dssr-Paul

Each holiday season, we at DSSR are committed to giving back to the communities we live and work within, supporting those in need at what can be a very challenging time of the year. As part of our annual charitable initiative, we are thrilled to announce a donation of £1,500 and a large contribution to the foodbank of ‘Possobilities’, a local charity which provides crucial support and services to people with disabilities.

DSSR is proud to be sponsoring the Possobilities charity in the North of Glasgow this Christmas, with part of our contribution allowing the them to provide 50 No. Christmas dinners to their members, either at the centre or delivered to their homes.

Possobilities is a local charity organisation that offers various forms of support to disabled and vulnerable people in the community through social groups and community-led assets in a welcoming environment. Their mission is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential and live independently.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support ‘Possobilities’ and their dedication to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Their work is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to play a role in their continued success.

“My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the food bank drive; this is a really deserving charity, helping a bunch of people who really need it. As well as funding the Christmas lunch for their members, and your kind donations, we have donated a further £1,000, so hopefully they get a decent festive period.”

Bill Chalmers, DSSR Director

We encourage our clients, partners, and community members to join us in supporting ‘Possobilities’ and other organisations making a difference in our neighbourhoods. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive society for all.

James MacLeod, a Project Engineer with DSSR Consulting Engineers, attended the careers evening at Nidderdale High School to discuss the engineering career path and provide guidance on the transition to KS5 and leaving high school.

James spoke to students about his own journey into engineering and the different career paths that are available. He also provided advice on how to choose the right post-education route and how to prepare for a successful career in engineering.

“Engineering is a challenging but rewarding career path,” said MacLeod. “It offers the opportunity to work on some of the most innovative and exciting projects in the world, and to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

MacLeod also encouraged students to consider the wide range of engineering disciplines that are available, from civil and structural engineering to mechanical and electrical engineering.

“If you’re interested in a career in engineering, it’s important to start thinking about your options early on,” said MacLeod. “There are a number of different routes into the profession, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that’s right for you.”

The Awards Celebration was held on the 10th of October at Kimpton’s Clocktower Hotel in Manchester and was attended by 630 guests. DSSR was in attendance with guests Morgan Parrack of Hunters; Helen Whitehead of VINCI Construction; Deborah Carr & Andy Bridger of Bridger Carr, and Ruth James of Llewelyn Davies.

James MacLeod, a Trainee Engineer with DSSR based in the Harrogate office, was shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year Award. We were delighted to support him and thrilled he had been recognised in this category.

Former DSSR employee and IHEEM President, Alison Ryan, introduced the guests to the charity selected by IHEEM for 2023, Lymphoma Action. This is the UK’s only charity dedicated to Lymphoma and is a cause close to Alison’s heart following her own diagnosis.

Alison gave a touching personal account of her own experience of being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and her subsequent treatment and journey to recovery. Lymphoma Action provided the guidance and assistance that she needed.

We are deeply grateful to the charity for the support provided to one of our own. DSSR has donated £1,000 to Lymphoma Action to help and support people with Lymphoma, contributing to a future where no one has to face this disease alone.

DSSR is a proud to be part of the design team which was commissioned to design the building services for the upcoming Peterhead Campus, a new £40 million educational facility that will provide state-of-the-art learning facilities for students of all ages. As part of our commitment to provide social value for the local community, we pledged to donate to the Peterhead Foodbank.

The Peterhead Foodbank is a vital service that provides food and other essentials to people in need in the local area. The foodbank relies on donations from individuals and businesses to operate, and we hope that our donation helps the foodbank to continue to provide its vital service to the community.

“We are proud to provide the Peterhead Foodbank with this donation, a vital community service that provides support to people in need in the local area. We are grateful to be able to play a role in helping them to continue their important work.

“Our ‘Community Benefits’ programme is a commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate. We believe that it is important to give back to the communities that support our business, and we are pleased to be able to do so through our donation to the Peterhead Foodbank.”

Stuart Brand, DSSR Regional Director

As part of Board 24’s future development plans, a new state-of-the-art sheet feeding facility was greenlit at the Eurocentral business park. We provided full MEP designs for the mechanical, electrical and public health services for the site, in addition to utility consultancy, SBEM energy efficiency calculations, and thermal modelling.

DSSR has been involved in developing several specialist industrial facilities at Eurocentral, such as Scania’s servicing facility which neighbours this development, and a series of office fit-outs at the adjacent Maxim Park.

The new facility will enable Board 24 to secure additional growth, supported by new specialist cardboard production processes, significantly increasing their capabilities to meet the growing demand from their customers.

In addition, the new facility will enable the business to take a more sustainable approach by optimising transport, reducing waste, and utilising a vast PV array to generate sustainable energy for the development.

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity:

“In 2018, Dr. Alyson Walker, Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthetist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, embarked on a transformative journey destined to reshape the landscape of paediatric surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, touching the lives of over 10,000 children each year.

“Today heralds a new standard for paediatric operating theatres as the first phase of the Theatre Improvement Initiative was officially opened, with Dr Walker helped by patients Riley, 9, and Scarlett, 11.

“Guided by Dr. Walker’s vision and in partnership with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, the million-pound initiative aims to create a more compassionate and empathetic environment for patients, their families, and the dedicated staff who care for them.

“The Theatre Improvement Initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing the commitment to patient-centred care from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. The initiative is poised to influence the design of children’s operating theatres worldwide.”

