Quadron strengthens Corporate Management Team
To consolidate recent growth, and in line with Quadron's five year Business Development Strategy and its focus on developing employees and sustainable links with local communities as the key to future success, the company is pleased to announce the following senior level corporate appointments.
- Senior HR Manager: Aly Dickinson joins Quadron to head up the HR team. She brings over 25 years' HR experience to Quadron, has an MBA and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel & Development. One of her first challenges will be to develop an effective appraisal system at all levels. She will also be improving systems for monitoring equal opportunities and diversity at all stages from advertising of vacancies to training and promotion opportunities. Aly said "it is essential to provide support and training to managers to enable them to get the best from all their employees. Quadron's recent growth needs underpinning now with consistent HR policies and procedures that promote equal opportunities and local sustainability and provide managers with the tools they need to motivate the workforce and minimise staff turnover."
- Training & Project Manager: An experienced training manager, Elaine Callaghan's role is to centrally coordinate the effective delivery of all the company's staff training needs and collation of training records to ensure compliance and a well-trained competent and motivated workforce. She will lead the team of in-house LANTRA-qualified trainers and coordinate and develop the apprenticeship programme. Current projects also include the development of interactive intranet training modules for our in-house courses with the ultimate goal of gaining accreditation for the company's training programme to a recognised industry standard. Elaine commented that "representing 70% of the company's annual expenditure, its employees are its biggest asset. It is therefore essential to invest in them and develop their skills to improve service delivery and safety and to ensure good succession planning for the future."
- Horticultural Development Manager: Andy Kauffman has worked for Quadron for three years already as Horticultural Development Manager of the unique partnership contract with The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The success of this role and the many tangible benefits delivered to local communities as a result of it has led to this corporate appointment in order to offer a similar service to all our clients. Andy will be fostering links with residents, friends' of and other interest groups to develop horticulture in the community, gaining funding and sponsorship for many community projects. He will also be developing links with third sector organisations and assisting our clients with their parks management plans and in gaining Green Flag awards and implementing their green and open spaces strategies and biodiversity action plans. Andy said: "My experience with Quadron/Kingston in a completely unique role within the grounds maintenance sector has opened my eyes to the huge potential of the third sector and the power of the local community. Given a little assistance to help themselves, there is a wealth of external funding available to them for community projects. I feel that through this position I have been able to add immense value to Quadron's partnership contract with Kingston and I look forward to being able to develop similar relationships and facilitate such projects on a wider scale".
- Operations Director: to strengthen its operational delivery, Quadron has appointed Martyn Bradley, former Area Manager for the Birmingham contracts, to the position of Operations Director. Martyn will take responsibility for the operational success of all Quadron's grounds maintenance contracts, using his excellent and long track record of successful contract management to develop the quality of service delivery throughout the organisation. Martyn said "It is a real privilege to have been invited to join Quadron's Board of Directors. I am really excited about the challenge ahead and look forward to working closely with the very successful team at Quadron to ensure the continued growth of the Company".
- Senior IT Manager: Andy Meaden has been appointed to head up the IT team and ensure Quadron stays ahead of technical developments to improve operational efficiency such as wireless communication devices and tracker systems. Andy said: "One of the priority projects currently is the implementation of PDAs and the issuing of work instructions electronically to each team. Confirmation of completion of work can also be instantly relayed together with photographic evidence of standards achieved. This utilises IT to facilitate a "right first time" approach to service delivery, empowering team leaders and increasing productivity thus providing a more cost-effective quality service for residents and enhancing the job satisfaction of employees."
Martyn, Andy K, Aly, Andy M & Elaine
Managing Director, Clive Ivil, commented "Quadron is delighted to be in the position to strengthen its team with these appointments. Our five year Business Strategy is focussed upon our people and our clients: these are our future. These are exciting times for our Company, following on from its award last year of Grounds Maintenance Contractor of the Year by the Horticulture Week's Landscape & Amenity Awards and our BALI awards successes the previous year."