Cambridge H O K

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Cambridge H O K's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Cambridge H O K is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett, MP

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles, MP

www.cambridgehok.co.uk

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

24 | BURROUGHS

Our accreditations and individual

memberships comprise: Association of

Consulting Engineers; Achilles; Airport

Operators Association; Association

of Project Safety; British Standards

Institution; Cyber Essentials; Institution

of Civil Engineers; Institution of

Structural Engineers; Royal Institution

of Chartered Surveyors; Chartered

Institution of Water and Environmental

Management; Railway Industry

Supplier Qualification Scheme. In

addition to all this, we hold ISO 9001

and ISO 14001.

Working through the

challenges

A particularly tough task for us is

broadening the scope of what we

do to achieve appointments for

important framework agreements

both within the Welsh Government

and outside. We strive to demonstrate

the important skills we hold against

much larger consultant groups, and we

often do this successfully with the help

of assistance processes and by taking

care to provide the right resources

to deliver a quality submission that

answers the questions. It’s not a simple

task; indeed, it’s a relatively expensive

process for us to implement. However,

as we become successful, it is evident

that there are opportunities for SMEs

with the right skill set to succeed as

public clients ensure that opportunities

are available.

We have continued to develop from

strength to strength, working with

the challenges. The model to which

we owe this success has not changed:

employ our ethos of quality, integrity

and experience; understand our clients’

needs; employ the right team; and

meet our clients’ aims in respect of

delivery and budget.

Moving forward, we will also continue

to distinguish ourselves by leading

from the front and embracing

changes in technology, delivery and

communication, adding value where

possible for our clients.

Ultimately, it’s about working closely

with the client to maximise results and

going the extra mile. Not only does the

client appreciate this, but it is also an

intrinsic part of our company. Likewise,

we are not seeking to grow at all costs;

rather, we want to continue along a

sustainable growth trajectory and to

train our people accordingly. We are

in this business because we love it, not

just to make money. For as long as this

remains the case, I am optimistic that

the future has bright things in store

forus.

In an age

which is always

producing

change, our

aim is to lead

this process

“

The award-winning Radyr

Weir Hydro Scheme

– environmentally

sustainable green energy

25CAMBRIDGEHOK |

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Managing Director John Holland

A large-scale commercial

glasshouse with LED lighting

CambridgeHOK is a forward-thinking engineering company

that specialises in turnkey projects, from automated

vertical farming solutions to combined heat and

power and district heating networks. Established in 1956, it

has continued to grow and develop its technical expertise,

experience and capability in order to provide a complete

solution including advice, design, construction and installation.

Managing Director John Holland tells the

Review

more.

At CambridgeHOK, our philosophy is centred on close collaboration with our

clients, with the aim of achieving results that meet their end goals. As part of this

process, we leave no stone unturned and explore all possible options, while also

keeping the client’s budget constraints in focus at all times. We provide complete

turnkey solutions, with each aspect of a project completed by our in-house teams.

We share a passion for creating cost-effective original solutions and always strive

for innovation in our design and technology.

From our purpose-built manufacturing facilities in East Yorkshire, we deliver on our

reputation as one of the UK’s leading producers of commercial glasshouses, while

leading the way in vertical farming and renewable energy solutions. We are involved

from the pre-planning stage and project conceptualisation, specification and pricing,

all the way through to detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover.

Evolving into a modern, complete service provider

Founded in 1956 as Cambridge Glasshouse Company Ltd, we were one of the

first companies to start manufacturing glasshouses from aluminium. They were

FACTS ABOUT

CAMBRIDGEHOK

»Managing Director:

JohnHolland

»Founded in 1956

»Based in Brough, East

Yorkshire

»Services: Horticultural,

research, commercial and

industrial construction

»No. of employees: 65

»www.cambridgehok.co.uk

CambridgeHOK

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

26 | CAMBRIDGEHOK

sold across the UK and we still use

a number of the same techniques

today. Something else that remains

is our enthusiasm for innovation, a

passion that has become embedded

within the business. An important part

of this process is our staff retention,

which has provided the opportunity for

expertise and experience to stay within

the business. One sales manager

only retired this year after 49 years of

service and there are plenty of other

examples of this kind of commitment

throughout our history.

