News

2022 in Reflection

2022 has been described as one of the fastest years by many, and at ATC, we can vouch for that. Like any business, it’s good to pause and reflect on the outcomes of one year before moving into the next. With that intention, we sat down with the Directors  to get their take on some of the key stand-out moments of 2022.

 

How would you describe 2022 in ATC? 

“ Fun, challenging, and rewarding.”

 

Let’s elaborate on those three words…

 

Fun 

 

New Brand: 

It was a great joy working with our new brand and seeing it roll out across our buildings, livery and digital presence over this past year. It is a true reflection of who ATC are today – 43 years later.

 

Expanding the Team:

ATC undertook a recruitment drive this year and continues to do so. As a #proudlyeuropean business, it has been our privilege to welcome new colleagues in new regions like Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, and all across ATC. A highlight has been getting to know our new colleagues and being present for the camaraderie among the team that has evolved.

 

New Facilities:

2022 marked the opening of two new facilities to add to the ATC family, with more to come in 2023. We look forward to sharing more with you in due course.

 

Fun Fact:

Our drivers have travelled a total of 1.55m KM in 2022, the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back – twice! A big part of our mission in 2023 is to improve the sustainability of those kilometres.

Challenging 

 

New HQ:

Like any building project, there will be days/weeks of pure despair while you try to keep the wheels of the business moving. Thankfully that time ended, and after two years of planning and construction, we finally opened our new HQ on October 14th – with just a little snagging remaining.

 

Recruitment:

On the flip side of welcoming our new colleagues into the business, the recruitment process has posed a significant challenge for ourselves and our industry generally.

It has been widely reported that there is a European driver shortage. To meet these challenges, ATC supports several apprenticeships, including the Commercial Driver Apprenticeship, to encourage our younger generations to get involved in the industry and realise the scope of opportunity.

We also recognise the importance of ensuring ATC is a happy workplace for our team. With that, we have put processes in place to ensure we understand our employee’s needs, reward them for their hard work and open up opportunities for career progression within the business.

 

Economic Climate:

Another challenge is on the macro level again and trying to navigate the costs and volatility of the world we live in.

 

Rewarding 

 

Where there are challenges come many rewards, and for us, there are a few that particularly stand out.

New Brand:

Launching our new brand has been a massive highlight this year. We wanted the branding to reflect who we are now and our clients. We could not be more pleased with the feedback we have received from our team, clients and partners to date. The icing on the cake was winning the Livery Award recently at the Fleet Transport Awards in Dublin.

 

Team Building:

Our team building and social events throughout the year have been very successful, enabling everyone to get involved and connect with each other in more meaningful ways and offer support in our respective roles by working together to come up with solutions that will support all teams.

 

New HQ:

Without a doubt, a significant milestone for the business was finally being able to move into our new HQ in Dublin and consolidate our different departments from two Dublin locations into one. We’re still pinching ourselves that we’re in. Some key features of the building include:

• 1050m² warehouse
• 410 m² office
• Dock levellers and loading bays
• TAPA Certified
• And don’t forget our Bee Hives

 

Everything you could possibly need.

 

Trade Mission in Frankfurt:

In June, we were honoured to have been selected by Enterprise Ireland to showcase our Frankfurt-based Operations HQ as part of their German Trade Mission. This trade mission was arranged to boost further trade collaboration between Ireland and Germany and mark the contribution of Irish companies, like ourselves, operating in Germany.

 

AWS in Communities – St Michaels: 

At ATC, it’s imperative to us that we can support selected charities and give back to our local communities. We have been involved in a couple of projects with AWSInCommunities, but our most recent project in St. Michaels was particularly poignant. We sponsored the installation of a much-needed new sensory room in the school, and we helped paint some common areas, including a stunning outdoor garden space that parents, teachers and students can enjoy. At the launch, everyone felt immense joy and pride for what we had created for this community as a team of businesses.

 

Sustainability Initiatives:

If you are regular readers of our blog, you will know that sustainability is important to us here at ATC. From introducing our first diesel-powered truck and vans into the business to our ongoing HVO trial, we’re on a busy but fascinating path to becoming a carbon-neutral business and giving our clients cleaner solutions for their supply chains.

Back in February, it was wonderful to receive the news that ATC had been acknowledged for our efforts in the EU Commission’s Report regarding the CSR uptake by European SMEs and start-ups under the areas of Decent Work, Consumer Issues, Environment, and Responsible Business Relations.

As we close off this year, we were delighted to recently receive a report that our new HQ has already achieved 62% energy independence!

 

 

Looking to the year ahead…

2023 will undoubtedly be another one to remember for ATC as we expand on many of the initiatives discussed above. For now, we want to take this opportunity to thank our team, partners and clients for their support in making these goals of ours a reality.

We wish you and yours a prosperous 2023.

 

Keith, Alan and Patricia Young 

ATC Sponsors New Sensory Room for Dublin School

Once again, we were delighted to receive a call from Thomas Carroll, Ambassador for the Dublin AWSInCommunities team, inviting us to work on a very special project for a local Dublin school.

St. Michael’s House Special National School in Baldoyle has a clear mission: “To promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of our pupils and prepare them for opportunities, responsibilities and the experiences of adult life”.

Currently, the school supports 60 students with physical and mental disabilities. They have 11 classes with teachers and 5 nurses. We were honoured to lend our support to bring Principal Anna Lombard’s vision to life by upgrading the much-needed Sensory Room – a space for the children to go to relieve pain and relax as they watch the colourful lights and listen to calming music.

