All about Water Hygiene Training Limited. The past to the present day
Welcome to the L factor
(Legionella Control)
Writen by Simon French
On the 18th June 2007 a closure to a current chapter in my life and a change of direction for my wife occurred through the sales of the shares of Environment Plus (UK) Ltd (known as E+) to Connaught Compliance Ltd ( a division of Connaught PLC) leaving WHT Ltd to make its mark in the market place of Legionella education.
Although a new chapter has emerged for me, not a great deal has changed whilst I reflect on the current situation as I write this article, but this is definately not the case for the business. I kid you not, an explosion of work was in the making and this leads me to explain why I chose (and my family) to sell E+.
E+ was born in 1988 through an enquiry of a local private hospital in Devon requiring Legionella work. At that time, this was an unknown subject to many and I think it was the hardest thing I had ever tried to sell. In view of the hospital's commitment to this and the scant information available I attended a one day course that the hospital had located, that course indicated to me that legislation was a probability for the future. It was in 1990 when a prosecution was made in London for the absence of a risk assessment for the risk of Legionella, this confirmed my actions of two years previous in creating a specialist company for this activity.
The legislation did in fact arrive in 1992, but still not taken seriously by many businesses and my work was still not enough to make E+ a full time business. At this point I was working from the back of my garage at home and used the resources of my other business to satisfy what little demand I had.
In 1994 Water Training International started City and Guilds courses (2 of them) for Legionella control in hot and cold water systems and cooling towers. This was an opportunity I could not miss and I took the exams. My tutor, David Harper, had previously caught Legionella from his hospital in 1979 where he was then an engineer. His account of what happened and his expertise had a profound affect on me and it was at this point Legionella became not just my business but my hobby and in fact my life 24/7.
During the period of 1994 to 2000 expansion gradually grew and started to become a serious business (much to the surprise of a few doubting Thomas's), and in 2000 E+ became limited and moved to purpose built offices. This became the second chapter and my family who had previously resisted, started to become involved. My wife was naturally placed as the financial director and my two sons found their calling, one as operations manager and the other a hands on engineer now a lead risk assessor. You can just imagine the toolbox talks we had at Sunday lunch.
It became evident that training was a crucial element on the back of many legionella related incidents. This was highlighted by the Barrow incident in 2002 and the death of a part time cleaner on one of our sites simply from filling a bucket and in both cases training the responsible persons would have clearly prevented this. With the help of David Harper I became a Trainer and created a special company to represent this work named Water Hygiene Training Limited. All training carried out was executed through this company.
The unit we operated from was part of a start up scheme and we had three years in which to secure a more permanent base. This was extended to 2005 when the next new chapter (no.3) was started. We moved to Newton Abbot and invested in a large office complex and training facility for WHT including a unit for engineering. This move prompted a huge rise in the turnover and E+ became a major business within the water treatment of the UK working nationally as well as dominating the South West of England. The training element took off and started to consume my time.
In 2006 it became increasingly evident that the expansion of E+ was to increase dramatically requiring new structuring and large investments. At this point I was a trainer to my staff, clients and outside organisations for the control of Legionella and part of this was teaching for City and Guilds. This element I really enjoyed and I wanted to concentrate on this aspect of training and consultancy that I had created through WHT Ltd. Having become part of the LCA committee (Legionella Control Association) and HVCA- SFG (Heating and Ventilation Contractors Association – Services and Facilities Group) I needed time to commit to these needs. In order for WHT to grow I had to release more time to this venture.
I took the decision in January 2007 to market E+ to see what the response would be in the market place. I had numerous enquiries but many of them did not seem to have the commitment or the required attitude to take the business to the next level. Sunbelt Business Brokers introduced me to Connaught and a meeting with the Chairman, Mr Mark Tinknell, brought forward an option I had not previously considered.
This was the perfect opportunity by acquisition through Connaught PLC to take E+ to a new level and to secure the next chapter in the life of E+ whilst still providing me with training and consultancy through WHT Ltd.
Connaught had obviously researched E+ heavily before the acquisition and I also Connaught to ensure that my staff would not suffer and that 18 years of hard work and tears did not flow down the river (pardon the pun). As we reached an agreement this fast became the perfect match and with absolute delight we sold to Connaught.
So how are things now you might ask? E+ has now been re-branded to Connaught Compliance Water Services, upgraded all its IT equipment, expanded the client base incorporating national clients through other water services acquisitions, expanded the workforce by a third at Newton Abbot to meet current demands and orders in the immediate future are likely to double its turnover.
My wife and I can now start to make plans for future training and consultancy with WHT Ltd now we have handed over completely to Connaught. This acquisition was a win win situation for Connaught Compliance Ltd, my family and most important of all my staff who can now look forward to the future with stability and prospects that would never have been possible with E+. I am now able to still train and consult for Connaught Compliance Ltd as well as other businesses requiring help and most of all to give much guidance to all those who have a responsibility to control legionella through the experience gained over 20 years.
Water Hygiene Training Limited now can provide you with consultancy in providing written schemes, advice on monitoring procedures, auditing clients paperwork and monitoring procedures, ensuring compliance with the LCA, and most importantly first class expert training for legionella control. This includes training for risk assessments, logbook keeping and monitoring, disinfection works and procedures, water sampling procedures, TMV servicing procedures, responsible persons course and all water related City & Guild courses through Eastwood Park.
WHT is only a phone call away. Don't wait until it is too late, save lives now and get trained up.
Simon French AWM Soc Dip IHF Exec Dip Man AIFL AIOSH
Ex Managing Director E+, ex General Manager Connaught Compliance Water Services, now current Managing Director of WHT Ltd
Member of the Water Management Society since Jan 95 / Memb No A1069/95 Member of HVCA & SFG Sponsored By CCWS since 2004 Member of the LCA Committee Sponsored By CCWS / Mem No 1999/609