A few pennies make a big difference

The Bastows Copper Coin Challenge is GO!

We are asking everyone reading this to take part and make a massive difference to our 2015 fundraising for Shelter. It'll get us off to a flying start and it's so easy to join in.

1. Put a large-ish glass jar, plastic tub, old baked bean can (or anything else you can get your hands on) in your home and/or workplace until May 31st. 

2. Ask your colleagues, friends and family to place just a few copper coins in every time you see them. ALL their copper coins would be great but we know some people love to hang on to those 2 pence pieces. Weirdos.

3. No silver coins allowed. I mean, come ON, guys. Times are hard and we don't want to bankrupt anyone with this.

4. When the jar (or whatever!) is full, cash it up at your bank and donate your haul online on our fundraising page athttps://www.justgiving.com/BastowsCopper

5. The person who donates the most when we tally it all up on 1st June will win a prize, which we are yet to announce- but rest assured it'll be awesome. Like, chocolate covered awesome.

6. That's it. No really, that's it. So easy you can't not join in, right?

Comment below or tweet us @bastowsfamily to let us know you're in and where you'll be collecting. We also want pics of your collecting jars as we go along.

It'll get competitive, you know it.

2p or not 2p, that is the question....

Let the good times bowl!

Saturday 13th December, All Star Lanes, Holborn, London. 

We asked: are you ready to (Christmas) party?

The response was pretty definite! 

We couldn't let the event pass without a small gift to CEO Frank and MD Andy for their help and support in organising the event. They really looked the part after we presented them with authentic US bowling shirts all the way from Indiana. Forget the everyday...

tonight Matthew, we're Fast Lane Frankie and Rockin' Raz.

The night was young and the lanes were getting lively as our younger guests kicked off the practice sessions before things got competitive. We shared great food and drinks including cocktails, champagne and very fancy non-alcoholic cocktails for the younger guests, with amazing food that went down well with all.

We had a 50s theme and the gents and ladies in attendance did not disappoint. A very dapper Dave and Steve here, in the early stages of forming Bastows' very own Rat Pack. 

The dresses looked amazing on you ladies- and who knew the boys scrubbed up so well? We consider the theme a roaring success....

 

... Even if Rob did go for the 50s revolutionary look by turning up as Fidel Castro (outfit of the night? We think so. Awesome work, that man.)

It was great to see everyone getting to know each other and meet new members of the family- we hope everyone felt very well looked after and welcome. 

Family members brought along their older children to join the fun, meaning we had the extra competitive edge of worrying that the grownups would be beaten by the kids...

Sam, Sanja and Chupo got into the party spirit- and they were not alone. 

Some of us had decided that it was time that karaoke machine earned its keep. 

It was great to see so many people try their hand at being the next X Factor superstar (even if most of us were more like Stevi Ritchie) and there were a few surprises as we belted out tunes ranging from 'Fairytale of New York' to AC/DC's finest moments... 

Thank you to everyone who came along and made the night such a blast. 

Thank you for bringing your husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, colleagues and friends. 

It really wouldn't have been the same without you.

Wonderful Wednesday News!

We are proud to announce that after celebrating our debut last year, we have been selected to feature in the Building Good Employer Guide for the second year running. 

The Building Good Employer Guide is a celebration of the best companies to work for in the construction industry. Our inclusion is testament to the work we do to invite input from all, share information and promote training and development, responsibility and self-determination, all contributing to making Bastows sites happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

We understand that we have a duty of care to our people not just because it's law, but because it makes sound business sense to go beyond that to invest in them and to collaborate so we get the best of every point of view.

We are so proud to be listed in the guide thanks to direct positive feedback from our people to the assessors. We thank our Family for supporting our efforts and for playing such a crucial part in our successes. 

We did it!

Thank you to everyone

I'm delighted to tell you all that we have PASSED an extended assessment for theInvestors in People Health & Wellbeing award.

This means we remain accredited for our efforts and will continue to work to remain on top of our game and leading the field!

Our assessor Jim Illingworth has asked me to pass on his thanks to all who took the time to speak with him. My personal thanks to all of you who supported the assessment.

Now we go for more success and more recognition!

Bastows awarded Government Trust Mark

We are proud to announce that Bastows have been awarded the Government-endorsed Trust Mark standard.

This has been given in recognition of our commitment to quality workmanship, good business practice and dedication to great customer service.

Our continuing commitment to the highest standards has already been well demonstrated through our accreditations and awards but we are always proud to add to the recognition and celebrate our achievements with all! 

Family Business of the Year 2014: We Are Winners!

We are proud and delighted to annnounce that at last night's Family Business United awards, Bastows were honoured as the UK Construction and Property Family Business of the Year.

The event was hosted by Farrer & Co in Lincoln's Inn Fields in the heart of London and the city felt very beautiful last night as we joined other family businesses. Familiar faces were greeted and new connections made as we shared stories and cheered each other on as the awards were announced.

Andrew approves of the new addition to the office

We were thrilled to receive the UK award for our sector- a completely unexpected moment as I can testify; my acceptance speech began with an flabbergasted me saying "Blimey!"

It was wonderful to be shortlisted as a regional finalist too alongside some truly brilliant and diverse companies and our congratulations go to F Hinds Ltd, the deserving winners of the regional title.

Thank you to the judging panel, to Paul Andrews who is the heart and soul of Family Business United, and to all our fellow family business nominees and winners. We really are keeping the economy going and the values of family alive around the UK. 

Bastows attains Safecontractor standard for fifth year

For the fifth successive year, Bastows has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a measured and independently evaluated safety performance standard across the business.

Safecontractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said, "Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place."

"More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Bastows has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.

Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”

Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.

Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.

Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

Bastows Managing Director Andy Racxinkaitis said, "We are proud to have been recognised once again for our efforts and will continue our commitment to safe working practices in the years to come.

Bastows approach to safety and responsibility is unsurpassed in our market, meaning clients have complete peace of mind on quality, value and safe methods of working.

Our continued accreditation means clients know we have been open and have welcomed an independent inspection of our safety policies, procedures and systems to ensure fair and transparent benchmarking."