ameon

DIGGING DEEP FOR CHATTERBOX
Ameon supervisor, Jack Burgess is not one to gossip but he’s happy to talk about how much he enjoyed spending time volunteering at the Chatterbox Project’s community garden in Blackley, North Manchester.
Jack represented Ameon and turned the soil, shoulder to shoulder with representatives of our client, Wates Construction NW, who were engaged in the community garden as part of the company’s Community and Conservation Week 2024.
Wates’ corporate volunteering programme encourages staff to volunteer during work time for 16 hours annually, which sees the company’s employees adding value to myriad social engagement activities every year.
Well done to Jack for lending his weight – and green fingers – to a community garden that is a peaceful haven for many local residents in and around Booth Hall Road in Blackley. And thanks to Wates Construction NW for allowing him to channel his inner Monty Don for such a worthwhile cause!
Pictured (l to r) are: Jane Thomson – social value manager, Wates Construction NW;
Lauren Hutchinson – site manager, Rodney Street scheme NW; Jack Burgess – supervisor, Ameon; Angie Eardley – regional social value manager, Wates Construction North; Dan Proffitt – social value advisor, Wates Construction NW and Georgina Fowler – estimating trainee manager, Wates Construction NW.

THREE INTO ONE GOES WELL FOR AMEON UTILITIES

Ameon Utilities has helped No.1 St Michaels, Manchester’s first fully net zero carbon commercial development, to get connected in the city, following award of the £1Million+ contract by main contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland; and also provided the commuters of Manchester and Salford with an unexpected bonus in the process.

Proving that three into one does, in fact, go rather well, Ameon Utilities has removed the potential for extended roadwork chaos by consulting with Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester and Salford City Councils’ transport chiefs, inviting them to approach the planned new developments along the route, to take advantage of the excavation for their own utilities’ requirements. This has resulted in two additional large scale construction projects – The Island on John Dalton Street and Vision Manchester, on Whitworth Street West rowing in.

The three into one formula has removed the need for the 1.3 km route from the nearest high voltage capacity connection point on Salford’s Chapel Street, through Blackfriars, St Mary’s Parsonage, Bridge Street and Deansgate to be excavated twice more, thereby saving months of additional roadworks, transport misery and disruption in one of the busiest commuter cities in Europe.

According to managing director, Simon Gut, the formula to ease congestion across the two neighbouring cities was straightforward. He commented: “Although our work is essential, we know how frustrating it can be for motorists and those on public transport, when they are delayed, so for our part, it made perfect sense to get the councils and TfGM on board, because we knew they’d welcome some joined up thinking, especially when it results in fewer unnecessary roadworks scarring the major commuter routes.

“I don’t know if other utilities contractors have made similar attempts to reduce travel disruption by using one excavation for several projects but for us it’s just part of our considered approach to the environment and our attempt to leave as small a footprint as possible in such circumstances, whilst ensuring that large scale construction projects get connected.”

Ameon Utilities is already well on the way to completion of the electricity infrastructure, with work now concentrated within the High Voltage intake room in the ten-storey No.1 St Michaels building, to install an HV metered supply with a load of 2.75mva - serving the business and leisure operations of phase one of the development, currently under construction on Bootle Street.

The destination development will house offices, and a rooftop Japanese/Peruvian fusion restaurant and will incorporate the protected façade of the old Southmill Street Police Station.

ENGINEERING AWARD FIRST FOR MICHAELA
Ameon's Michaela Martin has become the first female recipient of the City of Liverpool College’s prestigious, Alfred Leung Award, which is presented each year to a student demonstrating excellence in the building services engineering field.

Michaela, 34, of South Shore Blackpool, who is employed as an estimator by the company, is currently in her first year of study for her honour’s degree in building services engineering at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) - as part of Ameon’s acclaimed degree apprenticeship programme. She had previously spent four years gaining B-Tech and HNC qualifications in building services engineering at the Liverpool college and was considered for the Alfred Leung Award for her work in the final year of HNC study in 2022/3.

