Partnering For Success Archives - Page 4 of 6

ISEA Solar Ireland Conference 2021

Tandem attended the ISEA Solar Ireland conference on 14^th to 15^th October. Some of the topics covered in the conference included energy policies, future planning, solar finance and zero carbon networks. Case studies on a utility and commercial scale showed some of the challenges and successes of solar projects undertaken in the last few years. Each topic was well presented and generated an engaging Q&A session at the end. Some of the main points highlighted at the conference:

Renewable electricity generation commitment increased from 70% to 80% as outlined in the National Development Plan.
Micro generation support scheme to be rolled out over the next year.
Relaxed glint and glare assessment requirements to be announced for 2022.
Electrification will be the most effective method for meeting commercial renewable energy targets.
Solar arrays should be sized to accommodate future demand which will increase as heat pumps and EV charging is integrated into commercial and residential settings.
Energy storage becoming more viable with potential feed in tariffs and the current high prices of electricity.
Larger PV systems should incorporate smart PV management with battery storage to avail of grid price variations throughout the day.

The conference was an excellent opportunity for networking and showcased some of the leading solar suppliers in the Irish market. Innovative solar systems were discussed along with the challenges involved in their planning and installation. One key positive is that Ireland has World leading renewable grid integration capabilities and there are ample solar projects already in operation around the world that Ireland can replicate and improve upon.

2021 Advance Graduate Programme

Tandem Project Management extends a very warm welcome to Anne-Marie Leahy, Brian Flahive, Matthew Davidson and Daniel Walsh who recently joined our 2021 Advance Graduate Programme.

Anne-Marie graduated from Munster Technological University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Bio-Pharmaceutical Engineering and joins Tandem as a Graduate Process Engineer. Brian graduated from Munster Technological University with a Bachelor of Business Information Systems and is working as a Digital Transformation Graduate. Matthew graduated from National University of Ireland Galway with a Bachelor of Science in Project & Construction Management and joins Tandem as a Graduate Project Controls Assistant. Daniel graduated from University College Cork with a Master of Engineering degree in Energy Engineering and joins Tandem as a Graduate Energy Engineer.

Advance is a three-year programme that aims to give graduates an insight into all aspects of the business in a structured and measured manner, to ensure graduates achieve as broad an experience as possible, on both a professional and personal level in these crucial first years of their career.

At the end of the programme, graduates will not only have gained significant experience in their chosen discipline, but they will also have gained exposure to other disciplines, client sites and many aspects of the project life cycle. This rounded approach will equip the graduates to advance their careers in the direction of their choice, while building on the knowledge they have gained to date.

CSR Q3 Update

Wheels For Wishes

Throughout July Tandem participated in Make-A-Wish Ireland‘s “Wheels for Wishes” campaign and raised €500. The challenge was to cycle 250km during the month. Our intrepid cyclists braved the heat, battled the wind and endured the rain to raise funding that will help to grant wishes to Irish children with life-threatening medical conditions. Since 1992, Make-A-Wish has granted wishes for more than 2,600 brave children across Ireland!

The Rainbow Club

The Rainbow Club Cork – Centre for Autism held its annual fundraising golf classic early in September, Tandem was delighted to help sponsor this event.

Pharma Industry Awards 2021

Tandem is delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Pharma Supplier of the Year category of the Irish Pharma Industry Awards for the second year in a row.

The Pharma Supplier of the Year award, sponsored by H2 Compliance, recognises the supplier that has provided a ‘best in class’ service, solution, product or goods to Ireland’s Pharmaceutical industry.

Congratulations and best wishes to the shortlisted nominees across all categories of the 2021 awards. Tandem looks forward to the awards ceremony on November 11th and participating in this celebration of excellence in the Irish pharmaceutical industry.

Thrive Q3 Update

Thrive, Tandem’s EHS and Wellbeing initiative undertook a mid-year survey and received an overwhelmingly positive response as well as comments and suggestions of activities for Q3 and Q4. Thrive is delighted with the levels of participation in its wellbeing initiatives to date and look forward to delivering a fulfilling programme to the end of 2021 and beyond.

The positive response means that Thrive retains a lot of the initiatives that it started earlier this year such as our Cycling, Walking and Running Groups, the Book Club will continue to meet, and our lunchtime Pilates classes will resume this month. We will continue to send healthy recipe ideas to help with meal planning and to host lunch and learn events with upcoming topics to include mental health and resilience, ophthalmic health, money matters and more!

New initiatives include a gardening group. Mags Coughlan, Head Gardener in Ballymaloe House will join our gardening group once per quarter to discuss what’s happening in the garden during the coming season and what jobs are required to keep everything growing. Other new initiatives include HITT classes, language groups and a Nature Photography Competition that will run during October.

2021 Charity Partners

Tandem is delighted to announce its charity partners for 2021.

We look forward to an exciting Corporate Social Responsibility programme for 2021 and to some fun filled activities and fundraising with these three great charities:

Make-A-Wish Ireland
A wish granted is true magic for children with life-threatening medical conditions, providing respite from their normal routines of hospitals, doctors and treatment. Make-A-Wish does not receive any government funding, and relies overwhelmingly on the kindness of the Irish public to continue granting wishes.

