Bens Cleaning Up – With A Little Help from Formark Scaffolding

Grahame Anderson
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Bens Cleaning Up – With A Little Help from Formark Scaffolding

Hard work and ingenuity will certainly see 24-year-old Ben Hows clean up in terms of a successful future. In fact, he’s also on course to build up a successful property portfolio and it’s all thanks to his driven approach to scaffolding and his former boss at Formark.

On leaving school at 16 Ben was taken on by Formark Scaffolding, a privately owned specialist scaffolding company based in South London. From labouring duties this charismatic young man steadily worked his way up through the ranks to become a fully-fledged highly qualified operative. Keen to gain more experience Ben moved away from Formark for a six-month stint in pastures new, though it was always his plan to return to the fold. He takes up the story: “Realising I wanted to earn some of the good things in life I realised I’d need to show plenty of application and work hard to achieve my goals. I’d been at the company for a few years and had ambitions to go on and create my own business. With help from my dad, we came up with the idea of creating a cleaning company – something we could run in between my scaffolding duties.” Under the name of Aquaclean they quickly made a few contacts and began washing scaffolding and skip lorries at weekends. Word soon spread around and Ben found himself with a bit more work needing to be fitted around his full-time job. “It began to get a bit stressful trying to fit everything in as we had some good jobs but not enough for us to go full time. I approached scaffolding very professionally and didn’t let anything affect the quality of my work. But it was getting harder, and eventually, I put my notice in at Formark. My boss Mark wondered why I’d decided to leave, so I explained everything as best I could.” Now, some firms may well have decided to let an employee go concentrating fully on their own interests. Formark however is just a little bit different. Director Mark Croote had obviously been taken by Ben’s dynamic approach to his job. So much so he offered to help his young charge get fully set up in business as Ben explained: “I have to say he was really helpful offering to give me business set-up support in terms of sending out emails, sorting a plan and even helping me find the best mortgage advice to purchase my first property. But what really blew me away was the fact he asked outright what I wanted to do? When I told him he just said there’s work available whenever you need it – the mixing and matching of jobs wouldn’t be a problem.  “There’s always work available of course for the employees here, but if I needed just one day’s work it would be offered if-and-when I needed it. In fact, day or night shifts something would be made available, and I was always welcomed as part of the team just as before. I became good friends with Mark – it’s been hard going at times as I can’t remember having a single day off, but I know it will all be worth it in the long run.” Ben from Croydon hopes to expand his property portfolio with another potential purchase on the way and strengthen the cleaning business. But should things not go according to plan, he can always fall back on his scaffolding skills. He has a clear message for any youngster hoping to make their mark on the world: “You really can make your own dreams come true, but it needs a bit of determination, lots of drive and a willingness to work hard. You don’t have to be just a number – if you put the effort in it really will get noticed by those around you. But you must be disciplined and really go for it.”  As for those brilliant guys at Formark Scaffolding, it’s just another example of how the scaffolding industry in the UK continually puts something back into the community. A quality business isn’t just about making a profit and providing a first-class service – the human aspect is just as important. “I really can’t thank Formark and Mark enough as they’ve been brilliant and incredibly supportive throughout. In truth, their training and mentoring has enabled me to grow as a person and that’s invaluable.” It’s another inspiring tale from the world of scaffolding and a leading example of how we can all help each other. For Ben Hows, it’s a case of the only way is up.

TRAD Teams Take on Three-Peaks Challenge for 50th Year Charity Appeal

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TRAD Teams Take on Three-Peaks Challenge for 50th Year Charity Appeal

TRAD Group (‘TRAD’), one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access companies, has put together a team of 30 intrepid walkers to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in October this year.

