ONA - Safecontractor Approved

ONA are once again pleased with being accredited as an approved 'Safecontractor'.

'Safecontractor' is a leading third party accreditiation scheme.

Being specialist in the design, supply and installation of high quality data cabling systems for clients in both the public and private sector, those that love IP, IT, PSTN, VoIP or IPTV, we take Health & Safety seriously.  

 
Data cabling being the #liquoricestrands that we love so much.
 

This is part of what assures ONA's success;  supporting our staff out on site and also assuring clients and our clients clients' that we work to a recognised high and uniform standard in health and safety management.

 

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."

 

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 the Safecontactor website.

 

Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors. Organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site.

Connect with Roy and ONA

 

Facebook or Twitter or www. or LinkedIn

 

(0117) 244 4366 or 07799 628927

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government Funded Training Part ii

In March of this year we wrote about an Apprenticeship Support organisation - QA Ltd.

At ONA (#liquoricestrands) we support Apprenticeships. We have a very successful apprentice working with ONA currently, soon to graduate in Sept of this year. 

As we support this workplace opportunity, we wanted to pass on the following information about new government funded training for employers, for all current employees aged 16-24.

This means you can access £10,000 - £12,000 of training funded by the government by signing up a member of staff on one of our apprenticeship schemes.

The three courses included are Systems & Networking, Software & Web Development and Digital Marketing.  Your employees can gain relevant qualifications which include (Level 3 Diplomas & Microsoft Technical Associate Awards).

Course details are as follows.  

Systems & Networking 

Week 1 – Induction – Customer Care Technical IT basics

Week 2/3 – MTA - Networking Fundamentals C&G networking principles

Week 4/5 – MTA – OS essentials C&G systems maintenance

Week 6/7 – MTA – Security Fundamentals C&G security principles and policies

Week 8/9 – MTA – Windows Server Fundamentals C&G business, software install and test


View more information

http://www.slideshare.net/RoyAdair1/apprentice-microsoft-it-systems-networking-48888603 

Software & Web Development 

Week 1/2/3 – Induction – Creating an OO Program

Week 4/5 – Creating an OO program

Week 6/7 – SQL data modelling

Week 7/8 – Accessing databases creating graphical user interfaces


View more information

http://www.slideshare.net/RoyAdair1/apprentivcev-software-web-development

 

Digital Marketing

Week 1 - The Business of Digital Marketing

Week 2 - Photoshop Level 2 & Video Editing (Adobe Premiere)

Week 3 - Search Engine Optimisation & Pay per Click

Week 4 - Copywriting, CMS & Collaborative Technologies

Week 5 - Social Media Marketing & Advertising

Week 6 - Content or mail Marketing

Week 7 - Data, Metrics & Analytics

Week 8 - Business & Marketing Concepts


View more information

http://www.slideshare.net/RoyAdair1/apprentice-digital-marketing

On top of all this, if your company has less than 50 employees you could access a £1,500 grant from the government for signing up to the programme.

For more information contact 


Sheetal Patel - Account Manager


QA Apprenticeships

"Transforming futures through learning"

The first IT apprenticeships business rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ in all areas

Three-time winners of Apprenticeship Programme of the Year 2012, 2013 & 2014

Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2013 ‘Special Commendation’

01753 898450 - Sheetal.Patel@qa.com

www.qa.com/apprenticeships

A Meeting of 'MINDS' Motorcycle Tour

 

CHARITY MOTORCYCLE TOUR - NO CASH REQUIRED!

In Sept of this year I will be undertaking a charity motorbike tour of Alzheimer’s Research Centres, to raise awareness for BRACE and Alzheimer’s. 

BRACE’s raison d’etre is to fund research into Alzheimer’s and it is my chosen charity.

http://www.alzheimers-brace.org/.

 

Typically when people think of charities they think CASH!

Rest at ease!

