The rollout of weekly food waste collections across England is one of the biggest changes to household waste services in decades. Driven by the Government's Simpler Recycling reforms, councils have invested heavily in new vehicles, food waste caddies, collection crews and public communication campaigns to support the transition. For many authorities, however, the implementation of food waste collections is only the beginning of the journey.

As food waste is removed from the residual waste stream, the composition and weight of general waste changes. At the same time, improved recycling habits can alter the volume of dry recyclables collected. These shifts present a valuable opportunity for Local Authorities to review collection routes, optimise fleet deployment and ensure resources are being used as efficiently as possible.

Rather than continuing to operate legacy collection rounds that were designed for a very different waste profile, councils have an opportunity to redesign services around today's realities, delivering measurable savings in cost, emissions and operational efficiency.

Food Waste Changes Everything

Historically, residual waste has contained a significant proportion of food waste. Research by WRAP undertaken before food waste collections came into force consistently showed that food waste made up around 30% of the weight of the average residual household waste bin.

Integrated Skills' own waste composition studies support this picture. Across numerous local authority projects handled before dedicated food waste collections were introduced, we discovered it not uncommon to find 2.5kg-3kg of food waste per household remaining within the residual waste stream.

Once households begin separating food waste, the change is immediate. Residual bins become noticeably lighter, even if their physical volume appears similar. While collection vehicles may continue to visit every property, they are often transporting significantly less weight than before. This creates spare capacity that many councils have yet to fully exploit.

More Than Just Food Waste

The benefits extend beyond the food waste stream itself. Research has shown that introducing dedicated food waste collections often encourages residents to recycle more of other materials as well.

This behavioural change is sometimes described as the "spillover effect" or "gateway effect". Once residents develop the habit of separating food waste every week, they often become more engaged with recycling generally, leading to increased participation in collections for paper, cardboard, plastics and glass.

These improvements demonstrate that well-designed food waste services can influence wider recycling behaviour, helping councils improve overall recycling performance. While this is positive from an environmental perspective, it inevitably changes the demands placed on collection services.

Residual waste rounds may have excess capacity, while dry recycling rounds become busier, meaning vehicle utilisation, crew workloads and collection frequencies that were once well balanced may no longer reflect current waste generation.

Are Legacy Routes Still Fit for Purpose?

Many existing collection rounds have evolved over years, sometimes decades. They have been adapted as housing developments have grown, service standards have changed and new legislation has been introduced.

Food waste collections represent another significant change, yet in many areas, new food waste rounds have simply been added alongside existing residual and recycling services, rather than prompting a wider review of the overall collection strategy.

This approach may have allowed councils to introduce the new service quickly, but it may not deliver the best long-term outcome. Questions worth asking include:

• Are residual waste vehicles still reaching their optimum payload?
• Could routes be consolidated now that black bin weights have reduced?
• Has additional recycling participation created pressure on dry recycling collections?
• Are vehicles, crews and depots being utilised as efficiently as possible?
• Could collection frequencies be reviewed without affecting service quality?

Answering these questions requires robust data and detailed route modelling, rather than assumptions.

Unlocking Hidden Capacity

Unused vehicle capacity represents a hidden opportunity. If residual waste vehicles are returning to depot carrying significantly lighter loads, then councils are effectively paying to operate capacity they no longer need.

Through detailed analysis of waste composition, vehicle payloads, collection times and route performance, authorities can identify where efficiencies exist. These efficiencies might include:

• Reducing the number of residual waste rounds
• Redistributing properties between crews
• Balancing workloads more effectively
• Increasing productivity without increasing resources
• Reallocating vehicles and crews to growing recycling services

Reduced mileage means lower fuel consumption, reduced vehicle wear and lower carbon emissions. Better-balanced rounds also improve crew productivity and help reduce overtime. Even relatively small improvements can generate substantial financial benefits when applied across an entire authority.

Better Data Leads to Better Decisions

Effective optimisation is not simply about shortening routes. A successful review considers a wide range of operational factors, including:

• Vehicle capacities
• Collection frequencies
• Housing stock
• Access restrictions
• Crew working hours
• Disposal locations
• Traffic conditions
• Seasonal variations

By analysing these factors and bringing them together into one picture, councils can build routes that make the best use of available resources while maintaining service standards.