TRAD Group CEO Des Moore
The sponsored trek is part of TRAD’s commitment to raising £75,000 during the course of this year, to support three charities chosen by the company’s staff. Participants in the trek include CEO Des Moore and Peter McShane, MD of TRAD Scaffolding Ltd. The teams are made up of people from across all TRAD’s locations, and include staff from the company’s offices, yards and scaffolding teams. The Yorkshire Three Peaks is a circular walk that takes in the county’s three highest peaks – Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. In total, it’s just over 24 miles with a total ascent of more than 1600 metres. The challenge is to complete the walk in 12 hours. “We are delighted to be taking part in this challenge,” said Des Moore. “All the teams are currently in training and working hard to raise money so we can reach our target of £30,000 for this event. As well as being a fantastic charity event, it’s also a great opportunity for people from across TRAD to work together towards a common goal.” The Royal British Legion, MIND and the Multiple Sclerosis Society have been chosen by TRAD’s staff members across the UK, and the group has committed to raising at least £75,000 over the year, which will be equally split between the charities. The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. It is best-known for its annual poppy appeal, but offers day-to-day support to serving and veteran armed forces personnel and is active in campaigning for their care and rights. You can learn more here: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ MIND supports better mental health. It is a nationwide charity that offers a wide range of information and support to those with mental health issues and the people who care for them, and is an active campaigner for a better understanding of mental health and greater support for it. Find out more at: https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Multiple Sclerosis Society supports people with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition that affects the brain and the spinal cord, resulting in a wide range of symptoms. More than 130,000 people in the UK have MS. The charity runs a helpline and offers a wide range of support for everything from managing finances to supporting carers. Their website is: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ Anyone who would like to sponsor the teams or make a donation to TRAD’s charity appeal can donate here: https://www.collectionpot.com/pot/275521/

Embrace delivers giant scaffold wrap for iconic store

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Embrace delivers giant scaffold wrap for iconic store

Cheltenham based Embrace Building Wraps has delivered a giant scaffold wrap for an iconic Chelsea department store.

In the very heart of Chelsea stands Peter Jones & Partners department store. The store is currently undergoing a significant exterior façade refurbishment program by Conamar Building Services which requires the exterior of the property to be wrapped in access scaffolding erected by AGS Scaffolding Ltd. Jones & Partners chose to encapsulate the Kings Road and Sloane Square elevations in a digitally printed mesh PVC wrap featuring an elegant grey and white striped design with three gold logos, ‘never standing still & ‘open as usual’ messaging. Embrace said: “As each of the three main sections of scaffolding were erected, we swiftly wrapped at different times, and then seamlessly joined to create one giant wrap measuring 2,268 m2 – that is about the same size as a row of seven double decker buses stacked four high!” The use of the building wrap ensures the residents, visitors and local retail stores in the area didn’t have to endure exposed scaffolding and also provides protection from the dust and grime associated with the site works. Greg Forster, Managing Director at Embrace Building Wraps added: “We are delighted to be working at Peter Jones & Partners for the John Lewis Partnership again, having previously delivered the giant wrap on the John Lewis Oxford Street flagship store a few years back. “This was a cracking job by all concerned where the main contractor, scaffolding specialist and Embrace team all worked in unison with one common goal – to make it happen! Each of three component wraps is the same size as three tennis courts and needed to be installed at different times. The striking creative design lines up seamlessly across both elevations – one of which has a challenging curved surface. We have all sorts of tricks up our sleeves and hundreds of jobs under our belt – that is why this printed scaffolding wrap looks sensational!” The scaffold structure will also be dismantled in three sections during different phases of the project and when this happens the remaining scaffold sections will still be wrapped in the printed graphic until removal.

3t Energy Group Partner Up to Boost Local Skills for Guyana’s Oil and Gas Sector

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3t Energy Group Partner Up to Boost Local Skills for Guyana’s Oil and Gas Sector

3t Energy Group and Panthera Solutions are set to upskill local workers for Guyana’s fast-growing oil and gas sector.