The Alfred Leung Award is named in honour of Dr Leung, who worked at the City of Liverpool College and was formerly regional chair of CIBSE Merseyside (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers). He was known for his thirst for knowledge and was committed to promoting the highest academic standards for engineering students. His award ensures that his name will forever be recognised and associated with excellence this field of engineering and the high achievement of students within it.
Following the award ceremony at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium, Michaela Martin described her delight at being the first female to receive the Alfred Leung Award. She commented: “It’s a great honour to win an award and especially rewarding to be its first female recipient. Hopefully, it reflects well on the growing number of female engineers in the sector and should provide encouragement for any now considering a career in the industry.
“I’m pleased to have won this on behalf of Ameon, who actively encourage aspiration and have helped me embark on this career path, providing the training and study opportunities necessary to attain the qualifications needed to grow within the company and the industry. Prior to joining the Ameon I’d never really mapped out my career direction, but the company has provided the inspiration and that has enabled me to study hard and learn from some great managers, and college and university tutors.”
Current CIBSE Merseyside and North Wales regional chair, Henry Gun-Why, said: “Michaela embodies all the qualities that Alfred stood for during his decorated career in building services engineering, which began at Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1984, saw him achieve his PhD at Liverpool University in 1997 and become a senior lecturer in the subject at Leeds Beckett University. She deserves the accolade, because she has reached the exacting standards required to become its recipient, and by doing so, has shown that she is worthy of the honour.”
“Michaela will inspire other students to strive for more, and Alfred would have been delighted by that outcome.”
Photo Caption - from left: Lynn Borthwick of City of Liverpool College presents Michaela Martin with the award, alongside Alfred Leung’s widow and son, Lai Ling and Adrian; and Henry Gun-Why, regional chair of CIBSE Merseyside and North Wales.

FROM APPRENTICESHIP TO BOARDROOM…
a large degree of success to inspire would be engineers

Qualified engineers, Dave Connor and Jason Kwok, are providing great encouragement to A-Level students considering a degree apprenticeship route as an alternative to full time study at university. The duo, who were the first graduates of building services engineering company, Ameon’s innovative degree apprenticeship programme, in 2011, have both been appointed to the board at the age of 38, and in doing so, are inspiring others to follow their lead.

Since the Ameon degree apprenticeship programme’s creation, 22 employees have taken advantage of this alternative route to the BEng degree, which ensures students a salary whilst studying. Amongst their number is one of only a handful of female Revit design technicians in the UK – who is also now studying for her master’s degree, with the support of the company.

Quite apart from the obvious benefits of gaining a degree without accumulated student debt, Ameon’s programme allows students to gain work experience and business knowledge - so that when they do graduate, they are already a valued part of the management structure and an asset to the business.

It’s a study model gaining traction among careers advisors of leading schools and colleges, among them Fylde Coast independent school, AKS, which has encouraged a number of its sixth form cohort to visit Ameon to learn about options. And one of the group has already been inspired sufficiently enough to gain a place on the programme for September 2024.

According to managing director, Robin Lawson, the fact that prestigious schools with high achieving students are now willing to consider the degree apprenticeship programme, as the alternative route to full time university attendance, is testament to the programme’s considerable benefits, and the number of graduates now enjoying rewarding careers.

Robin comments: “Jason and Dave’s stories should inspire many others to follow in their footsteps, because all who graduate through the programme are much more valuable as employees at the time of graduation. In truth, they are streets ahead of their contemporaries, who might apply for positions having gained degrees whilst away at university. Of course, their degrees are the same, but a full time student graduate would require a considerable investment in training on our part, whereas degree apprenticeship graduates have undergone significant training - and been immersed the company’s culture - in tandem with their studies. As a consequence, they are able to make a significant contribution to our business, without the requirement for additional training.

“To be frank, I do not understand why more businesses don’t recruit this way and why more students and their parents don’t recognise the efficacy of this route to a degree. Perhaps there is a misconception that this pathway is somehow inferior, yet the success of Jason, Dave and others within Ameon helps bely the myth.”

