Monday evening was a night for celebration as Envirocare Maintenance Solutions were voted Contractor of the Year at the 2011/2012 Property Management Awards.  The black tie event was hosted by News on the Block and held at the home of cricket, Lords’ County Cricket ground.  Dave, Jan, Phil and Sue made the trip down to London excited to be in the final three and optimistic about coming out on top.

The purpose of the awards ceremony and dinner was to recognise and celebrate excellence in the property management industry.  Whilst hosted by News on the Block, all the Awards were independently judged by an experienced panel of property experts representing the different stakeholders in the industry.  The Award categories were not just designed for property managers but also those organisations that supply services to the industry such as Insurance companies and Contractors.  These categories demonstrate the breadth in skills that the industry demands and the important influence third party agents play in ensuring services are delivered effectively. 

Congratulations also goes to Danielle Twittey, Property Manager for Buckshaw Village.  Danielle won the Property Manager of the Year category, a testimony to her hard work and dedication to the residents of Buckshaw.

We’ve yet to get an official statement (and photos) from Dave but at 10.05pm last night we all received a big congratulations!! by email – teamwork and hard work definitely pays off.

http://propertymanagementawards.co.uk/

We hope you will join us in wishing our Operations Manager, Mick Mann and his new ”fiance”, Alison Bennison, a big “Congratulations”!

Mick took the plunge (at long last!) and popped the question to his girlfriend last weekend!

Romance is not dead – he chose the ring on his own (which has many diamonds – he knows his girl well!) and completely surprised her…

They were planning to have a standard night out together and were waiting for the taxi to arrive…Little did Alison know that Mick had other plans!

Their “taxi” arrived…in the form of a sleek black, stretched limo complete with champagne to take them to Alison’s favourite restaurant!

En-route, in the best, traditional way – Mick got down on one knee and asked Alison if she would be his wife? Of course, Alison said “yes” and the date is set for June 2013 at Beeston Manor.

We wish a very lovely couple, all the happiness in the world.

It’s that time again!  Let us go and delve into the personal lives of the Envirocare team!

First up – let us get to know “Steven Vivers”. 

We need an updated photo of Steve but he’s not too keen on having his photo took!  He will hate us for this but meanwhile, you can still check him out as he has appeared on our blog before! 

He’s the guy on the chair, with his head in a bandage in March’s blog ” First Aid Training is Fully Booked”. 

Here are Steve’s answers to our “6 quick fire questions”…

1.  What was your 1^st ever job and how old were you?

Delivering milk at 10 years old! 

(That has to be a record – definitely the youngest “grafter” we’ve had so far!)

2.  What is your earliest memory?

Getting my pedal tractor from Santa – I don’t remember exactly how old I was but I remember being very young and having it for a really long time – I loved it!  I played with it until it literally fell apart! 

3.  What is your favourite CD at the moment?

Cd’s are so yesterday get with the program – I download from i-tunes but my style of music is definitely The Pussycat Dolls

4.  Name your favourite 3 course meal…

Starter – Haggis and mushroom cup

Main – Sirloin steak

Dessert – Sticky toffee pudding

5.  What is your superstar name? (The name of your first ever pet and your mothers surname)

Jockey Johnston

6.  Either, what would you change in the past, or what would you make happen in the future?

Change my bank balance (wouldn’t everybody!)

Joining Steve for week 5, it’s Contracts Manager, Ben Roxburgh…

Contracts Manager

1.  What was your 1^st ever job and how old were you?

A local gardening company aged 15 yrs

2.  What is your earliest memory?

Aged 5, dressed as Robin Hood in a local parade

3.  What is your favourite CD at the moment?

Kings of Leon – Come around sundown

4.  Name your favourite 3 course meal…

Starter – Mussels in white wine

Main – Smoked Haddock Mornay

Dessert – Apple crumble and custard

5.  What is your superstar name? (The name of your first ever pet and your mothers surname)

Pepper Winrow

6.  Either, what would you change in the past, or what would you make happen in the future?

I’d make Alex Ferguson stay at Manchester United forever!

Thank you for your time guys!  Next week we will be “Getting to know….” Trevor Stothers, Fitter and Noel Keane, Marketing Manager

Everybody must be looking forward to the Spring already! 

We are already having a record year in our bulb sales…having sold more than 50,000!

The program of spring bulb planting has already started and should be completed during October & November. 

Half hardy summer flowering bulbs should be lifted this month and dried as quickly as possible to avoid any chance of moisture causing the bulbs to rot. Store them in a cool, dry place free from any possibility of frost.

First up – lets get to know Ian Morton and ask him our 6 quick fire questions…

Newcastle Branch

1.  What was your 1^st ever job and how old were you?

Clerical Assistant at the Department of Health and Social Security, aged 15 years

2.  What is your earliest memory?

That was a very long time ago! I think it was my mother discovering me in the garden removing a worm from my mouth.

3.  What is your favourite CD at the moment?

In the car CD at the moment is Apostrophe by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.

4.  Name your favourite 3 course meal…

Starter – grilled black pudding with a pine nut salad, croutons and red jelly.

Main – Grilled calves liver, mash potatoes,  deep fried onion with a red wine jus.

Dessert – Apple crumble with custard.

5.  What is your superstar name? (The name of your first ever pet and your mothers surname)

Dale Hogarth

6.  Either, what would you change in the past, or what would you make happen in the future?

To have started my own business earlier.

Joining Ian, it’s Operations Manager, Mick Mann…

Mick Mann, Operations Manager

1.  What was your 1^st ever job and how old were you?

YTS at Henry Boot construction.  Doing brickwork, plastering, all sorts really! Aged 16 years

2.  What is your earliest memory?

Aged 4 years, at my grandads home in Australia, digging carrots out of the garden

3.  What is your favourite CD at the moment?

The Awakening by James Morrison

4.  Name your favourite 3 course meal…

Starter – Breaded garlic mushrooms

Main – Gammon and pineapple

Dessert – Lemon Cheesecake

5.  What is your superstar name? (The name of your first ever pet and your mothers surname)

Laddy Parker

6.  Either, what would you change in the past, or what would you make happen in the future?

Work harder at school

Thank you for your time guys, who will we be “getting to know” it be next week?