3t Energy Group, a leading training organisation is joining forces with oil and gas service company, Panthera Solutions to develop a competent, highly-skilled local workforce for the fast-growing oil and gas industry in Guyana. Panthera Solutions, a joint venture partnership between Guyana’s Farfan & Mendes and Canada’s Crosbie, is working with 3t Energy Group’s training division AIS Survivex to upskill its Guyanese personnel with internationally recognised offshore qualifications invaluable to the local oil and gas market. As well as industry-approved courses in scaffolding, rope access, non-destructive testing (NDT) and blasting and coatings application, AIS Survivex will be delivering the Gold Standard SSPC Train the Painter course to Panthera Solutions personnel. This qualification is an internationally recognised programme, developed by industry experts, to train delegates in the most advanced and innovative surface treatment and coatings techniques. Experienced training instructors from the UK will be travelling to Georgetown, Guyana to deliver some of the training with the remainder taking place at one of AIS Survivex’s state-of-the-art training facilities in the North of England. Once certified, Panthera Solutions personnel will be working on a number of oil and gas assets in Guyana, including the Exxon Mobil operated Liza Destiny FPSO. This is the latest training project undertaken by 3t Energy Group and Panthera Solutions. Together they are also developing a longer-term strategy to upskill local Guyanese workers and create a strong pipeline of skilled, local talent for the oil and gas sector in the territory. Andrew Dinsdale, General Manager for Panthera Solutions, said: “The oil and gas industry in Guyana is growing extremely fast so we’re training personnel to be competent in a range of disciplines and to the highest of international standards in order to support the requirements of this sector as it expands. As well as being committed to developing highly-skilled local content, we want to build a strong, diverse workforce. We have a growing complement of competent female technicians amongst our personnel helping to address gender inequalities in the sector. Along with our training partners, 3t Energy Group, we are now looking at how we can ramp up the supply of a skilled workforce in line with increased demand for our services and wider.” Gavin Taylor, Vice President Global Sales & Strategy at 3t Energy Group added: “We are delighted to be working with Panthera Solutions to upskill the national workforce in Guyana. 3t Energy Group is committed to helping the global energy sector work safer, smarter and more efficiently and we have unrivalled expertise in traditional training, cloud-based software systems and digital learning technologies such as eLearning, virtual reality and micro-learning apps. “We will be using these capabilities to their full extent to help the oil and gas sector across this important region by delivering a competent, highly-skilled, local workforce ready to deploy whenever needed. As well as helping oil and gas companies source the talent they need locally rather than looking further afield, we want to ensure the Guyanese people gain invaluable, tailored skills for life. This will have far-reaching social and economic consequences for good across the region.”

Three Steps to Scaffolding Success for School Leavers

Grahame Anderson
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Three Steps to Scaffolding Success for School Leavers

It’s three steps to scaffolding success for school leavers looking to construct a career in scaffolding thanks to a leading companies well-designed training programme.

Skill Scaffolding are certainly leading the way in training right from the basics to working on-site and completing formal courses. In terms of their skill academy, there are three levels for trainees to master before they become fully-fledged operatives in the field. The first level begins in the yard and accounts for the very basics including the wearing of PPE, components used in scaffolding and a thorough grounding in health and safety; culminating in preparation for the HS&E Touchscreen Test, and COTS course. Upon successful completion, students will begin training on-site under the supervision of fully trained scaffolders ready to become mentors. This part of the training will get them used to the weight of materials and the practical side of life on any scaffolding project. On reaching the third level trainees will be booked onto their first CISRS scaffolding course in preparation to work their way through the system – at the end of all this, they’ll become fully trained scaffolders. Lee Marshall, Head of Health and Safety at Skill Scaffolding, explained: “Over the last few years, we have seen a drop in the number of the younger generation coming into the trade, so last year we decided to start our Skill Academy. “The trade is facing a huge skills gap so putting the support in place to help the future generations learn the correct way of doing things is the best way to ensure our clients keep getting the top-quality service they deserve. “Finding a career in scaffolding is not something that usually comes naturally to the younger generations, they are actively encouraged to follow many different career paths at school and college, but scaffolding is rarely one of them. We can clearly see that it is vital that this changes, and we want to be involved in making that happen.” Skill Scaffolding skill academy Alongside direct recruitment, Skill Scaffolding are utilising the government kickstart scheme as an additional source to funnel recruits into the skill academy. The innovative scheme aims to create a number of new six-month job placements for young people currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The job placements are aimed at supporting the participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find permanent work after completing the scheme. Skill Scaffolding has taken on numerous kick starters in the past few months, with many successful enough to progress to stage two of the academy.

