RSME MATTERS Matters/6699_HOL_RSME_… · Welcome to RSME Matters 19 magazine dedicated to the past 10 years of the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) Public Private Partnership

RSMEMATTERS

NEWS FROM THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING GROUPJUNE 2019

10 YEAR SPECIAL

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Welcome to RSME Matters 19 magazine dedicated to the past 10 years of the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract.

In 2008 a 30-year contract was signed between Holdfast Training Services Limited (Holdfast) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with the aim of modernising training and the management of training through the development of new initiatives, as well as providing new and improved living and training accommodation. Holdfast, a joint venture special purpose vehicle (SPV) was specifically set up as the contracting body

for the RSME PPP with overall responsibility for contract delivery at Chatham, Minley and Bicester. There is one main services contractor, (Babcock) that provides training management and delivers support services such as maintenance, motor transport and IT. Working with Babcock are three secondary contractors: Mid Kent College Training Services Limited ((MKCTS) a wholly owned subsidiary of Mid Kent College) and TQ (part of Pearson Group), who both deliver training, and Eurest Support Services (ESS) (part of Compass Group), who provide soft facilities management services including catering, retail and leisure. This issue will travel through the

years, capturing some of the many exciting events and activities that have directly involved Holdfast. As with any such review it is not possible to include everything, but it is a snapshot that aims to capture both the spirit and substance present during a time of great transformation and success; many events are annual but only feature once and not necessarily in the first year they occurred. Due to the success of the RSME PPP a significant number of high-ranking visits have taken place, including senior military and civilian representatives from both the UK and further afield and a selection of these have also been included. All numbers quoted are approximate.

When I assumed Command of the RSME Group in 2016 I quickly discovered that my understanding of the complexities, challenges and scale of the RSME Group and its outputs was not entirely accurate. Prior to my arrival I knew the Group delivered individual courses, unit pre-deployment training and career courses, but the variety, volume and training audience was a surprise. My Sapper background provided some knowledge of the RSME Group, but unsurprisingly things had moved on since my last real exposure to the RSME when I was a Commanding Officer in 2009 – 11. I now know what the Group provides for Defence and the United Kingdom is truly unique. I would challenge anyone to find a single organisation that trains across the range and complexity that we do; from musicians to farriers,

bridge builders to carpenters, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear experts to Chartered Engineers to name but a few. What is sometimes not fully appreciated outside of the Group is the strategic influence and impact that the various Regiments and Wings have. In addition to the routine training delivered, the Group has supported the Home Office, deployed on overseas training missions and instructed international students in the UK. How do we do it? Or more specifically, how do you do it, against a background of ‘more with less’ and ever competing priorities? There is no single answer but there is a common denominator – the quality of the Group’s people, be that Holdfast, Babcock, Civil Servant, RAF, Navy or Army. Without good quality people the outputs of the Group would not be held in the high

esteem that they are. Testament to our reputation is the number of international delegations who want to see how we do business and want to either collaborate or imitate. As mentioned, the Group is not one body; it is an amalgamation and an example of a Public Private Partnership working well. If I am completely honest, prior to my appointment I was a little sceptical of contracted delivery and outsourcing in general. But that scepticism was quickly replaced when I saw on a daily basis the partnership delivering and evolving. It is with this understanding and sense of pride that I will depart Brompton Barracks in the Summer of 2019. I hand over to Brigadier Peter Rowell who will, I have no doubt, have an equally insightful, demanding and enjoyable Command. Thank you all and I wish you the very best of luck.

Foreword

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The RSME PPP contract between Holdfast and the MoD was signed on 31st August 2008, the start of a successful long-term partnership between Holdfast and the RSME.

CONSTRUCTION

The construction programme commenced soon after contract signature with demolition and groundworks starting across the PPP sites. Managed by Holdfast’s then minority shareholder Carillion, the construction phase was a complex planning exercise; as it was necessary to carry out the work without impacting training and while retaining adequate accommodation capacity on-site.

SERVICE SUPPORT DESK (SSD)

A major factor in the successful seamless transition from Authority to contractor delivered training and services in January 2009 was the role of the Service Support Desk (SSD). Established to act as a single point of contact for the contract, the SSD team began their training during the last quarter of 2008, with familiarisation visits across the Medway and Minley sites followed by extensive training and live trials. The SSD continues to act as the single point of contact for service requests such as maintenance, training support, accommodation, transport, catering and for the reporting of faults and safety issues.

CALENDAR

The first Holdfast desk calendar was produced. This was one of the first items to promote the Holdfast branding that is now long associated with the contract.

BDSBIS

30 Year PPP Contract, 3 Schools, 5 Sites

99.9% training delivery

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After a very short lead-in period, service delivery commenced on 5th January 2009, complete with welcome banners and a surprise delivery of snow.

Commandant RSME Brigadier Tony Harking handed over to Brigadier Nick Baveystock.

2* Chief Engineer of the French Army visited Brompton and Gibraltar Barracks.

BRANDING ROLL OUT

The Babcock Infrastructure team were instantly recognisable as they deployed across the RSME PPP sites in their new fleet of Holdfast branded vehicles.

APPRENTICES

Holdfast was committed to developing employees and rapidly introduced an apprentice scheme. The first two apprentices were welcomed into the Motor Transport (MT) team at Minley early in 2009.

99.8% availability of facilities4 RSME MATTERS ISSUE 19

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PARTNERING

For the RSME PPP contract to be successful, it was essential that a strong partnering relationship was developed. Appropriate resources were committed and governance documents including a common vision, shared goals, objectives and other supporting documentation produced. Throughout 2009, a combination of team building sessions, seminars and specialist training events were held to develop the relationship further. Over the years this relationship has significantly strengthened and has proven to be the solid foundation at the heart of everything achieved within the RSME PPP.

CORPS GUEST NIGHT

Brompton Barracks is home to the Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess. The Corps Guest Night, in January 2009, was the first of many prestigious events delivered by the new Holdfast team responsible for all aspects of the Mess operation from catering to accommodation.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Many of the new training and support teams were rapidly rolled out. One of these was the Combat Engineering Support Team (CEST), based at Gibraltar Barracks. CEST was responsible for supporting the many exercises run at the RSME and the new team members underwent a rigorous training programme, alongside their Authority counterparts in the run-up to service commencement, which enabled them to hit the ground running. The first major exercise that was supported was the blue riband Exercise PHANTOM SAPPER, part of the training course for the Royal Engineer Troop Commander’s Course (RETCC). Similarly at Wainscott, Medway, a completely new Holdfast training team was stood up by TQ to replace the military trainers who were returned to the Field Army; with a mix of civilian and ex-military skills and a wide-range of operational and teaching experience, the team settled in well and soon earned the respect of both the Authority and their new students.

Holdfast Managing Director, Barry Morse, handed over to Tim Redfern.

CONSTRUCTION (MINLEY)

Foundations for the first Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation building at Gibraltar Barracks were completed.

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PAYD

A MoD initiative, one of the largest roll-outs of Pay as You Dine (PAYD) within Defence was successfully completed. A six-month lead-in period allowed for recruitment of 26 retail assistants and their training alongside existing team members. In addition, a clear programme of education was provided for users to ensure they understood the system.

RE GAMES

Holdfast sponsored and supported the Royal Engineer (RE) Games which were held at Chatham; bringing together Engineers from across the Corps. The support included the erection of tented accommodation at Kitchener Barracks and catering and transport for over 300 personnel for the duration of the games.

IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDALS

18 ex-Civil Servants, most of who had transferred to Holdfast at contract commencement, with a combined total of 609 years of service with the MoD between them, were presented with the award of the Imperial Service Medal (ISM). The ISM is the medal of the Imperial Service Order instituted in 1902 by King Edward VII who wished to recognise more fully the services rendered to him by members of the Civil Service. It is awarded at the prerogative of the Sovereign to eligible Civil Servants who, on leaving the service, have not given less than 25 years’ meritorious service.

Shadow Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Aldershot visited Gibraltar Barracks.

TRAINING TRANSFORMATION

One of the top priorities for Holdfast was to begin the process of transforming the way that training was carried out at the RSME. To that end, a study was undertaken by an external consultant to explore approaches that could be adopted by Holdfast in a military trade training environment.

VIRTUAL LEARNING

A critical element of the training delivery was to ensure that the training material used was up-to-date and available to both trainers and trainees whenever it was required. In August 2009 Holdfast began the development of the Holdfast Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), an online system that would eventually contain all of the training material together with assessment and communication tools, available 24/7 via the internet.

58,455 students trained3,922 courses delivered


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REFURBISHMENT OF JUNIOR RANKS’ CLUB, GIBRALTAR BARRACKS

The Junior Ranks’ Club at Minley was reopened by Commanding Officer 3 RSME Regiment following a major four-month refurbishment. The aim of the refurbishment was to create a relaxed and open environment for the recruits on site to enjoy their free time. The work included a lounge with soft furnishings, magazines and Sky TV, and a club and diner with a games area.

Holdfast sponsored the National Armed Forces Day held at Chatham Dockyard.

FITTERS’ CAFÉ REFURBISHMENT

The Fitters’ Café at Brompton Barracks was reopened following a period of refurbishment. The refit included a complete transformation of the interior to create a comprehensive catering offering, together with a new kitchen and toilets.

OPEN DAY

Brompton Barracks was the focus for two significant events during 2009. The annual Corps Memorial Weekend was combined with an Open Day that attracted over 6,000 people to visit and learn more about the life of the RSME. Managing both of these events, firsts under the PPP contract, were complex affairs and included the set-up of temporary event structures, accommodation, catering and transport. The success of the weekend highlighted the strong partnership that was already in place between Holdfast and the Authority.

RSME MATTERS ISSUE 1

Effective communication was a priority from day one and newsletters were a regular feature throughout early 2009, containing valuable information about the new teams and ways of working. In June 2009 Holdfast launched the first edition of RSME Matters magazine to extend the key messages to important stakeholders, while at the same time continuing to provide timely information to all internal staff.

The refurbishment of the NAAFI and several stores buildings at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

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CONSTRUCTION (UPNOR)

Construction of the new boat maintenance workshops began at Upper Upnor.

WIFI

Holdfast commissioned the first WiFi network at the RSME. This enabled students and staff to access the online training and assessment materials 24/7 from any location across the RSME.

MODULAR BUILD STARTS

Construction of the modular build units that were to be key to the construction programme commenced off-site in a factory in Newark. Subsequently, the modules would be delivered to site on a just-in-time basis and would arrive complete with all of the main fittings, electrical and service connections. This allowed the build process to be stream-lined, significantly reducing on-site disturbance while at the same time resulting in a much faster build than would have been achieved using conventional building technology. Once the units were lifted into place, it required only the connection of pre-wired and plumbed services before external cladding and internal finishing works could be completed.

Holdfast achieved ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management Systems) accreditation.

DON’T WALK BY

The Holdfast safety campaign, ‘Don’t Walk By’, was launched with the aim of everyone who worked or visited the RSME being able to ‘Go Home Safe’ every day. Supported by a poster campaign and promoted across the RSME, the campaign encouraged everyone to not walk by anything that they thought might be an actual or potential safety concern. Issues or potential issues were submitted via the SSD using the readily available reporting form, or verbally via line management, or directly to the SSD. An important part of the scheme was feedback to the person who initially raised the issue explaining what action had been taken. In addition, the scheme was incentivised by a monthly award for the submission deemed most worthy by the Managing Director. The scheme endures to this day and has played a big part in maintaining a high level of safety awareness across the RSME.


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The first MoD Supplier Review was successfully completed between senior key Authority and Holdfast staff at the RSME.

CONFERENCE

A Military Engineering Conference was hosted at Brompton Barracks. Attended by both military and civilian personnel, Holdfast and the RSME provided keynote speakers and examples of innovative technology being employed at the RSME for the event.

CO-LOCATION

Following several partnering workshops and extensive discussions, the co-location and integration of Holdfast personnel alongside their Authority partners within Headquarters RSME began in order to foster closer working relationships, improve communication and develop common working practices.

2* US Engineer visited Brompton Barracks.



>1,000 tablet computers deployed

32 new buildings constructed,21 buildings refurbished,1,919 bed spaces created

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The 1,000th Sapper began trade training under the RSME PPP contract.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY

Holdfast snow clearance plans ensured continuity of training after heavy New Year snowfall.


The first new build Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation at Gibraltar Barracks, was opened by General Officer Commanding 4th Division Major General RL Kirkland.


Following the review of training in 2009, the Training Transformation programme commenced with a focus on the Fabricator course based at Brompton Barracks. The new training methodology adopted was learner-led and activity based. The approach taken was one of Fixed Mastery, Variable Time (FMVT) which allowed students to progress at their own rate through the course; a very different approach to the traditional group teaching that had gone before. Through a comprehensive change management programme, supported by local champions and subject matter experts, new course material was developed, and the methodology was swiftly implemented.

BUILDING NAMES

The Royal Engineers have a long and proud history and have received many awards through the years. One of the highest and most prestigious is the Victoria Cross (VC) which is awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. In recognition of the extraordinary acts of bravery executed by the Corps, and as a means of inculcating the Army’s Values and Standards in the Sappers of today, each of the main buildings at Minley was named after a VC winner. The new Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation blocks were named Durrant (who was awarded a VC for his actions during a seaborne raid on the docks at St Nazaire during the Second World War, during which he was mortally wounded); Ross (who was awarded a VC during the Crimean war for completing defensive works whilst under fire), and Wright (who received a VC during the First World War for carrying out a bridge demolition whilst under fire).

REACH-BACK

TQ instructors provided reach-back support to 28 Engineer Regiment deployed on operations in Afghanistan, which enabled them to resolve an issue that was preventing the use of a Light Wheel Tractor. This is one of many examples in which Holdfast has supported, from a distance, Royal Engineers deployed on operations across the world.


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Construction of the Babcock stores and training classrooms were completed at Gibraltar Barracks.

Holdfast achieved ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management Systems) accreditation.

Construction of the Training Support Stores and Babcock offices at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

CONSTRUCTION (BICESTER)

One of the more unusual construction challenges was the dive pool at Bicester. Used for training military divers in underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal the pool was a significant undertaking and a real challenge, mainly due to site-related legacy issues. During the construction several previously unidentified underground systems were discovered and safely managed. The image shows the excavation of the pool, with another 3.5 metres of earth still to be removed to achieve the required depth.

Construction of Durrant block (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation) was completed at Gibraltar Barracks.


