Happy Christmas!

Everyone at Up and Under wishes you a Happy Christmas.  We hope you enjoy the time with family and friends, eat well, drink wisely ;o), go for walks, ride bikes or whatever else you love to do; enjoy the smiles of children and loved ones.  There are too few opportunities to stop a while and just enjoy just being, we all hope this will be one of them for you.

Happy Christmas

A Few Photos

See if you can spot yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbqXGXCvKSc&context=C382e40aADOEgsToPDskJsV2j1KgHqiLSXmTAlCoT4

Employer of the Year 2010 .... and now 2011

Up and Under Group were proud to receive the Employer of the Year Award for an unprecedented second year in succession at the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce's Business Awards.  The judges were very complimentary about our commitment to the development of our team at all levels.  They recognised that we had taken even more steps to create opportunities following our award in 2010.

This award, sponsored and judged by Manchester Metropolitan University, represents a huge vote of confidence in the whole team at Up and Under.  We would like to thank also our clients without whom this would be meaningless, our supporters at MMU and Goldman Sachs, our advisors, the trustees of the Up and Under Foundation for their hard work and most of all the people who form the team that is Up and Under.


Two happy ex- Crewe Grammar School pupils
Andy Fewtrell (UU) and Rick Carter (CTC Physio)

2012 will no doubt provide its fair share of challenges and now one of them is to look to see how we can improve and compete for this award for a third time.

Everyone Wins With Partners

Inspectors from Up and Under and Amey recently joined forces to successfully complete two Principal Inspections in Birmingham.

No, not walking on air, but supported by tensioned webbing!

Access is one of the areas where we excel and these structures had their fair share of challenges including, motorways, rivers and even a canal. Up and Under team members brought their access experience to bear inspecting the sections where the Amey team’s conventional access methods were thwarted by vegetated embankments and adjacent structures; furthermore, the methods used allowed for daytime working without carriageway closures.

This is another in a long line of successful projects where we have combined forces with our clients to get the best result.

If you have worked with us you will know what we are talking about, if you would like to experience the cooperative can do approach of Up and Under give us a call on 01270 589615, Rob (inspection/testing), Miles (structure management) or Grant (difficult access maintenance) will be pleased to get involved.

Cooperation - you get there and have a look, I'll record it

Restricted Access No Restraint to Up and Under

A team from Up and Under Limited completed an investigation project last week in South Wales to determine the thickness and construction of a section of highway retaining wall.

Dense vegetation and a steep slope below the wall did not prevent the team from completing the works using rope access.  These techniques are very effective in terms of time cost and disruption.  We have also used these techniques on buildings and bridges to avoid disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas and also over water.

On this project we utilised euipment with the capacity to remove core samples up to 3m from the surface.  We have the capability to drill holes to depths in excess of 15m where required.

If you want further information contact Rob on 01270 589615 or rob@upandundergroup.com



10,000 Small Businesses Manchester Cohort - Volunteer for a holiday

We have been lucky enough to be part of the Goldman Sachs supported 10,000 Small Businesses programme. The first NW England cohort contained a number of fascinating businesses and over the next few months we will be giving you a taste of the people we shared this experience with.

Heilwig Jones is passionate about responsible travel and through her company, Kaya Responsible Travel, she is presenting people with the opportunity to have incredibly rewarding holidays on a range of volunteer programmers throughout the world. She says:

"Volunteering - its the new adventure holiday.

It used to be the case that volunteering abroad was the reserve of gap year students and missionaries, but now we all have the chance to travel responsibly and have the experience enhanced by cultural awareness and interaction. Volunteering holidays are becoming a popular way to see the world for many more people.

What better way to see the Amazon rainforest, than on a conservation project? You could make some real Masai friends by helping students at a guiding school on the Mara or walk with lions on a Zimbabwean breeding programme. Our volunteers have been welcomed into Indian tribes, helping to care for their children and even enjoyed diving amongst the amazing marine life off the Thai coast, while undertaking important research.

With projects available from just 2 weeks up to a few months, you can trade in your beach holiday for a far more exciting trip that will not only be remembered by you for a lifetime, but will also make a positive impact on a community or environment.

If you're up for a real challenge, you can volunteer with Manchester-based Kaya Responsible Travel in over 200 projects across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Check out your options on www.kayavolunteer.com/

We have a conservation project in South Africa that is desperate for people so we offering free spaces on the wild coast of South Africa for people participating from now until January. For anyone who signs up they can bring a friend for free on stays of 1-12 weeks. Check it out on: Conservation Project in South Africa"

The Construction Act 2009 - useful link

The “Construction Act 2009” came into force on the 1 October 2011 below is a link to a brief outline of some of the more important points as considered by JR Knowles, we have been kept up to date on these matters by the ever helpful, and knowledgeable Geraldine Flemming.

http://www.jrknowles.com/index.php?p=51

We trust that you will find it helpful.