Pictured are Robin (centre), flanked by Jason (left) and Dave.

AKS STUDENT GETS A TASTE OF LIFE AT AMEON
Following an official school visit to Ameon HQ in Blackpool by AKS Lytham, keen student James Dobson, approached us for an opportunity to gain some work experience, as he ponders his higher education options following his sixth form studies at one of Lancashire’s most prestigious schools.
James, has already heard of the route to an honour’s degree, were he to join Ameon on the acclaimed degree apprenticeship programme, and he requested the work experience period with us to get an understanding of the work we undertake and the career options available.
Three days spent with us, experiencing some of the basics of Revit modelling and engineering calculations, and also learning about the vital role of estimating, provided food for thought for the would be engineer, who now has to make an important decision about his next step, which is to choose full time university study or to join the degree apprenticeship programme that has proved successful career springboard for so many of Ameon’s management team.
Commenting on James’s experience with Ameon, design director, Dave Connor, himself an honour’s graduate of the degree apprenticeship programme, said: “James is a bright young man and showed genuine interest in the work we do here. And he had the initiative to request the opportunity to spend time with us, so he’s shown a willingness to learn and consider an alternative path to his degree.
“It’s difficult for students at academically high achieving schools to make a choice like this because the peer pressure is to go down the conventional route of higher education. However, I think he’s seen enough of the graduates on our management team here to know that the work knowledge and experience they gain whilst studying on our degree apprenticeship programme, gives them a real advantage over their peers by the time of graduation, because they are already several years ahead in terms of technical ability and industry experience.
“Add to those benefits the fact that our degree apprentices are paid a salary while they study and work in the business, while full time university students are saddled with student loans, and we’d hope that James and other students would see our route to an engineering honour’s degree as the most logical one to take.”

AWARDS FINAL BECKONS FOR CALLUM
Great news for Ameon’s talented young electrical apprentice, Callum Sharratt, who was selected as one of two leading apprentices in the north in the JTL National Apprentice of the Year Awards and has now passed the final interview stage to earn the right to represent the region at the prestigious national award event at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on the 13th June this year.
As the north’s top apprentice, Callum is already the recipient of an engraved glass trophy and £100 in prize money from leading training company JTL and has been praised for his commitment to his apprenticeship. So, let’s all get behind him and send some words of encouragement, as he tries for the national award - flying the flag for all Ameon apprentices in the process.
Good luck to Callum and let’s hope for more good news in June.
Callum (centre) is pictured receiving his regional award from JTL chief executive, Chris Claydon and deputy delivery director, Clair Bradley.

SEVEN NEW DIRECTORS FOR AMEON
Ameon has enlarged the executive team with the appointment of seven new directors.

The new appointments include principal contract manager, Dave Scott, who becomes construction director. He is joined by principal commercial manager, Steve McCourt, who is appointed to the new post of commercial projects director.

New SHEQ (safety, health, environment & quality) director, Chris Mangnall moves to the role from his former post as SHEQ advisor, while Phil Barrow is appointed special projects director, having been responsible for the development of the company’s special projects arm.

Moving into the post of estimating director, is Scott Andrews, Ameon’s former estimating manager.

Jason Kwok, principal commercial manager, takes on the role of commercial operations director, with design manager, Dave Connor promoted to the post of design director. Jason and Dave were the first members of the team to graduate from UCLAN in 2011, with an honour's degree in building services engineering, gained on Ameon’s degree apprenticeship programme.
Commenting on the new appointments, managing director, Robin Lawson said: “We are a company of aspiration, and the strategic decision to expand our executive from within our ranks is tangible proof of that.
“We have always been a meritocracy, so it is good to see such a mix of new directors; some coming through our acclaimed degree apprenticeship programme and others bringing years of practical trade experience and management nous to the table. It is this balance that gives us our unique culture, and it is something that fuels the aspirations of everyone within the business, whether they begin a career with us on site or join us as part of our degree apprenticeship programme. It is also why our key personnel retention figures are exceptional for our sector - something of which I am particularly proud.
“With our new team in place, I am confident of the successful delivery of our next planned phase of development.”