Optimisation is of course an ongoing process rather than a one-off task. As participation rates change, housing developments are completed and recycling behaviours evolve, routes should be reviewed to ensure they remain efficient.

Supporting Simpler Recycling

The Government's Simpler Recycling reforms are intended to improve recycling performance and reduce the amount of recyclable material sent for disposal. For councils, success will not simply be measured by introducing successful food waste collections. Long-term success will depend upon how effectively authorities adapt the rest of their collection services to reflect the changing waste composition.

Continuing to operate routes based on historic waste volumes risks missing an opportunity to realise significant operational savings. Instead, food waste collections should be viewed as the catalyst for a wider service review.

How Integrated Skills Can Help

Integrated Skills has extensive experience supporting Local Authorities through service transformation, route reviews and operational optimisation.

Using RouteSmart Optimize, councils can model different collection scenarios before making operational changes. Routes can be redesigned to reflect changing waste composition, available vehicle capacity and revised collection requirements, ensuring crews are balanced and vehicles are used efficiently.

Our consultancy team also works alongside authorities to analyse existing services, identify opportunities for improvement and develop practical implementation plans that minimise disruption while delivering measurable savings.

Whether authorities are introducing food waste collections for the first time or looking to maximise the return on recent investments, reviewing collection routes can unlock significant operational benefits.

Looking Beyond Compliance

Introducing weekly food waste collections has required significant investment from Local Authorities. New vehicles, containers, crews and communications programmes all represent major commitments of public funding. The next step is ensuring those investments deliver maximum value.

Food waste collections represent an opportunity to rethink how waste collection services operate - using modern route optimisation and operational analysis to build services that are more efficient, more sustainable and better prepared for the future.

By reviewing collection routes in light of changing waste composition and recycling behaviour, councils can reduce costs, improve fleet utilisation, lower emissions and create more resilient waste services.

The post From Food Waste to Fleet Efficiency: Why It’s Time to Rethink Collection Routes appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Navigating the Logistics and Security of Conference & Exhibition Planning under Martyn’s Law

Planning for events such as conferences & exhibitions has always been a balancing act of creativity, coordination, and logistics. In recent times, however, security has taken centre stage, particularly in light of the UK’s proposed Martyn’s Law. This legislation, named in honour of Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, aims to ensure that public venues take proactive steps to protect attendees from potential threats.

If you’re an event planner or venue operator, understanding and integrating Martyn’s Law into your security & logistics processes is not just a legal necessity—it’s a moral imperative. Here’s a look at how Martyn’s Law reshapes the logistics and security of event planning, and how to prepare for it effectively.

What is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law, officially known as the “Protect Duty”, mandates that venues and event organizers take reasonable measures to protect people from terrorist attacks. This includes assessing vulnerabilities, implementing security protocols, and training staff to respond effectively to threats.

The law applies to venues with a capacity of over 100 individuals, as well as public spaces and events where large groups gather. It introduces a tiered approach based on the size and capacity of the venue:

1. Standard Tier: Smaller venues with a capacity between 100 and 800 people must undertake basic security measures, such as risk assessments and staff training.
2. Enhanced Tier: Larger venues must conduct detailed risk assessments, establish thorough security plans, and possibly implement more advanced measures like bag checks or security barriers.

The Impact on Event Logistics

Planning conferences and exhibitions under Martyn’s Law requires a change of mindset in how venue owners and organisers approach every stage of an event lifecycle. From pre-event preparations to post-event evaluations, security is now a cornerstone of logistics.

1. Venue Selection and Initial Assessments

When choosing a venue, event organisers need to consider its ability to comply with Martyn’s Law. Here are a few factors to assess:

• Physical Security Features: Does the venue have CCTV systems, barriers, or controlled access points?
• Proximity to Risk Areas: Is the venue located near high-risk locations, such as government buildings or crowded public spaces?
• Emergency Response Protocols: What systems are in place for evacuations, medical emergencies, or active threats?

Collaboration between venue managers and event organisers now has an enhanced security aspect to ensure there is a plan to meet the law’s requirements.

