Welcome to our new Innovation Managers
At Colas innovation is part of our DNA. It’s one of our values – Daring – and it’s embedded in our culture. we’re driven to move forward, and we welcome new ideas, approaches and thinking, encouraging initiative and pushing back the boundaries of what is possible.
Indeed, in recent years, the importance of innovation has markedly increased with our customers, and we’ve now appointed two new experienced Innovation Managers to Colas UK, who will support our strategic theme of innovation, attract external funding and create the opportunities to work on strategic projects with selected clients.
Dr Oliver (Olly) Thomas
Olly has a PhD from the University of Nottingham in Experimental Semiconductor Physics following his first degree in Physics. His early career took him to work for Toshiba in research and development and then to TBAT Innovation where he led a team of people applying for grant funding opportunities in a variety of sectors including transport and energy. He joins Colas as part of a growing Innovation team, initially focusing on some key opportunities with local authority consortia as part of the DfT LiveLabs II competition.
Joseph (Joe) Kimberley
Joe completed a Batchelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Sustainability from Leeds University. He joined Amey as a Management Graduate where he worked for ten years in a variety of roles from National Highways projects to local authority highways maintenance contracts in ‘business improvement.’ His role before joining Colas was to lead an innovation programme with Kent County Council, focusing on technology trials. He joins Colas where he will be working initially on a project for Carbon Trust to trial Novacol/Recycol on local and strategic roads as well as ADEPT on how the highways sector carbon footprints its activities.
A627M Night Works
In July, our Northwest Surfacing team started a ten week works programme for National Highways, resurfacing the A627M roundabout and four associated slip roads. The A627(M), which opened in 1972, is a 3.5-mile-long motorway that runs between Chadderton and Rochdale in Greater Manchester, connecting these two towns to the M62.
Our nine-man team led by Surfacing Supervisor Phil O’Neill are working nights, from 8pm to 5am, carrying out improvement works at Thornham on the A627(M). This includes resurfacing Thornham roundabout (junction 20) and the associated slip roads from the M62, laying between 100-300 tonnes of Warm Mix Asphalt every night.
As the Principal Contractor our team are overseeing all the other elements of the works, which involve replacing road markings from the northern end of the A627(M) to the roundabout at Junction 2, as well as repairing bridge joints, replacing traffic detection loops, signs and a small section of filter drain.
For safety, overnight full closures are in place and our team are also managing the Traffic Management element of the scheme.
Area 9 Zonal Response Teams keep Traffic Moving
Colas Area 9 Zonal Response Teams were applauded yesterday for their swift thinking and collaborative working with National Highways and our supply chain partners.
After a fatal incident on the M5, our on-duty Bronze Supervisor advised the use of reactive interventions to get a spillage cleaned up safely, allowing temporary traffic management to be lifted and road-users to get on with their journeys quickly. The crew’s actions and the use of WJ Group’s Hydro Blast machine, Fuel Safe diesel and oil spill dissolver, and Granite Dust to reduce skid risk, eliminated the need for lengthy and costly resurfacing and reduced customer disruption.
Colin Lowther, Head of Service Delivery Midlands Network Operations said: “The Silver Command call was invaluable, and incidents were managed incredibly well so thank you to everyone involved.”. National Highways are reviewing the incident to capture the best practice for future emergency response.
In the coming months Area 9 teams will be trialling Active Fuel Spill Digester for National Highways, as it claims to reduce clean-up time and leave a non-slip surface. Commenting on the trial, Julian Heath, Area 9 General Manager said: “Fuel spillages on our strategic roads are a huge problem for the safety of our customers. We are always looking for innovative products and technologies that help us to clean up the road surface quickly and safely so road users can get on with their journeys with the least possible disruption. This particular product has the advantage of being non-flammable and biodegradable, so we are looking forward to seeing how it performs.”
Welfare Van Defibrillator Installation
Our team in Bristol have taken proactive life-saving steps by installing defibrillators in the fleet of welfare vans.
The team, working on behalf of Bristol City Council on the four-year Highways Asset Management & Associated Works framework, have fitted five defibrillators to the welfare units and an additional device in the office. The vans are out on our sites every day and will ensure the fastest response to any medical emergencies, both to members of the team or to members of the public who require emergency care. The vans have been fitted with emergency defibrillator stickers, highlighting to the public that the kit is nearby.
Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) are becoming increasingly available across the country; however, the Colas team cover a wide area of the city and are now able to offer life-saving care in more remote areas and areas where defibrillators may not be available.
The devices analyse heart rhythm and decide whether a shock is necessary. If a shock is required to restore heart rhythm, then the machine will deliver the shock. Studies show that only around 20% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases are treatable by the time emergency services arrive. Time is critical when a patient requires defibrillation, so any bystanders can use them as they do not require any training, however members of the team have undertaken first aid training which now includes basic training in use of defibrillators. They give clear, audible instructions when in use, increasing the patients chance of a full recovery.
Did you Know?
Just prior to World War II, between 1939-1945, surface dressing with tar and cut-back bitumen was taking the place of emulsion, mainly because heavier traffic demanded bigger chippings.
60 second interview
This week we meet Business Development Manager, Ian Longford. Ian started his career as a Trainee Buyer for ECC Quarries, and celebrated his tenth anniversary with Colas in July after joining the company in 2012.
USAG Membership
This week Colas became a full member of the Utility Strike Avoidance Group (USAG), a collaborative group of over 400 utility asset owners, industry groups and contractors that seek to ensure the highest standards of safety and best practices when carrying out work on the vital services for our homes and businesses.
Join the Colas Fantasy Premier League
Colleagues have until 6:30pm this evening (Friday 5 August) to select and register their team for the opening set of games in the 2022/23 Premier League season. With monthly prizes to the Manager of the Month and the Runner-Up, what have you got to lose? Our Colas League code is loqy4f
Our Mental Health First Aiders
If your finding things overwhelming then please speak to your line manager in the first instance or to one of our trained Mental Health First Aiders. Alternatively, if you want to speak to someone not directly related to the company, then please contact our employee assistance specialists, Health Assured on 0800 389 0285.
There's Only ONE App
Our new Colas ONE App is replacing all current email communications, so if you want to keep up to date with company news, SHEQ Alerts and Safety Updates download the App version you need here. Log in with your employee number and the password colasone – then change your password when prompted.
