Network Rail have announced they are ready to move an 11,000 tonne, pre-built tunnel into place under one of the UK’s busiest railway lines, in what is a first for UK engineering. The huge concrete box weighing more than the Eiffel Tower, will be slid under the rail infrastructure at Werrington, north of Peterborough, where the East Coast main line is crossed by a slow moving east-west freight route. The purpose of the tunnel is to take slower freight trains off the fast route, speeding up services and improving reliability. This will be a nine-day operation with work taking place later this month, avoiding an extended time of passenger disruption if traditional tunnelling methods had been used. The tunnel has been constructed over the last nine months beside the line and is ready to be installed using massive jacks that will inch it into position, pushing it at just 1.5m per hour along pre-installed guiding supports. Paul Rutter, route director for Network Rail’s East Coast line stated: “This is a massive engineering challenge, but it will avoid hundreds of hours of closure on one of the most important lines in the country.This is industry leading work that really puts the needs of passengers first in how we approach improvement work. In the past, Network Rail might have approached this problem by thinking about the easiest way to do the engineering. Instead, I’m proud to say we have come up with a creative and innovative solution that will deliver massive benefits while keeping disruption to a minimum.” Despite the line being kept open during the installation, it will mean a very limited number of services will run south of Grantham throughout the operation. Passengers who must travel are asked to plan ahead and think about whether journeys are necessary while the work is taking place. Paul added: “Passengers should only travel south of Grantham during these nine days if they have to,” said a spokesperson on behalf of the line’s train operators. “We strongly advise people to check before they travel and allow plenty of time as journeys will take longer.” Rail minister, Chris Heaton was also full of praise for the innovative project: “This is an astonishing feat, underlining this country’s reputation for pioneering engineering and delivering major upgrades for passengers.”“By undertaking a project of this magnitude now we are making the most of our railways being quieter, putting in place vital new infrastructure that will improve our railways for when passengers are safe to return.”Morson is the UK's leading rail recruiter, working on some of the biggest rail projects. Search our latest jobs in rail here
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Ged Mason OBE, Morson Group CEO, has become a patron of the Standing Tall Foundation, the charitable organisation set up by Morson ambassador and ex-forces veteran Andy Reid MBE to support vulnerable young people and veterans in local communities. Andy established the Standing Tall Foundation based on his own ‘lived experience’. While proud to have served in the armed forces in the 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, he also believes that the societal factors and personal reasons that lead young people to join the armed forces are not always healthy ones. There are potentially damaging consequences of carrying personal issues into service only to have them compounded by traumatic events experienced whilst on active duty. Consequently, Andy has spent the last several years working to offer mental health support and veterans support. The inspiration for the Foundation came through helping Alex Kemp, another solider from Andy’s battalion. Alex was first on the scene when Andy stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan. Providing care for him in the crucial first minutes after the explosion, Alex helped save Andy’s life. Several years ago, Alex found himself suffering from PTSD and homeless. With the assistance of Morson Group and Step Forward Homes, Andy helped provide support, work and accommodation for Alex, turning his life around. This intervention was a contributory factor which led to the eventual formation of the Standing Tall Foundation, as Andy saw at close quarters the level of need and the inability of traditional larger charitable institutions to respond. Set up to consolidate his charitable activities, the Standing Tall Foundation’s overarching aim is to support vulnerable young people and veterans in local communities. It works to achieve this objective by delivering funded programmes, designed to improve, enhance and help individuals across a broad spectrum of needs. In order to future proof the charity, Andy has looked to enlist patrons to help with key financial support as the charity grows in scope and reach. Andy Reid MBE said: “There has never been a greater need in modern times for support organisations, particularly due to the effects of the pandemic. Ged has become a very good friend and role model to me since I commenced working for Morson Group as a brand ambassador. It was therefore an easy choice when I started to consider who might be a potential patron for my foundation. In effect the decision made itself. I believe Ged’s involvement can only push the Foundation on to greater things, opening contacts and opportunities which might otherwise be unobtainable. This will enable us to help more people and work with greater reach. The Standing Tall Foundation board and I are delighted to have Ged on board as a patron.” Ged Mason OBE said: “When I first met Andy several years ago, I saw a man who embodied bravery, courage, respect, integrity and selfless commitment to helping others. I could think of nobody more suited to the role of ambassador to the Morson Group and Andy has been active in not only helping our teams recruit ex-forces veterans into civilian careers but has also taken part in our charity activity. I’m incredibly proud to be supporting the Standing Tall Foundation and I look forward to seeing Andy make it expand so he can do what he does so well – helping vulnerable people.” Find out more about Morson's commitment to helping ex-forces personnel transition to a civilian career