2. Risk Assessments and Security Plans

A detailed risk assessment is the foundation of compliance with Martyn’s Law. This involves:

• Identifying Potential Threats: Evaluate risks based on the type of event, the profile of attendees, and the current security climate.
• Vulnerability Analysis: Identify weak points in the venue’s infrastructure, such as unguarded entrances or limited surveillance coverage.
• Mitigation Strategies: Develop a comprehensive plan to address identified risks, which could include adding security personnel, enhancing surveillance, or rerouting crowd flow.

Importantly, this isn’t just about physical threats. Cybersecurity risks, such as penetration attacks and data breaches, should also be part of the assessment.

3. Coordinating Security by Leveraging Technology

Martyn’s Law emphasises collaboration between event organizers, venue operators, and security professionals. This can be aided with the adoption of modern technologies:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Use technologies like video analytics or crowd management software to monitor the event in real time.
• Pre-Event Logistics: Ensure that contractors entering the venue, such as truck drivers and stand build teams, have been security vetted, are checked in and out of the venue and know what they are delivering and when.

• Crowd Analytics: Detects unusual behaviour or bottlenecks in real time.
• Mobile Apps: Provide all visitors with safety information and enable them to report suspicious activity discreetly.

Training Staff for Preparedness

Martyn’s Law requires all staff involved in event operations to undergo security training. This ensures they can identify and respond to threats effectively. Key training areas include:

• Recognizing Suspicious Behaviour: Staff should know how to spot and report unusual activity.
• Emergency Response: Train staff on evacuation procedures, medical emergencies, and communication protocols.
• Conflict Resolution: Equip staff with skills to de-escalate tense situations.

Contingency Planning: Preparing for the Worst

No security plan is foolproof, which is why contingency planning is crucial. This involves:

• Developing Evacuation Routes: Plan multiple routes to avoid bottlenecks during emergencies.
• Establishing Communication Protocols: Use radios, apps, or public address systems to coordinate responses.
• Conducting Drills: Regular practice ensures everyone knows their roles in a crisis.

The Role of Technology in Compliance

Integrating technology into security plans can streamline compliance with Martyn’s Law. For instance:

• Risk Assessment Tools: Software can analyse vulnerabilities and suggest mitigation strategies.
• Incident Reporting Systems: Digital platforms allow staff to log incidents in real time, ensuring a swift response.
• Training Simulations: Virtual reality and gamification can make security training more engaging and effective.
• Planning & Scheduling Systems: Manage the site’s physical security by pre-approving all authorised couriers, drivers and contractors requesting access, and by restricting that access to those specifically approved for each individual event

Final Thoughts

Implementing Martyn’s Law may well require upfront investments in staff training and technology but the long-term benefits—ensuring safety and avoiding liability—far outweigh the costs.

Ultimately, Martyn’s Law isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about fostering a culture of safety & security. This involves making safety & security an integral part of every event, from the initial concept to the final wrap-up.

As an event planner or venue operator, the roles are more important than ever. The logistics and security challenges are significant, but with preparation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, events can be hosted that are as safe as they are memorable.

The post Martyn’s Law: meeting new safety requirements for your events appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Smart meters are rolling out in homes across the UK. If your company supplies smart meters to energy-conscious consumers, then you will know the advantages of these handy devices. They provide site-specific information about energy use, put an end to estimated bills and improve efficiency for energy providers and consumers.

With Integrated Skills’ route optimisation software, you can enjoy these same benefits when it comes to the provision of smart meter installation services. When you use our systems, they provide you with precise information to stop you guessing your numbers and increase the overall efficiency of your business.

The changing climate

The more energy providers raise awareness about electricity consumption through smart meter installation, the better it is for our planet. The same is true with your fleet and fuel consumption. Route optimisation reduces fuel costs and increases your green credentials in the eyes of your workforce and your customers. Environmentally conscious practices will be the basis for a lot more client decisions in the future, so you can get ahead of the curve now.

Better deals for everyone

With smart meters, energy companies can pass better deals onto customers when they track their energy consumption. At Integrated Skills, we do something similar for you. We analyse your data over time to see if you could be getting a better deal out of your fleet.