EQUIPMENT

One of the early challenges for the Babcock MT team was the maintenance of the ageing fleet of Bedford trucks, some of which were over 45 years old. Babcock was responsible for the transition and introduction of a replacement fleet of 33 MAN vehicles based at Gibraltar Barracks. This was achieved with no impact on the wide range of courses the fleet needed to support, from the RETCC Exercise MORTAJA SAPPER, which required the deployment of over 35 vehicles and 27 drivers, to the many more local B3 Combat Engineering courses.

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Construction of the workshops and dog facilities, kennels and offices at Upnor were completed.

TUNNELLERS’ MEMORIAL

MKCTS carpenter and joiner Del De Lorme was part of the team led by historian Peter Barton that created the only memorial to the tunnellers of the First World War, at Givenchy in France. He also wrote a poignant song, ‘Where the Barley Blows’; telling the story of tunneller Sapper William Hackett VC, who sacrificed his own life as he refused to leave a trapped colleague. Both bodies still lie beneath the fields of barley today.

SPONSORSHIP

Since contract commencement, Holdfast, Babcock, MKCTS, TQ and ESS have sponsored, and continue to sponsor a number of sporting teams and events. In July 2010, this included a spectacular boxing tournament held on the Parade Square at Brompton Barracks.

The Holdfast website www.holdfasttraining.co.uk was launched.


99.8% service performance


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The first annual MKCTS staff awards ceremony was held.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Babcock completed the refurbishment of the Allaboard Nursery based in Brompton Barracks. One of many community engagement projects undertaken in the past 10 years, the work involved significant structural repairs and full redecoration of the building.

Refurbishment of the Babcock MT offices and stores at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

OGC REVIEW

A successful review of the RSME PPP was completed by The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), an independent office of HM Treasury set-up to help the Government deliver best value from its spending.

LIVENS FLAME

Holdfast supported the project to construct a replica of the Livens Flame Projector weapon which was designed by Royal Engineer Officer William Howard Livens during the First World War. The final trials at Chatham were featured on the Time Team TV series.

RSMENET

Holdfast launched RSMENet that included Sharepoint and the G-Two intranet. RSMENet established a single network across the RSME, bringing together all of the various local networks that existed before. Sharepoint allowed access to the latest version of all documents in one single location, so changes could be controlled while at the same time documents could be accessed by several users. The G-Two intranet was the main source for static information such as downloadable forms, telephone directories and policy documents.

KITCHENER LECTURE SERIES

The first Kitchener Lecture was held. Supported by Holdfast this was the first in a series of lectures aimed at establishing the RSME as a place of learning and not just education.


480 hectares of land alienated13

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BIG CURRY LUNCH

The Lord Mayor of London hosted a ‘Big Curry Lunch’ in London in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund, The Soldiers’ Charity. The event included a charity silent auction and Holdfast supported the event by donating a ‘RSME Experience’ prize which went for £1100 and contributed to the overall total raised of £193,000. The Experience Day took place on 21st July with the prize winner and his three sons learning what it means to be a Sapper through a series of hands-on activities. These included the use of the weapons training simulator, the plant simulator and conducting simple tasks with plant machinery such as digging and filling a hole. They also learnt some simple trade skills in the trade workshops and had a silver service lunch in the Officers’ Mess.


Construction of the Command Training Facility (Findlay Centre) and the Military Guard Service (MGS) offices at Gibraltar Barracks was completed

CONSTRUCTION (UPNOR)

The new boat workshops and offices opened for business at Upper Upnor. The Holdfast team carry out all levels of maintenance of the Combat Support Boat (CSB) and Rigid Raider Craft (RRC) as well as all the ancillary equipment such as outboard motors and safety equipment.

Brigadier Nick Baveystock handed over to Brigadier Steve Hodder, the new Commandant RSME.

Commander in Chief Land Forces visited Brompton Barracks.

Refurbishment of Headquarters 3 RSME Regiment and an administration block at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.


Photo: Nicki Lockhart

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VBS2 SIMULATOR

The first Virtual Battle Space 2 (VBS2) battlefield simulator training suite was established at Brompton Barracks. Using in-theatre equipment, for up to 24 students at a time, VBS2 was a networked platform that allowed collective training, already used elsewhere within the MoD, to immerse students in a dynamic training environment. Existing assets and terrains could be swiftly replicated and imported into the simulator to create the most realistic exercise environment possible. Students were able to take on specific roles such as driver or navigator, with VBS2 giving them the ability to navigate boats, conduct bridge reconnaissance and interact with air support. To increase the realism, the suite included the ability to inject ambient battlefield noise that made communication a challenge and added to the real urgency and focus of the participants on the task being undertaken. It also allowed key moments in the exercises to be replayed during after-action reviews and, in particular, allowed students to rehearse and explore a variety of options for their final exercise before deploying into the field with real assets and personnel. The development of one of the largest and best equipped VBS2 suites within the MoD was a joint project created and executed by Holdfast, Babcock and the Authority.

NEW EQUIPMENT

Babcock introduced a new boat hoist to support the boat training at Upper Upnor following the move from Lower Upper, which allowed the boats to be safely launched and retrieved at all states of the tide. The boat hoist is hydraulically operated with a lifting capacity of 14 tonnes, complete with the ability to adjust the width of the hoist and adjustable lifting straps, all resulting in a lift that was much gentler on the hulls and ideal for launching and retrieving the various types of boats used at the RSME.

CHAINSAW FIRST

Holdfast established a new chainsaw training capability at Gibraltar Barracks. Courses ranged from basic chainsaw operation to more advanced train-the-trainer modules. These were the first military Combat Engineering courses directly run by Babcock and resolved a longstanding training gap by developing the in-house training solution.


The new build Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess at Gibraltar Barracks was completed and opened by Adjutant General Lieutenant General Mark Mans.

London-based Defence Attachés visited Brompton Barracks.

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SPILL EXERCISE

As part of the focus upon safety and environmental issues Babcock held the first hands-on spill exercise at Gibraltar Barracks. Utilising water to simulate a release of fuel following a vehicle incident, and working together with the Authority, the team was able to exercise the existing procedures and identify areas for improvement including the need for additional equipment and training.

NIGHT SKILLS

Crane training was just one of the many specialist training areas taken over by Holdfast and delivered by TQ; including one of the more challenging tasks, the training of personnel to operate cranes safely and effectively at night, utilising a new bespoke training area at Gibraltar Barracks. In addition, Babcock specialist operators also delivered awareness training to participants on courses such as the RETCC, before deployment on overnight exercises.

BABCOCK SAFETY SUCCESS

Safety has always been a top priority for Holdfast, and this was recognised by Babcock International Group during its annual awards, that saw the Holdfast / Babcock team winning both Best Safety Team and Best Safety Campaign categories for the ‘Don’t Walk By’ scheme.

MKCTS participated in the 2011 World Skills event held in London, with a ‘have-a-go’ stand, manned by three instructors.


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Natural England issued a dormouse license for the Piddington site which enabled building works to commence.


The additional build requirements for Operation ENTIRETY were completed. Operation ENTIRETY was a major Army response to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Within the RSME Group, it increased the demand for Mission Specific Training delivered by the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School (South) which in turn led to additional requirements for both accommodation and training facilities at Bicester.

CONSTRUCTION (CHATHAM)

The modular build techniques resulted in rapid construction progress at Brompton Barracks. New accommodation buildings were well underway, which, when complete would allow the demolition of out-dated existing buildings. In addition, the construction of a central kitchen area for the new combined mess would allow the demolition of the old Junior Ranks’ cookhouse and the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Mess. This, in turn, allowed the construction of the final accommodation blocks. Meeting this demanding schedule was a major factor in the success of the construction phase and ensured there was no negative impact on training.