Photo Caption: Ameon’s new executive team with, front row from left, the original directors: Rod Bunce, Adam Sutton, Robin Lawson and Mark Court.
New directors - back row, from left: Scott Andrews, Steve McCourt, Dave Scott, Jason Kwok, Phil Barrow, Chris Mangnall and Dave Connor.

CALLUM SHINES IN JTL REGIONAL AWARDS
Congratulations to apprentice electrician, Callum Sharratt, who is a regional award winner in the JTL Apprentice Awards 2024.
Callum receives £100 and an engraved glass trophy for his stand out achievement and now goes forward to the JTL National Awards Final, which will be staged at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on the 13th June.
It’s great news for Callum, who was selected by the regional judges for demonstrating key qualities during the apprenticeship programme, including exceeding expectations in the building services engineering category and also demonstrating commitment to his personal development and progression.
The bright young spark will be attending an interview at JTL’s Birmingham training centre in April, which is part of the judging programme for the national final, at which time he’ll be presented with his regional award.
Let’s keep fingers crossed for Callum and wish him well in the final selection process.

SAD NEWS
Sad news this week is that long serving colleague, Dave Cockerill, passed away several days ago at his home in Bispham, Blackpool.

Many will have known Dave, who had been with the company for over 26 years.

Dave joined Ameon as a maintenance plumber on 10th November 1997 and had been a valued member of staff throughout his various roles, which included time spent in a supervisory capacity within the maintenance and small works department.

As most will know, Dave’s son Paul is also a member of the team here at Ameon and so our thoughts are with him and his family.

Let’s all do our best to support Paul, during what will be a challenging time for family, friends and colleagues.

AKS STUDENTS’ DEGREE INSIGHT
A visit by sixth form students from AKS Lytham proved enlightening for the group, when they toured Ameon HQ in Blackpool and received a presentation on the company’s acclaimed degree apprenticeship programme; courtesy of the programme’s first inductees, Dave Connor and Jason Kwok.
Newly appointed directors, Dave and Jason received positive feedback from the independent school’s students, who appreciated the benefits of studying for an honour’s degree, whilst also working within the business and earning a salary.
Zoe Uphill, AKS Lytham’s head of careers also gave positive feedback following the visit. She commented: “The students found the visit to Ameon highly valuable, gaining practical insights into industry operations and enhancing their understanding of real world applications.”
Ameon managing director, Robin Lawson was pleased with the level of engagement from students. He said: “It was encouraging that a number of students were considering the degree apprenticeship route, rather than study full time at university. Furthermore, it was equally pleasing that AKS, a school with high academic standards, could see the numerous advantages of our degree apprenticeship programme, because it contains the required academic integrity, but unlike full time university study, also helps students develop commercial knowledge and life skills, which the conventional honours degree route simply doesn’t do.
“By the time our degree apprentices graduate, they are far more valuable to our business than those coming straight from university, because of their knowledge of the business and the sector in which we operate and will already have been making a significant contribution during their study years. In addition, they will have been earning a competitive salary throughout and not be saddled by student debt at graduation; therefore, I believe it to be an option that more careers advisers should be putting before their students.”
Pictured are (l to r) AKS students, Aton Salem, Jack Hallmark and James Dobson. Additional members of the visiting team were students, Christian Lowe and Alex Cooke.

STEPPING UP FOR CHILDREN'S CHARITY
Ameon commercial director, Adam Sutton, and climbing partner, Cliff Barclay - a Southport based property developer - stepped up when needed and raised a whopping £20,124 by climbing Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in aid of BBrian House Children's Hospice

The climbing duo completed the circa 19,000ft climb over eight days, acclimatising a little each day to try to avoid the altitude sickness that affects so many attempting this particular challenge. En route, they tracked donations by satellite phone, hitting a personal target of £10,000 for the quest, before hearing that the Ameon Group, had surprised them by doubling the amount raised!

