The Compliance Experts Podcast

With the latest agreements being sealed at COP26 – businesses of every kind will be legally required to have an active Carbon Plan in place for 2023.  At the time of recording this podcast – that deadline is only 13 months away. 

Miles chats with Dr Nigel Davies, Technical and Sustainability Director of Muntons, the world leading supplier of malt and malted ingredients to the food and drinks industry. 

Listen to how Muntons have reduced their emissions through the implementation of their company carbon plan, and their incredible achievements in reducing emissions across all sectors of their business including their factories, offices and farming associates.

Nigel also talks about the meaning of being carbon neutral and creating sustainability within businesses, from the supply chain through to employees.

He also talks about the importance of protecting your brand for the future as consumers are more likely to choose products based on sustainability and carbon-neutrality as well as price and quality. 

Miles and Nigel also talk about starting the conversation of de-carbonising at all levels in industry; bringing it firmly onto everyone’s agenda and making it a commonplace, understandable conversation. Nigel comments that sustainability is a good strategic pillar to bring into all businesses – although the payback may take longer, the risk of running up against future green gas legislation, being dependent on the national grid, losing customers and possibly having to close your business will be minimised.

Nigel also consults through his new business Malt Doctor Ltd.

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If you have any thoughts or opinions on this topic Miles would love to hear from you and discuss some of your points in a later episode.

Contact Miles through our website vartanconsultancy.com or through our social media channels.

Disclaimer: At the time of recording the information in this podcast was deemed to be correct BUT please note legislation, deadlines and information can change on a daily basis – so please always check with Vartan Consultancy for up-to-the-minute information.

The potential build of a new power station at Sizewell in Suffolk, brings huge potential to companies and individuals across the East Anglia region. Investments of £4.5 billion will be spent in the region as well as 900 permanent jobs created. The project is looking forward to sign-off in Spring 2022 and aims to put the ‘Spade in the Ground’ by January 2023.

In this podcast episode we talk to three expert Sizewell B & C managers:

Mark Scrancher
Lifetime Programmes (LTO) and Sizewell C Interface Manager
Sizewell B Power Station
 
Sean Verrall
Technical and Safety Support Manager
Sizewell B Power Station
 
Steven Carroll
Sizewell C Senior Supply Chain Lead  

The team advise on how businesses can prepare to pitch or tender for work with Sizewell C and stress the importance of contractors being able to display existing high standards which should be supported by national compliance certifications. They also talk about what to expect during the tender process and beyond, as well as give us an insight into their thorough induction training and ongoing management of in-bound contractors. 

The discussion also covers protocols in place at Sizewell B for when something goes wrong, what that could look like, and how these issues are avoided with their extraordinary open culture of ‘free to challenge’. 

Sizewell B operates an environmental management system and currently recycle all waste on the power station site at a minimum of 99%.

If you have any thoughts or opinions on this topic Miles would love to hear from you and discuss some of your points in a later episode. 

Disclaimer: At the time of recording the information in this podcast was deemed to be correct BUT please note legislation, deadlines and information can change on a daily basis – so please always check with Vartan Consultancy for up-to-the-minute information. 


 

In this podcast episode we talk about the shortage of lorry drivers in the UK and reveal the real issues behind the crisis and potential solutions.

The problem is a crisis affecting global brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, BP and Nando's, as well as companies trying to supply vaccines and essential goods around the UK, as they face severe delays in supply and demand.  Dairy farms and other food produce companies are dealing with too much stock and the shelves of our supermarkets and chemists are beginning to dwindle. 

The UK has a current shortage of HGV drivers, estimated to be somewhere around 60,000 to 80,000 drivers and we want to know why? What has happened?

Host Miles Vartan talks to UK long-term driver Giedrius Katkunas from VKVP (haulage company based in Felixstowe Port) about current driving conditions and all the issues that today’s UK haulage drivers face. 

The conversation explores why so many lorry drivers have left the UK, what the differences are between lorry driving in the UK and Europe, the extreme conditions that lorry drivers face on our roads and the relentless demand for timely delivery. 

Miles and Giedrius look at the law - current restrictions in place and the lifting of lorry driving hours and the impact on health and safety, the risks that evolve from relaxing hours and the impact on lorry drivers’ wellbeing.

The conversation closes with some solid facts in hand and potential solutions to help alleviate this fast-developing issue.

If you have any thoughts or opinions on this topic Miles would love to hear from you and discuss some of your points in a later episode.

Visit www.vartanconsultancy.com or email Miles on [email protected]  or call VARTAN on 01394 671756.  Catch up on Vartan’s socials  LinkedIn  Twitter

Guest: Giedrius Katkunas – VKVP (Felixstowe, Suffolk)

During the last twelve months both Brexit and the global pandemic have driven and amplified the core changes in the UK logistical marketplace. In particular, the massive acceleration of e-commerce and home delivery. As Savills notes in the 2021 UKWA report, research from Prologis indicates that for every extra £1bn spent online, a further 775,000sq ft of warehouse space is needed to meet the new demand.

This change in shopping habits looks set to stay, and as retailers move from high street premises to online channels to serve consumer demand for home delivery, more fulfilment and distribution facilities will be needed to support the ‘new normal’.

Research from Forrester states that by 2025 online retail will account for 35% of all retail, which means that at least 64 million sq. ft of additional warehouse space will be needed for this sector, let alone traditional warehousing needs.