Up and Under Group Sponsor Awards

Once again the Up and Under Group will be sponsoring the North West Civil Engineering Awards in 2012, our 25th year.  The dinner will take place on Friday 3 February 2012 at the Ramada Manchester Piccadilly.

We feel it is important to support the presentation ofthe Civil Engineering industry through the tough times as well as the good.  We hope many of our friends in the NW will be able to join us at the event.

The Up and Under Foundation, which supports development of youngsters in Cheshire, and further afield, will be one of the charities on the night.

Protection against rising sea levels

As part of our ongoing program to protect our Trademarks this web page came up.  Having a sense of humour we felt not only should we permit the use of Up and Under (TM) in this construction context, but we should bring this article to your attention, I hope you enjoy it ;o)

http://www.flyintheface.com/up%20and%20under.html

I also like the Stock Exchange section and am considering ordering a large box of fresh air soon, if only they could supply unlimited sunshine.

10,000 Small Businesses - Graduation

Last night the first NW cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses program celebrated their graduation at Greens in Didsbury.

It was an excellent event attended by program participants, facilitators, tutors, the admin team, the sponsors representitives and the Vice Chancellor of Manchester metropolitan University.

Andy receives his certificate from MMU VC

 The VC presented certificates to all of the program's successful graduates, before speaches of thanks were made and people got down to the serious business of eating, drinking and, well, celebrating.

Andy and the VC - best mates!

Participation in this program has been a joy as well as tremendously helpful to our business's growth plans.

Congratulations to Ann Mulhaney, sorry, Doctor Ann Mulhany on her Phd.


Photos: MMU/Lucy Edgar/Goldman Sachs 10, small businsses 

Cheshire Business Awards 2011

Friday night was both frustrating and rewarding;  frustrating in that we didn't win Employer of the Year and rewarding in that we were identified as one of the three best employers in the county.

This is testament to the efforts of everyone at the Up and Under Group.  I think we should all be very proud of our success.

Below are a few comments from the organisers, sponsors and presenters:

Friday night began with an introduction from Rob Irvine, publishing director Trinity Mirror North Wales and Cheshire, who described the awards as growing in importance every year.

“It was a tough but rewarding job for the judges to draw up a shortlist and pick the winners,” he said.

“The awards represent the pick of the crop of Cheshire talent who are helping to get Britain back on track.

“Tonight you will hear examples of people who have launched start up companies, developed small businesses into bigger organisations, done sterling work in their communities and helped staff to reach their full potential.”


Returning as host for the occasion was Granada and ITN news presenter Lucy Meacock, a former Chester Chronicle journalist with a life long commitment to Cheshire and its business community.

Paying tribute to the businesses represented at the event, she said: “You create the jobs so that people can enjoy the opportunity to stay in this wonderful county and start their careers here.”

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme

The Up and Under Group is extremely proud to have been a participant on the 10,000 Small Businesses programme in the North West.  On 20th September 2011 we will graduate from the first full UK cohort following on from the pilot project in Leeds.

10,000 Small Businesses is designed to unlock the economic and job creation potential of small businesses and social enterprises operating in the United Kingdom. The programme is targeted at small businesses and social enterprises with clear ambitions to expand. The goal of the programme is to provide participants with tools and resources to help them lay the foundation for long-term sustainable growth and job creation in their communities.

The programme has help us to create a more effective and sustainable business model which will help us to provide a better and more diverse service to our customers whilst meetingthe aspirations of our team members.

Andy Fewtrell has been working with Aston University Business School to promote the programme roll out in Birmingham.
10,000 Small Businesses is funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation and delivered in the North West by Manchester Metropolitan Business School

http://www.mmucfe.co.uk/services/providing/10000-small-businesses

An Interesting Programme

For the most part current radio and TV output is background noise, but from time to time you hear something that you think is worth sharing.  As an organisation that believes in increasing peoples opportunities both within the company and in the wider society I found the programme below, 'The Class Ceiling', very interesting so thought i'd share it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014629m#synopsis This has a link to listen via the iplayer.

"Next on: Today (8th Sept), 21:30 on BBC Radio 4


Synopsis
In a major new two-part documentary series for BBC Radio 4, the journalist and author Polly Toynbee explores the ever-more-pressing question of how possible it is to move up through British society. Who gets to break the 'class ceiling'?