Recruitment Drive

skill scaffolding What’s more, the firm is looking for experienced people to become part of up to five full scaffolding gangs. These include experienced labourers, Part ones and Part twos; alongside advanced scaffolders. And in addition, up to five Rhino Deckers – all to service projects within the areas of Dorset, Basingstoke and Chichester. Skill offer competitive rates of pay, plus a van, with immediate long term and permanent work to the right candidates. Management opportunities to exemplary employees. Appropriate training will be provided where required, as well as full PPE. Interested applicants can contact our office on 02380 777 750, and ask for either Karl Mcleod or James Wall. Emails can also me sent to either: [email protected] or [email protected]  

Scaffolding Contractor sought for HMS Victory

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Scaffolding Contractor sought for HMS Victory

A search is underway for a specialist scaffolding firm to erect major scaffolding works for the restoration of HMS Victory in Portsmouth.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is looking to appoint a scaffolding contractor or contractors to support a major conservation programme of works planned for HMS Victory in Portsmouth. The programme which will commence in late 2021 will see much-needed conservation work to ensure the long-term preservation of the World – Class Historic Vessel and an exemplar of a Royal Navy capital warship from the Age of Sail. The NMRN is seeking scaffolding companies that ideally have experience in working with heritage/conservation projects and incorporating and working alongside visitor access to the ship. A Prior Information Notice was made public on the MyTenders website for the job with a value of £2m. The NMRN is seeking contractors to provide a multi-level (or variable level) tented access and work platform to support the removal and replacement of planking and a weather-tight enclosure for essential conservation work to be undertaken. The Museum also requires the construction of site office and welfare facilities for the scaffolding construction personnel within a secure area to allow public access to the museum and ship. Work is anticipated in four stages, each of approximately 3 years, the notice reads. The scaffold design must incorporate provisions for internal and external visitor experience. And also include ventilation systems and fire detection and suppression systems, including fire curtains and sprinklers to prevent damage to the ship while the works are carried out.

HMS Victory is a 104-gun ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1765. She is best known for her role as Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.

You can read the full Prior Information Notice that includes contact details and further information by clicking here.

Construction Suicide Rates on the Increase

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Construction Suicide Rates on the Increase

New research shows the rates of suicide in the construction industry have increased.