 

We will of course set up a facility to donate if you wanted to help raise funds, BUT this is not the MAIN purpose. We will NOT be chasing for cash. As we are raising awareness of this condition, we are visiting a number of research centres to interview eminent lead researchers and to create a bank of video footage to be used by BRACE in future activities.

The interviews will focus on the centre’s research specialism and we have selected specific researchers, so responses can be a little more non-technical/ non-medical (ish), but honed to the ‘EVERYDAY’ lay person, such as you or I.

Currently, we are going to Bristol (Southmead), Cardiff, London, Lille, Manheim and Montpellier.

If you wanted to donate then BRACE do have a facility on their website (see link above).

SO WHERE CAN YOU HELP?

From now on, leading up to and during the tour we will be sending out information via email and social media. If I email 100 people, they then send information onto another 100 people, and so on and so on we then have the start of a great awareness campaign for BRACE and Alzheimer's. Maybe a few will donate, but the important thing is purely the awareness.

 

So in truth, really what we want is ‘take a message and pass it on.’

 

If you wanted to do this via social media, then you can follow us on https://twitter.com/royadair/ or
https://twitter.com/millerAD3 or
https://www.facebook.com/OpenNetworkAssociatesLtd
and we will have updates via my BLOG
https://www.it-cabling.blogspot.co.uk

 

One final thing. Part of the research interview process will

be to talk specifically about Alzheimer’s as a

multi-dimensional condition. But we also wanted to create a

generic bank of research questions. So if you ever had a

question about Alzheimer’s now is your chance to ask, via

me.

 

So if you wanted to send this on, please do. If you wanted to

follow us now on Twitter/ Facebook etc, please do. Or send

us a question, please do to martynh@miller-ad.com.

Wish us well on our journey, and thanking you in advance for

helping to PASS THIS ON.

 

And if you have a motorcycle and want to come along,

please do.

Regards

Roy Adair

I.T. Transforming futures through learning

ONA have always invested into the I.T. industry, as this is our lifeblood. As you will note from one of our recent articles that we are keen to ensure that people in the industry stay in the industry, as they enjoy it, but also can see the opportunity for their development within this exciting and expanding industry. We have our own current Apprentice, who has gone on to study and develop into an extremely important part of the ONA installation team. Being an expert in the installation of data and fibre cables, the ‘Liquorice Strands’ that we love so much. 

We found the process works, and as such we wanted to introduce QA Apprenticeships to you.

QA Apprenticeships
·         The first IT apprenticeships business rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ in all areas
·         Three-time winners of Apprenticeship Programme of the Year 2012, 2013 & 2014
·         Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2013 ‘Special Commendation’

Here is what they say.

“QA Apprenticeships delivers world class IT Apprenticeships and we have recently opened our brand new training centre within The Engine Shed at Bristol Temple Meads.

I essentially work on behalf of young adults in the Bristol and Bath area who are searching for routes into IT careers other than going to university.

At present we have several young adults who have a passion for IT and are eager to start their IT career and apprenticeship asap. I am reaching out to local companies as they require an employer to take them on in a full time position so that they can begin their training and careers.

The apprenticeship model can be useful for bringing in first line resource, which can free up time with more senior staff (not having to perform basic tasks such as password resets, logging tickets, break-fixes etc.) and also allows you to shape and mould your talent for the future. It can also be a very cost effective method of bringing this type of resource in, typically under or around £10k p/a to employ someone in the department, allowing you to maximise your budgets.”

If you wanted contact them direct, they are based in the Engine Shed Bristol.

So speak to Sheetal Patel Regional Account Manager for QA Apprenticeships - 01753 898450 - Sheetal.Patel@qa.com - www.qa.com/apprenticeships

Or connect with Roy

Telephone (0117) 244 4366, or Email roy@onaltd.co.uk, or           Tweet @royadair
 

I.T. Are you of a NERVOUS disposition?

Does I.T. technology/ services' make the end user run scared?

Possibly an extreme statement, but I read an article recently discussing the need for businesses to adopt advancing I.T. technology/ services', ensuring they are constantly
up-to-date, ahead of the game, and beating the competition, but were often not adopting, due to being ‘nervous!’