On a visit to Brian House, Adam and Cliff handed over a presentation cheque for the sum raised, before making the hospice’s corporate partnerships manager, Janet Atkins, an honorary member of Ameon’s Kilimanjaro Challenge team. She had high praise for the team emblazoned shirt, with which she was presented, and for Adam and Cliff’s heroics for the cause. She commented: “We find that people do go the extra mile in their support for the hospice but in the case of Adam and Cliff it was a round trip of 7,302 miles plus a 19,000ft climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, which is a huge undertaking on our behalf, so they really have stepped up to support us, as have all the kind people who sponsored their challenge.

“We also reserve a big thank you to the Ameon Group for doubling what was raised, because the additional funds make a massive difference to our ability to provide specialist care for children living with some of the most complex medical conditions.”

According to Adam, the climb was much more difficult than he had imagined, but he and Cliff are glad they managed to complete the task. He said: “Lots of people claimed it would be touristy and just an amble around but the extreme cold - at times, minus 25 degrees - coupled with being at high altitude for a sustained period, meant it was far from a ‘walk in the park.’ However, we’re both pleased with our achievement, despite my personal battle with altitude sickness. And the end result of raising just over £20,000, with the invaluable support from Ameon, means that it was well worth the effort, planning and pain involved.

“For future fundraising though, I think we might stay closer to sea level!”

TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND…ESPECIALLY A TEN-MINUTE COMMUTE
Ameon’s latest addition to the ranks at Blackpool HQ is an ardent traveller, who clocked up nine European destinations in 2023 alone, yet says her most satisfying journey is the ten minute daily commute to work from her home in the resort’s Squires Gate district.
Madison Steele joined the company as IMS administrator in January of this year and already feels at home in her new job and surroundings. The 20-year-old former Blackpool Sixth Form student is immersing herself in all things Ameon, which is helped by the fact that she worked previously for an M&E contractor in the Preston area, and therefore already has knowledge of the building services engineering sector.
Although A-Levels included business and finance, with an HR module, together with design focused study, Madison feels that she was likely to find herself in the M&E industry one day, as her father is an electrical manager with another company in the sector, and she has a brother who is a second-year apprentice electrician. So, perhaps it’s in the family DNA!
In her spare time, travel remains one of her primary passions. And, despite having already chalked up dozens of destinations across Europe, with a group of her friends in recent years, Madison’s wanderlust remains as strong as ever, with more city and weekend breaks planned for 2024, which may even include a return to Hvar in Croatia, her favourite destination to date, and one that she recommends to anyone looking for a memorable break in the most beautiful surroundings.
Nine to five, Monday to Friday though, Madison’s travel bug will be sated by the shortest of journeys…to Whitehills Business Park!
Welcome to the team.

MICHAELA’S INSPIRED CAREER PATH
It would be easy to think that Ameon’s Michaela Martin, might have had enough study in her life, following four years at Liverpool City College in pursuit of both her B-Tech and HNC qualifications in building services engineering. But not so!
A well-known face in our estimating department , Michaela, 34, is not one to rest on her laurels and is already halfway through the first of four years’ study for her honours degree in building services engineering at UCLAN - which is remarkable, given that she joined the company nine years ago in an admin post, with no real idea of a career path.
A self-confessed sporty type at school, Michaela says that at the age of 16 she saw herself perhaps pursuing a career in a sports-related field yet had a number of jobs in different, unrelated, industry sectors upon leaving Blackpool’s Palatine High School and believed she lacked the confidence to nail her colours to a specific career path at that time. However, answering a recruitment ad for an administration vacancy at Ameon became a crossroads moment for the South Shore resident, and she is confident that she chose the right turning.
Comments Michaela: “From the moment I joined Ameon, it I felt like this wasn’t just another job! It felt like a place where aspiration was a good word – and still is – and where support and personal development are part of the culture.
“The investment in training, the range of interesting work and the opportunities available here really helped provide the focus for me to see in which direction I could go and what I could achieve with the company. And, as a consequence, I’ve never looked back! I’ve acquired knowledge to enable me to develop my skills and hopefully I’m repaying that investment in me by making my contribution towards the company’s continued success.”
Aside from work and study for her B Eng, Michaela enjoys nothing more than putting on the gloves for boxercise classes and gym work and is also kept on her toes walking the most recent addition to the Martin home, her one-year-old Cavachon, ‘Indie.’
Let’s wish Michaela a fruitful study at UCLAN.
The photo shows Michaela taking in the impressive backdrop of Chicago, whilst on a recent trip to attend an HVAC conference in the city as part of her university studies.

