STRAND SEMINARS - SPREADING THE KNOWLEDGE

Strand, market leaders in the provision of high quality specialist cleaning and support services to financial institutions, law firms and leading corporate businesses in London and the South East, is taking its philosophy of giving added value one step further by holding seminars covering topical issues from staff vetting to green waste management.

Announcing the series of seminars, Strand’s managing director, Peter Smith said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to keeping our clients and others fully informed on issues crucially important in today’s business world such as the management and control of the legality of staff entering premises. Such issues affect the work we do for clients and the obligations we adopt on their behalf. It is a way of informing and reassuring those present that Strand takes its responsibilities seriously in everything that it does.”

13th and 20th June – Vetting & Security
On 13th June the first seminar will be held at a prestigious location at Canary Wharf on Vetting and Security Issues. This will be presented by Ken Price, group security consultant – legal immigration requirements supported by Maurice Thompson from the Home Office Illegal Working Unit. A second seminar will take place one week later on 20th June in Bishopsgate, London.

At a time when so many support services such as cleaning are making good use of an enthusiastic immigrant workforce, Ken will provide a guide to current legislation, the pitfalls of non-compliance with regulatory procedures and the processes which should be adopted to ensure businesses get the best return from their investment in cleaning.

Two further seminars on environmental Issues will be held in September and October and will provide an overview of the international pressures facing businesses on environmental issues as well as the UK obligations embodied in legislation and green taxation. Carbon allowances and carbon offsetting will be covered in a way which is relevant to the audience.

The environmental seminars will be led by Don Potts, environmental consultant and a former adviser on such issues to political leaders including John Prescott, Margaret Thatcher and Nicholas Ridley. He is also a consultant to corporations such as Volvo, BAA, Metropolitan Police, ICI, Powergen and Virgin Atlantic.

Strand is also planning its seminar programme for next year. The first will be held in February and will tackle issues surrounding the need for a greener approach to waste management – a policy which Strand strongly advocates in its work for major clients including FSA, Barings, BNP Paribas, Nabarro, Withers, IPC Media, Shell and Warner Brothers.

For further information on how to attend these seminars please contact Jaclyn Birkett on 01524 595447 or jaclyn.birkett@strandclean.co.uk.

Strand was established in 1959 and more recently became part of the giant OCS support services group which employs 61,000 people across four continents. But the company operates with a very high degree of autonomy from its parent, continuing to build on its strong reputation within the legal and financial sectors in London and the South East, boasting one of London’s most experienced and concentrated management teams. Previously, the company hosted a seminar with the topic “Avian Flu is Coming – Be Prepared” jointly with the British Institute of Facilities Management.

Recent large contract wins such as Allen and Overy and the prestigious ‘Gherkin’ landmark building at 30 St Mary Axe in the city are testimony to the way Strand adds experience and expertise to the cleaning function. Chris Cracknell, chief executive of OCS added, “By hosting these seminars Strand is building a reputation for knowledge and a commitment to working in partnership with its clients. This is fundamental to the success they have achieved in recent years and reflects our group policy of always going further than a contract requires.”