“You have all done an amazing job especially as we have moved this forward by a couple of days. Can I personally add my thanks to all of you and your teams for all of their hard work and effort.”

Adrian Carr Village Operations & Services Manager - Bicester Value Retail Management (Bicester Village) Ltd

Bicester Village is the UK’s leading designer outlet centre, accommodating 130 exclusive British and international labels. Nurture is responsible for grounds maintenance and planting, reflecting the aspirations and opulence of the brands. Nurture have been maintaining the grounds and bedding displays at Bicester Village since Spring 2014 with a team of

three full-time gardeners lead by our foreman Greg Cox.

We were delighted to receive the following comments following our recent Spring bedding change over.

ISSUE 15 | APRIL 2015

Bicester in BloomWelcomeWelcome to the Spring edition of Nurture News. It has been a hectic few months, particularly for our amazing gritting teams. They work around the clock to keep our clients open for business and made more than 27,000 visits over the Winter months.

The Company continues to flourish across all our regions in the UK and best wishes to our teams on-site during the Spring growing season.

This growth would not have occurred without the support and encouragement of our clients. Thank you for the trust you place in us to create and maintain your landscapes.

Peter Fane Managing Director

Inside...Planning Success

Midlands Region Flying to New Base

Going the Extra Mile

Working Around the Clock

Overnight Planting Reaps Rewards

Mucklows Partnership Hits 30 Years

Acquisition Integration Completed

Talent Management

“I just wanted to pass on some feedback from myself and other employees who have commented on the flowers that are currently being installed throughout the Village. They are really lovely, eye-catching and have given a real lift to the Village.”

Laura Barkas Front Office Coordinator Value Retail Management (Bicester Village) Ltd

nurturenews

Planning SuccessWhile planting is considered the finishing touch to any new development, Nurture’s involvement often begins as early as scheme concept. In addition to its core grounds maintenance operation, Nurture has a thriving “design and build” to provide a seamless service from planning through to installation and aftercare.

Involving Nurture at the planning stage will achieve the best use of external space. Nurture works nationally with a wide array of clients on developments such as business parks, industrial and distribution units, hospitality and leisure projects. Maximising external space is especially important for leisure operators, where gardens and courtyards act as an extension to the premises.

Numerous projects have been completed across the UK for Wetherspoons, the most recent being Anglesey Lodge in Hednesford in the Midlands. The landmark building

occupies a prime site in the centre of the town and forms a key part of the £50m regeneration of the area.

The design and build team is headed by Landscape Manager Steve Taylor and Project Supervisor Ben Farmer. Using the latest AutoCAD software for accurate and efficient design, the team can work either direct for the building owner, architect or main contractor according to individual requirements.

Midlands Region Flying to New Base

The relocation of Nurture’s Midlands depot from Melton Mowbray to the former RAF Newton in Nottinghamshire has brought instant success. The former airbase is home to a number of businesses with a series of residential developments also underway as part of a 10 year redevelopment scheme. The new office with workshop and yard facilities is sat right next to the A46 and provides excellent access to Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln.

Within weeks of arriving, a deal was struck with client / Managing Agent Bill Hughes who awarded Nurture contracts for the grounds maintenance and gritting of the 228 acre site.

The contract win is a flying start for new Regional Director Gordon Whyte who joined Nurture in August. Gordon has 20 years’ experience in horticulture and the regional management team has been expanded this spring to include a new Assistant Manager James Perks in the West Midlands.

Going the Extra MileNurture Landscapes has been one of the proud supports of The Broadgate Estates CYCLE TO MIPIM charity challenge. Since 2011 Broadgate has raised a staggering £115,000 for charity by supporting participants in this event. The 1,452km endurance ride involves cycling from London to the international property exhibition in Cannes in only five days. This

year over 100 cyclists hit the road, including Broadgate Estates’ Chief Executive Officer Steve Whyman for his fifth consecutive year. Nurture’s director Paul Bean was privileged to be invited to participate in the event in 2013.