For businesses, large and small, I.T. change is generally understood to be a business enhancer. They can see the benefits; increased efficiency through external/ internal communications, greater connectivity for office and field based workers, or the ability to enhance the service provision to their clients. Adopting new technology should be a no brainer. But it is evidently not that simple.
 

Although to explore the meaning behind being ‘nervous’ may run deep, but often a ‘general lack of understanding’ manifests itself as said infliction. Not being clichéd, but technology moves at such a pace, so being an early adopter can simply mean taking something on, which is almost outdated as soon as you have completed the BACS transaction.
 

For me, who has been actively involved in the I.T. sector for the last 25 (21) odd years, I have seen the breadth of development and the positive changes it has made. And for you, the Business Support, Converging IP Solutions, EPOS Systems, IT Architecture, IT Consultancy, IT Infrastructure, IT Service & Support, Telecom Systems and those that are plainly aware that there is more that goes into an I.T./ Telecoms system and associated support structures than just ‘turn up, log in and away you go’, then we know the importance of technology and the benefits it creates for business.
 

We even have ‘behind the scenes’ developments happening within our specific expertise, cable installation; data and fibre. The liquorice strands of Cat 5, 5e, and Cat 6 steadily creep towards large number such as Cat 7 and 8.

 

For us, the master technicians of our trade, we slip easily into the industry advancements. Offering these new products and services to our clients. We keep abreast of change, as it is our lifeblood. But for the end user, the one that has to buy into and possibly cajole internal departments for purchasing and also roll out, it is easy to see that there may be some trepidation. Being nervous can be seen as a natural reaction to the situation. BUT I.T. technology/ services' should be at the forefront of any business mind.

After all, we all USE I.T.

 

So .......................

 

Please contact me on
Telephone (0117) 244 4366, or
Email roy@onaltd.co.uk, or
Tweet @royadair

 

Swing low, sweet connected data network cables ..........

……… coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet Cat 5e, 6 and Fibre cables
Coming for to carry me home”

I have written many articles, which have touched on the numerous passions in my life. After all, life is nothing without passion. William Webb Ellis in 1823, picking up the ball and ran with it, and Rugby was created. ‘Ruggers!’ the noble art of battle, 15 against 15. The violence on the pitch and beer n banter afterwards. 

Like many sports, there are natural synergies with business life. You can take a lot from what sports men/women have to do, which has an association with running a business, no less with ONA and rugby.

ONA, installers of liquorice strands of Cat 5e, 6 and Fibre cables.  

Many of us use technology every day, probably most of us within our work lives. We turn up, we log in, we have our access, our portal on the wider world. No ‘crouch, touch, pause, engage’ here, although getting a cappuccino can be a bit of a tussle first thing in the morning. You simply press a little button and away you go. You think no more of it, and generally never have to. But it is not always about the hardware that you sit looking at, looking back at you.  

For those of you that have their own ‘80 minutes’ of daily glory, with their own ‘forwards’ and ‘backs’, the [take a deep breath]; Business Support, Converging IP Solutions, EPOS Systems, IT Architecture, IT Consultancy, IT Infrastructure, IT Service & Support, Telecom Systems and even those Commercial Electrical Contractors, are all plainly aware that there is more that goes into an I.T./ Telecoms system and associated support structures, than just ‘turn up, log in and away you go’.

Getting the system right for the client, means ensuring you have the backing of the appropriate resource to provide that professional service, ensuring the correct connectivity.  

And like rugby, there is quite an extensive number of things that are needed to be considered to get the ‘connected’ game right. We as fans of the game, meet, enjoy the banter and see 80 minutes of blood, sweat and tears. But for each game there is a plethora of support staff, resource, training, more blood sweat and tears and even an I.T. Infrastructure, all of which helps the players concentrate on making the right connection on the pitch. There is so much going on behind the scenes. All of which is never seen, but will hopefully mean that your side has the ultimate opportunity to WIN!

Simply put, without good connectivity, we are nothing, well in an I.T. way that is. Good data network installation is key to an ongoing, cost effective, connective solution.

Remember Jonah Lomu? Here is part of an anonymous fax to the New Zealand rugby team in 1995, before they went out to play England - a game in which Jonah Lomu became a rugby legend.

"Remember that rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Jonah."

Not many people made a connection on the pitch with Jonah Lomu, although Matt Perry did and to prove it 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayWPmamdw8g

In fact, I met Matt Perry, ex England Full Back the other evening, nice guy! 

So hope you have enjoyed the first half in 2014 and see you on the other side in 2015, for the second half. So ‘Crouch – Touch – Pause – Engage’ in the scrum, when we will have a few more ONA passions to touch on, all with a tinge of I.T.  In the meantime here are a few famous rugby quotes from over the years for you.

http://rosshighrfc.hitsrugby.com/pages/page_3145/Famous-Rugby-Quotes.aspx
http://www.rugbybanter.com/?p=512
http://www.pinterest.com/americanrugby1/rugby-quotes/  

Please connect with ONA

Mob: 0117 244 4366 or 07799 628927
Email: roy@onaltd.co.ukWeb: www.onaltd.co.uk

Information Technology – A lack of Accreditation!

In a recent article in the NCN (*), it reports that “Siemon announces support for the FIA’s (Fibreoptic Industry Association) Accredited Installer Scheme (AIS)". As such, this will form a step in the right direction to a framework for installers UK wide, and for some like ONA, this will be good news. ONA are supporters of training and accreditation for businesses.

The Information Technology industry is fairly unregulated, especially for installation services, be it for Fibre Optics or Data cabling.

At ONA we are continually amazed about installation process and procedures that others adopt, as often we have had to pick up the pieces of ‘BAD’ installations (Example shown). In truth an 'End User' may not know that they are 'on the end' of a BAD installation until they start to experience 'system' problems.

So we relish the opportunity to be part of a series of recognised standards within this generally unregulated industry.  But we do recognise that for some of our more professional competitors, like ourselves, the approach of best practice, is providing best practice! 

For ONA, like others, working within a very competitive commercial marketplace, and for many 'End Users', pricing can still be a keen consideration in selecting what is believed to be the RIGHT installer. But the opportunity of an accredited installer adds another dimension to the selection process.

That said, industry specific training and accreditation need to work to support those that are the ‘End User’, ensuring that accepted installation processes, materials and service are adhered to. Providing reassurance that what you are buying into with an accredited supplier, is that they are working to an industry specific standard. For the 'End User', there is of course a potential fiscal premium to pay for those recognised as supplying this, but this is weighed against the ‘reassurance factor'.

For each type of accreditation, there will be specific working criteria/ controls that suppliers will work to/ within. In the case of the FIA, installers are assessed against these criteria/ controls and must also commit to a code of conduct, have appropriate commercial insurance, and the appropriate health & safety policies in place. For installers, it creates a recognised framework/ code of practice, which ensures a 'best practice premium service', and creates a benchmark for the required service levels to ensure that the whole industry can work with professionalism.

At ONA we are supporters of the process. We believe in ensuring that we can be the best at what we do through development. What we do want to see though is accreditations that provide the benefits for all concerned. We know to give credence to industry accreditations it takes for all to ‘buy into it’ and we know this is not a quick and easy process. The industry needs to provide support to ensure that this is developed, and it will need more organisations like Siemon to create the right environment. 

As adopters of training and accreditation, ONA are part of various accredited schemes with certain ‘premium manufacturer' installation codes of practice; Nexans, Molex and Brand-Rex for example and the Safe Contractor Registration.

So for ONA we approve of accreditations.

Connect with ONA

Mob: 07799 628927
Email: roy@onaltd.co.uk
Web: www.onaltd.co.uk

*NCN – Network Communication News

Other BAD installation practices

Other BAD installation practices