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COVID-19 and its impact on social distancing and physical meetings demanded that Morson shake up how we deliver the onboarding process for clients who wish to transfer away from their incumbent recruitment provider. Interim Head of Implementation, Charlotte Lewis, explains how we've taken implementation online, creating an efficient, effective and engaging onboarding experience for our clients. Usually, during this time in a relationship with a new client, we’d spend months working physically alongside the different teams requiring our services to hand-hold them through the process. The Coronavirus restrictions meant that wasn’t going to be possible in 2020, but our ability to adapt has revealed a new way of working, which will now create major efficiencies in our typical method and will prove useful for businesses way beyond the virus. Early in 2020, when news of the pandemic began to emerge, we started considering how the Government’s EAST communications framework could be applied to clients who require it – but digitally. We needed to make everything we would normally do face to face as easy, attractive, social and timely as possible, using only online platforms. Our usually day-long sessions had to be more easily digestible and designed to establish partnerships that could be strong from afar, rather than in close proximity, which is what we and our clients have always been used to. It’s something we were considering ahead of the pandemic, but it became a priority when COVID-19 hit and we were requested to deliver an online migration by a new client. We’d recently been appointed as its Managed Service Provider (MSP) for contingent labour resource, supplying specialist and niche contractors more time and cost efficiently, and the company was as keen as us to ensure the pandemic didn’t halt the transition away from their incumbent. As such, the groundwork we had already put in place to develop our digital implementation strategy came to fruition while being tested in a real life scenario. The client team was already familiar with using online video platforms to deliver training and professional development to its global workforce, and we worked with their preferences in mind. We held online conferences, interactive workshops, seminars, forums and drop in sessions to gain all the information we normally would in face to face settings, but made the sessions shorter to avoid Zoom fatigue. We also enabled an element of socialising online; the client’s finance, systems and operations teams had the opportunity to learn more about our MSP, meet our team members, hear about the benefits we could bring to their company and challenge us on anything that they were unsure of. At times, we had more than 70 team members actively participating in what we were offering. It provided the reassurance to both parties that, thanks to technology, we could take on the challenge lockdown presented to us and achieve brilliant results. Typically, implementation periods take a minimum of 12 weeks and include an eight-week buffer to mitigate for the usual delays that come with running businesses. However, in this very first experience of putting our digital strategy to the test, the entire implementation process was completed on time, in less than three months – even with a pandemic rumbling along in the background. What’s been most pleasing about this project is that we’re now able to offer a completely new service to other businesses. It’s been tried and tested and proven to be successful thanks to our agility; we were able to pivot and accommodate the client’s needs, on-demand, to enable better outcomes and increased productivity for them as a result. We’ll now use this same process to provide other clients with an analysis of the ever-changing labour market, looking at how the economic unrest around the world might be mitigated using different recruitment models. And we’ll be able to do so without limitation, knowing that technology enables true value and benefits for our clients. “We understand that so many of our clients bigger strategic goals are linked to talent. Thanks to our in-depth market intelligence, vertical expertise, industry-leading technology and collaborative approach, we can support our clients businesses through these challenging market uncertainties, the diversifying of workforces, preparing for IR35, fulfilling local employment quotas, and any other tests our clients may face.” If you would like to find out more about how we can support your business and it's ambitions, get in touch with myself, Morson director, David Lynchehaun at david.lynchehaun@morson.com
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Since the original Fox ABC gym was tragically burnt down in March last year, former Lightweight World Champion Anthony Crolla has been working tirelessly to relocate and rebuild his amateur gym which means so much to himself and the community. The gym holds a special place in Crolla’s heart as it was where he honed his craft as a youngster and witnessed so many locals’ lives changed for the better, due to the access to boxing in the area. After numerous setbacks throughout the year, Crolla finally found an old clubhouse at the Vestacare Stadium in Oldham that was fitting for the gym, and with months of hard work, had it ready to open in December. With a brand-new ring, punchbags and a coach who has shined under the brightest lights in the sport, the gym represents an outlet for young people in the community to learn discipline, be more confident in themselves and feel part of a team. Team Morson went to visit the gym prior as the final touches were being made and Crolla was surprised by the visit of Morson CEO, Ged Mason, holding a cheque of £20,000 he was donating to the gym. It was clear to see how much this donation meant to an emotional Anthony, who can now add the last details and get the gym opened up to those who need it most when it is safe to do so. Speaking on the donation Ged stated to Crolla: “I remember the night of the fire and it was really sad and I wanted to do something to help you along. It’s been fantastic what you’ve done to get this place back on its feet, it’s not just the people at the Boxing club, it’s all the local community that it helps” Crolla explained how the donation will help the gym specifically: “As a boxing gym we’re ready to go, we’ve got some weights to come in and maybe a few machines, so that cheque will help massively” He added: “What gives me the most joy is helping others achieve their dream. Not every person who walks through this door will be a fighter