WAINSCOTT SIMULATOR SUITE

Supported by the Babcock IT team, TQ installed a plant operator simulator suite at Wainscott. Comprising a range of off-the-shelf software packages, students were able to practice on the simulator during their break periods. Whilst not replacing hands-on training, the suite significantly improved the students’ hand-to-eye coordination and allowed them to get a unique feel for the equipment they would be operating and help improve their spatial awareness.

Tim Redfern handed over to the new Holdfast Managing Director, John Wadham.

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CONSTRUCTION

Many more new-builds were completed including the Fitness Suite and Reception Building at Gibraltar Barracks, plus a Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation at Brompton Barracks.

LAMPARD CENTRE

Construction of the Lampard Centre located at Sally Port in close proximity to Brompton Barracks was completed. The Centre provides support to service personnel, their partners and families and homes, the Army Hive Information Team and a communal PC, as well as being an active community centre. A range of health and welfare activities and coffee mornings are frequently held, and regular users include a playgroup, the Brompton Military Wives Choir, a digital photo club, a stitching and crafting group and a support group for self-employed dependents.

Holdfast donated refurbished laptops to the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI).

BICESTER IT

The installation of new IT infrastructure was completed at Bicester to support the move of the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School (South) from Lodgehill. The scope of the works was varied and complex, as it included a wide range of technical systems across a wide range of training accommodation and specialist areas, such as search houses and the cave complex. These systems included IT networks and software, security systems such as CCTV, a voice-over-IP telephone and sophisticated classroom-based audio-visual systems. In support of the roll-out of the new technology, Babcock provided a comprehensive set-up and training package to enable users to get full benefit from the systems.

COMMANDING OFFICER’S AWARD

The Babcock Maintenance team at Gibraltar Barracks was awarded a Commanding Officer’s Award for their part in a joint response to a major water leak.


Transformation of the Military Engineer (ME) Building and Structural Finishing (B&SF) course was completed.

Refurbishment of Sleavon Block (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation) at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

‘With strong leadership and strength in-depth, Holdfast has enabled the RSME to embark on a period of transformation that has created a training establishment fit for the 21st Century.’ Commandant RSME, Brigadier Steve Hodder.


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FIRE TRAINING, UPNOR

Babcock and the London Fire Brigade utilised the facilities at Upper Upnor to carry out a range of training activities. Holdfast and the Authority continue to work together to generate opportunities for third party income generation (TPIG) that could utilise spare capacity within the RSME and bring in additional income.

ENGLISH HERITAGE BOOK

Holdfast supported the book ‘The Royal Engineers at Chatham 1750-2012’, published by English Heritage, through the provision of some content and images.

ROSPA GOLD

MKCTS achieved their first RoSPA Gold Award. The award is the highest achievable and was awarded by a panel of experienced health and safety professionals. The award recognises excellent occupational health and safety management systems, a rigorous approach to occupational health, high levels of compliance and an excellent record.

A newt license was issued by Natural England to enable the Operation ENTIRETY building works at Bicester to commence.


Construction of the dive pool at Bicester was completed. The dive pool was a significant construction challenge; on completion it measured 36 metres in diameter and was 7 metres deep. It had a capacity of over 7,000,000 litres of water and took 70 days to fill. One of the final tasks was the relocation of the wide range of underwater munitions and the ship simulator, known as the Antelope, from the old diving facility at Lodgehill. The simulator allows divers to tackle a range of scenarios where unexploded ordnance can be found within the close confines of a typical on-board compartment. Also completed in a similar timeframe was the construction of the support workshops, changing facilities, offices, and an area where diving bottles could be refilled with compressed air and all of the diving equipment could be maintained.

TRAINING PIPELINE

Working closely with the Senior Personnel Selection Officer and SO3 Plans, the Babcock Training Management team streamlined the training pipeline resulting in a reduction in the number of soldiers not under training and soldiers on holdover by over 50% in the first two years of the contract.

The roll out of WiFi capability across the PPP sites continued as additional broadband capacity was installed at Gibraltar Barracks.

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Construction of many of the Special Training Areas at Bicester were completed, including the Rocket Wrench Bunker, Explosive Demonstration Area, Railway Track, Disruptive Search Houses, Dual Carriageway, Tunnel and Cave Complexes. The refurbishment of existing Junior Rank’s Single Living Accommodations, the Operation ENTIRETY new build Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation and Forward Operating Base were also completed.

REFURBISHMENT

Refurbishment of Jarvis Block, (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation), at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.



BICENTENARY BRIDGE

The Bicentenary Bridge was formally opened by Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the establishment, under Royal Warrant, of the Royal Engineers at Brompton Barracks. The bridge and gate were designed by 170 Clerk of Works (Construction) course and fabricated by the various trade departments within the RSME. The specially designed gate, funded by MKCTS, was fabricated by MKCTS blacksmith Rod Mills. The gate (and bridge) leads to a part of Fort Amherst also known as Spur Battery and to the Inner Lines.

Construction of the Troop shelters at Upnor and Tower Hill and Welfare Facilities and a Vehicle Wheel Wash at Tower Hill was completed.

Refurbishment of the Battlefield Engineering Wing (now known as the Royal Engineer Warfare Wing) at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

2* Italian Engineer visited Brompton Barracks.


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Work on the training sites at Bicester B Site, Piddington and Besterman Area, in support of Operation ENTIRETY, was completed.

EQUIPMENT SUPPORT

Babcock assumed responsibility for the maintenance and safety checks on the BR90 bridging equipment. At the same time, Babcock introduced the use of safety fall protection bags to ensure the safety of the operators carrying out the maintenance safely while working at height.

DEFENCE EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL, MUNITIONS AND SEARCH RELOCATION

Babcock facilitated the move of the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School (South), soon to be the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment, to the new site at Bicester. This involved the complete closure of the facilities at Lodgehill and the set-up of totally new infrastructure and training establishment at Bicester. This was a significant logistical exercise that included some unique challenges; including the refurbishment of and subsequent relocation of a WW2 V2 rocket to the RE Museum in Chatham, and the move of nearly 4,000 pieces of ordnance, ranging from the smallest trigger units to the 12,000lb ‘Tall Boy’ bomb, now displayed outside the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment Headquarters.

Babcock and ESS provided logistics support including transport, accommodation and catering for the 2012 Olympics.

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SOLDIERS’ SPACE

The Soldiers’ Space was soon one of the busiest areas within Brompton Barracks. Specifically designed to support Junior Ranks it contains a range of games consoles, table tennis tables and televisions in order to create a space in which soldiers could relax during their downtime. Drinks and snacks could also be obtained from a bar in the evening. One of the most popular areas was the learning support facilities that comprised a number of booths, complete with computer workstations and the ability to connect a laptop or tablet by WiFi. Students could catch up with course material, access the Enhanced Learning Environment (ELE), or work in groups to explore course material and tasks in more detail. Alongside this area a room of networked computers allowed for more formal tuition; on weekday evenings, MKCTS tutors delivered learning support to students on a one-to-one basis to help them through any specific learning issues or technical problems. The Soldiers’ Space also became home to the Woman’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) Welfare Mission, who provided a sympathetic and experienced ear to anyone that needs to talk as well as a wide selection of DVDs and an endless supply of tea and coffee.

An internal supplier review was completed by the Holdfast Managing Director and Chief of Staff RSME.