Warehouses are getting bigger, this means that sites capable of housing large scale warehouse space will need to be built much more quickly than historical trends suggest. Are we ready for this? Can we do it?

Miles talks to Carl Day, (Anchor Freight) about this escalating problem for warehousers and haulage firms and they take a look at innovative plans around the rising demand for storage. What is the solution? What do we need to do NOW to meet this challenge? 

Miles and Carl talk about customs warehousing, inland warehousing and the plans currently in place to build these super warehouse spaces. They discuss the roll of the planning authorities, the benefits of cooperative haulage and the importance of protecting our environment by reducing our carbon footprint whilst questioning whether we’re building futureproof warehousing?

If you have any thoughts or opinions on this topic Miles would love to hear from you and discuss some of your points in a later episode.

Visit www.vartanconsultancy.com or email Miles on [email protected]  or call VARTAN on 01394 671756.  Catch up on Vartan’s socials  LinkedIn  Twitter

Guest: Carl Day – Anchor Freight (Ipswich, Suffolk)

In this episode Miles and Laura Thomas (Legal & QHSE Director of Jackson Civil Engineering) talk about going back to the office after such a long time working from home. Is it that simple?

 Miles and Laura focus on how employee wellbeing continues to rise up the corporate agenda and how senior leaders are taking mental health seriously, with most putting additional measures in place to support their employees . . . . BUT

 Miles and Laura get into a deep and interesting conversation about returning to work after long periods of working from home during the pandemic and how difficult it is to re-adapt to a new environment – a different environment than it was before and still with many unanswered questions.

Laura highlights the issues around burn out and anxiety and the fear that people are already feeling returning to work – or as she prefers to call it ‘returning to the office’ – making it more realistic and perhaps less of a barrier for some people.

Laura talks about how she and her company are handling mental health and wellbeing – as they’ve pushed it to the top of their agenda, as well as the power of listening to your people and asking that simple question ‘How are You?’.

There’s a great deal to consider as your people return to the workplace and Miles and Laura give us some sound advice and some great take-aways!

Are you having similar issues with staff returning to the workplace? Would you like to share how you’re doing it and any challenges you may be having? 

You are invited to get involved with The Compliance Experts podcast– Miles would love to hear from you – get your opinion, answer your questions and help guide you through your compliance challenges.

Visit www.vartanconsultancy.com or email Miles on [email protected]  or call VARTAN on 01394 671756.  Catch up on Vartan’s socials  LinkedIn  Twitter

Guest: 

Laura Thomas Legal & QHSE Director of Jackson Civil Engineering and barrister.

It’s been tough and it’s about to get tougher! Miles and his expert guests, Neil Bird (Vartan Consultancy) and Jon Swallow (Jordon Freight), unpack the latest Brexit laws on importing and exporting and deep dive into the nitty gritty of the looming legislation. 

Miles, Neil and Jon ask the questions and give us some robust answers on what we all need to do, and by when, to remain compliant with the new Brexit laws:

What are the latest Brexit Import and Export deadlines?

How does it affect your business?

What do you need to do now, and by the end of the year to remain fully compliant?

Could you be breaking the law, what delays and special allowances are there?

What effect have the new customs laws had on haulage in the EU and the UK and why is there such a shortage of lorry drivers across Europe?

We hope you find some of the answers to your Brexit customs challenges in this podcast episode – but please get in touch with us if you have something more to add, a different or an unusual problem or even a great solution! 

Contact Miles directly [email protected] 

Visit www.vartanconsultancy.com or call VARTAN on 01394 671756.  Catch up on Vartan’s socials  LinkedIn  Twitter

Guests:

Neil Bird, Imports and Exports Consultant, Vartan Consultancy

Jon Swallow, CEO of Jordon Freight 

Disclaimer: At the time of recording the information in this podcast was deemed to be correct BUT please note legislation, deadlines and information can change on a daily basis – so please always check in with Vartan Consultancy for up-to-the-minute information.

 #compliance #podcast #healthandsafety #legislation #customers #riskmanagement #vartanconsultancy #vartan #experts #complianceexperts #complianceexpertspodcast 

Miles Vartan, host and compliance expert, gives us an overview in this first episode, of what he and his guests will bring to this honest and straight-talking podcast series. 

Miles alongside top experts in the UK will iron out the confusion of compliance and deep dive into legislation by challenging it head on, developing ideas through conversation and providing tangible solutions to help us all manage the jungle of compliance and risk management.

Miles and guests will also tackle the latest news and hot topics as they happen.

Miles talks to Neil Bird, Import and Export expert, about what compliance means to them both, they touch on the fast-approaching Brexit Import and Export laws and the latest legislation, as well as look at several compliance issues.

You are invited to get involved with The Compliance Experts podcast– Miles would love to hear from you – get your opinion, answer your questions and help guide you through your compliance challenges.

Visit www.vartanconsultancy.com or email Miles on [email protected]  or call VARTAN on 01394 671756.  Catch up on Vartan’s socials  LinkedIn  Twitter

Guest: 

Neil Bird, Senior Consultant, Vartan Consultancy

Disclaimer: At the time of recording the information in this podcast was deemed to be correct BUT please note legislation, deadlines and information can change on a daily basis – so please always check in with Vartan Consultancy for up-to-the-minute information.

 #compliance #podcast #healthandsafety #legislation #customers #riskmanagement #vartanconsultancy #vartan #experts #complianceexperts #complianceexpertspodcast #