Case Studies

Background

Hobbs has a long association working with Praxis42 which has helped them establish a robust fire, health and safety management system and safety culture. Led by senior management and managed through the HR and Property team, the programme included developing a business focused policy, which set organisational responsibilities, annual objectives and plans. Key to the success was the annual store compliance and assessment visits, audit of the logistics and supply process and office safety inspection.

When Hobbs was acquired by TFG London which includes Phase Eight and Whistles, the Head of Property Estates and Facilities extended the system across the total group estate having observed that it was a highly successful part of the Hobbs operation.

The role of Praxis42

Working closely with the TFG team, the Praxis42 consulting team evolved and extended the safety management system across the business. This involved reviewing and integrating policies, procedures and organisational responsibilities, that became common across all brands. Overlayed with that the annual visit was tweaked to match the business objectives and help managers manage in their areas of responsibility.

The Praxis42 Software as a Service (SaaS) compliance portal provided an online weekly store inspection which helped the Property Estates and Facilities team monitor performance. and gave access to managers to deal with actions from the annual visits. Accident and incident reporting went on-line, which improved the speed and ease of reporting, meaning the timely management information was provided and the appropriate action could be taken.

Comment from Head of Property Estates and Facilities

The consulting team at Praxis42 is extremely professional and competent in extending their knowledge of fire, health and safety within the TFG team and are always at the other end of the phone to offer pragmatic advice. The use of the SaaS Portal has given insights across the estate which helps the team focus on what’s important and provide oversight.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) employs approximately 230,000 regular and reserve personnel with a civilian staff of 55,000 whose training is managed by a department called dbLearning. The department operates training from 32 bases and locations around the World with dedicated eLearning centres called DELC’s.

When dbLearning, the civilian training function of the MoD, carried out a review of its health, safety and environment eLearning materials it became clear that many of its modules needed updating to match the best of what was available. At the same time there were some legislative changes which needed to be incorporated into their portfolio.

Delivery

As a result of Praxis42’s technical experience and professional credentials they were selected by dblearning as their sole provider of health, safety and environment eLearning.

During the selection process the MoD were looking for a level of assurance and confidence from eLearning suppliers that their products and ongoing support would ensure that the health, safety and environment content kept pace with the constant changes that occur in this area of compliance. Praxis42 stood out as 1^st class subject matter experts as well as being the only health, safety and environment business which provides eLearning training courses that are accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

‘ The course was a tremendous success and I envisage that all of those who attended will achieve the full qualification’ 

Captain Chris Butt

The MoD believes that working in partnership with Praxis42 they now have a level of assurance that the content of the modules will be kept up to date and relevant to their needs while providing an excellent interactive learning experience for their staff.

 To establish a proof of concept and gain user feedback Praxis42 undertook an initial pilot through the dbLearning ‘limited editions’ programme where all its health and safety eLearning modules were added to the dbLearning portfolio. The pilot was a great success and provided the foundation for the long-term licence agreement.

The response to our eLearning courses has been extremely positive not only from senior management, but also from the students taking the courses and their line managers ‘ The course was a tremendous success and, whilst the final assessments still need to be ratified by IOSH, I envisage that all of those who attended will achieve the full IOSH ‘Managing Safely’ qualification’

“Praxis42 listened to what we needed and have consistently delivered on time and on budget. They are extremely professional”.

Bernie Hart – dbLearning team manager

McColl’s, a leading neighbourhood retailer, identified a requirement to outsource their fire safety across their network of countrywide stores, to achieve compliance with article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and section 53(2)(a) of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

Praxis42 were initially appointed at a strategic level to provide guidance and support to ensure full compliance with the aforementioned fire safety legislation. In conjunction with this McColl’s put in motion a competitive tender process to have fire risk assessments undertaken across their estate of circa 1,200 convenience stores.

Establishing a partnership with a credible consultancy business was obviously important to McColl’s and a good cultural fit was one of the criteria in selecting Praxis42. In addition to the strategic support with delivering management information, the ability to deliver fire risk assessments across the UK was essential in supporting the Health and Safety Manager and ensuring compliance in a dynamic business environment.

Competence was also critical and Praxis42 were able to evidence their credentials by being a BAFE SP205 Life Safety Risk Assessment accredited company.

McColl’s identified the need to be able to measure compliance and had already put in motion a computer-aided facility management (CAFM) system. Being able to link into this system was crucial and Praxis42 were quickly able to provide the data directly into the McColl’s CAFM system via an Application Programming Interface (API).

Alison Fagan the Health and Safety Manager responsible for fire safety in McColl’s says:

“We like working with Praxis42 as they are large enough to manage the business requirement but are small enough to ensure that there is a personal relationship to assist with dynamic situations at speed to ensure that McColl’s needs are met.”

The Plough in Harborne is an independent eatery and stylish modern pub, which has maintained its standing as a staple in the Harborne community for its homely atmosphere, delivering outstanding home-cooked comfort food and hospitable customer service since 2003.

Awarded as one of the Top 20 Pubs in the UK by the Morning Advertiser, The Plough has sustained a high standing reputation with its customers, a diverse crowd ranging from ale enthusiasts, music lovers and young families. The Plough has demonstrated its ability to evolve in an ever-changing market, exhibiting resilience and versatility in continuing to appease its current customer base whilst also attracting new customers.