Polly argues that, while deference is long gone, and some politicians have swapped ties and titles for first names and informality, Britain's class system is still going strong.

In the first programme in the series, Polly examined how a child's family life and education can block or boost their social progress. In this second programme, Polly asks what happens when young people enter the workplace and in the housing market. Do these rites of passage help break the class ceiling, or do they reinforce it?"

Westminster Bridge Examination

Up and Under Limited continued their association with bridges over the Thames yesterday, undertaking an examination of  bridge strike damage to Westminster Bridge.  This type of inncident is relatively common and varies in seriousness from paint scrapes to physical damage.

Dan with the London Eye in the background

Our involvement with bridges over the Thames goes back to 1988 when we carried out a Principal Inspection of Battersea Bridge.  Later that year we inspected impact damage on the same bridge and thus started an involvement that extends to dozens of projects on 16 of the road bridges on the tidal section of the river.

There are 22 road bridges in total and we would very much like to complete the set.

"Why You?"

“Why you?”

A question asked by a business colleague when the shortlist for the Cheshire Business Awards were released.
“Because we believe in our team and invest in them” I answered.
“Evidence?” he asked
So that got me thinking and so far this is a list of the training and development opportunities offered to our team that I can think of from the past 12-18 months:

• NWDA High Growth programme member - this has opened up a range of half day seminars on a variety of management issues to the senior and middle management team.
• NEBOSH Gen. Cert.- All our directors have either completed the course or are undertaking it.
• LEAD - all of our directors have completed or are in the process of completing the LEAD management development programme at MMU.
• Degrees - One successful foundation degree and one sponsored student this year, continued sponsorship of two candidates next year.
• Foundation Cert. Human Resources - one candidate sponsored on this day release course.
• NVQs - level 6 Construction Site Management: one candidate, Level 3 Site Technical Support; 4 candidates, Level 3 Occupational Work Supervision: 3 candidates.
• H&S Training- a wide range of courses including the whole team completing Emergency First Aid and Fire training plus a range of confined space training, PASMA courses and rope access training.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses programme - One of 23 businesses selected in the first cohort of this prestigious programme in the NW.
• Personal Coaching - provided to a number of staff members.
• Charitable Activities - members of the team have been involved in a range of fund raising activities to raise funds for the Up and Under Foundation that supports youngsters in the local community.
• Social activities - all staff, partners and children were invited to the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power - we cannot be held responsible for the foul weather on the day!
• Membership of the Winning Pitch High Growth Foundation - opens up a range of training seminars to team members.

 These are the things that come immediately to mind and the list is unlikely to be exhaustive, so next time I am asked, “Why You?”, I will have a more detailed answer.

Andy

Cheshire Business Awards

The shortlists for these awards have now been released and we are happy to report that the Up and Under Group are one of three shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category.  So we are officially one of the best three employers in Cheshire, this is fantastic recognition of the efforts we make in creating a stimulating and rewarding working environment.

The awards are now in their 8th year and have attracted interest from the companies ranging from the smallest start-ups to some of the nations largest employers. 

The icing on the cake would be to win the award which will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Chester Racecourse on 16th September.  It would be a fitting step up from the S Chesire Award we received in 2010.

 Our real challenge is to continue getting better whatever the award outcome.

Dakar cars help local youngsters

The Up and Under Foundation teamed up with Rally Raid International to raise funds at the recent Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. The money raised will be used to subsidise adventurous trips run by local schools, Scouts and other youth groups.

Andy Fewtrell of the Up and Under Group said that “visitors to the event were generous in their support paying at least £10 for a ride around an off road circuit in a desert race car” In total we raised £925.

The Charity, founded in 2007 by Crewe based civil engineering specialists has helped a number of local organisations this year including Underwood West Junior School and the Wilson House Scout group.

Rally Raid International provided one of the cars and a driver to support the fund raising event. The Desert Warrior car has completed the Dakar Rally, probably the toughest motorsport event in the world, so took the bump and dips of the Cholmondeley course in its stride.

For more information see www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

Snowdon for Charity

The Up and Under Foundation will be teaming up with our accountants Banks Sheridan and Barclays in an ascent of Snowdon this Sunday.  Members of the team are raising money for the Up and Under Foundation. 

You can support their efforts here: http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Watkinson

David Morris of Banks Sheridan said:

"The impetus of this day is very much in accordance with the primary objects of the charity we are supporting by raising funds:- The Up and Under Foundation.
The foundation is a small local charity which enables South Cheshire youngsters to experience adventure and similar activities which may be outside their reach due to economic and social circumstances. The intention is to inspire those children towards an active and rewarding life."