Read more here

DSSR was commissioned to support alterations to the MEP services associated with the reconfiguration of the theatre entrance areas. This required the upgrade and reconfiguration of LED lighting and controls, small power, data, fire alarms, access control, nurse call, ventilation, air conditioning, sprinklers, domestic water services and drainage.

We were pleased to see how popular the event was and the high number of students who are interested in learning more about the exciting and rewarding opportunities available in the building services design sector. Lindsay and Emma were on hand to answer students’ questions about the different career paths available, the skills and qualifications required, and the day-to-day work of a building services design engineer.

DSSR is committed to promoting sustainability in the built environment, and the team at the careers fair was keen to talk to students about the important role that building services engineers play in designing and delivering sustainable buildings.

Emma Meng, Sustainability Advisor: “As someone focused on Sustainability, I was pleased to see how many students brought up their own interest in sustainability. I believe it is only going to grow in prominence within building services design, and so it was great to see the level of interest in the topic.”

Our design engineers work on a wide range of projects, from new schools and hospitals to commercial offices and retail developments. In all of their work, they focus on designing sustainable and energy-efficient solutions that meet the needs of their clients and the environment.

Lindsay Wood, Regional Director: “We were delighted to attend the University of Glasgow Careers Fair and meet with so many talented and enthusiastic students.

“It is always encouraging to see so many young people interested in pursuing a career in building services design.

“We are committed to supporting the next generation of engineers and helping them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to design and build the sustainable buildings of the future.”

If you are a student interested in a career in building services design, please visit our website and feel free to contact us directly to learn more about the opportunities available.

At DSSR, we understand that mental health is just as important as physical health, and we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels comfortable talking about their mental health challenges.

We hope that by having mental health first aiders in the workplace, we can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health and make it easier for our colleagues to get the help they need.

World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through.

As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, ‘mental health is a universal human right’. That’s why at Mental Health Foundation, we’re dedicated to addressing the inequalities in mental health and working towards good mental health for all, not just for some.

– Mental Health Foundation

Our Mental Health First Aiders have completed the necessary training and can provide a first point of contact for any employee who is experiencing a mental health issue or suffering from emotional distress. This vital interaction can range from having an initial conversation to supporting the employee in obtaining appropriate help.

Some key responsibilities of mental health first aiders in the workplace include:

• Identifying if a person is experiencing a mental health issue
• Listening non-judgementally to what the person is saying or feeling
• Encouraging the person to seek appropriate treatment
• Helping those suffering from mental ill-health to take small steps towards recovery
• Referring to specialist services if necessary
• Helping to build trust between employer and employees, in order for both groups to feel comfortable talking openly about mental health issues

If you are struggling with your mental health, please speak to someone.

CIBSE: “Low Carbon Consultants (LCCs) have been certified by CIBSE to be competent in minimising energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in design, operation and simulation. The training programme enables them to go beyond the current legal minima in improving the energy performance of both new and existing buildings.

“Clients can be assured that buildings designed and operated by LCCs will meet the requirements of Approved Document L Volume 2 2021 and Building Control Officers can be assured that compliance is being signed off by suitably qualified professionals.”

As a Low Carbon Consultant Energy Management Systems Specialist, Rachel can:

• Establish, implement, maintain and improve an energy management system
• Develop energy management systems processes and procedures
• Improve energy performance in a systematic way
• Ensure that it conforms with its stated energy policy & demonstrate such conformance to others

“We would like to congratulate Rachel on achieving this qualification, which demonstrates many of the skills she has developed over the past 7 years at DSSR, and we look forward to seeing where she goes next.”

– Fiona Williamson, Regional Director

If you have any queries or wish to discuss with Rachel how she can support your project, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Contact Us page.

DSSR colleagues from our Building Performance Modelling team recently visited Civic House–Scotland’s first retrofit ‘PassivWareHaus’–as part of Glasgow’s ‘Doors Open Days Festival’ which offers people a unique chance to get a peek inside an array of Glasgow’s most interesting buildings.

On the doorstep of the DSSR Glasgow office at Speirs Wharf, Civic House was once a printing press for worker activist groups in the early 1900s. It was recently transformed into a modern, ultra-sustainable co-working space, featuring a canteen and events hub.

Civic House is an interesting case study for sustainable approaches to repurposing industrial buildings and addressing how vacant spaces can be repurposed and modernised.

Following its extensive refurbishment, Civic House has a new lease of life as a vibrant commercial and leisure space.

Delivered by Agile City, a non-profit and community interest company, it is an excellent example of how to adapt and reuse previously derelict spaces, avoiding the embodied carbon cost of new construction and demonstrating carbon reduction innovation.

Studies have shown that it takes between 20 and 50 years for a new building constructed to the last Part L standards to overcome, through efficient operations, the negative climate change impacts related to the construction process.

As such, applying a targeted holistic approach to the refurbishment of an existing building allows the re-use of existing resources whilst minimising the impacts of climate change.

Carina McKinney, DSSR Lead for Building Performance Modelling: “At DSSR, we thrive to learn from our direct surroundings; having a building on our doorstep, designed to EnerPHit standards, was a great opportunity to learn first-hand from the people who were involved in the refurbishment process.

“For refurbishment projects like this, it’s not always possible to achieve a Passivhaus standard, and so the Passivhaus Institute has developed the ‘EnerPHit’ certificate to recognise structures retrofitted with Passivhaus components to achieve a high energy performance standard.

“One of the things I found particularly interesting was that air-tightness testing was carried out at the outset of the refurbishment process–not just for the finished product–in order to understand the quality of the existing wall structure, which in turn informed the insulation process.”