“Despite some early scepticism and a challenging transition from conception to becoming fully operational, the Holdfast PPP is cutting edge and has performed very strongly in supporting the Army in this important training establishment.”Major General RR Davis

OPENING OF COMBINED MESS, BROMPTON BARRACKS

Director General, Army Recruiting and Training Division, Major General RR Davis formally opened the new Junior Ranks’ facility within the Combined Mess development at Brompton Barracks. The opening of the Gordon Mess was a major milestone as the building included the new combined kitchen and dining rooms for both Junior Ranks and Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers as well as a retail shop and the Soldiers’ Space. This enabled the demolition of the old Junior Ranks’ Club and the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess, which in turn allowed construction to commence on the remaining accommodation blocks.

Construction of the aggregate bays, stores and the Grader Training Area at Wainscott was completed.


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STAFF ENGAGEMENT

Holdfast Managing Director, John Wadham, held regular breakfast meetings with staff from across the Holdfast contract. These meetings allowed participants to raise issues and concerns directly with him and proved to be very popular. Safety was central to everything that was discussed and was always the number one item on the agenda.

TRAINING SIMULATOR MOVE

The Command Training Facility (CTF) was established at Gibraltar Barracks as the new home of the VBS2 training simulator. The CTF enabled much more realistic conditions during the simulator operation with effective separation of vehicle drivers and crew so that proper communications protocols were required. A separate control room area allowed directing staff to coordinate and monitor each exercise and a large briefing area was available to effectively brief and complete after-action reviews. The CTF received a Training Journal Award within the Best Training Partnership, (nominated by the Authority). Initially used to support the RETCC, the facility was soon being used by additional in-house courses and by external units for mission specific training tasks. The scenarios continued to be developed to support Engineer training, including a virtual map of the Gibraltar training area used by the RETCC.

“The success of the PPP is largely due to the depth and quality of the working relationships across the contract and this was amply reflected in the internal supplier review conducted between myself and the Chief Of Staff in which Holdfast scored highly in all categories.” Holdfast MD, John Wadham

REFURBISHMENT

Refurbishment of Dawson and Kirby Block, (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodations), at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.


The Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) SE England Engineering Excellence Award was received by the Professional Engineer Wing (PEW) for the Bicentennary Bridge project.

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HAWLEY REDEVELOPMENT COMPLETED

The development of Hawley Hard at Gibraltar Barracks required the complete demolition of the existing buildings and the design and construction of bespoke training and support facilities during a period of very cold and wet weather. The redevelopment involved the removal of large volumes of surface concrete which was recycled on-site and re-used to create the formation layer of the new concrete slabs. Environmental controls were critical, due to the close proximity of Hawley Lake and stringent pollution mitigation procedures were in place. The construction team received their second silver award from the Considerate Construction Scheme for their work. The new-builds included the Gate House, a Boat Maintenance Store, a Dive Facility, Training Classrooms and Catering Facilities as well as a Fuel Store and a Paint and Flammables Store.

Construction of the Grey Training Area at Wainscott was completed.


Construction of the new Officers’ Mess at Gibraltar Barracks was completed. Holdfast presented the Mess membership with a commissioned painting of the previous Officers’ Mess, Minley Manor.

DENISON REFURBISHMENT

The Denison building at Brompton Barracks houses the Professional Engineer Wing. In order to enable the start of a 12-month refurbishment programme, the Professional Engineer Wing was relocated to the vacant training facilities at Lodgehill.

New partnerFollowing the successful completion of the main construction phase, Carillion sold their shareholding in Holdfast Training Services to HICL Infrastructure PLC.


Photo: Holdfast Training Services Ltd

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THE PRESIDENTS’ AWARD

MKCTS lecturer Barrie Howes received the prestigious President’s Award from the City and Guilds’ President, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. First presented in 2003, it is awarded to the lecturer or trainer of City and Guilds’ qualifications who has obtained the highest overall marks based upon the evidence supporting a City and Guilds’ Medal for Excellence nomination.

EXERCISE WYLYE SAPPER

The main exercise of the RETCC is Exercise WYLYE SAPPER. The week-long exercise is supported by Babcock, who provide the transport and logistics support together with more specialist support such as the supervision of lifting activities, use of the CTF and the deployment of the CEST to the exercise area, often on Salisbury Plain. Usually held at least twice each year, the exercise creates opportunities for the Troop Commanders to put into practice everything they have learned on their course.

Transformation of the ME Carpenter and Joiner course was completed.

Construction of the office building at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

Construction of the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Single Living Accommodation and two additional Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation buildings at Brompton Barracks was completed.


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APPRENTICE TRAINING

The first cohort of 22 Carillion apprentices completed their training at the RSME. The apprentices, who were recruited from the Medway area, were the first courses of non-military students trained in Bricklaying or Carpentry and Joinery at Brompton Barracks. The training was provided by MKCTS and was part of an initiative to utilise the irreducible spare capacity and also to bring in additional income. In addition to the normal benefits that an apprenticeship scheme gave the individuals, such as earning a salary whilst gaining their Level 2 NVQ and learning job-specific skills, the apprentices were also trained in a unique environment by highly qualified and skilled instructors in one of the largest construction schools in Europe.

Transformation of ME Bricklayer and Concreter course was completed.

FLOODING SUPPORT

Babcock provided short-notice support for the flood relief efforts in the London and Somerset level areas. This included the provision of over-size transport to take the Combat Support Boats. Also, support was provided by MKCTS to the RSME-based Royal Engineers involved in Operation PITCHPOLE, the overall name for the MoD’s support to the civil authorities, who were used to conduct survey assessments of flood hit areas country-wide post-flood.

DENISON REFURBISHMENT

Following major refurbishment works Denison Block was re-occupied by the staff and students of the Professional Engineer Wing. Equipment, staff and students were moved from their temporary location at Lodgehill, back into Denison block by Babcock with no impact on training.


Minley Manor was vacated for alienation.

The seven-year RSME PPP build programme was completed on time and on budget.


An additional 86-person en-suite accommodation block at Gibraltar Barracks was instructed as a short notice requirement to provide sufficient accommodation for soldiers under training at the site.


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Holdfast became only the 54th British company to achieve BS 11000:2010 in Collaborative Business Relations

Lodgehill camp was vacated for alienation.

COURSE REDESIGN

The ME Fabricator Welder course, already transformed, was subject to a full review and redesign based on a change in requirement.

Refurbishment of Archibald and McPhee blocks, (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodations), at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

OPERATION OVERLORD

Work to restore locomotive WD42, Overlord, a locomotive used during WW2 was completed. The locomotive started life on the Longmoor Military Railway but in 1944, using specially converted tank transporters, it was landed on the Normandy beaches immediately after D-Day as part of Operation OVERLORD and assigned to 102 Transportation Stores Depot at Bayeux. After being returned to the UK in 1947, to resume pre-war activities, the locomotive was once again taken back to France in 1994 to take part in the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It was renamed Overlord in honour of the occasion and at the end of the anniversary celebrations was returned to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham where it still resides. Wishing to restore the locomotive to full working condition the Dockyard contacted the MKCTS team at the RSME who undertook a complete survey of, and developed a repair plan for, the locomotive. This required the removal of the cylinder head and fuel system, a major cleaning to free-up a seized piston and an engine rebuild. The work was a total success and Overlord is now a fully working reminder of the role of railways during WW2.

WiFi roll-out across Chatham, Minley and Hawley sites was completed.

MKCTS achieved Investors in People re-accreditation.

