www.futures-supplies.co.uk
020 8689 2072
Click Through Index gold award for environmental excellence new premises deliver a brighter future care leavers given permanent employment travel plan takes off environmental and recycling tips technology benefits customers online
andrew hills passes the first stage of accountancy exams futures short listed for prestigious awards meet the team futures are ranked top for the second year running compliance testing a partnership spanning over ten years
 
welcome



Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Futures newsletter.

It has been an extremely exciting time for us at Futures as we celebrate our 10th anniversary of trading, relocation to purpose built offices and warehouse facilities and the re-launch of our website to include an online ordering facility.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all our business partners and customers for your continued support and look forward to working with you into the next decade.

Mandie Kemp, Managing Director
 
gold award for environmental excellence

Having already achieved a Bronze and Silver award, Futures has been recognised for its involvement in the environment and local community by being awarded a prestigious Gold Envibe Award.

Futures are one of the first companies in the borough to have been awarded ‘Gold’ by Envibe who give hands on support and reward environmental business excellence.

We achieved this accolade by developing an environmental policy and continually improving our environmental activities across the company. We also support the ‘The Employability Project’ by providing care leavers work placements for 12 week periods and a chance to gain valuable work experience whilst building their confidence and self esteem.		  
As part of the award process, an external audit took place at our offices by members of the Envibe board. They reviewed evidence of all aspects of our Environmental Management System and asked questions on our initiatives including reducing energy use, waste reduction and community involvement.

The Envibe team congratulated all members of staff on their attitude and approach to environmental improvement. 		 



“We are extremely proud to have been awarded this accolade”, says Tracey Holden. “This award would not have been possible if we had not had the support of the staff and the Envibe team.”
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new premises deliver a
brighter future
 
Following the company’s relocation to purpose built spacious new office and warehouse premises on 1st August, Futures continues to expand and endorse its commitment to providing customers with a professional service long into the future.

Futures has been delivering service, quality, value and reliability for ten years and hope the move will provide additional flexibility and lay the foundations for the future expansion of the company. 		 
“We hope this move will improve operations and that ownership of the new site will provide greater control over our business activities,” says Mandie Kemp, Managing Director.
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care leavers given
permanent employment
travel plan
takes off

Working with Seltrans, a Government backed company set up to help advise and co-ordinate company travel plans, Futures has implemented a travel plan with the objectives to improve choice of travel, encourage sustainable travel to and from work and promote a healthier lifestyle.

One of the points which came out of the survey carried out as part of the initiative was that, although staff car shared where possible, some were willing to cycle to and from the office. With the help of a grant from Seltrans, Futures has been able to purchase a bike and have a shower installed. A total of three staff are now cycling to work each day.

Adopting a greener approach to transport is now synonymous with running an efficient business and the potential impact of a sustainable transport policy is something no business can ignore.

If you are interested in a travel plan initiative you can obtain a free Travel Plan Resource Pack from The Energy Saving Trust by calling 0845 6021425
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Futures continue its involvement in their local Corporate Social Responsibility project ‘The Croydon Commitment’ aimed to effectively tackle community issues and improve their environment, social and economic impact in the local community.

Futures is addressing ‘The Croydon Strategic Partnership’ key renewal themes of environment, education, crime, regeneration health and access.

Danielle Sinclair, who is 18 and joined the company on a 12 week work experience placement is from a care background and currently lives in shared accommodation. Due to her hard work and determination, Futures has now given her a permanent
part-time role in the company and


   actively encouraged her to attend a Business Studies college course, which she began in September.

Michael Smith, who is now 18, has also now been permanently employed as a General Assistant following his 12 week work placement.

“Thank you very much for the time and support you have given Michael. Many people say they want to work with young people but often give up at the first hurdle. People like Futures, however, stick with it and make an incredible difference to young people’s lives. Without all of you at Futures, Michael would not be starting out in adult life with such good prospects” Chris Thompson, Social Worker, Leaving Care.
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environmental and recycling tips

* Avoid making unnecessary photocopies and you will save time, paper, energy, toner
* maintenance and repair costs

* Used sheets with a blank side are ideal for faxes, rough work and internal printing

* Re-use envelopes for internal mail

* By posting information on a central noticeboard, the need for copying is greatly reduced

* Encourage car sharing and cycling to work

* Regularly review your utilities suppliers at www.uswitch.com
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The printed version of this newsletter (available on request) is printed with waterless printing techniques, which are more environmentally friendly than conventional offset printing, and on true recycled content-coated paper with an industry beating 75% minimum post consumer waste content.
It conforms to government requirements for recycled paper, specified by government bodies and under ISO14001.
technology benefits
customers online		  

To reflect the changes that have taken place in customers’ needs and to ensure we deliver satisfaction and continued improvement, Futures has relaunched its website
www.futures-supplies.co.uk

The website combines easy access to product information, safety data sheets and a full online shopping basket facility. The website project which was undertaken in partnership with E-Business Systems, aims to make our clients’ experience on-site as enjoyable as possible by creating a simple method of finding products, information and online ordering.