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Work has begun on the world’s first commercial liquid air storage facility near Manchester, alongside a visitor centre with the hope of turning the ambitious project into a tourist attraction. The 50MW facility will store enough power for around 50,000 homes for five hours.UK based High Power and independent/natural gas developer Carlton Power will build and operate the ‘Cryobattery’, which could later be expanded to add more storage. The plant will use surplus electricity from wind farms at night to compress air so hard that it becomes a liquid at -196 Celsius. When there is a peak in demand in a day or a month, the liquid air will be warmed so it expands. The resulting rush of air will drive a turbine to make electricity, which can be sold back to the grid. Last year, Highview Power was awarded a £10 million grant from the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to build the facility at Trafford Energy Park, in Carrington Village. The visitor centre, scheduled to open in the first quarter of this year, will provide an immersive experience allowing visitors not only to see the progress of the site being built, but also to have the opportunity to take virtual tours.Javier Cavada, Highview Power CEO and president explained:“Our facility will deliver much needed clean, reliable and cost-efficient long duration energy storage to the National Grid. The CRYOBattery™ will help the UK to integrate renewable energy and stabilize the regional electrical grid to ensure future energy security during blackouts and other disruptions.”The first of its kind system was created by Peter Dearman, a self-taught inventor from Hertfordshire. Dearman, who is now a shareholder in Highview added:“It’s very exciting, we need many different forms of energy storage - and I’m confident liquid air will be one of them”Morson is a leading recruiter in the energy sector. Search our latest jobs in energy here
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The clock is ticking towards HMRC’s IR35 tax reforms. Private sector organisations who engage contractor populations are turning their attention to ensuring compliance with the legislation, yet few hiring managers, procurement heads and HR professionals consider a fully contracted-out service as a potential option. The next webinar in our IR35 series is dedicated to exploring this solution, often referred to as a Statement of Work (SOW) or a bought-out service, which removes the IR35 burden from end-clients. Register now.A fully contracted-out service – often referred to as a Statement of Work (SOW) or a bought-out service is a flexible, effective and highly successful commercial route which has many benefits and incidentally, can remove off-payroll considerations related to IR35. Already commonplace in engineering, IT and tech sectors, many other industries could benefit from choosing this advantageous and effective way of working.Whilst there is strictly no prescribed format, a fully contracted-out service comprises a ‘contract for services’, which governs the relationship and outputs agreed between the client and service provider. For more than 40 years, Morson Projects has been delivering fully contracted-out services to clients, long before IR35 legislation was established. However, since the introduction of IR35 in 2000, we have successfully delivered more than 12,000 projects as fully contracted-out solutions, with a value in excess of £750m.This method of working puts us in the position of the ‘End Client’ to any relevant Personal Service Company (PSC) engaged. It, therefore, means we are responsible for ensuring reasonable care is exercised correctly by producing and issuing an IR35 Status Determination Statement. During this 60-minute session, the panel will shine a spotlight on a service that Morson Projects has been providing clients throughout our 40 years in operation. A service that now has the additional benefit of removing the IR35 burden from our clients. Our panel will explain how they can help guide businesses through the offload process, helping them clearly define their requirements and supporting them in generating SOWs. We will then showcase our robust processes, procedures and tools to ensure IR35 compliance, which are underpinned with a comprehensive insurance policy.In what is an unprecedented opportunity to reset the IR35 agenda, ensure your business doesn’t get left behind. To find out more and to register your free place, click here. Meet our panel... Chris Burke, executive director, Morson ProjectsChris has a 45-year career history, 20 years of which have been spent at Morson Projects overseeing teams delivering engineering solutions to the Aviation, Power, Manufacturing, Transport and Nuclear sectors through outcome-led statements of work. As a result, Chris has unique knowledge and understanding of delivering the best technical solutions for clients in line with the new IR35 legislation.Devina Ramanah, compliance support, Morson ProjectsDevina worked as legal adviser to Magistrates for HMCTS in the courts across West Yorkshire and Central Manchester for more than 10 years. Devina would advise all parties at court on points of law, practice and procedure, ensuring legal compliance and transparency, and brings a wealth of experience producing and delivering legal training.Devina has supported Morson since the introduction of the Finance Act 2017. She plays a pivotal role in building knowledge and raising competency in IR35 compliance, the creation of a reliable, insurable Status Determination Statement tool, whilst working closely with leading tax specialists to gain panel member status.Gareth Beck, associate director, Morson ProjectsGareth brings more than 20 years’ industry experience and has played a leading role in providing Morson Projects’ clients with the right technical support to deliver their complex projects successfully for the past 13 years.Gareth has extensive experience of constructing and delivering fixed-price work packages, managing the contract for services and assuming responsibility for a project’s successful delivery by utilising a talented technical team, which Morson Projects has been doing long before IR35 legislation was established. To find out more about the benefits of a SOW visit our IR35 solutions page or contact our team at ir35@morson.com
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Virtual Revolution for HS2 Work Experience Programme
By James Kenealey Read moreThe IR35 clock is ticking | What does this mean for contractors?
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