Over a number of years, we developed

a strong reputation for providing

robust glasshouses that stood up to

severe winds and inclement conditions,

from the Scottish mountainsides

to hurricane winds in Jamaica. In

1996, the business was purchased

by the former director of a rival

glasshouse company in Hull who

made the decision to move the

business from Cambridge up to East

Yorkshire. Under new ownership,

it built on its reputation within th e

horticultural industry and began to

work with universities on research and

education projects as well as Victorian

glasshouses and garden centres.

In 2004, I conducted a management

buyout with two colleagues, Steve

Hinch and Ross Hibbs. Together we

have brought about a lot of change

while still building on our original

horticultural roots. Our work is very

much shaped by diversity and the

horticultural environment, and we

have really expanded our reach and

focus. We still offer glasshouses and

garden centres but have also made

a significant expansion into vertical

farms in the last ten years. We are truly

ahead of the curve in terms of vertical

farming solutions and are market

leaders in this field.

Offering turnkey solutions is our key

specialism, with all civil, structural,

mechanical, electrical and control

panel design completed in-house.

Our in-house manufacturing and site

installation teams also ensure that

we are able to offer an end-to-end

service. We have acquired various

companies over the years including

Hotbox International in 2007, a world-

leading manufacturer of horticultural

equipment, which provides a range

of products for both professional use

and the serious hobbyist. In 2011,

we established CambridgeHOK

Construction, an autonomous civil

engineering company that now acts

as principal contractor in its own right

while at the same time ensuring we

can deliver each project without relying

on external civils subcontractors.

Vertical farming – the

future for grown

produce?

The largest tomato

growing glasshouse using

waste heat in the UK

Our philosophy

is centred on

collaboration

with our

clients

“

27CAMBRIDGEHOK |

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Embracing sustainable energy

sources

In recent years, we have increased our

focus on renewable and sustainable

energy solutions that aim to provide

energy intensive sectors such as

manufacturing and food production

with renewable, low-carbon energy

solutions to meet the EU emissions

and environmental taxation regulations

they face and to improve their

corporate sustainability.

There have been a number of levies

and restrictions placed on companies

of all sizes to significantly reduce their

carbon footprint and impact on the

environment. In response, a number of

these companies are now investigating

renewable energy sources. We

specialise in on-site energy generation

and can deliver tailored technology

that suits the client’s requirements.

We take a holistic approach to each

and every site individually, assessing

the current and future needs before

providing a bespoke solution tailored

to that client for that site.

Our energy solutions not only reduce

carbon footprint and emissions but can

also reduce energy usage and costs

to the client by upgrading existing,

inefficient equipment on site. The

options we offer include heat pumps,

combined heat and power energy

centres, biomass engines, battery

storage, solar and photovoltaics

to name a few. Sustainability is

paramount for the future of all

businesses both in the UK and globally,

and it is likely we will see further

government intervention. As a result,

we are confident that the market for

these solutions will continue to grow.

In horticulture we have found

combined heat and power energy

centres to be particularly effective.

We can use them to generate the

electricity required to power the vast

commercial glasshouses while also

providing heat, which is stored in

the form of hot water before being

distributed throughout the glasshouse

during low temperatures. The carbon

dioxide produced as a bi-product of

the CHP process is also piped into the

glasshouse in order to help the yield

and crop growth. This is both more

efficient and environmentally friendly.

As we move forward, we want

to continue to lead the charge in

vertical farming. We want to promote

automation in order to raise efficiency,

negate the requirement for crops to

be sprayed with pesticides and make

use of currently derelict buildings

throughout the UK. Using derelict

buildings within city centres also

has logistical advantages, reducing

the transportation requirements to

the supermarkets, therefore saving

additional CO2 and greenhouse

emissions from the transport wagons.

Through automation, we are able to

input a seed at one end and bring a

controlled crop out at the other. This

is sustainable and water efficient. This

remains a process in its infancy and we

are confident we will continue to find

new applications in the future.

Offering

turnkey

solutions is

our key

specialism

“

A combined heat and

power, or CHP, energy

centre

Vertical farm

growing containers

are shipped globally

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

26 | CAMBRIDGEHOK

sold across the UK and we still use

a number of the same techniques

today. Something else that remains

is our enthusiasm for innovation, a

passion that has become embedded

within the business. An important part

of this process is our staff retention,

which has provided the opportunity for

expertise and experience to stay within

the business. One sales manager

only retired this year after 49 years of

service and there are plenty of other

examples of this kind of commitment

throughout our history.