Please click on the charity website for more information:

http://www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

The Up and Under Foundation currently has approximately £1000 available through its two main funds:
The Eric Swan Bursary - youngsters attending the Conwy Centre
The Tom Dootson Memorial Fund - Working with the local Scouting community

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

For those of you attending Cholmondeley the following is a link to the TV add that will be aired next week on Granada TV.

http://www.cpop.co.uk/event-attractions/cpop-tv-ad

We are looking forward to seeing many friends at the event where we will be offering rides in Dakar race cars to raise money for the Up and Under Foundation.

Controlled Tension at Up and Under Limited

Specialist bolt manufacturer TCB were impressed with the work we recently undertook on Chain Bridge, Monmouthshire, using their products; so much so they wrote about it here:

http://www.tcbolts.co.uk/16_projects/11_Rivet_replacement.html

If you'd like to discuss a similar project contact Rob Huges on 01270 589615

Engineering Excellence Awards 2011

Up and Under Limited, together with Network Rail and BAM Nuttall are tonight finalists in the ICE, SE England,  Engineering Excellence Awards 2011 for the surface retention design works at Falmer Cutting.

The project was an excellent example of combining specialists from a number of organisations to produce a project meeting the needs of the client through cooperation.

Network rail commented:

"The site had complex access and involved negotiating with a number of parties. When access was obtained the works comprised the installation of soil nails and rock netting. This was carried out without impact on the railway using a novel catch fence. The works were completed early resulting in project savings and reduced impact on the travelling public."

Working with clients to produce great results often sounds expensive and time consuming but the comments above provide you with at least puase for thought.

Well done to Rob for carrying this project through, hopefully he will get his hand on the prize this evening.

Up and Under Foundation - Update

Just a short ipdate on where we are up to. 

We have recieved a letter from the Scout group we helped with funding for their trip to the Menin Gate and Ypres.  It would to appear to have been an enjoyable and eye opening trip and they even met the Australian Ambassador.  It wasn't all sombre experiences and Scouuts being Scouts they did manage to sample the local Belgium Chocolates and visit a theme park before returning home.

We currently have £500 immediately available to youngsters through the Eric Swan bursary and the Tom Dootson Memorial fund so if you know of any youngsters who need assistance with funding for trips to the Conway Centre or of Scout activities in South Cheshire needing assistance for less well off members please contact us.

Details can be found at: http://www.upandundergroup.com/community.html

And if you are considering a fund raising event or are organising a function where we could have a collection please do not hesitate to contact us.  You can be sure that funds will not be swallowed up like this:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/53999/
Because all admin and insurance costs are met by the Up and Under Group.

Development training

Andy will be continuing his series of Commercial Awareness courses for Thomas Telford in Birmingham today.  If you don't know your variable costs from your fixed costs or understand just how important getting your invoices in on time is then this could be one for you.

Up and Under director on the Radio

Andy Fewtrell will be on Redshift Radio www.redshiftradio.co.uk between 10 and 11am today on the day to day business show.  Andy is a regular contributer to the Monday morning show, reviewing business and personal development books.

If you miss it you can listen again by going to the Redshift web site.  If you are in the Crewe area catch it on 87.7FM

2011 Specialist Awards - National Finalist

Sadly we didn't win an award this year, but national finalist is a good start, we'll have to see what we can do to improve before the 2012 awards, but meanwhile the comments of the Construction News Editor, Nick Edwards make good reading:

 “Eighty companies made it onto the shortlist of this year’s awards across 18 categories. Eighty reasons why whatever the state of the economy, while the planners delay, the politicians talk and the bankers get paid, the country’s specialist subcontractors will keep on delivering the goods. Well done to all of you.”

Rope access bridge inspection for Hyder Consulting
http://www.upandundergroup.com/uubridges.html

Installation of safety netting
http://www.upandundergroup.com/scltd.html

Safety Training
http://www.entrainment.co.uk/

 We are here to solve your problems whenever or wherever you need us.

24 Today!

Today we are celebrating 24 years of Up and Under.  Established in 1987, while Andy was carrying out sewer and manhole surveys in Southampton, it was spring 1988 before we did our first rope access inspection, on two tower blocks in Guildford.

First desk in Underwood Lane

Andy Perkins, now a mountain guide in Chamonix, Southampton 1987

Our first exhibition



Up and Under One - On the Snowdon Mountain Railway

Set up to do jobs others couldn't do safely the, then, new notepaper carried the promise 'Above, Below, Through ............ Anything!' and looking back over the last 24 years I think that has proved to be pretty close to the mark.



