Crucially, however, businesses can only benefit from the extension if they are already part way through the process by the original deadline of 15 September 2018 i.e. completed a gap analysis or transition audit with their respective certification body and started to implement any required changes to the EMS. Certification to ISO 14001: 2004 will still lapse on 15 September 2018 but companies will have until March 2019 to finish their transition and be issued a new ISO 14001: 2015 certificate without having to declare a gap in certification.

Prior to this extension of the deadline, any company not achieving ISO 14001: 2015 at 15 September 2018, regardless of how far transitioned they were, would have lost their certificate and be forced to start the certification process all over again with Stage 1 and Stage 2 assessments. Also, the company would not be able to declare continued certification. Certification would only have been held since the date ISO 14001: 2015 was achieved. This is still true for companies who have made no attempt to start the transition by 15 September 2018.

So, you still have a couple of weeks to start your transition to ISO 14001: 2015 and demonstrate continued compliance with the Standard. If you would like help with where to start or confirm you are on the right track, get in touch with us for a free phone consultation with our lead 14001 auditor Helen.

The post What the ISO 14001 deadline extension actually means appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

She was 15 when Step Dad, Steve Anstice set up the Company in 1998. During that time, Helen studied History and Politics at Durham University, completed a graduate training scheme with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and then made her way to London to work for Westminster City Council in the Neighbourhood Management Team. She explains:

“I spent 3 years in London and loved every minute. My patch was Covent Garden and Leicester Square which contains lots of residential property so part of my role involved managing the logistics of public, commercial and residential waste. At the time, statistics showed that more people were in the area at 3am than at 3pm and so the bins were emptied 7 times throughout that 24-hour period. Most of this activity goes un-noticed by the public, but there would be outrage if there was a problem and our trucks couldn’t get in to remove the rubbish. I also enjoyed working closely with the Police for film screenings and events in the centre of The Capital to help manage their security plan which was a major logistical manoeuvre.”

Helen had always been interested in Steve’s business and when the opportunity arose for her to join the family business, made the move back up to Hull from the South. She continues:

“I came in to the business to do thermal imaging which shows a building’s heat-loss with an infrared camera. It’s a great way to help a business save money and protect the environment and so demand grew. I built up that area of the business and when Steve was ready to retire I took over the whole Company in 2016.”

“During this time I received and continue to receive support as a member of For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO). I took part in their 360 Programme which helps business owners to grow their companies and I am also supported by the Green Port Growth Programme.”

Helen’s passion is helping companies to do something positive to create less waste, recycle more and use less energy. Through Environmental Strategies she helps clients to achieve accreditation in ISO 14001, the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It provides a framework to follow, rather than establishing environmental performance requirements. Helen gets her clients through the accreditation and provides ongoing advice on legislative updates and changes to ensure they keep the certificate.

“This is what excites me as I can see visible changes that are made when going through the process. Depending on the size of the business, the accreditation can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Most of our clients are SMEs but we also work very closely with Ideal Boilers. They are doing everything they can to reduce their environmental impact in product and process and I have been advising on packaging with their supply chain. Ideal wants all suppliers to use returnable packaging which reduces the waste by no longer using polystyrene or cardboard. Instead they have invested in robust plastic crates to transport their goods and components to and from the site. In-turn, knowing what they want from suppliers helps us to advise our smaller clients who want to work with bigger companies.”

“Overall I see that companies are trying to be more responsible and doing so will also help SMEs to get involved with multi-nationals. If they can say that all packaging is returnable, the market will drive this forward for everyone.”

Environmental Strategies is a successful company. At any one time the team is working with up to 20 companies. ISO14001 is intensive and Helen says it is up to her to manage so that organisations can run it themselves.

“We also have a major contract with Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). This package provides up to £10,000 match funding to small businesses for resource efficiency investments. Locally the SPARK Fund, via Hull University provides funding for innovative projects and the Manufacturing Growth Programme for companies with 250 employees or less.”

“We employ a number of subcontractors throughout the region who help us to manage clients along the M62 corridor. We do have competitors but tend to work together in this field rather than against. For example we collaborate with a Health and Safety company to help each others’ clients.”

Currently undertaking a Diploma in Sustainable Business, Helen will further help organisations to gear up for the growing population. She says:

“We have a responsibility to future generations, it’s something that weighs on my mind. In hindsight, I wish the ‘Attenborough Effect’ had taken hold 25 years ago, when we stood a better chance of reversing some of the effects of climate change. But now, we are managing the effects and beginning to see victims of climate change in the UK. The most vulnerable are hit the hardest with flooding and also temperatures are killing the elderly and disabled in the height of summer and depths of winter.”

“To stop climate change, we need a global cultural shift but there are simple changes everyone can put in place immediately; low emission vehicles, buying local and seasonal produce, installing the best insulation, LED lighting and aerators on water taps. I would also like to see people educate themselves on climate change, after all it’s our joint responsibility, we can’t lay the blame at anyone else’s door.”

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Please read about them here: http://bit.ly/UNSustainabilityGoalsMap.

