Category: Innovation

OCS Develop Revolutionary Mud Monitoring, Detection and Alerting System

Posted on by stephanieamata

We along with our partner, Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture (SCS JV) have developed MudCam, a revolutionary monitoring, detection and alerting system that continuously monitors areas of mud build-up.

MudCam addresses legislative and safety concerns for construction sites and mitigates the multi-million-pound risks of site shutdowns. It improves safety for the on-site employees and helps to strengthen relations with local communities by preventing potentially unsightly and dangerous build-ups.

It can be used in a number of strategic locations on public highways such as pre-determined construction site traffic routes where awareness of the build-up of mud would be advantageous to enable appropriate monitoring, action and response. 

MudCam was shortlisted as a finalist in the highly contested category, ‘Technological Innovation of the Year’ in the London Construction Awards (LCA) 2023.  The LCA celebrate major achievements, developments and innovations across the UK’s construction industry and is part of London Build, the UK’s leading construction and design show. 

MudCam was developed in direct response to political and legislative requests and to maintain the highest levels of health and safety on the HS2 Project. It’s a totally unique product that demonstrates our commitment to reducing the impact of construction works and ensuring the safety of the surrounding community. We’re currently in initial conversations about a number of future opportunities for MudCam and are working with our supply chain to develop new technologies to benefit the wider industry.

Andrew Campbell

OCS Security Systems Director

It’s often the simple innovations that have the most impact. It is important that a project of this scale constantly reviews its work and develops initiatives to create a step-change improvement for our industry. I am proud that OCS have developed this solution for us, to improve safety and create a better environment for road users and the local community.

Mark Starosolsky

SCS JV Director of Logistic

Empowering Leadership: The OCS Catalyst Programme

Posted on by lawrenceriches

At OCS, our high ambitions and expectations create both challenges and opportunities. To navigate this landscape effectively, we have launched the Catalyst Programme. This program is aimed at nurturing some of our most accomplished performers to lead their teams to even greater success.

Program Objectives

The Catalyst Programme is strategically designed to achieve several vital objectives for sustaining and enhancing our leadership framework. Its primary goal is to develop a cohesive leadership and management strategy for OCS UK and Ireland. By equipping our leaders with the necessary skills and confidence, we ensure they are prepared to achieve and maintain success.

Another key objective is to share and refine effective leadership and management techniques, encouraging participants to enhance their methods and skills for immediate workplace application. This approach helps participants achieve their potential and inspires their teams to reach their goals.

Intended Outcomes

The program aims to achieve several important outcomes. Participants will contribute to shaping and driving the organisation’s vision, mission, and ambitions. This will help the organisation maintain success in the face of changing circumstances and drive growth. Protecting our existing business and brand reputation, improving performance, and increasing profitability are crucial goals. Additionally, the program seeks to develop a deeper pool of leaders and managers within OCS, fostering a high-performance climate where innovation thrives, and resilience is built. Participants will be equipped to lead business improvements and identify potential acquisitions, ensuring effective integration and sustained high performance.

Through the Catalyst Programme, OCS is dedicated to empowering its leaders to promote success and innovation, ensuring our organisation remains at the forefront of the facilities management industry.

Tom Copsey

Director of Resourcing & Talent Management

The Program Structure

The Catalyst Programme comprises practical workshops on real-world application and pre- and post-development activities designed to reinforce learning. Participants will immediately apply their new skills and methods in the workplace, driving improvements in several critical areas.

Key Areas of Focus

The Catalyst Programme empowers participants to develop capabilities in various key areas:

  • Leadership and Managment
  • Strategic Insight and Implementation
  • Creating High-Performance Climates
  • Enhancing Commercial Capabilities
  • Business Improvement and Innovation
  • Self-Management and Effective Communication

By focusing on these areas, OCS ensures its leaders are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, driving success and innovation in the facilities management industry.

Join us in celebrating our new cohort of ambitious leaders who are set to shape OCS’s future, making people and places the best they can be and delivering the best outcomes for colleagues, customers and communities.

Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level?

Whether you’re a current employee looking to elevate your career, or a potential applicant seeking to join a dynamic organisation committed to leadership excellence, the Catalyst Programme awaits.

OCS: Pioneers of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

Posted on by danbarber

Now Globally Recognised: Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme, initially launched at Gatwick Airport by OCS Group to assist passengers with hidden disabilities, has been successfully adopted in airports globally. This innovative initiative, which began as a trial over the summer, has significantly enhanced the travel experience for thousands of passengers and their families worldwide with hidden disabilities such as dementia, autism, or hearing loss.

Discreet recognition

Introducing these distinctive lanyards lets travellers discreetly inform airport teams of their need for tailored assistance. The lanyard ensures they receive the proper support throughout their journey, such as extra time for processing information or preparing belongings before security screening. OCS assistance teams across the UK and globally have undergone specialised training to recognise and appropriately respond to these lanyards.

This scheme is part of a broader initiative by OCS Group, which provides assistance services at multiple airports across the UK & Ireland and globally. The initiative was informed by the “Challenging for Change” report, which captured the experiences of passengers with disabilities and suggested improvements. Follow-up workshops facilitated dialogue and idea exchange among airlines, airport operators, baggage handlers, disability groups, and support service providers.

Charity Partnership & Collaboration

Key UK charities like the Alzheimer’s Society, The National Autistic Society, and Action on Hearing Loss have collaborated with Gatwick Airport and OCS Group in this endeavour. At launch, Nikki Barton, Head of Terminals and Passenger Assistance at Gatwick, highlighted the scheme’s role in reducing travel stress for passengers with hidden disabilities and the importance of training for frontline teams in enhancing passenger experiences.

OCS Group has 60 years of expertise in the aviation sector and their commitment to excellence for passengers needing additional assistance. The lanyard scheme, born from extensive consultations with disability groups, aims to minimise misinterpretations of the specific needs associated with hidden disabilities.

Specialist Colleague Training

The lanyard scheme’s rollout was supported by comprehensive training, with NVQ Level 2 training in dementia care now standard for OCS teams in the departure lounges. Numerous Dementia Friends Champions have been trained across the airports to further the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme.

Sue Rennie, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for West Sussex North, said, “People with dementia and their family carers often find travelling daunting when faced with unfamiliar and busy airports. The lanyard scheme for passengers with hidden disabilities introduced at Gatwick offers reassurance to those who use it. It also helps airport teams know that they may require additional support, which can improve the passengers’ travel experience at the airport.”