Nurture is delighted to have helped sponsor the 2015 event in aid of the main beneficiary Coram. Founded in 1739 and the UK’s oldest children’s charity, Coram supports vulnerable children and young people, helping over one million each year. The money raised by the dedicated riders helps Coram create stable, loving families. As the most successful voluntary adoption agency, Coram offers life-long support.

This support underlines the close working relationship between Broadgate Estates and Nurture Landscapes. The landscape maintenance contracts currently managed by Nurture on behalf of Broadgate are Merchant Square in Paddington and Broadgate in the City of London.

ISSUE 15 | APRIL 2015 www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk

As office workers turn off the lights and head for home, Nurture’s operatives also hit the roads. From a strategic network of hubs and depots, 40 teams depart into the night to grit clients’ car parks, pavements and access roads. Over the last winter period the teams clocked up a staggering 27,000 visits, keeping staff and customers safe and premises open – our busiest and most successful season.

Providing a rapid response to deteriorating weather conditions requires the right tools – and wheels. Nurture has a significant fleet comprising 18 tonne and 7.5 tonne gritting lorries, flat-bed trucks, adapted transit vans and tractors. Even converted lawnmowers with a snow plough at the front.

Information is critical and Nurture receives daily forecasts from the Met Office so clients have the best and most accurate information. Nurture operates an electronic reporting system, equipping staff with a tablet and bespoke software that tracks and reports on each gritting visit. This investment in systems and

training has been recognised with the award of a Gold Quality Mark by the Met Office.

A massive thank you is extended to all our gritting teams who turned out in all weathers, often on top of their day shift. As did our essential office staff who went above and beyond, sometimes coming in to work voluntarily during evenings and weekends.

Working Around the Clock

Adam Marriott, Field Operations Director of Precision Facilities Management Ltd, commented:

“We, here at Precision Facilities Management, have been working in partnership with Nurture Landscapes for the last three winters to provide our clients with winter gritting and snow clearing services.

“The service Nurture, and in particular their East Midlands division, have provided over the years has been second to none. From the daily detailed forecasts provided & standard gritting attendances to the Out of Hours call out responses, whatever time of day or night, has provided our clients with the assurance that their sites and business will not be affected by any adverse winter conditions that come our way.

We will continue to use and work with Nurture Landscapes hopefully for many years to come.”

Overnight Planting Reaps RewardsThe Spirit Pub Company owns some of the UK’s most popular hospitality brands including Chef & Brewer; Fayre & Square; Flaming Grill; Taylor Walker; and John Barras. These include 750 managed pubs with more than a third located in London and the South East.

Nurture has been working with Spirit in the North for a number of years and recently secured an additional five year contract covering the South of England. Spirit pubs are situated in prime locations and colourful and welcoming environments are essential to attract clientele.

The southern contract involves maintaining 5,500 baskets and 7,500 troughs which are refreshed on a seasonal basis and twice in spring. All bedding is grown at Nurture’s

nursery in Blackburn and shipped down on articulated lorries twice a week. Each lorry can carry 40 trolleys with enough bedding to supply 440 units. Bedding is delivered to the pubs on two 7.5 tonne lorries, each carrying nine trolleys.

Negotiating London’s congested streets, limited parking and zealous traffic wardens is a major challenge which required an ingenious solution. Where possible, Nurture works throughout the night to replace baskets and troughs and reducing the time required by a third. Ensuring customers are greeted by a stunning

selection of plants and regularly mown grass means regular visits – up to 19 times a year. We always co-ordinate our activities with the client to minimise the impact on the business, night or day!

Nicola Pegg, Purchasing Executive for Spirit, commented:

“Nurture has been our sole supplier for Planting and Grounds across all of the Spirit estate for just over 12 months now and it is swiftly becoming a true partnership, based on strong collaboration and forward thinking strategies from the very beginning.”

Kurt Lawton, from managing agents DTZ, said:

“After completing the recent retender for the Mucklow portfolio and proving value for money to both client and tenants, we have decided to continue our relationship with Nurture Landscapes.”

Chris Notley, Nurture Contracts Manager, said:

“We are all delighted to have won this new three year contract with DTZ on their Mucklows portfolio and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them both.”

