Unity: Arthur McKay to operate under the OCS banner

The OCS TRUE values – Trust, Respect, Unity and Empowerment – have been the driving force for us as we have transformed as a business following the merger of OCS and Atalian Servest.

Arthur McKay, a leading building support service organisation, was an Atalian Servest company that provided smart and integrated services to over 1,000 client sites around the UK. As part of the consolidation of our operations and unifications of our purpose and vision, Arthur McKay is no longer existing as a separate entity and is instead operating under the OCS banner.

We will continue to provide the same services and solutions – mechanical and electrical solutions, fire protection services, networks and FM services, to name just a few. Our 1,500 colleagues from Arthur McKay will continue to utilise their specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that customers benefit from a solution tailored to their specific needs.

The unification of Arthur McKay and our Hard Services division is an exciting change and one in which we hope will take us one step closer to achieving our mission of making people and places the best they can be.

Interested in Hard Services?

Contact our team today to talk through your maintenance, minor works or capital projects requirements.

Mobilising cleaning team at short notice for stadium gig

The customer

The Coventry Building Society Arena is owned by the Frasers Group, and hosts a multitude of events throughout the year. From being the home stadium for Coventry City FC to hosting live music concerts, exhibitions and conferences, the venue is a continual hive of activity.

The challenge

In the summer of 2022, the facility underwent some major redevelopment work to refurbish the boardroom and executive boxes. With the final stage of work still ongoing and a board event due to take place in the new area in under a week, the Arena’s incumbent cleaning contractor wasn’t able to fulfil a deep clean – leaving the Arena with a serious challenge. 

While the OCS team had worked with Frasers Group before, we had never worked on the Coventry Building Society Arena, and were asked to mobilise a team of eight cleaners within three days to conduct a Saturday deep clean.

 

The solution

By using our time and attendance software system, we were immediately able to contact all staff in the local area across all of our divisions to gauge availability to work at the Arena on the Saturday. Very quickly, we were able to mobilise a team ready to ensure the new facilities were spotless. 

With rubble still on the floor, the team was on-site for around five hours, cleaning everything from walls, windows and floors to big screens, coordinating with and working around the builders as the last stages of building work were completed

The outcome

The cleaning work was completed more quickly than the customer expected, and when they arrived to inspect the site, they were incredibly impressed. As they’d never worked with us before, they didn’t know what to expect, and they were hugely grateful – not only that we’d been able to mobilise a team so quickly, but also because of the quality of the job. 

By ensuring the facility was clean, safe and hygienic, the event the Arena had booked in for 36 hours later was able to go ahead. 

Larnród Éireann (Irish Rail) look forward to commencing the a three year contract with OCS

We are pleased to announce that OCS Ireland has been awarded a new three-year contract with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), the national railway operator of the Republic of Ireland.

A subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann, Irish Rail is a vital component of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, responsible for providing passenger rail services across its extensive Commuter, Intercity, and Dart networks. It also manages Rosslare Europort running passenger and freight sailings between Ireland and the continent and oversees all internal freight railway operations in the Republic of Ireland.

In partnership with Translink, Irish Rail also operates the Enterprise service connecting Dublin and Belfast. Irish Rail achieved a commendable milestone in 2019 by carrying 50 million passengers, its highest-ever total. The company is set to recover this total post-COVID by 2024 and has plans to increase it further.

Under the new Managed Cleaning Services contract, OCS will assume the responsibility for maintaining a superior level of cleanliness within Irish Rail’s network of train stations, depots, and trains. With a commitment to utilising cutting-edge cleaning equipment and innovative techniques, we aim to ensure that the passenger experience aligns with the high standards upheld by Irish Rail.

We are dedicated to enabling our customers to be their best. The new contract strengthens our existing partnership with Irish Rail, complementing the Security Services contract we have delivered for them since 2014. Our ability to offer an integrated suite of services underscores the confidence that Irish Rail places in OCS to manage critical operational aspects, enabling them to focus on their core competencies.

We take immense pride in our role in this important partnership and will remain committed to supporting Irish Rail in achieving its operational goals.

Iarnród Éireann is an invaluable national asset and a cornerstone of our interconnected transport framework. We eagerly look forward to commencing our Managed Cleaning Services contract and contributing to their strategic goal of accommodating 80 million passengers by 2030.

Áine Mulcahy

Managing Director, OCS Ireland

Nick Ackroyd re-joins OCS as Divisional Sales Director for Cleaning

We are delighted to announce that Nick Ackroyd has recently re-joined OCS as our Divisional Sales Director for Cleaning.

Nick brings a wealth of experience and expertise in facilities services, spanning Aviation, Cleaning, Security, and Facilities Management. With a career that includes significant roles at ABM UK, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and previous positions here at OCS, Nick’s extensive background makes him a valuable asset to our team.

“We are pleased to welcome Nick back to OCS. His depth of industry knowledge, commitment to excellence, and past contributions to our organisation make him an exceptional fit for our new vision and mission.”

Andrew Sugars

Chief Commercial Officer

Nick’s return to OCS comes at a pivotal time for our company. As we have recently merged and established a new vision, mission, and a set of core values, Nick’s experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable in helping us navigate this exciting phase.