Along with delivering high quality food and service to the general public, The Plough recognise the importance of preserving high food standards and general health and safety requirements. The management team were clear that a proactive approach to Health, Safety & Fire best practice wasintegral in ensuring greater efficiency, increased morale among staff and an improved standing among its customers and client base.

The Role of Praxis42

Praxis42 have been working with The Plough since 2009, following a selection process to find not only a proficient consultancy firm, but also an organisation who would integrate culturally with their own beliefs in making the health and safety of their employees, clients and customers paramount to their goals. To meet these objectives Praxis42, over the course of the 10 years, have offered a range of services to the estate comprising of health, safety and fire safety assessments along with food hygiene audits. The pragmatic solutions offered by Praxis42 along with the underpinning knowledge, adaptability and competencies of their practitioners have assisted The Plough in maintaining consistent compliance across a dynamic and fast paced work environment and to manage, meet and exceed expectations.

What did we deliver

Praxis42 were selected to work with senior management to understand what their ultimate goals were and how to achieve compliance and ultimately measure performance.

The services and delivery provided by Praxis42, over the course of 10 years, have included:

• Annual site visits from our in-house safety advisors.
• The undertaking of fire, general and food related safety assessments.
• Producing an active action plan of controls and recommendations to be reviewed and resolved.
• Recommendations and guidance  to maintain compliance and effective safety management.
• Advice regarding food safety management, hygiene, cleaning and structure.
• Advice and recommendation to ensure staff members are provided with a high standard of working conditions and welfare arrangements, to enable them to undertake their duties to the best of their ability.

“When we first started working with Praxis42 over 10 years ago, it was evident that they have the ability and the right approach in communicating  the right culture. They have helped us to implement and maintain high standards for health and safety for our business and our staff and are not there to simply chastise with a do this or do that approach. Praxis42 are extremely professional in extending their knowledge of health and safety and are always at the other end of the phone to offer advice.”

Adam Johnson, Owner of The Plough

Background

Praxis42 were appointed as Consulting partner to Kurt Geiger, as part of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) continuous improvement approach. The delivery of fire, health and safety (FHS) compliance was reviewed to include additional consulting support from a retail sector specialist, at a strategic and tactical level.

Delivery

Establishing a partnership with a credible consultancy business was obviously important to Kurt Geiger and a good cultural fit was one of the criteria in selecting Praxis42. In addition to the strategic support with delivering management information, the ability to deliver assessments and audits across the UK and Republic of Ireland estate was essential in supporting local managers and ensuring compliance in a dynamic business environment.

The review highlighted that while Kurt Geiger had an established approach to FHS there was a need to better measure compliance and provide essential compliance information and training using technology to improve efficiency, raise competence and compliance. The solutions provided by Praxis42 includes:

• online accident reporting and investigation
• store and concessions weekly inspection compliance reporting
• IOSH approved bespoke induction and awareness eLearning
• a store portal that holds a central repository of FHS information and compliance documents
• an annual store visit by a qualified consultant
• store fire risk assessments and general assessments
• a review of Asbestos Containing Materials condition
• an access to goods and services Equality Act audit
• a Legionella risk assessment
• active action plan of findings to be resolved
• auto email compliance reminders

Ross Warden the Retail Director responsible for ESG performance in Kurt Geiger commented:

“Having the ability to see how compliance is being achieved and to have real-time management information, which senior management can use to take appropriate action and share with stakeholders, makes me feel more confident and assured that I am fulfilling my responsibilities and those placed on the business. This doesn’t lead me or the management team to become complacent but provides the platform to develop a continuous improvement approach to ESG. Praxis42 understands how a compliance programme is delivered and supports me at a strategic level, with insights and help with what often appears a complex subject, with pragmatic clear guidance, advice and solutions.

Having the ability to see how compliance is being achieved and to have real-time management information, which senior management can use to take appropriate action and share with stakeholders, makes me feel more confident and assured that I am fulfilling my responsibilities and those placed on the business.

Praxis42 understands how a compliance programme is delivered and supports me at a strategic level, with insights and help with what often appears a complex subject, with pragmatic clear guidance, advice and solutions.”

Caesars Entertainment EMEA (Caesars) is an innovative entertainment business which forms part of the Caesars empire with its flagship operations in Las Vegas.

It is committed to meeting its social responsibilities and compliance obligations with its business excellence, and has been recognised by the industry, winning European Casino Operator of the year, two years running.

Casinos are regulated and receive a high level of attention from various enforcers. As a result, compliance and assurance management is central to the operations of the business which is guided by a department led by the Group Compliance Director EMEA.

As part of a business improvement programme the approach of employing an internal fire, health and safety resource was challenged and a different way of delivering compliance was sought.

Caesars selected Praxis42 on the basis of its experience of outsourcing, influencing leaders and the ability to offer both strategic and tactical support for the business.

Praxis42 were selected to undertake a review which involved working with the senior management team to understand what they wanted to achieve, how they could measure performance and how assurance could be achieved in a way that fitted the culture.

The outcome from the review was to take a fresh look at how fire, health and safety competent support could be provided by a business partner approach, developing into strategic support, working closely with the board of directors and governance team.

“The Praxis42 team are consummate professionals and are dedicated to Caesars’ success across the EMEA. An outsource model in compliance and assurance gives the business the opportunity to tap into a depth of competent resources which is not possible in a traditional in-house model. It also offers the ability to flex up and down as required and provides the opportunity to gain insights and efficiencies that come from an established consultancy.”

Ann Sullivan, Group Compliance Director EMEA