As a leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company, we are continually improving our systems and processes to help us provide the best possible service to our customers, and this year has been no exception.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic we have managed to keep busy by achieving five accreditations during the lockdown, including an update to our Investors in People award.
We’ve held Investors in People since 2005 and had been preparing for renewal when lockdown happened. Not to be daunted we were determined to see the process through and conducted a series of online surveys and staff interviews to meet the accreditation’s requirements. A virtual site visit at the end of March finalised the project.
We also maintained ISO 9001, the recognised quality management system accreditation. This certifies our dedication to continually improving our efficiency and helps focus on the streamlining of businesses processes.
Like so many organisations during the pandemic, we have been polishing our online meeting skills using Microsoft Teams and Zoom to keep our lines of communication open. We used MS Teams to manage collaboration and collation of information for our ISO 9001 surveillance audit. We also used MS Teams to support the renewal of our environmental management award ISO 4001 conducting virtual live site visits.
We passed all three with flying colours and with some very positive notes for the Airmaster team as we continue to find ways to reduce our environmental impact. The great news continues as since then we’ve achieved Safe Contractor and CHAS Premium to add to our list of mission-critical health and safety awards.
“We’ve achieved a great deal in what has been a year of ups and downs,” says Airmaster MD Lisa Pogson, “not least with people being ill and not being around their friends and families. Working remotely for some of our office staff has been a new experience. But overall, we have managed to keep our focus on the ups.”
The pandemic has presented us all with many challenges, but it has also given us an opportunity to look at things in a different light and adapt to unpredictable and ever-changing circumstances.
This has been particularly important for our key worker customers. We supply service and maintenance contracts for emergency services, retail and healthcare organisations. It has been vital that we do our bit to ensure these customers’ air conditioning systems function as well as possible.
Our team of engineers made this the focus of their attention. We also made the decision not to charge for any additional cleaning to maintenance contracts as a show of support for businesses continuing to work during the crisis.
Never has it been more important for employees to be comfortable at work, especially those on the front line. Not only does a healthy working atmosphere with proper ventilation boost performance and productivity, it can also make people feel good about coming to work. In the current climate, this is essential for staff morale.
Businesses that have been able to continue have relied as much on the commitment, dedication and bravery of their staff as on Government stay safe guidelines.
We are no different and are very proud of our staff and their efforts in what has been a very difficult time for everyone.