On Wednesday, 29th January 2020, RSS Infrastructure hosted the bi-monthly Amey Supply Partner Safety & Wellbeing Forum at their Birmingham Headquarters. The representing attendees came from an array of partners and clients of Amey and were initially introduced to the Forum by St. Maur Miles, Health & Safety Partner at Amey, who saw a need for a collaborative partnership between suppliers that focused on a different approach to current issues, innovations, and challenges within the rail and construction industries.
Collaborative Partnership and Host Rotation
The idea is that each meeting will be held at a different ‘host nation’ premise, providing all attendees with ‘behind the scenes’ access to the host’s working environment and encouraging the chance to form new partnerships between all companies involved.
Health & Wellbeing Initiatives
RSS Infrastructure and Fusion People co-hosted the first session on Health & Well-being, presenting their initiatives on the subject. Steven ‘Harry’ Harrison, an Armed Forces veteran, along with his carer, Liz Whitehurst, was invited to give a presentation on Harry’s personal experiences with disability and mental health. The talk centred around his accident and the subsequent physical and mental challenges he has faced. Harry showcased how he channelled those experiences and frustrations into art projects, which helped him earn his Master’s in Art Psychotherapy, supported by The Royal British Legion. He also shared how he gives back through the numerous charity events he participates in.
Insights from Russell Bradshaw
Russell Bradshaw, Group HSQE Manager for RSS Infrastructure, shared the collaborative initiatives he helped to co-found, which featured the recently completed Sleep Survey, a Network Rail and Oxford University Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute partnered project. The scheme gathered result data from over 400 participating UK rail workers, which will help identify if changes are needed to their work and lifestyle conditions and how this currently affects their sleep and wellbeing.
The A.D.V.I.C.E Scheme
The meeting then recapped the newly formed ‘A Dedicated Voice for Inclusive Collaboration by Everyone‘ (A.D.V.I.C.E) Scheme launched in December 2019. The scheme features host companies producing advice avenues on chosen topical subjects. These subjects are then distributed by all A.D.V.I.C.E members internally and externally through varied communication channels, aiming to inform and support workers within the rail and construction sectors.
Comments from Key Figures
St. Maur Miles, Health & Safety Business Partner for Amey, commented:
“Many thanks to all participating supply partners, our January Host RSS Infrastructure, and partnering Co-host Fusion People. Without this forum, this forum would not have been the undeniable success it has become. I look forward to continued collaboration between Amey and our supplier partners, where we promote awareness and knowledge of safety, health, and wellbeing.”
Russell Bradshaw, Group HSQE Manager for RSS Infrastructure, also commented:
“We are honoured to be the host nation for the Amey Supplier Forum. St. Maur Miles has created a very special and constructive atmosphere where we can all share our experiences as a group, and no opinion is overlooked. The forum has its own set goals already, and one of them we all have acknowledged is the lack of diversity in the group, so we have made it our personal goal to bring new talent and fresh perspectives into the group as we look to invite more people in going forward.”
Attending Organisations
The Amey Supply Partner Safety & Wellbeing Forum comprises Contractors, Principal Contractors, and Clients from the following Rail and Construction sectors: Aaron Rail, Amey, AP Webb, Ballycommon, Ganymede, Fission, ISS Labour, McGinley, MECX, Morson, MPI, Ready Power, Redstone, RSS Infrastructure, Sky Blue Solutions, Story Contracting, Total Rail Solutions, TXM Plant, and Vital.
Join the Forum
For more information on the Amey Supply Partner Safety & Wellbeing Forum or to join, please email: st.maur.miles@amey.co.uk
