UPL team successfully completes the Three Peaks Challenge to raise over £2k for North West Air Ambulance

A team of 8 UPL Employees (6 walkers and 2 drivers) recently set out to embark upon the famous “Three Peaks Challenge”. The challenge is to complete a walk to the top of the highest mountain in each of England, Scotland and Wales – namely Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden within 24 hours.

The intrepid walkers’ planned to complete this challenge within one weekend, but it had become evident on the Friday that the weather was not going to work with them and this definitely proved to be the case.

As they travelled up to Scotland to start the challenge the motorway signs were predicting more heavy rain on it’s way and this arrived just as they arrived at the foot of Ben Nevis. In fact as they set off they met two walkers coming down who had obviously not been on a motivational course recently and told them they were mad and it was the worst climb they had ever done! But they persevered up the mountain and made it to the top – albeit rather wet and cold.

The team then drove down to the Lake District for the second peak – Scafell. The weather was to strike again and they discovered that the route to the chosen start point for Scafell was flooded was passable only by 4 wheel drive vehicles. Not to be deterred they quickly planned an alternative route and called on some assistance to guide them on this route from Seathwaite Farm and although this was unfortunately an hour longer walk they still successfully reached the peak and were ready for the third and final mountain.

Finally their luck changed as they drove down the M6 towards Snowden, and in improving weather conditions they completed the third and final peak of Mount Snowden.

 

The UPL team successfully raised over £2000 by completing The Three Peaks Challenge in the following times:

Ben Nevis 4 hours 30 minutes (5 hrs recommended)

Scafell 4 hrs 50 minutes (5 hrs recommended- Seathwaite route)

Snowdon 3 hours 25 minutes (4 hours recommended)

This was an amazing achievement, and showed their strong teamwork in supporting and encouraging each other in extreme conditions.

We would all like to congratulate the 6 climbers:

Steven Robinson, Anne Peck, Edgars Trulesis, Danielle Yates, Justyna Kun and Joanne Senior.

Thanks also go to everyone who helped and gave their support to this challenge, in particular;

-The drivers (Steph Cole, John Kirkham, Keith and Jacqui Voyle)

-All at UPL for offering words of encouragement and support on Friday and throughout the weekend, for all their sponsorship and for the help with transport.

-Joanne Senior’s daughter and her husband for valiantly coming out at 2.20am to guide us up Scafell Pike!

 

The team raised a fantastic total of £2188.50 which has now been donated to the North West Air Ambulance Service.

UPL Offers Enhanced Customer Service with Video Conferencing

UPL has invested in a new video conferencing system so that it can ensure that UPL’s customers will continue to receive the best level of service possible, wherever they or their suppliers are located in the world.

UPL has purchased a Polycom HDX7000 720p video conferencing codec with a built in MCU (mulitpoint conferencing unit) allowing up to four different sites to connect at the same time. The unit also supports both people and content which allows the sharing of presentations, documents or whatever is open on the desk top. It is a mobile dual screen solution allowing UPL to move the equipment from room to room if required.

The dual screen element allows people to be viewed on either screen or when content is being shared that will be displayed on one screen and people’s images on the other. A VGA splitter has been included to allow the screens to be used for local presentations rather than having to fire up the codec and run them through the system, adding speed and resolution to the solution.

The system is compatible with any video conferencing equipment that is compliant with current video conferencing standards so it will be able to communicate with the widest range of current video conferencing equipment.

If you are interested in finding out more about how this new facility can be used to enhance your relationship with UPL please contact Keith Voyle, Associate Director Customer Services.

 

UPL shows commitment to increased energy efficiency

UPL Warehouse Lighting Upgrade

As part of UPL’s continuing efforts to reduce energy costs and lower CO2, we have placed an order with Lutterworth Ecolighting (one of the UK’s leading warehouse lighting specialists) to install energy saving light fittings throughout all warehouse areas.The project is scheduled to begin mid March, and once completed, the new system is projected to provide energy savings in excess of 85%, with a reduction in annual CO2 output of approximately 105,000 Kg.

The project not only provides significant energy and environmental benefits but will also ensure improved lighting levels throughout all warehouse areas, will provide a safer, more pleasant working environment for staff and will help UPL to maintain its excellent health and safety record.