Quinns M&E is delighted to report the successful renewal of the company’s BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) accreditation this month. BAFE is the independent registration body for Third Party Certificated fire safety organisations across the UK.

Quinns M&E has been installing fire alarm and emergency lighting systems for many years and has a team with a vast knowledge of these systems working to BS5839 and BS5266.

The company believes that the best way to demonstrate competence to its clients within this area is to maintain the highest recognised standard which is BAFE. The business first achieved this accreditation in 2013 and is delighted to have its certifications renewed following the successful audit.

These vital accolades do not happen by accident. Quinns’ MD, Kris Quinn, would like to extend a special thanks to Darren Conn and Adam Quinn for all the preparatory work involved plus dealing with the Auditor over the two days.

The company is also grateful to Scott Rumson from NSI for his guidance and support throughout the process.    

This weekend, the Quinns team joins the nation as we pay tribute to those who have given their lives in conflicts from World War I until the present day. This time of year is particularly poignant here in Wiltshire which of course is home to so many people serving their country.

At Quinns M&E, we are privileged to carry out mechanical and electrical works for a number of military and RAF sites. This has been a core part of our business for so many years, and we continuously strive to provide the optimum level of service to ensure these vital locations function as they should. Kris Quinn, Managing Director at Quinns, never takes this work for granted and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure health and safety and adherence to MOD security is never compromised.

The company has proudly employed ex-military personnel in the past and a few of our colleagues have strong family army connections. Therefore, we are delighted to announce that Quinns has committed to supporting a Military Resettlement Scheme. As a registered employer, we will assist ex-servicemen and women as they transition from active service to civilian employment within our sector.

As we pay our respects to those who have paid the ultimate price for us, we at Quinns are fully aware of the debt we owe to the Armed Forces Community.

Lest we forget.

Author: Patrick Harrington, Operations Manager

This week we celebrated World Mental Health Day and I felt that as a firm we could not let it pass without posting some thoughts. 

As a male in my late fifties, I am of the generation where the advice given if you were feeling down was to “snap out of it”! Mental health was never on the workplace agenda, and you would only ever ask for time off work for a “tangible, physical” illness or a bereavement. Even when employers began accepting the concept, I suspect I was not alone amongst my peers in initially dismissing the notion of an alternative approach.

My belief is that as an employee, you owe a duty of care to your company, manager, and colleagues, meaning you should only miss work for “genuine reasons”. This has always been the case, but what needed to change, and rightfully continues to evolve even to this day, is what constitutes those “genuine reasons”.

So where do we go from here? It’s clear that a balanced approach is needed when handling employee mental health. Although larger corporations have the resources to provide ongoing support throughout the year, as an SME we also remain committed to continually improving the mental health support we offer our team here at Quinns.

So far, we have instigated a range of benefits designed to support not only our employees, but also their families. We ensure that tools and confidential helplines are available to support mental wellbeing and our team are regularly reminded of these resources.

But more importantly, our Managing Director, Kris, is unwavering in his genuine support of his employees both in and outside of the workplace, for example if they face any issues with their children, sick family members or emergencies at home. He is also incredibly supportive of those who require extended time off – aiming to remove as much from the shoulders of employees and their families as possible.

Finally, taking the lead from Kris, we all look out for each other. People proactively ask after each other’s welfare and lend a listening ear whenever needed. In some ways, building a culture like this adds more value than any external resource and ensures that every Quinns team member knows they never have to struggle in silence.

Since joining the company, my attitude to mental health has certainly changed and I am proud of how we look after our people here at Quinns.                  

Quinns M&E is delighted to announce the expansion of the company’s Construction Team, with the addition of two new employees, and the progression of the construction team’s first Apprentice who is moving onto his second year at college.

Luke Denton continues to act as the player-manager, so to speak. His role is primarily to project manage and organise the team, but also to continue to undertake his carpentry works.

New to the team are Garry Beardsley, who is a plasterer by trade but possesses a full range of building skills, and Richard Neate, who is primarily a flooring contractor but again provides a wealth of experience in general building work.

Lewis Russell will continue his work towards his full carpentry qualifications.

In March this year, Quinns achieved the FIRAS certification for the company’s electrical and mechanical teams. The voluntary, third-party certification scheme promotes good practice for the installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products and provides reassurance to customers that fire protection installed by Quinns is correct to specification and will provide the required level of fire protection.

With the Construction Team now also accredited by FIRAS, any preparatory or remedial works that may be required for these jobs can now be carried out in-house by Quinns.

Kris Quinn, Managing Director commented, “This new string to our bow means Quinns can offer complete building refurbishment packages, which is something we have been working towards for almost 18 months. The team has made a flying start, having already undertaken projects in educational buildings and veterinary practices.

We are delighted to have two such experienced people join the business and look forward to sharing future successes from the Construction Team.”                   

Author: Patrick Harrington, Operations Manager

I am now approaching my fifth month as Operations Manager at Quinns, and given I had no previous Mechanical & Electrical experience whatsoever, I have learnt so much already.   

One aspect of the industry that has surprised me is the volume and regularity of audits which the company must pass to keep its accreditations live. Without these, the business cannot continue to offer our diverse range of specialist services. Indeed, since my first day with the company on 23^rd March, Quinns Ltd has been subject to and passed as many as five audits with a six due next month. 

There are three key reasons I wanted to raise this: 

Firstly, audits are time consuming in terms of preparation and, in addition to membership costs for the various bodies, in some cases are chargeable as well. To cover these costs, the company must regularly revise its hourly rates so that our customers continue to be provided with fully guaranteed, quality installations and maintenance.

Secondly, I wanted to express my admiration for the Technical and Operational Directors at Quinns who prepare meticulously for the audit days themselves, presenting detailed folders of information and in many instances accompany the auditors on site visits. There is a feeling of pressure in the lead up to the day itself and this dedication has led to all audits being successfully passed.    

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the auditors themselves. Our MD, Kris Quinn, is at pains to ensure a warm welcome is received, each guest is treated with respect and of course offered regular refreshments. In return, I have to say that each auditor has been incredibly supportive, pulling in the same direction as the company and giving guidance where appropriate. This enables us to demonstrate continual improvement and keep up with the inevitable changes that occur.  

Audits are not going away; they are necessary for businesses like ours to maintain integrity, continue operating in our niche sectors and add to our skillset. For a company of our size, it can be a challenge to keep so many plates spinning, but we will continue to embrace rather than dread the events and use them in a positive manner. Wish us luck for the next one!