When you track factors like driver efficiency and route feedback, you get the information you need for training and improvement. You also have hard figures for accountability and to secure contracts and impress investors. The feedback loop of information and improvement is a guaranteed upward spiral for your business if you apply the right tools and engage the best support.

Where do we start?

Our route optimisation software brings our powerful systems to your business. We offer full customisation, training and ongoing support. We show you how to create reports, leverage the data provided for growth or training, and adapt to the particular challenges of your workforce or operation. Get in touch to reap the rewards for your company.

The post Spreading the word about smart meter installation efficiency appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Electricity and water meter readings are usually read manually by staff who visit the locations on foot. However, walking routes are not always optimised and this can have a negative effect on the amount of people and resources required in each reading cycle. Integrated Skills has developed a series of innovative route optimisation software solutions, which can reduce the amount of staff resources required and even produce a profit.

Our route planning and route optimization software can assist with many tasks, including meter reading routes, smart meter installation routes, smart meter inspection routes, smart meter maintenance routes, and route analysis and redesign.

GIS technology has come a long way in modern utility services. However, a lot of companies continue to rely on manual techniques or scheduling software for route or territory planning for field service crews, meter operations and meter inspections.

RouteSmart for ArcGIS provided by Integrated Skills, allows users to balance their routes on several parameters such as total route time, number of crews available, and geographic preference. As a result, driving and/or walking time are minimised and meter reading efficiency is increased.

RouteSmart has a great interface that allows data exchange with other systems. Last but not least, this innovative software can create detailed directions per street level and detailed maps of service areas and individual routes. RouteSmart uses up-to-date official data from trustworthy databases such as the Ordnance Survey and HERE (formerly NAVTEQ).

Less distance, less overtime

RouteSmart’s updated GIS interface offers a wide variety of specs that allows you to control every detail of your smart meter inspection routes. RouteSmart can be used for the optimisation of walking and driving of handheld meter reading routes, as well as mobile AMR route development.

If your aim is to minimise costs in smart meter inspections, try RouteSmart technology today. To learn more about RouteSmart and other GIS-based products that can help you with route planning, visit our website.

The post Smart Meter Inspections appeared first on Integrated Skills.

The general guideline document for street works coordination runs to 167 pages. The legislation covers signage, safety, communication and other tools required to complete any road operations in the UK. With this level of scrutiny and complexity, it’s great to have a technological solution tailored to take this into account.

With integrated mapping software, access to planning data and in-built automated processes, Trafficworx from Integrated Skills may be the support you have been looking for to take your operation to the next level. Our software is tried, tested and adaptable so it can incorporate the unique details of each project that you work on.

Efficiency

Deep-down, road users know that roadworks and related traffic problems are a necessary inconvenience. Streets and services need regular maintenance for safety and an improved experience. This doesn’t stop them being unpopular when they create disruption. The internet means that the court of public opinion is more vocal than ever and no company or local official wants to be in the dock.

A software solution like Trafficworx from Integrated Skills can manage the complexity of large and long-term street works coordination. It can find ways to make your operation more efficient by reducing road closures, creating accurate targets and assisting with any troubleshooting.

Communication

Regardless of the scale of the operation, street works coordination invariably involves a lot of paperwork, communication and auditing. Missing a single step can affect compliance and jeopardise your reputation. It can also delay your project and cause practical difficulties.

To be sure you are hitting all the right deadlines and talking to all the people you need to, Trafficworx has automated systems that generate communications and send you timely reminders. This automatically creates an audit trail that helps you meet accountability. You also get valuable lessons about the efficiency of your project that you can use to train your team and refine your organisation.

Working as a team

Few road work operations involve just a single organisation. Depending on the scope, you may need to coordinate with utility companies, emergency services or local authorities. Trafficworx provides a central point of information for all users. This helps multiple teams to work towards a common goal.

The post Improved road works with Integrated Skills appeared first on Integrated Skills.

If you have a vehicle-based business, you probably already consider the environmental impact of your work. Looking into the future, it’s clear that the green credentials of any business are going to become more important to consumers as the years go by. If you begin to make changes now, you can show your clients that you are forward-thinking and conscientious. The chances are, you’ll save money at the same time because being kinder to the planet often means being more efficient as well.