Autumn 1988 - skint, huge debts then somebody
 crashed into Battersea Bridge, phew! The rest they say is history ;o)



Years later, Simon's first job and a step into the future.

Thanks to everyone who has made the past 24 years not only possible, but also fun.

Up and Under Downhill at Speed!

Rob Hughes - Director at Up and Under Limited - started his 2011 downhill race season started on Sunday 20^th Feb. and got his best result yet.  He said it is looking positive for the rest of the year.  The result  – 7^th place in category, 3.81 sec off fastest time in category!

Rob - Flat out!

Rob's day job has no less adrenelin as he is responsible for the activities of our speciaist access consulting company.  He has recently been involved with a range of confined space, rope access and waterborne projects.


Rob - Hanging around!

If you have a project requiring inspection, testing or surveying in a difficult location you can contact him on rob@upandundergroup.com

Culvert failure video

Do you have any culverts that need inspecting before this happens?

Scarify a Road Surface - Funny blooper videos are here

Running to Help

More than 100 members of the South Cheshire Harriers witnessed the presentation of a cheque for £1600 to the Up and Under Foundation at their recent annual prize giving event. Profits from races organised by the club were added to sponsorship money raised by members at events including the London Marathon.

The club, which meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Vagrants sports club, provides a warm welcome to runners of all standards and abilities. The club’s success during 2010 is reflected as much in the new recruits who have been supported in their running development as in the club’s achievements in many local and regional events. It is a measure of the strength and confidence of the club that it has been able to make such a significant contribution to the Foundation’s charitable efforts.



Marathon fundraisers Mike Hatton and Peter Marquis-Jones

present a cheque to charity founder Andy Fewtrell.

Photo by Roger Foden

The money will be used to help local youngsters access courses and activity events which they might otherwise be unable to attend due to lack of money. All of the money will be used for these purposes as The Up and Under Group covers all of the administration costs of the charity.
If you want to help raise money for the Up and Under Foundation we have a just giving page www.justgiving.com/upandunder . We will continue to support local youngsters with grants throughout 2011.

ICE NW Civil Engineering Awards

In 2011 we will be sponsoring these awards. As a company we feel it is important to support stuff: charity, young people, profesional development and sporting endeavour are just some of our interests.

The Civil Engineering industry has an important and exciting history in the North West, but also today it contributes to the health, wealth and pleasure of all of our society, a fact often lost in our celebrity centred world.

Well tomorrow many of the hard working people who ensure that we have safe drinking water, roads, airports, sports stadia, shopping centres, hospitals, power and many other essentials of our modern life will recieve their recognition and we are proud to be supporting this event.

Good luck to all of the finalists from the Up and Under Group.

Rope Access inspection in Manchester

Specialist Contractors Awards 2011

The Up and Under Group seems to be on the Awards trail again. After our success as best Employer in the 2010 S Cheshire Chamber of Commerce's Awards we have been shortlisted in the Scaffolding and Access section of the Specialists Awards.

These awards are one of the construction industry's most notable annual events, recognising and rewarding the best specialist contractors in the business, run by Construction News and with the support of the National Specialist Contractors Council.

The shortlisting is in reccognition of our innovative approach to overcoming access problems for our clients, to undertake both inspection and maintenance works.

If you have an access problem associated with a project give us a call: 01270 589615 or take a look at our web site for inspiration: www.upandundergroup.com

Will we win the award? Well you have to be in it to win it ,and we are so watch this blog to find out ;o) Results announced at the Hilton Hotel in London on 22nd March. Now we need to get some work done to pay for the tickets!

2010 Oh! - The results

Remember this?

Well after a year of effort by many members ofthe Up and Under team we are totalling up the results and they are impressive.

With some funds still to collect we have raised :

£25,349

A big thank you needs to go out to all those who have cycled, baked, Wii'd, sold stuff and plain old given.  We have had support from clients, staff, friends and suppliers.

The target of £20,100 was considered optimistic by many (who didn't know Up and Under) but the fact that we have smashed it indicates just what we can do.

The bulk of the the money will be invested and the money earned from the investments used to provide funds to help disadvantaged youngsters enjoy life enhancing experiences.

So 2011, what next?  We have a number of schemes and projects ongoing and will no doubt be repoporting on them throughout the year and if you have a spare fiverthat you want to add to the pot go to:

http://www.justgiving.com/upandunder/Donate

Thanks