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity commissioned Glasgow Caledonian University to carry out research on suicide statistics from 2015 to 2019. Alarmingly, its findings show that suicides within the construction industry have in fact increased. Analysis of suicides by workers occupation revealed the number per 100,000 for construction workers rose from 26 to 29 in the four years to 2019. The data shows no change in historical ratios, with those in the construction industry three times more likely to take their own life than in other sectors. The findings also identified variations between certain occupational groups. Those working in non-manual occupations, such as managers and professionals, have lower rates, which have also seen an overall drop in rate from just under 7 in 2015, to just under 5 per 100,000 in 2019. However, unskilled workers, such as labourers, have seen their rate rise from 48 to just over 73 suicides per 100,000. The research, led by Professor Billy Hare has also helped develop a ‘dashboard’ that identifies measurable data on construction safety, health and wellbeing. It will be updated yearly, allowing industry organisations, policymakers and researchers to view trends, track the progress of industry initiatives, and inform future decision making. Bill Hil, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “It is worrying that our support is not reaching the ‘boots on the ground’ workforce. This could be because about 53% of our workforce are self-employed, agency or zero-hour contractors and we are simply not getting our message down the supply chain. Even more worrying, is that these statistics are pre-pandemic so the full impact of this won’t be revealed until further data is released in October of this year.” Professor Hare said, “This occupational group (unskilled workers) is usually higher than average for suicides, but the sharp rise and widening gap over the period analysed, in contrast to their non-manual colleagues, is concerning and may indicate recent initiatives are not reaching these more vulnerable sectors of the industry. In 2017 the Thriving at Work report commissioned by the government and undertaken by Lord Stevenson and Mark Farmer highlighted poor mental health in construction. Since then, the industry has been engaged in many initiatives to improve the overall wellbeing of the sector. But sadly, this latest research highlights that mental wellbeing initiatives aimed at protecting our construction work may not be reaching those who need it the most.” The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has been providing free emotional and wellbeing support through three main channels including their free 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline, a supporting helpline app and free wellbeing training, But in immediate response to the research findings the charity is redoubling its efforts with even more pro-active initiatives to ensure that no construction worker or their family feels alone in a crisis. Help Inside the Hard Hat Awareness Campaign The charity’s current campaign to raise awareness of mental wellbeing in our industry, Help inside the Hard Hat encourages the construction community to think about what is going on inside the hard hat and signposts to all the support available from the charity. Posters and hoardings artwork are free to download. Lighthouse Beacons The charity is developing a nationwide network of ‘safe places’ for the construction community to talk in a confidential environment about their issues. These will be volunteer-led and will deliver a network of self-help groups run by facilitators that have lived experience. Supporting Apprentices  Piloting a mental wellbeing support programme with London Colleges to instil a positive appreciation of mental wellbeing at the start of a construction career. The charity will be providing mental health awareness training to 1000 apprentices and mental health first aid training to 100 tutors. The charity is also collaborating with the Rainy Day Trust to offer free tool kits and laptops to apprentices that are failing their apprenticeship due to affordability of tools or IT equipment. Mind Builder  A new project with Building Mental Health and Samaritans, funded by the CITB. Mind Builder will deliver a central hub of high-quality wellbeing assets and learning. This project will also link up with the Supply Chain School for enhanced learning. Bill Hill added, “We are ensuring that there are no barriers to accessing our charitable services by making them all free, including all of our MHFA training and Wellbeing Masterclasses. But, this is a collective responsibility and the industry as a whole must pull together to ensure that every person in our construction community knows where to turn to for support. We need to stop people feeling so desperate that they feel they have no other alternative than taking their own life”.

Construction materials shortage set to continue until 2022

Daniel Norton
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Construction materials shortage set to continue until 2022

Elevated prices and the shortage of construction materials including timber, cement and steel is set to continue throughout the rest of the year.

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has warned that the ongoing construction materials crisis and the availability of some key products hadn’t improved at all during the month of June. The demand both in the UK and globally continues to dramatically outstrip the supply of construction products and shows few signs of slowing. CLC co-chairs John Newcomb, chief executive of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association said in a recent statement, “Record sales of building materials coupled with strong pre-orders and full pipelines of work are all putting enormous pressure on the supply chain which, in some sectors, has not fully recovered from the impact of Covid.” They warn that high demand coupled with tight supply will sustain elevated prices throughout the year. A shortage of truck drivers is also fanning the flames and is a “critical nationwide problem” the CLC said, that is causing more delays and impacting project programmes. Experts say the UK has lost 15,000 European drivers this year due to Brexit, and 30,000 UK driver tests were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has exacerbated the driver shortage.

Scaffolder and Son’s Toy Scaffolding Offers Priceless Help for Kent Hospital

Grahame Anderson
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Scaffolder and Son’s Toy Scaffolding Offers Priceless Help for Kent Hospital

Kent-based scaffolder Lee Camden and his son Frankie are constructing a charity fundraising project to help the Oliver Fisher Neonatal ward at Medway Hospital buy vital equipment.