COMPUTER TABLET TRIALS

MKCTS completed the first trial of tablet computers within the Fabricator trade training area. The trial focused on the Fabricator 0-2 course that had already been transformed. The trial looked at several areas that would potentially benefit from using the technology: electronic task cards, computer aided instruction, online videos of welding techniques, coaching applications, student forum and various technical applications. The tablets were issued to all students on the course and they were allowed to use them as their own. Mobile Device Management was implemented by Babcock to allow the secure exchange of data and also remote data wiping if required. The trial was successful and resulted in a commitment to the wider roll-out and use of tablets across all transformed courses.

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SHORT NOTICE SUPPORT

The MKCTS Fitter Programme Area provided short notice Pre Deployment Training (PDT) for the soldiers of 36 Engineer Regiment. The training was to enable 36 Engineer Regiment to provide humanitarian support in Nepal following the earthquake in April 2015. Training on the Water Purification Unit (WPU) was provided for 23 soldiers enabling them to provide safe, clean drinking water to the worst hit areas.

The Artisan Reserve Trade Course was piloted in three disciplines: Carpentry, Bricklaying and Concreting.

MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Three MKCTS staff were awarded Medals for Excellence by the City and Guilds. One of the recipients, Scott Mitchell, went on to be awarded Tutor of the Year.

PROJECT ANEMOI

Project ANEMOI was the first Defence Infrastructure Organisation design and build contract that was competed for by, and subsequently awarded to, the Royal Engineers. The contract was to deliver new domestic accommodation including welfare, catering and sleeping units at three remote mountain sites located on East and West Falkland Islands, without disrupting the operating capability of each site. The Professional Engineer Wing was involved in the Project from the outset, providing advice on the requirements needed to deliver the contract such as governance and structure, project management training to key personnel and an external assurance role that involved site visits throughout the Project life. Extensive Mission Specific Training (MST) was also conducted at the RSME for each team before they deployed to the Falkland Islands and included refresher courses for the artisan tradesmen, plant operator mechanics and drivers, as well as training on Mobile Elevated Working Platforms required to work safely at height. The officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers completed the RE Construction Site Safety Advisor course and some also attended the waste management and pollution prevention courses. Squadron level training was supported with a scaled-down replica build at Wainscott, which enabled teams to experience first-hand the various elements of the building construction and fit-out.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Babcock IT employee Glenn Draper won Babcock International Group’s Employee of the Year award for his work developing the CTF.


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Holdfast sponsored the Bomb Disposal (BD) 75th anniversary event in St Paul’s Cathedral.

NEW GAS TRAINING FACILITY

The total replacement of the gas training installation, within the Heating and Plumbing, Air Conditioning Programme Area, was completed. The work involved the strip out of the training area followed by the installation of new appliances and systems to give students exposure to the full range of systems they might encounter in the Field Army and enabled in-house external civilian course evaluations to be carried out.

Refurbishment of Perie and Hackett blocks, (Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodations), at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

THE BURGOYNE CENTRE

The Burgoyne Centre, located within the Royal Engineer Warfare Wing at Gibraltar Barracks, was opened by Director General Army Recruiting and Training Division, Major General Chris Tickell. A repurposed, obsolete model room, library, workshops and offices, the Centre is now a multi-purpose learning space available 24/7 for both students and staff and was a joint project between Holdfast and the Authority. As well as providing open plan areas, the Centre also includes private break-out and smart board equipped seminar rooms. The Centre is packed with the latest technology and WiFi is provided throughout; it is decorated with colourful graphics that chart the history of the Royal Engineers from their earliest beginnings.

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SHORT NOTICE SUCCESS

The Junior Ranks’ Single Living Accommodation, known as the Wright Block, was formally opened at Gibraltar Barracks by Commander Personnel Support Command Lieutenant General Bashall and Chief Executive Officer, Defence Infrastructure Organisation David Mitchard. The accommodation was an extremely short-notice requirement and was constructed using the same modular construction techniques used throughout the main RSME PPP construction programme. It was the last building to be constructed by Carillion at Gibraltar Barracks and was delivered under budget and ahead of schedule.

“We are supported by the £3bn, 30-year PPP with Holdfast Training Services. The first seven years of the contract has seen huge investment in the design and construction and modernisation of the training facilities and accommodation on the sites supported by the PPP.” Commandant RSME Group Brigadier David Southall

HAPPOLD BRILLANT AWARD

The Professional Engineer Wing received the prestigious Happold Brilliant Award, presented by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) at the CIBSE Annual Presidential Dinner. Awarded to the university department judged to be offering the best-balanced accredited course, the Professional Engineer Wing was recognised for their excellence in the teaching of building services engineering.

Chatham Station hosted a visit by the Cherished Memories charity.

Redesign of the Professional Engineer Training (PET) courses was completed.

RSME CARD PAY SYSTEM

A cashless card payment system was introduced to help soldiers better budget over the month period.




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Babcock’s IT team based across the RSME PPP sites won Babcock International Group’s Team of the Year award.

Hosted by Holdfast, 50 Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) students visited Gibraltar Barracks.

PROJECT COMBAT SAPPER

Project COMBAT SAPPER was the next step in the training transformation story. The redesign spans the whole suite of the Combat Sapper courses, from B3 Combat Engineer to the more senior Royal Engineer Warfare Wing courses including RE Field Section Commander, RE Field Sergeant and RETCC. The course redesign was based on the latest Combat Engineer Role Performance Statements (RPS) and focused the learning around task-oriented training, set within an operational context. The first course to be redesigned was the B3 Combat Engineer course which was designed to have a single scenario throughout and enabled trainees to work together in a section led by a Corporal instructor; this gave the trainees early exposure to section operations whilst further developing the Corporals. To support the Project some of the training areas had to be redeveloped. This included the wooded areas and parts of Hawley Hard. Power and WiFi also had to be installed in these remote locations and the ELE upgraded to enable the downloading of content onto tablet computers within the training areas. Fully compliant with the Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) the new courses allowed a coaching and mentoring approach by instructors which, combined with the more realistic hands-on training, has resulted in a dynamic and exciting training environment producing Combat Engineers well-placed to contribute fully to their unit on reaching the Field Army.

Conversion of Leitch block to a Sergeants’ Single Living Accommodation at Gibraltar Barracks was completed.

ROSPA FIFTH GOLD

MKCTS were awarded their fifth Gold Award by RoSPA together with the Gold Medal, awarded to businesses that have won the Gold Award for at least five consecutive years.

99% of courses transformed or in progress 36,500 man-training days saved – 23% average course length reduced

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REMEMBRANCE ART TRAIL

Working under the direction of artist Mark Humphrey, Holdfast and the Authority staff and students at Brompton Barracks helped create several large artworks that would be installed around Canary Wharf as part of the Remembrance Art Trail. Conceived by the artist, the seven art installations had a clear focus on military experience, with the overall aim of encouraging personal reflection and contemplation. Mark worked most closely with the MKCTS Fabricator team and many of the pieces presented serious engineering challenges that required the combined effort of MKCTS and Authority personnel to overcome. The project also created a tremendous opportunity for students to get involved in all aspects of the work, from the design and construction to the final installation at Canary Wharf. The magnitude of the challenge became most evident in the trial build of the artworks on the parade ground when the true scale of some of the pieces was fully appreciated.