At Integrated Skills, our team can talk to you about some of the innovative approaches that we already work with using our RouteSmart planning software. We’re also open to completely new approaches and look forward to brainstorming with you.

Driving styles

Different driving styles use fuel at varying rates. This may not make a difference to the average consumer but, when your business is logging thousands of miles on a daily basis, every little helps. Fuel efficient vehicle use includes the following:

• Ensuring tyres and engine components are in top working order
• Grouping shorter journeys together
• Avoiding long periods sitting in traffic
• Encouraging drivers to change up a gear as soon as they can.

When you work with Integrated Skills, we help you create automated reminders for maintenance and efficient route plans that avoid traffic. Our software can also supply data that supports driver training.

Incorporating green technology

Some driving firms are now considering the use of electric vehicles. If you decide to take this step, you’ll need to think about charging your fleet along with all the other variables you normally have to consider. The flexibility of our RouteSmart software means that we can help you execute the big ideas you have for reducing your environmental footprint.

Guiding your choices

With the introduction of an ultra-low emissions zone in London from 8th April 2019, businesses need to understand how to respond to new and existing restrictions in a way that doesn’t cost them too much. Creative route solutions and considering more fuel-efficient vehicles are just some of the ideas that might help.

Before you make big changes, you want to be sure you are taking a step in the right direction. Our RouteSmart software can test new business models before you invest as well as support your changes when they’re up and running.

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The business case for smart meters relies on convincing customers to change their behaviour in relation to electricity and gas consumption. Within an energy supplier the greatest impact on affecting this change will be borne by IT functions, specifically, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Billing and Route Planning systems.

Until the introduction of smart meters, traditional meters had to be physically read to give an accurate indication of gas, water or electric use for residential & commercial customers. Utility companies would employ a team of meter readers to cover a different route or area every day, based on a billing (invoicing) cycle. The CRM only really existed to manage complaints.

Smart meters change all that – allegedly.

Smart meters & the implications on systems

The CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

The UK consumer market of todaycan be characterised by ‘right here, right now’, i.e., instant access by consumers to the facts, the process and the result. Increased pressure to improve customer service from rising customer expectations is part and parcel of any consumer facing offering. In the domestic energy sector this is combined with the regulatory impact of ensuring that consumers can switch suppliers simply, and cost-effectively.

The CRM system is therefore of vital importance to the supplier as it contains, analyses and processes data that enables them to win clients from competitors as well as retain existing ones. Monitoring and understanding consumer behaviour, as well as their energy consumption, is a vital component of any system. The move to self-service online, for the management of suppliers by consumers and to check billing, results in less demand for human led call centres, but a consequential rise on the demands of the CRM/customer facing online system. Further still, consumers are more conscious of, and involved in, their consumption decisions which results in a higher level of data driven communication instigated by the supplier (and contained within the CRM).

Billing (invoicing) systems

The crown jewel of any company’s IT footprint is the system that sends the invoices! And, understandably, it is the one system that senior management are least keen on replacing. But the question must be asked – of any company not just those in the energy sector – are they fit for purpose? In a sector where consumers can switch suppliers annually, and where data is transmitted to internal systems from 3rd part systems such as comparison websites, it is imperative that the billing system can:

·        Facilitate accurate data entry from external sources, as well as internal teams

·        Process that data securely, sometimes to 3rd party systems

·        Delete personal data months after it was entered

·        Merge data with consumption data for behaviour profiling

·        Send out a bill that is accurate but timely and in various formats

·        Manage location-based data, ie, x & y coordinates associated with meter locations

GIS based route planning & optimisation

With old style meters consumers were passive recipients of energy and meter readers could attend a property in the knowledge that a meter reading would be required. Smart meters, however, give more control to consumers by allowing them to assess their consumption in near real time, and adjust consumption accordingly. In terms of the meter reader, smart meters also send automated digital readings to utility suppliers so no manual intervention is required and, furthermore, automated readings provide a timelier assessment of actual use in a more efficient manner at less operational cost.