It’s a personal mission fired up from the day medical staff saved his newborn son’s life, at a time when he wasn’t expected to get through the first 24 hours. Two weeks overdue Frankie had six probes attached to him as he fought for life. In fact, Frankie was just 20 minutes away from being stillborn. Both parents were told he might not be able to walk, talk or even hear, but somehow he pulled through. Six years on from that fraught and fearful day, Frankie is turning into a strong and vibrant youngster, though he does need hearing aid devices. It’s just a reminder of what a lot of love, determination and skill from those amazing NHS staff can achieve even in the darkest of hours. And don’t bet on Frankie eventually following his dad into the scaffolding business, as he’s already becoming highly skilled at organising very special toy scaffolding at home. It’s all part of a fascinating family story as Lee explained: “It all goes back to my own dad, Phill Camden because, from the moment I became aware of what was going on around me, I wanted to be a scaffolder. He got me a kit very much like Meccano, except it was toy scaffolding. It was fantastic putting structures together and it taught me such a lot at a young age. “The scaffolding bug never left me, so it was no surprise I eventually ended up in this wonderful industry. I still had the toy kit in the loft and Frankie knew about it – he kept asking me to get out Grandad’s kit. Soon Frankie was creating some impressive mini scaffolding around the house especially on the stairs.” Frankie's Toy Scaffolding Frankie's Toy Scaffolding So far Lee and Frankie have managed to raise more than £1,000 for the hospital – there’s no specific target – just to get as much money as possible, so the ward can buy what it needs to keep improving their services. They don’t get any special budget from the NHS, so a lot of equipment is provided through donations. The Oliver Fisher Baby Unit is a tertiary neonatal facility caring for babies who require intensive care. They care for babies from Medway and the surrounding South-East Thames region including Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. It’s a 36-cot unit. Lee began making toy scaffolding sets in order to sell them with £10 profit on each set going to the unit. They include a sprinter half back, tube, fittings, boards, one ladder and yard fencing. Enough to build a 20 x 30 structure. Frankie's Toy Scaffolding He added: “To be honest it would be great to get a work clothing range we can sell to make more money for the hospital. We’re already carrying out research and hope to be able to put the plan into action very soon. “We’ve also been talking about arranging a soapbox race day involving scaffolders and builders. We’ll do whatever possible to keep the fundraising going. The Ward staff certainly saved my son’s life and a lot of others since, so I’m passionate about helping them as much as possible especially during such difficult times.” Frankie’s toy scaffolding is becoming quite a social media hit across the UK – in fact, Lee might just have created a new trend. More importantly, it’s building funds for a vital unit in the heart of the NHS, saving lives at the same time. So why not play your part in this wonderful story? You can donate to Frankie’s charity fundraising project by visiting their GoFundme page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/toy-scaffolding?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer  

Avontus Appoints New Global Sales Director

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Avontus Appoints New Global Sales Director

John Brocklehurst brings his extensive experience in scaffolding business and practices to spearhead Avontus’s global sales efforts.

Scaffolding software firm Avontus that’s headquartered in the USA, has appointed John Brocklehurst as the company’s new Global Sales Director. John, who is based in the United Kingdom, has expertise in scaffolding business around the world, with a specialty in sales, engineering, and design. He brings with him over 30 years of experience working for multinational companies on both onshore and offshore projects. Avontus serves scaffolding businesses all over the world from its offices in the US, UK, Australia, and South Africa. With 19 years in the industry, the scaffolding technology company develops innovative software solutions such as Avontus Quantify, Avontus Designer, and Avontus Viewer. Looking forward, the company plans to further expand its product range to transform scaffolding businesses worldwide.  John said: “I am thrilled to join the Avontus team during this exciting new phase. I have a passion for innovation and strive to introduce new ways of working to further grow and expand both Avontus and its customers’ business. My background in engineering, project management and business development has prepared me well for this role and given me a unique perspective on the innovative way forward for the global access community and I look forward to taking the company to the next level of its global expansion.”  Brian Webb, Founder of Avontus Software added: “With more growth and innovation on the horizon at Avontus we welcome John’s experience and knowledge to further support and develop our global sales presence. Avontus continues to enhance its software service and grow globally, and John will play a key role in these efforts.” 
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