We have further extended our services and response to our clients by joining Constructionline and CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme).
Being on the Governments’ Constructionline national register for suppliers and buyers means that we can reduce the time and costs involved in the prequalification process, particularly with public sector bodies. 
CHAS also offers a tool for use in the health and safety element of prequalification.
Clients get a quick turnaround for their projects by using the register, which is operated by Constructionline and CHAS.  We are very pleased to be included on the register and to support the scheme.

Space and space utilisation is just one of the current challenges for the University Sector.

Austin were invited to contribute to the debate at the Higher Education Facilities Management Network workshop held at Middlesex University at the end of June 2010.

The day’s event was focused on “Space – going further” and Robert  from Austin’s delivered a paper entitled “Looking Good Naked – new workplace essentials”

The presentation discussed the opportunities for maximising the use of space, reducing material cost, reducing overhead, getting the most out of your asset by challenging the accepted norms of space utilisation. It explored how you can create very cost effective, good-looking solutions within challenging budgets. This may mean exploring different approaches for traditional activities. It may also support a new generation of users who have different expectations of the workplace and what it can do for them.

Read the full synopsis HERE and/or call Robert to discuss the issues or email us on enquiries@austin.co.uk

The Austin Company has recently attained the ROSPA Gold award for excellent performance on Health & Safety.  The award has been achieved through a detailed and robust Health & Safety management system that not only ensures compliance to applicable H&S legislation but takes personal wellbeing beyond best practice and into behavioural based safety and beliefs.
The company’s philosophy is to ensure a positive culture at work is promoted and forms an integral part of the mission of continual improvement in health and safety.

Austin has joined the ISPE (International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering) Sustainable Facilities Committee of Practice, and will participating in different tasks teams to promote sustainability within this field. Currently the Committee’s work is focused on innovation, best practice case studies and legislation/compliance matters. This will compliment Austin’s involvement with the World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies (www.wsset.org)

The Austin Company has been awarded to undertake a concept design study for a new sterile (injectable) production facility in Jakarta, Indonesia. The project also includes the upgrade of existing production facility to achieve up to date compliance with the local regulatory agency for drug and food Control (BPOM) which aligns itself with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S)

The Austin Company has received many awards for significant achievement in the promotion of Health and Safety during its design activities and site construction projects. Recognition has been given by RoSPA in 2009 with the H&S Gold Award and more recently one of its major pharmaceutical clients, AstraZeneca.  The company has an excellent Health & Safety record and through a proactive continuous improvement management strategy has developed a behavioural based culture within the business to achieve its mission.

The Austin Company’s proactive approach to environment is endorsed by ISO 14001 accreditation which entails an Environmental Management System (EMS). The system identifies environmental interests to all stakeholders of the projects including clients and local authorities.

Being accredited to ISO14001, The Austin Company of UK Limited can demonstrate a structured approach to planning, implementing and managing an EMS. Positives from an efficient EMS can result in benefits to the client such as; cost savings through the reduction of waste and more efficient use of natural resources, reduction of insurance costs through demonstrating better risk control, and lead to better community awareness of the impact of the client’s activities on local residents (noise, smell dust vibration etc).

Our latest projects and other interesting news can be found in our newsletter, Austin Update 2009.

Click here to view the Update

For more information call Austin on +44 (0) 1923 432 658
or email enquiries@austin.co.uk

EPCs are a legal requirement when any commercial building over 50m² is built, sold or let.

An EPC sets out the energy efficiency grade of a commercial building by rating it from A (most efficient) to G. This is based on the performance potential of the building itself (i.e. the fabric) and the services (i.e. HVAC and lighting).

There are three levels of buildings under the EPC requirements which relate to the complexity of the
building and will affect the type of EPC assessor needed.

Level 3: simple buildings similar to domestic premises in terms of fabric and services. These buildings can be assessed using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) software.
Level 4: larger, more complex buildings with fabric and services installations that are not found in domestic buildings.
Level 5: complex buildings, featuring advanced energy saving technologies (e.g. Daylight dimming controls, night cooling, etc) and require the use of Dynamic Simulation Modelling software.

Austin has the in-house capacity of creating and lodging EPCs for building of all levels, as it employs a registered CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessor for levels 3, 4 and 5.

Hand-over and Opening of a New Biotherapeutics Facility for Cancer Research UK

Following the acceptance of Best Supplier Award on Monday 24th April 2009, (see here for Press Release), Austin was delighted and proud to be present at the official hand-over and opening of the new Biotherapeutics Facility for Cancer Research UK. The new facility will offer CR-UK the ability to do even more research into the disease which seems to have affected at least one member of every family. We at Austin are proud because we took part in providing this state of the art facility which will now allow Cancer Research UK to expand its lifesaving research in the years to come.

Prakash Davda of The Austin Company gave the following speech:
Thank you Harpal and everyone here today, this for me is a tremendous day.
In some way everyone here knows someone who has had cancer or been affected by cancer.
I lost a very close family member due to cancer and to be standing here with the people who are leading research into finding a cure for this terrible disease and are developing a facility for its cure is an exceptional honour and privilege.
I would like to thank Cancer Research UK for having the confidence in The Austin Company and allowing us to be involved in this prestigious project.
The completed facility is fantastic and has been delivered on time, within budget and to a quality that satisfies CR-UK’s expectations whilst maintaining the highest safety standards. Furthermore I am told that it is unmatched elsewhere.
What can one really say, except that this was only achieved as
CR-UK, eXmoor, Austin and our contractors had one goal in mind – TEAM WORK  TO OBTAIN THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT.
I am privileged as I meet many clients and several have asked if they can visit the facility and discuss how the project was set up with CR-UK .
This project has demonstrated to the wider Industry that a truly integrated team with a common goal to succeed can be achieved by bringing together talented individuals of varying backgrounds and experiences, who are open to each others ideas. The proof of this is, I believe, we have one of the best facilities of its type in Europe today and one which will provide Cancer Research UK with the means to develop more advanced and better ways to treat cancer and further improve patients’ prospects.
It is difficult for me to stand here and thank everyone individually due to limited time. However, I will try to thank a few people who were very close to the project and dealt with the day to day challenges professionally.
Gill, thank you very much for your confidence in our organisation and spending many late evenings, and one or two late evening/early mornings with the team. Although there were a couple of occasions I had some explaining to do to my wife when I turned up at home around 2.00am having put hours in with lawyers to finalise contracts etc.
My wife, Sunita, was not sure who this Gill was and I am sure Gill, you had similar experiences with Rupert – hopefully this evening they will both understand why!
Andy, Rob, Chris, Dave, Vicki, Robert and everyone within the CR-UK team, you made this happen so thank you. Vicki and Robert we will miss you in our offices, your desks will remain vacant so pop in whenever you can.
There is a small gift to remind you of this wonderful achievement for everyone here. It’s a bit warm today but it will be useful this winter!
Finally on behalf of the Austin Company I would like to thank everyone for coming and I wish you all the best and enjoy the afternoon.

For more information call Austin on Tel: +44 (0) 1923 432 658
or Email: enquiries@austin.co.uk