Acquisition Integration CompletedOn 1st April all staff from the former JMK Groundcare, acquired last year, officially became part of Nurture. Staff look fantastic in their new uniforms and all premises and equipment have been rebranded as Nurture.

In truth, the integration has been working very well for several months. People have embraced the new systems and procedures and are

A and J Mucklow Group plc, the largest quoted investment property company in the Midlands, has extended its 30 year association with Nurture. The group owns and manages around 3.5 million sq ft of commercial property, encompassing multi-let industrial estates, larger distribution units, offices and retail.

enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead, for them personally and the business. A huge vote of thanks to all our staff who have adapted so well and continued to provide customers with great passion and commitment during an exceptionally busy period.

Customers have been especially pleased to see our gritting teams who offer a vital service throughout the region. Working from a number of depots, our six teams visited up to 250 sites a night to keep roads clear and pathways safe. Special thanks goes to the team that supported our winter gritting business with Annette Bagan and Hazel Cameron working weekends to support the operations teams managed by Drew McLanachan and Craig Pettigrew. Nurture undertakes gritting nationwide and teams from the various regions will be sharing

ideas and best practice to deliver the best service.

The Scottish region has pioneered Nurture’s workload in the public sector, especially social housing where we maintain open spaces and gardens. Commercial work is also booming and our experience has been recognised with a new contract to work with EEG to provide grounds maintenance and winter gritting for Jones Lang LaSalle across Scotland.

The integration has created a number of new positions and we welcome Douglas Jardine as a Director for Scotland. Douglas has worked in landscaping since 2000 and joins from a national maintenance company. The management will also be expanded with a new Key Account Manager and Customer Services Administrator.

The new contract commenced in March and will run until 2018. Nurture will provide grounds maintenance to around 25 sites across the Midlands, with many operating seven days a week. Two teams will work full-time, assisted by a further three teams when required, with the ability to call upon the wider resources of the

company. Nurture will be responsible for all planting and pruning, grass cutting and road sweeping to maintain attractive and welcoming environments. Many of the sites receive high visitor traffic so public safety will be paramount, as will scheduling work to avoid impacting on tenants. During the cold winter months Nurture will also be gritting, enabling all the businesses to operate whatever the weather.

Mucklows Partnership Hits 30 Years

Pictured left to right: Craig, Hazel, Drew and Annette.

ISSUE 15 | APRIL 2015 www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk

Nurture at a glance326 EMPLOYEES

124 MOBILE TEAMS

24 STATIC SITES

26 DEPOTS

www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk

Inspire Us!We hope that you enjoyed this newsletter and discovered something new about Nurture. If you want to know more about us, or have any news you would like to share, we would love to hear from you.

Email: peter.fane@nurturelandscapes.co.uk Nurture Landscapes Ltd Nursery Court London Road Windlesham Surrey, GU20 6LQ

Tel: 01344 234000 Fax: 01344 234001 Email: info@nurturelandscapes.co.uk

Talent ManagementManaging 130 acres of landscaped garden and Wetlands Nature Reserve for a world-renowned client is a huge responsibility. It’s also a long term team commitment where people and plants combine to deliver the client’s vision. We take great pride in our staff and it is a privilege to see them thrive in a positive environment.

Anand Clarke joined Nurture in 2012 as Deputy Head Gardener at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton. With 20 years’ experience in horticulture, Anand slotted in seamlessly and was soon promoted to Assistant Contracts Manager. To assist him with the responsibilities of the new role, Nurture sponsored Anand to study Level 5 NVQ Management which he has just achieved. Anand’s study days were based at Hinxton

and his qualification will help him motivate, support and bring out the best from his team of eight.

“Training and development is very important for Nurture,” commented Anand. “The investment in our people is also an investment in our

clients’ businesses, improving our efficiency and productivity. I’m now in a better position to pass on the benefits of my experience to our apprentice on site.

Facilities Manager for the Wellcome Trust, Jayne Proctor, added: “Anand is a real asset to the team and working with Nurture is a true partnership in every sense of the word.”

Over the next few months Anand and his team will be implementing the next phase of development at Hinxton. In addition to the usual seasonal maintenance around 700 sq ft of turf will be relaid and 1,500 plants installed.

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