October 09, 2008

GSH Unveils state-of-the-art HQ

GSH Group plc, the leading energy and facilities management company, has recently completed a high technology refurbishment of its headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent.

The new headquarters now brings together its 247365 operational command and control centre and energy management bureau into a single environment that is a customer showcase.

The centre handles over 250,000 customer calls every year across over 30,000 customer sites and manages over 100,000 utility bills per year on behalf of its customers with total consumption of 625m kw, equivalent to a medium sized city.

Highly visual contract monitoring and management information is provided in real-time throughout the building. Call and job management, engineer status and energy consumption data is delivered through an audio visual and multimedia system which is fully integrated into operational systems such as Maximo, smartbox, vehicle tracking and wireless handheld technology. At the heart of the system is a sophisticated wireless multimedia matrix, digital signage software and bespoke audio visual computers that operate over a network that integrates a series of wall-mounted and removable LCD panels with presentation screens.

The building has been designed to provide a service and technology journey for customers, where they can experience first-hand how their engineering and energy services are delivered. Careful design of office space, corridors, information technology, meeting spaces, video conferencing and audio visual displays including rear projection touch screen technology and wireless control tablets are optimised to provide flexible and comprehensive control data. Bringing all this together delivers an immersive experience for customers, in a live operational environment.

Commercial Director, Chris McLain stated that "GSH's key differentiators are its technology innovation, energy management and its people. Our new headquarters brings all these together in a live operational setting that is a showcase for our customers to see and experience our capabilities first-hand."

Over nine months in the design, planning and implementation the centre demonstrates, in a live setting, GSH's technological leadership and energy management capability.

Already a subject of and industry award submission for technological development, Group Technology and Innovations Director, Maxwell Segal, said of the building "This building combines our operational and technological expertise using a state-of the-art wireless matrix control system controlling audio visual, multimedia, video conferencing and operational monitoring information. It gives our clients hands-on experience of our operational and technological capabilities"

By bringing together operational monitoring, management and fully integrated contract management systems, GSH has been able to reduce its mobile fleet's carbon emissions by 3,500 tonnes per annum. Through its energyplus service GSH has reduced its client's CO2 emissions by 90,000 tonnes.