Interview with Jess Clark, Divine Clark PR. Photo of Helen with Craig Neill, QHSE Manager at Advanced Plastics Ltd, Hull – courtesy of Hull Daily Mail

The post Reducing our impact on the environment, one business at a time! appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

Steve took the opportunity to hang up his clip board and high-vis and retired from the business he founded in 1998.  We wish him well with his future gardening, renovating and relaxing plans.  Meanwhile Helen has been helping clients achieve transition to the new ISO 14001:2015 Standard.  Congratulations to Advanced Plastics Ltd, Ideal Boilers Ltd and Bericap UK Ltd for achieving their certification a year early!

This year we have supported more businesses than ever!  As a delivery consultancy for the Leeds City Region LEP we have completed over 50 ERDF-funded Resource Efficiency Assessments – identifying water, energy, waste and ultimately cost savings for a range of organisations from breweries to bakers to weavers.  This could not have been achieved without the support of Marian, MD at EcoPerspective and our newest partners at Small Building Services – welcome to the team Rosalind and Ian!

2018 brings a special celebration for ESL as the business is 20 years old!  Check out our birthday logo designed by Superfly Marketing – thanks guys!   To celebrate we are actively looking for new team members in both a part-time environment consultant role and a thermographer.  If you are interested in either of these exciting opportunities, please contact Helen on helen@esltd.co.uk

Thank you, we look forward to working with you in 2018.

The post Happy Christmas from Environmental Strategies Ltd appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

1. Eliminate draughts. Draughts are one of the primary causes of complaints because they make people uncomfortable. Consider addressing the source of these before adjusting the heating system.  And if you can’t find the source, you can use thermal imaging to help you locate it.
2. Have the settings on your heating system been updated or checked recently?  Do you know what time it will be switching on and off and the temperature settings? Check and adjust these to make sure they are relevant for your building’s current operating hours.
3. Have you switched off your cooling air conditioning units? Make sure all cooling air conditioning units are switched off once the heating season begins otherwise you will have heating and cooling fighting against in other.
4. Get your boiler and heating system serviced regularly. Has your boiler and heating system been serviced in the last year? A regular service is essential to ensure safety and efficiency.
5. Close Windows. Keep an eye out for open windows during the heating season. This is a clear sign of a problem with overheating

If you would like further details on reducing energy use in other areas of your building or process, please get in touch.

The post Heating Energy Saving Checklist for Winter appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

We are really excited to announce our new postal address and registered office is:  Environmental Strategies Ltd (Selby Times), Selby Business Centre, 11 The Crescent, Selby, YO8 4PD.  The office is opposite the stunning Selby Abbey, in the market place.

Our new telephone number is: 01757 403113.

As a result of this, the smaller office at 81 Harland Way, Cottingham has been closed.  However our Hull telephone number is still active 01482 841164, so please contact us on either number.

We apologise for any inconvenience.   Please ring us on our new number if you have any queries.  All contact details and map can be found on our “Contact Us” page.

The post We’ve moved! appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

The fund provides support and advice for SMEs looking to become more resource efficient in the way they do business. You could be eligible for free efficiency assessments, hands-on business support and possible 50% capital grant funding of up to £10,000 to help you save money and resources.

If you would like to register your interest and find out how the LEP can support your business, please either contact us or call The LEP direct on 0113 348 1818 to speak to a business advisor. Alternatively, email businessgrowth@the-lep.com with your details and an advisor will call you back.

The Resource Efficiency Fund is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

The post Resource Efficiency Fund for SMEs appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

The project recently won the “Best Renewable Energy Project or Installation in the Humber Area” prize at the Humber Renewables Awards 2017.  The project is a world-leading £50m 22MW biomass plant in Tansterne, which will provide enough clean power for 10% of the households in Hull when it comes online in the next couple of days.

Steve Anstice, ESL Director, said, “it has been a really exciting project to be part of and fantastic that all the hard work in making it happen has been acknowledged with this award.  It was a real team effort, involving a number of local companies in the design, planning and manufacture of the power station.”

The post Winners!! Humber Renewables Awards 2017 appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

1. Keep your home ventilated. Condensation can be a real problem in cold weather, as it can lead to mould and other damage to the property.  When cooking, keep a window or door open to make sure that warm air is properly circulated.  Don’t cover radiators to dry your clothes – use a clothes horse or drying rack and make sure the room you dry in is well ventilated.
2. Bleed the radiators. A great way to warm up your property is to bleed the radiators. This releases any trapped air, allowing hot water to fill every part of your radiator and warm your home more efficiently.
3. Clear gutters and drainpipes. It is important to keep gutters and drainpipes clear and free of cracks to prevent overflows and water damage to the walls.

The post January Tips for your Home appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our current and prospective clients a happy Christmas break.  Thank you for your support this year and we look forward to working with you in 2017!

Thank you.

The post Merry Christmas to you from ESL appeared first on Environmental Strategies.

Each on site survey is followed by a comprehensive, fully analysed report of the survey findings to help you make decisions on what course of action to take first.

As one client Mr Heath commented, “Have just viewed your report.  Very impressive and shows me, and eventually my builder, areas where I can improve insulation.”

For more information, please get in touch using the Contact Us page.

The post New thermal camera in action appeared first on Environmental Strategies.