Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

support to ops
24
Taking steps to a
greener future
THE SUSTAINABLE Development and
Environmental Protection Policy team has
been working towards a greener future
for DE&S sites.
A recent workshop for site
environmental focal points has kicked off
a project to translate MOD sustainable
development policy targets into
initiatives that can be delivered on sites
in 2009. Topics included improving site
management systems and ideas for waste
and energy-saving initiatives.
As well as wider site plans, there are
things we can all do to help reduce our
carbon footprints.
What you can do
Energy
• Switch all equipment and appliances
off (not stand-by) when not in use.
This includes photocopiers, computer
terminals, monitors and printers.
Equipment can be ‘woken up’ remotely for
software updates
• Switch off lights when not required
• Minimise through life energy use of new
equipment or infrastructure, and choose A
or A+ rated goods if replacing appliances
• Alter heating controls or clothing rather
than opening windows when radiators are on
• Replace light bulbs with energy saving
varieties
• Service boilers/pumps and other
machinery regularly
• Change to renewable energy suppliers,
or consider solar panels, wood-burners
and other self-generation
Travel
• Minimise the need to travel. Use video/
tele conferencing instead of meetings
• Minimise car use by car sharing, cycling,
walking or using public transport
Water
• Buy a water butt and use rainwater for
the garden or car-washing
• Have showers rather than baths
• Fit low-fl ow shower heads and taps, or
put a water displacement device (hippo) in
your cistern
Waste
• Avoid buying more food or consumables
than actually needed
• Re-use or recycle as much waste as
possible.
Wildlife
• Plant native or wildlife-friendly plants in
your garden.
Community
• Volunteer for community or wildlife
projects
• Buy local produce
A new fi nish f
Ready for the fi nishing touches: just like a plastic model kit, a repainted
Harrier training aircraft awaits numerous additional markings,
including warning triangles, jacking points and safety markings before
it is ready to return to fl ying duties
A NEW chapter in surface finishing
of aircraft, ground support equipment
and military vehicles has started with
the award of a 10-year contract to
Serco. The company has taken on a task
previously done by RAF tradesmen.
The Defence Logistics
Transformation Proqramme (DLTP)
Commodities Study report concluded
that surface finishing was a Depth
function, and that the trade group
involved, TG13b (Painter and Finisher),
had no specialist deployable role, so
support to the RAF could be provided
by a civilianised workforce.
With an Air Force Board decision
in 2006 to dissolve the trade group,
the Air Commodities IPT (AC IPT) was
tasked to identify a replacement output
solution for 16 RAF sites in mainland
UK, Northern Ireland and the Falkland
Islands for painting and finishing
services.
Neil Plowman from the AC IPT
said: “Various options were explored
and we found the best value for money
solution would be for a single contract.
Following an intensive competition
Serco was selected as the preferred
bidder in December 2007.
“This project was the first to be
subjected to the new DE&S scrutiny
and approvals process, and it was only
after this, and trades union consultation
process had been successfully
concluded in August 2008, that the IPT
was able to award the contract.”
The joint AC IPT, Air Command
and Serco implementation team has
worked hard with each other and the
units to ensure the transition to the
contractorised solution was as smooth
and efficient as possible. This has
involved the integration of more than
90 RAF painters and 20 MOD civilians
with a newly recruited workforce of
more than 100 Serco technicians across
the country, and the introduction of a
new and innovative IT infrastructure to
coordinate the complex range of tasks
involved in the programme.
“It is a unique contract for us in
many respects,” said Ian Wiggans from
Serco. “We’re starting off with residual
RAF manpower, who are going to be
a diminishing commodity. The sites
we’re operating from are also quite
diverse, and range from the largest, at
RAF Marham to RAF Boulmer with
only a couple of staff. This programme
is very important to us, not just in
business terms, but also in giving us the
opportunity to extend our support and
work more closely with our colleagues
in the RAF across the country.”
The end of the successful transition
process was marked at an event at RAF
Cottesmore in December, formalising
the handing over process between the
RAF surface finish trade and Serco.
It was attended by representatives
from the AC IPT, Air Command and
Serco. Speaking at the event, Group
Captain Nick Cox from Air Command
said: “The surface finish programme is
another great example of industry and
the military working in partnership to
enhance operational capability.
“We are delighted with the excellent
work that Serco has undertaken during
the preparation for the handover of the
responsibility for the task.
“Their services will make a
significant contribution to enhancing
the support to a wide range of RAF
aircraft and support equipment over the
coming years, and we look forward to
working with them.”