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING’S NOT FOR THE SHEEPISH!
If you’re asked to wear an ugly Christmas jumper, could it be that someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes? This and other questions were probably asked by the Ameon team working on E6 (Passivhaus) in Salford, when it was suggested that they join a Christmas jumper day to raise money for charity.
However, undaunted by the potential for a fashion faux pas, the team, who are a close-knit bunch, decided to support client, Eric Wright’s efforts to raise funds for the Holly’s Heart charity, which is a cause close to the EW team on the project.
The £110 raised by the effort, proves that you can wear an ugly jumper with an illuminated Santa, glowing snowman or a flashing reindeer and still be admired as a human being – albeit one with questionable dress sense!
Great effort!
Merry Christmas!

FESTIVE CHEER FOR NHS PATIENTS
When we were invited to help our client, Overbury, provide some cheer for wards at Bolton Hospital, we agreed that it was just the medicine needed at this time of year, and jumped at the chance, quicker than you can say Merry Christmas!
Adding to a wider collection undertaken by Overbury, we were able to do our bit to provide toys for a children’s ward and toiletries gifts for adult patients in wards at the NHS hospital, where we are engaged with Overbury, in a major refurbishment.
Once presents had been sourced, Ameon’s office and finance manager, Louise Field and company secretary, Jean O’ Hagan, handed the gifts to Overbury’s organiser, Rick Marshall, in readiness for delivery to the hospital wards in the run up to the big day.
Ameon’s construction director, Dave Scott commented: “We’re really pleased that we can play Santa for people who are in hospital, at a time when they’d rather be around the Christmas tree at home with their families. And we’re equally happy to be supporting the wider festive initiative undertaken by Overbury, which is a great pick-me-up for patients at the hospital in the season where everyone can do their bit to spread some cheer to those who need it most.”

NEW POST FOR ANTONY
Joining the senior management team at Ameon was less a pipedream and more a half pipe dream for newly appointed, commercial manager, Antony Reavey.
Keen snowboarder, Antony, 35, began working with Ameon as an agency electrician in 2011, before joining the company as permanent employee in 2012. Within a year he had gained promotion to the post of electrical site manager, before deciding in 2014 to go walkabout in Australia for a couple of years.
Fast forward to 2016 and Antony returned to Ameon to resume his post as an electrical site manager, which was followed by a promotion in 2019, when appointed electrical project manager. Another promotion in September 2020 saw him move into the post of senior project manager, and his latest step has led him to Blackpool headquarters and the role of commercial manager.
Hailing from Thornton, Antony attended Millfield High School, before embarking on a JTL electrical apprenticeship at Blackpool and The Fylde College. He is a self-confessed gym enthusiast, to go alongside his passion for snowboarding.
Commenting on the new appointment, commercial director, Adam Sutton said: “Antony brings extensive site management experience to the post, together with an in depth knowledge of our business and our service ethos, all of which are essential for a commercial manager.
“Having worked on some of our most prestigious contracts during his time with Ameon, he can empathise with site management teams, relating to the pressures involved in the delivery of contracts and the maintenance of standards. He’s also extremely personable and is already proving to be a valuable addition to the HQ commercial team.”
Let’s wish Antony all the best in his new role.