For a route planner, smart meters pose a challenge. The UK is currently in a transitional period, with a growing number of households using smart meters, and a dwindling majority relying on the old meters. By law, every household in the UK will need to be offered a smart meter by their utilities supplier before 2020 (though energy consumers are under no legal obligation to accept one). Therefore, utilities companies face a continual reassessment of meter reading routes, as customers progressively adopt smart meters, or not. The key for the route planner is to continually adjust existing meter reading routes in the light of a decrease in meters that need to be read manually, and making each route a financially viable option for the business. All at the same time as ensuring safety inspections are carried out at the correct frequency and non-communicating meters are dealt with efficiently.

In addition, smart meter adoption requires the deployment of installation teams, with their own route planning requirements. Consolidating the routes of installers and meter readers into a single cost-effective system is another key challenge faced by route planning software users over the coming two years.

Route optimisation solutions based on a GIS (Geographic Information System) platform have the added advantage of being able to pin-pinpoint addresses to below five meters, and add a service time based on the location of the meter within a property, eg, external rear, front, side etc as well as internal kitchen, under the stairs, upstairs cupboard etc.

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According to the last government update in 2017, smart meter rollout is progressing in a satisfactory manner, even if the numbers yet to be installed by the end of 2020 may represent “challenges” to the energy suppliers. As it’s not compulsory for consumers to accept smart meters, and the costs may have risen since original estimates, the future is a little ‘woolly’.

On the face of it, Brexit itself should have little impact on the rollout. The seed of the original initiative did come from the EU as part of climate change control actions, but there is no apparent benefit or incentive for any UK government to back away from green initiatives regardless of any potential spats with Brussels. To the population at large, climate change reduction and subsequent actions are non-political – it’s a given, a no-brainer.
Energy suppliers by and large are not a popular group in the eyes of the general public. Any action by the government that could be perceived as showing them leniency, like taking the foot off the pedal of ‘green’ activities such as smart meter roll out, could easily generate a wave of resentment.

Targets

The headline target is to have smart meters installed in homes across the UK by the end of 2020. To quote from the government’s own website section about smart meters “The government requires energy companies to install smart meters for their customers” and “Smart meters will be rolled out as standard across the country by the end of 2020. But there is no legal obligation on domestic consumers to have one.” To many people the entire project feels more like a “nice to have” than a critical infrastructure rollout. From that point of view, it would not take much to nudge the government to pausing it, for example, or to extend the deadline (quite likely?).
The net effect of providing greater control to consumers over their energy consumption practices is undoubtedly a positive in the fight against climate change, but not a dramatic tilting of the balance. Brexit, in itself, is highly unlikely to alter the trajectory of the program.

Supplier incentives

There is no doubt that smart meters reduce the operating costs for energy suppliers through reducing or eliminating the need for meter reading personnel. As per British Gas, these administration cost benefits are measurable and significant – enough to underwrite the capital cost of the rollout perhaps. But it most definitely is a cost. The disincentive that could trigger the energy companies into lobbying for a stay of execution of the program could be the fall in value of sterling.
Should a ‘hard’ Brexit take place and the weakening of Sterling materialise (that some commentators predict), then the cost of our imported energy would increase and impact every household in the country. One can imagine that a case could be made to halt, or even abandon, the programme in exchange for voluntary price controls by energy suppliers to limit the extent of price hikes.

Current predictions

Back in 2016, the law firm Bird & Bird expressed the view "while the roll-out of smart meters may have had its genesis in EU energy market legislation, it is doubtful that Brexit would interrupt the UK's progress on this reform.¹" That remains the most likely outcome. Very little of a predictive nature has been expressed recently, almost certainly because of the huge uncertainty over the nature of Brexit and what shape it will eventually take. What seems likely at any given point in time can be turned on its head a month later, rendering speculation useless. The only fact we can be sure of is that the smart meter rollout can easily become a pawn in a power game if and when it suits the protagonists to treat it as such.
¹ - https://www.metering.com/news/will-brexit-impact-uks-energy-sector/

The post The Latest Predictions for Smart Meter Roll Out: Will Targets be ‘Watered Down’ or Pushed Back Through the Brexit Period? appeared first on Integrated Skills.