Focus Ireland
Homelessness is still very prevalent in our society and Tandem would like to continue to support Focus Ireland this year.

The Rainbow Club Cork, Centre for Autism
The Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism is a professional autism service provider. Supported by over 60 volunteers, their mission is to provide skills, support and a community hub for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

To celebrate Wish Week Tandem raised €600 with a ‘guess the number of sweets in the jar’ competition. Make-A-Wish Ireland raised over €40,000 during Wish Week to continue their work of granting wishes to seriously ill children. For Easter Tandem has fundraised to donate 250+ Easter Eggs to Focus Ireland and The Rainbow Club Centre for Autism. Tandem would like to thank everyone who have supported its fundraisers.

Engineers Week 2021

As part of our CSR Programme, Tandem’s Engineers participated in Engineers Week during Feb 27th – March 5th by hosting a series of virtual visits to transition year students in Cork. Engineers Week promotes the importance of engineering as a profession and aims to positively showcase engineering as a rewarding and creative career choice. Five engineers from Tandem gave presentations across the following disciplines: Electrical, CSA, Building Services and Process & Chemical Engineering.

Under normal circumstances Tandem would facilitate a week-long learning experience for transition year students at its headquarters. This year, our engineers delivered an overview of engineering as a career and their own career path to date. The presentations included their second and third level education journey, a description of the type of work & industries that their engineering discipline is typically involved in, their day-to-day activities in their engineering work and their career aspirations.

Oral Solid Dose Capabilities

Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) facilities, producing tablets & capsules, use well defined unit operations, regardless of production volumes or usage for single or multiple product manufacture. Facilities typically include Dispensing/Formulation; Blending; Granulation; Drying; Compression/Encapsulation; Coating; Packaging & Receiving/Warehousing Operations.

All OSD facility full life cycle project requirements can be designed & managed by Tandem’s team of Project Managers, Design Engineers, Construction Managers & CQV Engineers with extensive OSD experience.

Tandem will expertly deliver your desired project outcomes in Facility & Cleanroom design, Clean & Black utility design, HVAC design, OSD equipment unit operations including clean support process areas for quick turnaround without unacceptable risk of product exposure (i.e., dust & cross-contamination), Primary & Secondary Packaging operations, Serialisation & Warehouse design.

Tandem also deliver expertise in ATEX & process safety to ensure correct containment requirements are outlined & embedded in the design process. Our building services engineers provide extensive experience in BMS/EMS systems to support the monitoring of critical processes within an OSD facility.

Tandem Raises €14,000 for Focus Ireland in 2020!

In January Tandem announced that its charity partner for 2020 was Focus Ireland. The prevalence of homelessness in our society drove Tandem’s desire to play its part in a solution to this national crisis. Focus Ireland’s aim is to stem the tide of homelessness, initially by helping people to stay in their homes and then providing homes for them when this is not possible. Focus Ireland also offers the provision of a youth centred housing programme, this focuses on individuals that were in state care up to the age of 18, young people who have nowhere else to turn upon reaching that milestone age. This programme aims to put an end to a cycle of youth homelessness that would otherwise deepen the national crisis even further.

Tandem was a proud Business Network Ambassador for Focus Ireland during 2020. Over the course of the year Tandem participated in multiple Focus Ireland fundraising activities and completed a garden makeover project on a Focus Ireland property in Cork. Throughout the year, Tandem’s efforts combined with the garden project delivered a total fundraising of just over €14,000.00. A big thanks to Peter Dowdall for his expertise and support with the project!

In April, Tandem participated in two fundraising events, ‘The Next Step’ and the ‘Big Rebel Sleepout’ and in doing so raised over €5,100. In October, Team Tandem gave one night to change a lifetime by partaking the Shine A Light Night sleepout. Six members of the team came together virtually to sleep-out in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness, raising almost €5,200!

Tandem continues its efforts for Focus Ireland throughout December by participating in the Focus Ireland Christmas Jumper Day and from donations in lieu of Christmas cards.

Thank you to all of our colleagues, families and friends who have supported Tandem’s fundraising for Focus Ireland in 2020.

Spotlight on Services: Talent Solutions and on-boarding during COVID-19

2020 has been a year of significant changes and challenges posed to the talent management team and recruitment processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, we have continued to successfully hire into roles by embracing and quickly adapting to a new way of working with both our clients and candidates, albeit virtually! With the quick migration from the office or site, to remote working or a hybrid of remote/site set ups, this has meant that video conferencing tools have become an integral part of both the hiring and onboarding processes.

Candidates have seen a shift from face to face interviews to remote video calls along with onboarding from home without meeting other members of their team.

In response to that, we have seen companies surmount these new challenges by devoting time to ensuring positive experiences for new team members, ensuring equipment has arrived in advance of their first day, planned team introductions, regular virtual meetings, mentoring and formal training programmes being implemented.

It has been a pivotal year but one that has seen the successful transformation of new hiring and onboarding practices that may very well remain in some form in the future. It is testament to our ability to adjust to a new reality while continuing to do business in a safe and applicable way.

“Thanks to the help of Tandem and their client, the interview and the onboarding process has been very smooth. In spite of my concerns at the beginning because of this new situation, I feel completely engaged with the values of the company and within a team”. – Compliance Specialist, Dublin.