INNOVATION

A drone to carry out inspection at height across the contract was introduced by Babcock. The Babcock team, led by Oliver Stone, carried out the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved training in order to meet the operational requirements. At the same time a series of complex risk assessments was completed, and approvals obtained, so that the drone could be operated safely and securely across the RSME Group sites. The operating manual produced is now being used as best practice across the MoD.

The newly designed Combat Sapper B3 Combat Engineer course was piloted.

The newly designed Combat Sapper B1 course was piloted.

1* delegation from the Royal Navy visited Brompton Barracks.


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Holdfast Managing Director John Wadham handed over to Nik Chapman.

GAS RESETTLEMENT TRAINING

In response to an increasing demand for civilian Gas Safe qualified engineers and following a period of negotiation, Holdfast, the Authority and the MoD Career Transition Partnership agreed that Gas Safety resettlement training could be delivered at Brompton Barracks. The training is delivered by MKCTS from the newly developed gas training facility. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) approved course covers Phase 1 (four weeks instruction at Brompton Barracks), a six to ten-week work attachment and Phase 2 (ten-day assessment and examination at Brompton Barracks). The students are from a wide range of Service backgrounds and most, on attaining the Level 3 Gas safe qualification, go on to work within the gas industry.

The first Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) inspection of the RSME Group was carried out. The RSME Group was rated Good overall with the report highlighting some outstanding areas and units.

Transformation of the ME Electrician course was completed.

1,750,000 bricks 200,000 blocks 1,500,000 man-hours

Crown Representative visited Brompton Barracks.

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ROYAL VISIT

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II first visited the RSME in 1956. 50 years later, her third visit was the final event marking 300 years of the Corps of Royal Engineers, of which Her Majesty is the Colonel-in-Chief. The RSME is used to hosting many important visits, but none were as important as this one and a tremendous amount of planning, preparation and rehearsal ensured that the day went smoothly. Holdfast worked alongside Headquarters Royal Engineers, 1 RSME Regiment and Headquarters RSME in the planning phase and also provided support throughout the event from set-up to final clear-up. Most prominent were the ESS catering team in the Officers’ Mess, who were responsible for the preparation and serving of the centrepiece lunch for Her Majesty and invited guests. The weather throughout the day was excellent which enabled Her Majesty, accompanied by the Chief Royal Engineer, General Sir Mark Mans and Commanding Officer 1 RSME Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Cunniff, to tour the length of the parade ground to take in the various Royal Engineer displays that had been set up for her to view. The success of the event once again demonstrated the effectiveness of the PPP contract and the strong partnership that was in place between Holdfast and the Authority.

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REFURBISHMENT

A major refurbishment of the Ravelin Building, that houses Regimental Headquarters RE and the RE Museum, was completed. The project, that included roof replacement work and refurbishment, took place over a nine-month period, culminating in the reopening of the Museum in May 2017. The extent of the roof works made it the largest project of its type in Europe at the time.

The No 3 Sports Ground pavilion was destroyed by fire.

Transformation of the ME Combat Engineer B3 course was completed.

INNOVATION

The installation of 56 ‘sun pipes’ in some offices at the Defence, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment, Bicester, transformed the working environment for many personnel, who previously had no access to natural light in their work environment.

Transformation of the ME Combat Engineer B1 course was completed.

Chief Executive Officer, Defence Infrastructure Organisation visited Brompton Barracks.

INNOVATION

Innovation continued to be central to the development of training and training support. In order to maximum the course transformation potential, a raft of technical innovations to drive and enable change was rolled out. These included: the development of an in-house repair facility for tablet computers, deployment of inter-active audio-visual (AV) technology, the use of live video feed during training, further development of the ELE, introduction of Quick Response (QR) codes, introduction of an electronic parking management system, use of 3D printers, pilot of virtual, augmented and mixed reality and deployment of 360 degree images and video.

Cabinet Office representative visited Brompton Barracks.


Transformation of the ME Heating and Plumbing course was completed.

Transformation of the ME Survey course was completed.


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The first RSME Group Photo Competition was launched.

CORPS MEMORIAL WEEKEND

The annual Corps Memorial Weekend continues to be an important series of events. This year events ranged from the formal Colonels’ Commandant lunch, attended by senior serving and retired officers from the Corps of Royal Engineers and their guests, to the RE Association activities which included a standard bearer competition as well as a darts competition held in the Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess. The weekend culminated on Sunday with a service at Rochester cathedral and a ‘Freedom of Rochester’ parade through the streets. Holdfast was responsible for setting-up and also for providing the transport, accommodation and catering.

EXERCISE BRIDGE DEMOLITION

The RETCC carried out an overnight bridge demolition exercise on Rochester Bridge, the first executed in many years. Watched by an enthusiastic crowd of spectators including local dignitaries, the Royal Engineer officers were an impressive sight as they arrived down the River Medway on Rigid Raiders. On completion of the exercise, in the early hours of the morning, the CEST carried out a swift and professional derigging of the bridge and ensured that the area was safe for public access.

TRAINER OF THE YEAR

In October 2017, Professional Engineer Wing Lecturer Phil Moffat received the Civilian Trainer of the Year award at the annual Army Recruitment and Training Division training symposium, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Phil was nominated by Senior Instructor Major Tim Ives in recognition of his significant contribution to the highly successful Clerk of Works (Mechanical) course.

WEBSITE RELAUNCH

The Holdfast website www.holdfasttraining.co.uk was relaunched.

GREEN GOWN AWARDS

MKCTS was one of the four finalists in the Best Newcomer category of the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards 2017. Established in 2004, the Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges.

The Armed Forces Minister visited Gibraltar Barracks.

MEDWAY LEADERSHIP

Holdfast Managing Director and Commanding Officer 1 RSME Regiment participated in the first Medway Leadership Programme.

Transformation of the ME Combat Field Section Commander course was completed.

Chief of Engineers of Republic of Korea Army visited Brompton Barracks.

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Commandant Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration visited Gibraltar Barracks.

Delegation from Pakistan visited Brompton Barracks.

CADET GROUPS VISIT

Groups of youngsters from regional cadet organisations visited Chatham and Upnor and participated in a range of hands-on experiences from bricklaying to boat handling and plant operation. Each group competed in a series of challenges throughout the day which culminated in the presentation of prizes to the winning group.


The transformed ME Combat Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor (QMSI) course was piloted.

A joint Holdfast and Authority partnering workshop was held.

CONTRACT REVIEW

A formal review is a requirement of the PPP contract, with review points at 10, 17 and 24 years. The first of these formal reviews evaluated the contract performance in detail and compared it to industry standard benchmarks, in order to determine the effectiveness of delivery and value-for-money.

VIP VISIT

General Officer Commanding, Army Recruiting and Training Division visited Brompton Barracks.

PROJECT ANEMOI

Commissioned Officers completed the RE Construction Site Safety Advisor course and some also attended the waste management and pollution prevention courses. Squadron level training was supported with a scaled-down replica build at Wainscott, which enabled teams to experience first-hand the various elements of the building construction and fit-out.

SPONSORSHIP

Holdfast sponsored the RE cricket tour of Australia and the Sapper Servicewomen’s Network Conference.

Redesign of the Clerk of Works courses was completed.


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REFURBISHMENT

Headquarters RSME relocated from the original Headquarters building to Wood Street in July 2018 to allow for essential repairs and refurbishment to take place. Minley Swimming Pool was refurbished over the Summer leave period. Structural repairs to the concrete pool included replacement of under croft pipework, repairs to existing expansion joints, grouting and some tiling in the pool and surrounding areas.The first Phase of the works to modernize the Wainscott site was completed. Upgrading the existing Laboratory and Training facility by adding toilets, showers and staff rooms, along with upgrading some existing laboratory and classroom facilities.

