our Corporate Social Responsibility

Janine Winters, HR Manager, said ‘Taking our corporate responsibility seriously and supporting our local community is important to our business. So we wanted to incorporate this as part of our 30th anniversary by supporting an environmental initiative with a local school.’

Over the past few years, it’s the small and local businesses that have suffered the most, which is why it’s of paramount importance that we support these, making more ethical decisions.

Giving Back

James Siddle, Deputy Headteacher at South, said ‘We wholeheartedly support eco-initiatives, and we are very fortunate to be part of a community that recognises the importance of protecting the environment and engaging young people in this important work.’

It’s safe to say that all had a good time, and we look forward to the next opportunity in which we can give back. Keep your eyes peeled for more on our 30th anniversary.

ATS Plastics Ltd. Launch

ATS are delighted to present our brand-new company: ATS Plastics Ltd.

Our Strategy

Our NEW company ATS Plastics Ltd. has been born from the Air Technology Systems Ltd 2022 Business Strategy, fitting in with our key drivers for growth and development.

The strategy has been written to provide new opportunities, invest in our great existing and future employees, invest in new technologies, and drive our business to the next level.

Our Investment

The introduction of Plastic Ductwork Fabrication to our existing capabilities, is the natural progression for our business. We aim to provide our client with the best possible solution to their Climate Control & Ventilation needs.

To help achieve the strategy for the setup of ATS Plastics Ltd we have invested over £250k of new high-end equipment, fabrication furniture, and workshop tools. The workshop layout has been designed with quality and efficiencies in mind.

Our Team

We have also recruited both Celia Jafkins & Allan Clarke, who bring a combined 75 years of experience within the plastics industry with them.

We have big plans for the growth of ATS Plastics Ltd, with a plan to recruit new talent over the coming months. We plan to equip ourselves with an experienced team, coupled with fresh new talent to be specialised within the Plastic Ductwork industry.

Our Client

All this effort and input is to provide ATS and our future clients with the best quality product in Plastic Ductwork and Plastic Fabrication solutions.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll take you on the journey of the setup, demonstrating the quality of our work and showcase some of our more complicated fabricated items.

Next Steps…

For all Plastic Ductwork enquiries, please contact Celia Jafkins, our Sales & Business Development Manager: Celia.Jafkins@atsclimate.com

Visit our ATS Plastics Ltd page to understand how we can assist you with all your Plastic Ductwork needs:

Read More – ATS Plastics Ltd

A Huge Win for ATS Wellbeing

By: Kate Baylis

Date: 3rd December 2021

This year we set the target of achieving our Level 1 Worcestershire Works Well accreditation, and put a real focus in improving our Wellbeing provision for our employees.

Employee Wellbeing has been a huge driving force over the past few years, as we understand the importance of investing in our people, their training and wellbeing in the last few years and it has been incredibly rewarding to see our people grow along with the business.

The scheme is about recognising the importance of proactively promoting and implementing health and Wellbeing strategies in the workplace and we are assessed against 8 core standards to demonstrate our commitment and provide evidence of the work we have done in this area.

The 8 Core Standards to achieve Level 1 Worcestershire Works Well Accreditation:

• Environment & Culture
• Leadership & Management
• Attendance Management
• Health & Safety
• Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Alcohol, Smoking & Substance Abuse
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity

Both Janine Winters (HR Manager) & Rebecca Clissett (Operations Director) have both worked really hard over the last few months to demonstrate compliance with the standards.

We are really proud to be able to say that we now have this fantastic accreditation.

ATS Secures ISO:14001 Accreditation

By: Adam Westbury

Date: 27th October 2021

During October, our SHEQ department have been extremely busy overseeing the audits to secure our ISO:14001 accreditation and maintain our ISO:9001 accreditation.

This month we were externally audited in a 2.5-day, in-depth ISO:14001 assessment in order for the assessor to make a decision if we could be awarded our full ISO:14001 accreditation.

This is great news for the business, with another formally recognised accreditation under our belt, one which we feel will become important in the months and years to come given the strong focus in the outside world on environmental matters. We have made great progress through the introduction of electric cars and our conscious project delivery approach, both of which were recognised by the assessor as excellent steps forward in reducing our impact on the environment and making the standard work for us.

A special thanks goes out to our SHEQ assistant Emily Cooper for working hard in developing our environmental management system, her efforts in the lead up to the audit and ensuring all ran smoothly.

ISO:9001

The month also saw us externally audited for continuing accreditation of ISO:9001 in a shorter 1-day audit.

Again, we successfully passed the audit and have maintained our accreditation successfully – thanks to all those involved during the day.

A great achievement for ATS – well done team!

ATS Academy – AHU’s Explained

By: Adam Westbury

Date: 16th September 2021

Another installment to our ATS Academy Scheme…

As part of our in-house ATS Academy Scheme, our very own Design Manager, Craig Shaw, delivered a presentation on Air Handling Units.

Not only does this increase our internal expertise but it also provides a basis for all employees new, existing and whom may be working in different departments, a detailed overview of the amazing services we are so fortunate to be involved in here at ATS.

The training sessions have been met with overwhelming success with high levels of engagement, positive feedback as well as suggestions for further sessions and subject matter. This is an area of continuous improvement that we will support, grow, and promote such that it is and will be available to all who work at ATS. All sessions will be re-run upon request as well as periodically as to ensure maximum learning.

Women in Engineering – Interview

By: Adam Westbury

Date: 9th September 2021

Name: Laura Baker

Job Title: Senior Design & Estimating Engineer

Area of work: Industrial

Q. How or why did you choose Engineering as a career path?

“The main reason I chose this industry is the fact it’s so definite – there are only set answers, and outcomes aren’t dependant on the moods of others. I also chose mechanical engineering as there’s so much more flexibility to it and there will always be a demand for engineers.”

Q. What inspires you about Engineering?

“There’s always room for improvement; I’m constantly finding new areas to develop in and apply existing knowledge to. Even outside of work, I enjoy spotting connections between two things which wouldn’t usually be connected.”

Q. What challenges do women face in the Engineering professions?

“Well there’s the obvious – it’s so heavily dominated by men! I find it funny when I’m talking to a client and they ask when the Engineer is turning up, and then I tell them I am the Engineer! Aside from this, a real challenge is how engrained processes are within the industry and so getting a buy in from a client on a new solution can prove to be… difficult.”

Q. What is the most exciting thing about your job?

“The constant opportunity to grow and develop, with new problems arising each day. As I predominantly work on modifying existing solutions, it requires a lot of problem-solving skills on my behalf, which I love. As part of a recent project I spent a week on site, conducting surveys, looking at the whole process and the modifications that needed to be made; it’s great to be involved in providing a wholesome solution.”

Q. What would you say to girls in school/college who may be considering Engineering as a career choice?

“Go for it! There are still not enough women in the industry, and we have so much to offer. Women can bring a different approach to a situation and the ability to think outside the box – which we need more of.”

Exciting things for the Design Team!

By: Adam Westbury

Date: 30th March 2021

As a business, we understand that as part of our strategy to grow and be the very best at what we do in the markets we work within, we need to be at the forefront of current technology and techniques.

Due to this core objective, ATS committed to the investment and on boarding of a new thermal modelling software (IES), to calculate and model heating and cooling loads.

The task to implement this software was courageously undertaken by our very own Stephen Hems & Jordan Walsh, both of whom have committed to providing the role out of training to the wider organisation by April.