Over a number of years, we developed

a strong reputation for providing

robust glasshouses that stood up to

severe winds and inclement conditions,

from the Scottish mountainsides

to hurricane winds in Jamaica. In

1996, the business was purchased

by the former director of a rival

glasshouse company in Hull who

made the decision to move the

business from Cambridge up to East

Yorkshire. Under new ownership,

it built on its reputation within th e

horticultural industry and began to

work with universities on research and

education projects as well as Victorian

glasshouses and garden centres.

In 2004, I conducted a management

buyout with two colleagues, Steve

Hinch and Ross Hibbs. Together we

have brought about a lot of change

while still building on our original

horticultural roots. Our work is very

much shaped by diversity and the

horticultural environment, and we

have really expanded our reach and

focus. We still offer glasshouses and

garden centres but have also made

a significant expansion into vertical

farms in the last ten years. We are truly

ahead of the curve in terms of vertical

farming solutions and are market

leaders in this field.

Offering turnkey solutions is our key

specialism, with all civil, structural,

mechanical, electrical and control

panel design completed in-house.

Our in-house manufacturing and site

installation teams also ensure that

we are able to offer an end-to-end

service. We have acquired various

companies over the years including

Hotbox International in 2007, a world-

leading manufacturer of horticultural

equipment, which provides a range

of products for both professional use

and the serious hobbyist. In 2011,

we established CambridgeHOK

Construction, an autonomous civil

engineering company that now acts

as principal contractor in its own right

while at the same time ensuring we

can deliver each project without relying

on external civils subcontractors.

Vertical farming – the

future for grown

produce?

The largest tomato

growing glasshouse using

waste heat in the UK

Our philosophy

is centred on

collaboration

with our

clients

“

27CAMBRIDGEHOK |

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Embracing sustainable energy

sources

In recent years, we have increased our

focus on renewable and sustainable

energy solutions that aim to provide

energy intensive sectors such as

manufacturing and food production

with renewable, low-carbon energy

solutions to meet the EU emissions

and environmental taxation regulations

they face and to improve their

corporate sustainability.

There have been a number of levies

and restrictions placed on companies

of all sizes to significantly reduce their

carbon footprint and impact on the

environment. In response, a number of

these companies are now investigating

renewable energy sources. We

specialise in on-site energy generation

and can deliver tailored technology

that suits the client’s requirements.

We take a holistic approach to each

and every site individually, assessing

the current and future needs before

providing a bespoke solution tailored

to that client for that site.

Our energy solutions not only reduce

carbon footprint and emissions but can

also reduce energy usage and costs

to the client by upgrading existing,

inefficient equipment on site. The

options we offer include heat pumps,

combined heat and power energy

centres, biomass engines, battery

storage, solar and photovoltaics

to name a few. Sustainability is

paramount for the future of all

businesses both in the UK and globally,

and it is likely we will see further

government intervention. As a result,

we are confident that the market for

these solutions will continue to grow.

In horticulture we have found

combined heat and power energy

centres to be particularly effective.

We can use them to generate the

electricity required to power the vast

commercial glasshouses while also

providing heat, which is stored in

the form of hot water before being

distributed throughout the glasshouse

during low temperatures. The carbon

dioxide produced as a bi-product of

the CHP process is also piped into the

glasshouse in order to help the yield

and crop growth. This is both more

efficient and environmentally friendly.

As we move forward, we want

to continue to lead the charge in

vertical farming. We want to promote

automation in order to raise efficiency,

negate the requirement for crops to

be sprayed with pesticides and make

use of currently derelict buildings

throughout the UK. Using derelict

buildings within city centres also

has logistical advantages, reducing

the transportation requirements to

the supermarkets, therefore saving

additional CO2 and greenhouse

emissions from the transport wagons.

Through automation, we are able to

input a seed at one end and bring a

controlled crop out at the other. This

is sustainable and water efficient. This

remains a process in its infancy and we

are confident we will continue to find

new applications in the future.

Offering

turnkey

solutions is

our key

specialism

“

A combined heat and

power, or CHP, energy

centre

Vertical farm

growing containers

are shipped globally

www.cambridgehok.co.uk

The Parliamentary Review Publication, in which this article originally appeared, contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Michael Gove.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster