Janine has been part of the team at Interdirect for just over two years having joined in July 2019, shortly after moving to the UK from South Africa.

Originally from an investment banking and private client wealth management background, Janine left the corporate world to have children and try her hand at running her own business where she could work around her new family.

Once her two children were both in school, she joined the world of digital marketing and went onto manage a digital agency.  Her family then made the choice to immigrate to the UK as with her husband’s aerospace project, he was flying back and forth – so it all made sense.

Then fate intervened and Janine crossed paths with Interdirect. She immediately clicked with everyone at Interdirect and quickly became a vital part of the team.

As Senior Account Manager she works across a number of accounts from varied industries. She says, “I believe in offering the best service possible to all our customers and take great satisfaction in having happy clients.”

In her free time, Janine enjoys exploring different places around the world (although COVID has limited that to a large degree) and spending time with her family.  Rugby plays a big part in her family’s life, and they love to watch international rugby games…where they all support England unless South Africa is playing, of course!

On 16 September 2021, Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership (MKBLP) announced the return of the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards (MKBAA) 2022 at a launch event held in the atrium at Saxon Court.

The theme for the 2022 awards, which will take place on 24 March at Stadium MK, is ‘MK – Leading the UK’s Green Recovery – Survive, Revive & Thrive’ and a number of Milton Keynes businesses have already pledged their support for the return of the city’s leading business awards.

Established in 2014 by Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership (MKBLP), in association with ourselves and event management experts Evolution Live, the awards are an exciting opportunity for businesses to reflect on their highlights and share their successes with the Milton Keynes business community.

MKBAA 2022 sees the return of veteran headline sponsors Milton Keynes Council, Shoosmiths and The Open University and is excited to welcome new headliners MK Gateway. The awards are also supported by an amazing array of category sponsors, including All Things Business, The Alpha Club, MHA MacIntyre Hudson, Cranfield University and MK:U, Integral Powertrain, dbfb, PJ Care, Mazars, SJD Electrical and MK21.

Entries are now open for the thirteen MKBAA 2022 categories, with first stage submissions closing on 26 November 2021. Enter now at http://www.mkbaa.co.uk/Submit-your-entry.

Nicholas Mann, Chair of MKBLP and co-organiser of MKBAA, explains:

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors for their continued support, many of whom have been involved with MKBAA since it was established eight years ago. Without the support of our sponsors and the wider business community in Milton Keynes the awards simply wouldn’t happen.

 

“MKBLP is excited about the theme of this year’s awards, a significant and very relevant topic, which affects all of us and is something that is becoming more integral to all our business strategies and operations.”

To find out more about the final few remaining sponsorship opportunities or to enter your business for a Milton Keynes Business Achievement Award, visit www.mkbaa.co.uk and don’t forget to follow @MK_BAA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and join the discussion on LinkedIn.

In separate, but overlapping projects, Milton Keynes’ based agency, Interdirect, has been working with local greenspaces organisations, including The Parks Trust and the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership, to design and develop websites that encourage people to explore more of the local landscape outside their front door.

Fostering a new-found love and respect of the great outdoors, the pandemic has made us all appreciate the greenspaces on our doorstep and, as a result, many of us have discovered new places to explore and exciting local nature and wildlife to see.

Interdirect has hosted The Parks Trust’s website for more than 4 years, and together they have built on the creation of its interactive mapping tool to share information, images and exact locations of each of the parks and nature reserves managed by the trust. Recent additions to the site include the ability to switch between list and map views on the landing page and between gallery, map and walking routes on detailed pages.

Our collective increase in outdoor pursuits has also helped encourage the uptake of the What Three Words system and The Parks Trust has recently introduced this information to its website, in order to make it even easier for users to find the parks and facilities they’re looking for.

Having seen the capabilities of The Parks Trust’s website, the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership were keen to explore how an interactive map could be used to help local people and businesses identify with the newly branded area, Greensand Country. Stretching from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay and surrounding the popular walking route ‘The Greensand Ridge’, Greensand Country is becoming increasingly recognised as an area of natural beauty, in a unique and special landscape.

As well as providing information about parks and nature reserves, the Greensand Country website needed to support event information, including listings for the annual Greensand Country Festival. It also required functionality to provide details of local places to eat and drink, accommodation, business listings and walking, cycling and horse-riding routes.

In order to keep content management requirements down, the landscape partnership requested a Charter Member’s area, where registered members could upload and manage their own listings and information.

“With a passion for the local landscape and a long-standing relationship with The Parks Trust, we’ve helped create a website that dispels any pre-conceptions about Milton Keynes and highlights the vast number of parks, nature reserves and greenspaces in the area.

 

“As testimony to our success on The Parks Trust’s website, we were delighted to be appointed to work on the Greensand Country project, where we expanded our mapping capabilities to include events, routes, attractions and businesses, all searchable on the interactive map.”

Helen Billingham, Lead Project Manager at Interdirect

“As a self-financing charity which cares for over 6,000 acres of green space across Milton Keynes, The Parks Trust are passionate about encouraging people to get outdoors and explore their local parkland. We are delighted that our latest website developments have enhanced the way visitors can search and discover new parks through improvements to our interactive map and the addition of new filter capabilities.”

Christina Turner, Digital Marketing Manager

Gill Welham, Chief Executive of The Greensand Trust, which co-leads the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, commented:

“Further to the creation of a new brand for the unique and inspiring landscape of Greensand Country, we were keen to provide local residents, businesses and those new to the area with all of the information and insight they need to get out and explore walking, cycling and horse-riding routes, local attractions, seasonal events and much more.

 

“The interactive mapping tool is key to the Greensand Country website and in helping people to find local routes, areas of interest and attractions. Interdirect has helped us to create a website that not only provides the information that local people need today, but has the flexibility to add and change mapping features as the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership and its many projects develop into the future.”

“We’re building a future for our next generation, to change their lives and to fulfil their potential”, says Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation in an inspiring video launched to mark 35 years of funding fairness in Milton Keynes.

Featuring Fundholders, Trustees, and Bursary winners from the past, present and future, the video celebrates the £15million worth of grants MK Community Foundation have given to organisations and people in need within the city, as well as over £18million in rent subsidies to help charities deliver their services.

Over the past year, the Community Foundation have distributed over £1million in grants to 124 different local charities and community groups through their Covid-19 Response Appeal. 98% of these charities said that without this vital funding they may not have been able to continue their services.*

On Wednesday 30th June an open air event saw MK Community Foundation extending gratitude to key supporters, from Fundholders and Corporate Donors to Trustees and Vice Presidents.

The evening was attended by the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Mohammed Khan and High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, George Anson. The High Sheriff was among those to speak about working with MK Community Foundation and the importance of inspiring philanthropy in future generations.

The Brasserie at MK College catered for the event with an impressive Afternoon Tea, enjoyed by the audience alongside brilliant performances from Trumpet player Louis Grao, a previous recipient of MK Community Foundation’s Music Bursary Programme, followed by MK Cheerleading Academy performing some of their spectacular routines.

The Community Foundation’s 35th Birthday also sees the launch of their Next Generation Fund – aimed at helping disadvantaged young people access education and work opportunities.

“The work of Milton Keynes Community Foundation is something I am immensely proud to be involved in and feel it is an honour to be Chair of.  We remain committed to positive social change through the development of community philanthropy. Looking forward into the future, I hope that we can expand the help we deliver to even more people and organisations that need it, in order to continue to make Milton Keynes a fantastic and inspiring place to live, work and play!”

Kurshida Mirza, Chair of Trustees at MK Community Foundation

The Community Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with the Foundation one way or another over the past 35 years and the invaluable help that people have provided through their generosity.

Watch the video on MK Community Foundations YouTube Channel

*According to MK Community Foundation’s Impact Report: https://bit.ly/3hEweyv

To coincide with World Green Roof Day (6th June), plans for Central Milton Keynes’ first, highly sustainable, “live lab” green rooftop have been announced by our clients mixed-use developers First Base and investors Patron Capital, the team behind the new proposals for Saxon Court. Our PR Team worked in conjunction with all the involved partners to create and distribute the press release, gaining good coverage across local and specialist media.

In collaboration with local living roof specialists, Bridgman & Bridgman, creative agency, Pooleyville, YMCA Milton Keynes and Milton Keynes Council, the temporary project will also deliver exciting training and development opportunities for local young people.

The initiative forms part of MK Council’s Green Business Recovery Fund and will draw on local, specialist expertise to demonstrate the biodiversity and carbon capture benefits of green roofs within urban areas, as well as the ability to grow food on rooftops

Due to the climate emergency and growing awareness of the benefits of green roofs, the industry is looking for new, skilled workers to manage increasing demand. As part of this project, YMCA residents will be offered the opportunity to be trained and awarded certifications in the installation and maintenance of green roofs, providing them with the skills to meet future employment opportunities.

Concluding in April 2022, the newly skilled green roof installers will be given the chance to reuse materials and features from the Saxon Court live lab and apply their new skills to create their own green roof on the new YMCA Milton Keynes building.

Delivering substantial environmental benefits of living roofs within urban areas, the Saxon Court initiative is also in alignment with Milton Keynes’ ambitions of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and carbon negative by 2050. The initiative also aligns with First Base and Patron Capital’s commitment to deliver over £300m of social value over 20 years, including support for local employment, training, and skills. The development has also signed up to the Milton Keynes Cornerstone Employment scheme, with a focus on delivering employability support for local young people.

 “We are committed to delivering a sustainable development at Saxon Court, from embodied carbon savings through the retention of the original building, through to embracing zero emissions mobility, energy efficiency, renewable technologies and improving on-site biodiversity.”

 

“We are therefore delighted that Saxon Court will be the test bed for a dynamic green roof which will offer immediate and substantial environmental benefits for Central Milton Keynes, as well as providing fantastic opportunities for YMCA residents to learn new skills, setting them up for sustainable employment in the future.”

Steve Eccles, Project Director, First Base

“We’ve worked across the UK on green roof and roof garden projects, and we are delighted to be working locally with First Base to demonstrate the huge range of benefits living rooftops offer.

 

“With such a fast-growing industry, we need to create and support green jobs and training opportunities to keep up with the growing demand for urban greening and green infrastructure. Green roofs are a vital tool for climate action and for helping Milton Keynes become the greenest city in the world.”

Chris Bridgman, Managing Partner of Bridgman & Bridgman

Councillor Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainability at MK Council said:

“We’re committed to supporting new green and creative jobs as Milton Keynes looks to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

 

“We’re delighted to be able to launch this newest scheme with an MK-based firm leading in their industry, while also providing training and development opportunities for local young people.”

This past year has been one to remember for obvious reasons, and Milton Keynes Community Foundation’s Impact Report highlights not only the struggles we have faced as a city, but also the ways in which we have come together as a community to support those in need. Interdirect is very proud to be a Corporate Member of MK Community Foundation continually supporting this organisation for many years.

Launched today, MK Community Foundation’s report reflects the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the community of Milton Keynes. The Community Foundation awarded over £1.6m in grants to 198 charities and community groups in order that they could continue to provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable people in the borough throughout the pandemic.

The report rounds up some of the incredibly inspiring work that has been carried out locally, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, whilst highlighting the many challenges faced, such as the adaptation of services, loss of income, issues around mental health and the urgent need for funding in order to survive.

This report is more than just an account of what has happened this last year; it is a celebration and thank you to all of the incredibly generous people who donated to their COVID response appeal, and the tenacious and hard working local community groups and charities who continued to deliver their services under the most difficult of circumstances. As a result of the public’s generosity, MK Community Foundation were able to provide life changing support to local organisation.

“MK Community Foundation, your Community Foundation, have done everything we could possibly do to match your generosity. I know, when you read this report, you will be proud to be a Milton Keynesian and you will want to join me in thanking everyone who has contributed to bring much help, support and kindness during this crisis. There’s still more to be done to support the future sustainability of the sector and we will continue working hard to help groups to recover from the effects of the pandemic.”

Ian Revell, Chief Executive at MK Community Foundation

Learn more about MK Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Appeal.

As international travel begins to reopen, London Luton Airport (LLA) looks forward to helping travellers navigate the airport and locate shops, restaurants and services, with an industry-leading wayfinding and digital directory solution.

Boarding passes can be scanned for personalised flight details – boarding time, gate number with the route to the gate and average transit time. If there is plenty of time before the flight, the system will suggest places to eat or shop and shows the quickest route to get there.

With 25 years’ experience in digital marketing, including developing wayfinding solutions for Gatwick Airport, John Lewis Partnership, Birmingham Grand Central and Telford Town Centre, Interdirect was chosen to create a bespoke solution that would give access to much better information about one of the UK’s largest airports and its dining, shopping and facilities.

Working alongside System Integrators, SPC Group, the wayfinding solution is housed in highly visible, touch-activated kiosks and is designed to be fully accessible and inclusive. Kiosks cater for all types of customers by identifying the quickest route to their destination, showing accessibility options available at each step of their journey and have height adjustable content for wheelchair users.

In accordance with the ongoing health and safety guidance at LLA, kiosks display key messages about hand washing, face coverings and social distancing measures, and each touchscreen has an antimicrobial coating, with a hand sanitiser dispenser beside it.

For passengers arriving at LLA, touchscreens will provide onward journey information, including car hire, car parks, bus and rail timetables, local traffic information and weather forecasts. Plans are already in place to include the DART (Direct-Air-Rail-Transit via Luton Airport Parkway railway station), which is due to open in 2022.

Clare Armstrong, Head of Passenger Services at London Luton Airport, explains:

“Our new wayfinding kiosks provide customers with essential travel information and promote our shops and restaurants. The kiosks help drive footfall and increase passenger spend by promoting offers, deals and discounts, and are a welcome addition for passengers, our retailers and the airport.

 

“SPC Group and Interdirect have created a seamless and straight-forward solution that not only meets our needs today, but enables us to make improvements and developments in the future.”

Nicholas Mann, Managing Director at Interdirect says:

“When our long-term partner, SPC Group, approached us about working on the LLA project we were very happy to get involved. Having previously worked with Jon Swain and his team on similar wayfinding solutions, including at Gatwick airport, we were confident we could provide an industry-leading solution that would enable LLA to enhance its customer experience and support its retail and restaurant partners.

 

“Drawing on our previous knowledge and experience, we adopted a mobile device user interface for this solution, in order to create an intuitive, personalised and inclusive service. We’re now hoping to further this initial success with an intercom, speakers and cameras that will facilitate remote video assistance, two-way video calling and subtitled live translations.”

If you’ve travelled through London Luton Airport, or plan to soon, we’d love to know what you think of the new touchscreens. Take a pic and tell us what you think @Interdirect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

In January of this year, as many of us faced up to the fact we would be plunged into another lockdown, Kevin Alexander made the fantastic decision to join Interdirect as an Account Director. Since his arrival he’s been instrumental in our team, liaising between our digital clients and developers, designers and our website/touchscreen build team. Basically, he finds out what our clients want, finds out from our guys what’s possible and then works out the best way to reach the end goal – while keeping the solution as cost and time effective as possible, for everyone.

Before joining Interdirect, Kevin was working with an automotive client base, including the likes of Vauxhall, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford, Holden (in Australia), and Euro Car Parts. He was also Account & Production Director at White Clarke Creative – a full-service design and marketing agency that specialise in the vehicle aftermarket.

Kevin has quickly become an integral part of the Interdirect team, so we thought we’d ask him a few questions, so that we can all get to know him a little better:

1: Welcome to Interdirect Kevin. How have you found the last few months?

The last few months have been very interesting, if a bit of a challenge at times. Working with a new team and settling into different ways of working, new systems and procedures after a long time in my last role was a bigger task than I thought it would be, to be honest. But I am now feeling confident in most areas and the Interdirect Team have been a great help and very understanding!

2: What has been the best thing you’ve found about the role so far?

Working with the Interdirect team. They are a great bunch of people. It’s what attracted me to the role. Before joining I ‘met’ with the MD prior to being introduced to the Account Directors, whom I liaised with a few times on the task they had set me. I really got on well with both of them and we had a lot in common. Even meeting Nick in person didn’t put me off I’m also enjoying the challenges of working with clients that are all new to me and slowly building relationships with them and getting to know the ID team better.

3: What has been the hardest thing about the role so far?

Without question, doing everything virtually. Until last week, when I met up with the three AMs, the only person I’d met in real life was Nick. Doing all of my induction and learning about the company, its systems, procedures and clients and all internal meetings on Teams calls was really hard. It’s not that I don’t like video calls, if you already know the people or at least have met them before that’s ok, but when you have never seen them it’s difficult. And not being in an office, where you can easily ask someone about anything, is also really hard.

4: If money was no object, what would you implement in your role, (or in business in general) to make things easier?

This is a difficult one! If money was no object, then we could provide all of our clients with the very best of everything they wanted without having to justify how much what they want costs! For example, we could provide a bespoke site for the cost of a themed site…!

I would also try to implement a shorter working week, 35 or maybe less hours for a full week, perhaps finishing at lunchtime on a Friday. Or do 35 hours over 4 days and have one day a week off. Work/life balance is very important for everyone’s mental health

5: What would your dream job be?

Being a test driver for Ferrari or Sunseeker! Or perhaps more realistically, the Account Director for someone like Tesla or Aston Martin, or perhaps the RAF Museum at Hendon, or Duxford. Something to feed my interest in cars and old aircraft.

6: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?

New Zealand is probably at the top of this list. It’s a beautiful county with many contrasts and cultures. And jet boats! And, of course, earthquakes, so I wouldn’t want to live there!

7: If you had a superpower, what would it be, and why?

That’s an easy one – Time travel. Go back in time and rectify mistakes you wished you hadn’t made, and spend more time with people that are no longer with you. Important stuff. And of course, go forward in time, get next week’s lottery numbers, go back and buy the winning ticket. Just do this once, with a big jackpot and spend the money very wisely, helping out all of the good causes and people close to your heart.

8: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

I couldn’t eat just one thing for the rest of my life, I would get very bored and fed up with it!

But favourite treats are Fish & Chips, and just about anything Italian. Or Mexican. Love Indian food as well! And roast beef. Can’t choose an absolute favourite I’m afraid.

9: What was the first thing you did after lockdown restrictions were eased?

Went to see my children and grandchildren in Aylesbury. Then to the pub on the way home!

10: Tell us something about yourself that you’re proud of, that no-one else would know.

If I tell you, then someone else will know!

One thing that came to light recently, after being made redundant in September 2020, is that I have only been unemployed for one month since starting my Engineering Apprenticeship in 1976.

David, our senior backend developer, is one of our longest-serving team members having worked at Interdirect for nearly 14 years.

During that time, he has been involved in many projects from booking and e-commerce systems, developing websites, managing databases and servers through to providing direct support to a range of clients. One of his proudest recent achievements was working on a major equipment and training cataloguing project which saw complex import routines utilised to produce a simple and easy to use frontend system.

As a keen gardener, David is a member of the RHS, a fan of James Bond and Star Wars and is a most disappointed Northampton Town football supporter. As we’ve all got used to working from home over the past 12 months, David now has his very own personal assistant, Molly the Pug!

On Saturday 24th April, Interdirect Managing Director, Nick Mann took part in The Big Walk for Buckinghamshire charity, Pace.

CBE Deputy Lieutenant, Dr Ann Limb, CBE DL accompanied Nick on the 12 mile walk to raise funds for the charity which provides life changing education and support for children aged 18 and under, and their families, who are suffering from cerebral palsy related sensory motor disorders.

If you would like to make a donation and sponsor Nick and Ann, please visit:

https://thepacecentre.enthuse.com/pf/nicholas-mann