Key areas include access to additional product information including specifications and pictures, up to date COSHH sheets that can be printed easily along with a ‘favourites’ facility to prevent the need to trawl through		  
unnecessary data when selecting products that are regularly purchased. The internal administration cost of processing a purchase including the cost of administration time and internal paperwork can all but be eradicated by the use of the online shopping facility, which delivers a functional user-friendly, simple and clean design providing a cost effective purchasing solution.

The navigation system is consistent throughout the website to help the user become familiar with the layout of the site and product lines are grouped to ensure the information required is only a few clicks away.

The site also offers the facility to order against multi-site delivery addresses and provides an almost instant order acknowledgement whatever the time of day, further illustrating Futures singled minded		  


approach to delivering what the customer wants when they want it.

“The website enables us to cope efficiently with increasing demands for information from both existing and prospective customers. Ordering is quick and easy and we guarantee a speedy response” says Mandie Kemp, Managing Director.

Shop today at www.futures-supplies.co.uk
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andrew hills passes the first stage of accountancy exams

Congratulations to Andrew Hills, Futures’ Office Supervisor who recently passed Level 2 of his NVQ in AAT Accounting, Sage Level 1 and 2 and is now back at college hoping to gain his Level 3 qualification this year.

Currently a student member, once Andy has gained Level 3 of the NVQ, he will have acquired all three stages of his accounting qualification and will be eligible to become a full member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.


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   futures short listed for prestigious awards

Over the last few months, Futures are delighted to have been short-listed as finalists for a number of prestigious awards including the Lord Mayor of London’s 2005 Dragon Awards. This award is designed to recognise socially responsible businesses and celebrate their corporate community involvement in London.

Futures is also one of only three finalists in the Best of Business Awards 2005. Short-listed in the category of ‘Best Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility’ in recognition of the company’s continued work with care leavers and its positive impact on the community.

In addition to this Managing Director, Mandie Kemp has been short-listed for two 2005 London Business Awards in the categories of ‘Business Woman of the Year’ and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’. The results of these awards will be announced before the end of the year.
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meet the team



a
Futures office staff (l-r top row): Marc Kemp,
Dan Hills, Andrew Hills; (l-r bottom row): Tracey Holden,
Liz Graveney, Danielle Sinclair, Linda Taylor.
 0Futures transport staff (l-r): Terry Johnston,
0Marvin Simms, Graham Smith, Michael Smith,
0Everton Simms, Majdi Bakhit.
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futures are ranked top for the second year running compliance testing

The Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association has recently undertaken a six-month study which revealed that 74% of soft tissue products manufactured by non-members are labelled incorrectly.

The CHSA, who regularly monitor products in the marketplace, has spent January to June this year testing products in compliance with its Soft Tissue Accreditation Scheme and code of practice, which ensure that standard and accurate dimension labelling is applied to all products.

Following the testing, the CHSA has found that compliance levels amongst its members are much higher than non-members, with an average of 96% compliance to the scheme, with non-scheme member companies faring extremely badly in the tests as follows:

13% of products failed to meet standards for adequate labelling.

Of the remaining 87% of products, 67% failed to meet the specification as described on the packaging.

Most specification deficiencies were between 5% and 20%, with the worst being 47% short.

These findings highlight the importance of buying from CHSA Scheme member companies and without this protection, customers risk buying products that do not perform to the standards that they should.
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Once again, Futures have been ranked in the ‘Top 50 Edition of Janitorial Suppliers’ of the Janitorial Portfolio Analysis Report, published by Plimsoll.

Plimsoll Publishing Ltd collects data and companies are analysed individually using the Plimsoll model, which enables companies to benchmark themselves against others in their industry.		  
“I am delighted for the staff who have worked so hard throughout the year to achieve this” says Mandie Kemp, Managing Director.

Plimsoll Publishing Ltd can be contacted on 01642 626415 or view their website at www.plimsoll.co.uk

Source ‘Janitorial Supplies, Top 50 Edition 2005’, Plimsoll Publishing Ltd.
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a partnership spanning
over ten years

Cresswell Office Services Ltd, an expanding cleaning and facilities management company based in Surrey Quays and Futures not only both celebrate their tenth anniversary of trading this year but a successful trading partnership spanning a decade.

Cresswell has both an Industrial and Commercial division and is dedicated to being flexible in its approach as well as highly reactive and responsive to its clients’ needs. They approached Futures to provide washroom and janitorial supplies and associated services to their cleaning contracts and since then their relationship has gone from strength to strength. Futures appreciates that by delivering directly to individual sites		  

on behalf of Cresswell they are an extension of Cresswell’s business. “The team have proved to be highly efficient and the excellent levels of service provided never fail” commented Managing Director, David McLeod.

Along with the stability of pricing, quality and service levels provided by Futures, Cresswell can be left to grow its business with the peace of mind that the team at Futures will do what they say they are going to do and always go the extra mile.
www.cresswellservices.co.uk
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Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd. Unit 1 Valley Point Estate, Croydon CR0 4WP
info@futures-supplies.co.uk Fax 020 8689 6027
www.futures-supplies.co.uk
020 8689 2072
Click Through Index gold award for environmental excellence new premises deliver a brighter future care leavers given permanent employment travel plan takes off environmental and recycling tips technology benefits customers online
andrew hills passes the first stage of accountancy exams futures short listed for prestigious awards meet the team futures are ranked top for the second year running compliance testing a partnership spanning over ten years