VISIT (US ARMY)

US Army Engineering Assistant Commandant and Maneuver Support Centre of Excellence, Deputy to the Commanding General, visited Brompton Barracks.

ROUND BRITAIN SHIELD

Holdfast had a busy year supporting several exciting local and national events. This included the MKCTS sponsorship of the Round Britain Commemorative Shield which was commissioned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust and was a collaborative effort involving both MKCTS and military personnel. The resulting shield commemorates the efforts and bravery of the Armed Forces and was inspired by Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge. The four plaques, which were assembled into the shield, were collected from each of the countries making up the United Kingdom during the Round Britain sail and were finally placed on permanent display at the Tower of London.

ARMY YEAR OF ENGINEERING

The Army participation on the Year of Engineering 2018 was launched at Hawley Hard, Gibraltar Barracks. The event brought together representatives from the RE, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) to showcase the wide and varied range of engineering roles within the Army to hundreds of pupils from local schools and cadet groups.

BABCOCK TRANSFORMS

Babcock undertook a number of transformational changes in its organisation.

OVERSEAS SUPPORT

TQ provided overseas support to Locally Employed Contractors in Belize. In recent years overseas training support has also been provided by TQ and MKCTS in the Falkland Islands, Kenya and Cyprus, to name but a few countries.

CLEANING TRIAL

A new non-toxic cleaning system, using Stabilised Aqueous Ozone (SAO), was trialled by ESS, eliminating the use of traditional chemical cleaners.

Holdfast gained ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems) reaccreditation.

Holdfast gained ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) reaccreditation.

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Photo: TQ

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Other sponsored activities in 2018 included Carpers’ for Combat Stress 2018, a fishing competition which raised £1,940 for Combat Stress charity, the sponsorship of local schools STEM initiatives, the rebuilding of a local footbridge and replacement of a high-rope training system for a local venture centre.

WELLBEING INITIATIVES

Holdfast launched several wellbeing initiatives during 2018. With a focus on physical and mental health, as well as wellbeing, the initiative included Mental Health First Aid training and a Health Fair. Recognising the focus on overall staff wellbeing, safety and the promotion of charitable events, Holdfast received the Medway Wellbeing Gold Award from Medway Council.

OPERATION MORLOP SUPPORT

The RSME provided training for many of the soldiers and Royal Engineers that participated in Operation MORLOP in Salisbury, the complex decontamination exercise following the nerve agent attack in early 2018. Soldiers were trained in the building of scaffolding and demolition techniques, all carried out wearing the required protective equipment. The support also included the reconstruction of houses being decontaminated so that participants could carry out hands-on training before tackling the real thing.

KITCHENER BARRACKS REDEVELOPMENT

Alienated in 2014, the redevelopment of Kitchener Barracks, Chatham from an 11-acre Army barracks to a residential community, while preserving the integrity of the listed buildings, commenced. Parts of Kitchener Barracks date back to 1757 and the Barracks were named in tribute to General Kitchener in 1928.

COMBAT SAPPER TEAM AWARD

The Babcock training team of Garry Applin, Kevin Hall and Steve Scott were presented with the Chief Royal Engineer’s Commendation for their work on Project COMBAT SAPPER by Brigadier Matt Bazeley. This small team was responsible for fundamentally transforming the way combat engineer training was delivered, using modern technology and innovative learning techniques. The training is now mission-specific, task-oriented and activity based, making it more realistic and challenging.

Redesign of the Military Plant Foreman course was completed.

5 Comdts, 4 Holdfast MDs


Photo: Dave Kevan

Photo: Mathew Herbert Photo: Lt Danielle

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ESS introduced ‘Winnow’ technology that provides information to the catering team to enable them to reduce food waste.

BALI AWARD

The RSME is a large training estate spread over several sites. As part of the estate development plan the entire woodland environment has been surveyed and actively managed. In addition, the RSME works closely with interested parties such as Natural England and various wildlife organisations. At Brompton and Gibraltar Barracks, Babcock contractor Gavin Jones carries out the grounds maintenance and was recently awarded a National Landscape Award (Limited Public Access category) by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). In announcing the award, tribute was paid to the contractor’s ability to balance the history and military use of the training estate with the environmental considerations.

GRADUATE DAY

In the spirit of the Year of Engineering, groups of graduates working in industry also spent a day at the RSME during which they had the opportunity to learn more about the wide range of trades and skills present in the Royal Engineers. The highlight for many was the opportunity to ride in the Rigid Raider assault craft, based at Upnor.

REFURBISHMENT

Headquarters RSME refurbishment commenced. The works included the renewal of electrical, IT and heating services together with the installation of new radiators, lighting and power, and a complete renewal of the boiler room installations. New floor finishes, blinds and decoration to the offices, corridors and common areas completed the works undertaken.

BROMPTON BARRACKS EVENT

Brompton Barracks was the location for the final event of the Army Year of Engineering. Over two days several hundred local students and cadets visited the site to participate in the activities on offer, including everything from bridge building and bomb disposal to hands-on construction and engineering tasks. With representatives from the RE, REME and the RLC on-hand to guide the students through each task it was a great opportunity to learn more about the important role of STEM within the Army.


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Transformation of the ME Fitter course was completed.

Transformation of ME Combat Field Sergeant course pilot as part of COMBAT SAPPER commenced.

PROJECT ANEMOI

Four instructors from MKC and one from TQ accompanied SO1 Training Headquarters RSME to the South Atlantic to view Project ANEMOI. The Project is now in its fourth year and is an ambitious undertaking by the Royal Engineers to rebuild the three radar stations, with associated accommodation, on the Falkland Islands for which the RSME has been providing the PDT. This proved to be an extremely worthwhile visit and allowed the instructors to see first-hand a Military Construction Force in operation. Many valuable lessons were identified for future PDT at the RSME.

PROJECT HOBART

Project HOBART was launched to bring together existing training facilities and philosophies with new training assets and approaches in order to create an effective training centre for modern Urban Engineer Operations. The existing CTF will continue to be developed and opportunities to deploy Mixed, Virtual and Augmented Reality to support Urban Operations Training will be explored. The creation of the Minley Urban Training Facility has commenced and will include new hands-on training houses (Beaverfit) alongside the existing Methods of Entry assets, house in defence, bridging and reserved demolition capabilities. Furthermore, additional facilities are being planned which include a second Beaverfit environment, a series of concrete houses, rubble areas and a subterranean training environment. Longer term, training will be enhanced through the use of ‘roundless’ Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) technology, which will bring both environmental benefits and operational realism to the training.

MEDWAY CHAMPIONS BREAKFAST

The Holdfast Managing Director and Commandant, RSME Group jointly hosted a Medway Champions Breakfast event, part of a new Medway Council initiative to promote Medway.

Holdfast sponsored the Brompton Military Wives Choir trip to Ypres.

349,415 SSD cases handled, 1,626 compliments, 575 complaints42 RSME MATTERS ISSUE 19

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RSME MATTERS IS PRODUCED BY HOLDFAST TRAINING SERVICES LTDwww.holdfasttraining.co.uk

Documents

RSME MATTERS Matters/6699_HOL_RSME_… · Welcome to RSME Matters 19 magazine dedicated to the past 10 years of the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) Public Private Partnership