As we near the festive season, it’s a time for sharing the love and lifting each other up – so in our latest blog series, we’re shining a spotlight on companies doing fantastic work who deserve to be recognised for it.
And in the spotlight for our first interview? Mike Parry, Group Operations Director of Whitehead Building Services Ltd – a blue self storage customer since 2016.
Mike has over 20 years of experience in building services, and he’s the man to go to for anything ‘construction’.
Hi, Mike. What does Whitehead Building Services do?
Essentially, we provide electrical and mechanical building services to public and private sector buildings.
We design, install, test/commission, manage and maintain buildings across the UK – including everything from heating, lighting and ventilation through to power and water.
Outside of our projects, we’re incredibly community-focused. We’re sponsoring the #CycleChallenge2021, run by 54321 Cymru Cycle with Cycling UK.
We’re also a proud supporter of Mates in Mind, an organisation that promotes positive mental health in the workplace, and The 5% Club, a movement focused on the recruitment of apprentices and graduates in the workforce.
It’s been a tough time for businesses – how has yours adapted during lockdown?
Whitehead has adopted new health and safety practices to continue to work, with new socially-distanced measures in place and new management practices.
Our staff have been working remotely where possible and encourage communication and meetings to be carried out via video conference platforms.
Why do you use blue self storage?
Using blue self storage means Whitehead can get materials and equipment delivered to the storage facility – meaning less storage on site is needed. So a real space-saver!
Our logistics manager can take deliveries at any time of day and can collect the stored equipment for a project being undertaken at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.
The fact that we can access these deliveries 24/7 (because the blue self storage site is always open!) is a huge bonus.
In general, how does self storage help your business?
We need self storage in Cardiff because space is limited on-site for us.
Our projects in South Wales require a secure and accessible environment – blue self storage is exactly that.
So, what projects are Whitehead Building Services working on at the moment?
Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, we’re very fortunate to be able to say we’ve been extremely busy.
We’re currently working hard on:
- UHW’s new surge ward, which will provide 400 extra beds from January 2021
- Llandough Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Department upgrades
- Ysgol Bro Morgannwg Barry refurbishment and newly built school facility
- STEAM Academy Bridgend College
- Cefn Saeson School
What’s next in the pipeline for your business?
Well, our future projects include the Hereford Hospital, Haverfordwest School, and Cardiff and Newport Medical Centres.
COVID-19 has led to a lot of local community help & support – what’s been your favourite ‘community kindness’ story you’ve seen?
Definitely, for me, it’s the commitment and courage shown by the nurses and doctors of the Welsh NHS.
They have been an inspiration to us as a business. When public and private sector staff have been able to stay at home – and in many cases work from home – the NHS staff have had to continue to work through these difficult times.
It really makes you proud to be part of a community and a country that values its NHS and the fantastic work they do.
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Introducing our ‘customer spotlight’ series
It’s been a hard year for businesses in South Wales and across the UK, dealing with projects on hold, staff at home and other pandemic-related difficulties. But through good times or bad, these companies are the backbone of our national economy.
So that’s why we’re launching our brand new ‘customer spotlight’ series, celebrating our business & commercial storage customers who use us to save space & stay focused in challenging times.
We’d like to say a huge thanks to Mike & Whitehead Building Services for the interview – good luck with all your fantastic upcoming projects!
Want your business featured in the next ‘customer spotlight’? Get in touch…
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