The room is furnished with big soft bean bags and low padded benches placed against the backdrop of dark blue walls and dim lighting to protect the calming atmosphere.

 

ATC staff also assisted with painting the playground, hallways, canteen and staff areas. Our team were particularly fascinated by the school’s sensory garden, which the AWSInCommunities team have now covered so that the children can use it no matter what season it is.

 

 

On Friday, the 11th of November, we all gathered in the Sensory garden for the official cutting of the ribbon. The school’s Principal, Anna Lombard, said that she was totally overwhelmed by the work completed, and the children presented heart-warming thank-you cards for everyone present.

We hope that the children of St Michael’s find joy and comfort from these new spaces, and once again, we would like to thank AWSInCommunities for inviting us to be part of such a wonderful project.

Deborah Murray

ATC Introduce Beehives at European HQ

At ATC, we are always looking for ways to push our sustainability efforts further. With that intention, we recently installed Beehives at our European Headquarters in Dublin to support pollination in our local area.

Alongside the beehives themselves, we have planted fruit trees and bee-friendly shrubs and bushes that will provide food and nectar during the Spring and Summer months for the hives in the sheltered part of the property.

Today we wanted to highlight why we decided to implement beehives on our property and why we encourage other businesses and homeowners to do the same on their property – if possible.

 

The Importance of Bees for Our Crops

Are you aware that Wild Bees and Honeybees are responsible for pollinating fruit, vegetables, and wild plants?

Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of global crops depend on pollination. One in every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees. The pollination of crops such as apples, strawberries, and vegetables shows that pollinators are a vital contributor to our economy, with an estimated annual value of at least €35 million in the Republic of Ireland.

Why Bees are Facing Extinction

Populations of bumblebees and solitary bees all over Ireland have shrunk dramatically in the past 30 years, with ONE-Third of all species being threatened with extinction.

In Ireland, we have one type of managed Native Irish Honeybee and 98 different Wild Bees, which include 21 Bumblebees and 77 Solitary bees. Solitary bees are key to pollination.

As the food supply for bees decreases (flowers) and their safe nesting places, such as long grasses and woods, are lost, bees are becoming endangered, and about one-third are facing extinction. Potent chemical cocktails comprising insecticides, fungicides and herbicides have also contributed to their decline; Insecticides are known to kill, harm and disorientate pollinators. Herbicides that kill the ‘weeds’ are also harmful to bees.

 

How Can We Support the Survival of Bees

Businesses and schools can sign up with AIP – The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which will guide them with information around setting up and maintaining a suitable environment for their hive.

Farmers can use the sparing and land-sharing concept, where crops are interplanted with bee-friendly plants. In urban areas in some countries, the rooves of bus stops have been planted with flowers to encourage bee populations.

Plant a bee-friendly garden with trees such as Willow, Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly and Crab apple. Also, plant nectar and pollen-rich plants on your property, such as Snowdrops, Crocus, Grape, Hyacinth and Alliums, to provide early food for emerging pollinators the following Spring. Bee bombs can be ordered online from www.Beebomsbireland.com, which will help you grow bee-friendly flowers in your garden and along roadsides.

Create areas in your garden for solitary bees to make their homes, such as soil embankments, stone walls, and long grassy areas. Build a bee hotel with cones, sticks, tiles and pallets in a quiet garden corner to encourage solitary bees to stay. Allow your lawn to grow with dandelions (these are a vital food source for bees in Spring), and mow only every six weeks.

Eliminate the use of herbicides, insecticides and pesticides as these poison bees and disorientate them.

Key Considerations Before Installing a Hive

Bees can be kept in a variety of places, including rooftops, back gardens, orchards, farm fields, business sites etc. Regardless of location, it is imperative that your bees must not interfere with the rights of other people in their homes or work environments. The beehive site should be:

• Easily accessible for the beekeeper.
• Secured from predators, including animals and ‘humans’.
• Sheltered from the wind and should not be sited facing the prevailing wind.
• Ideally, an apiary site should be shaded by deciduous trees. While colonies can benefit from the Autumn, Winter, and Spring sun, in the Summer, these same hives can overheat. Thus, the beekeeper must ensure their hives are kept as cool as possible.
• Hives should have an adequate food and water source. Remember, bees will forage within a 6 km radius of the hive, so this needs to be considered.
• Ideally, hives should be sited with the entrance facing south or southeast.

Note: beekeepers need to be suited up in appropriate clothing before going near their hives.

 

The Process of Installing a Hive

Once a new site for a hive has been selected and the new hive installed, the existing beehive can be covered over with a muslin cloth the evening before the move. As early as possible the next morning, the hive is moved to the new site.

During transportation, the hive must be secured to prevent damage, and the roof is left off to keep the bees cool. At the new site, the hive is opened, the muslin cover is removed, and the crown board is replaced. The colony is left to settle for a few weeks before being inspected. Hives should only be moved in early Spring.

 

The Maintenance of a Hive

Beehives are the colony’s home and need regular maintenance, from sterilising parts once a year after a comb change to repairing gaps in the wood to prevent draughts, pests, or robbers. A hive should be kept so that bees are happy there, as they will move if they are not. Sterilising prevents pests and disease in larvae.

The beekeeping year runs from January through December.

Understandably some months are busier than others, with April through September being the busiest months. During the busy season, beekeepers are primarily concerned with preventing colonies swarming. This involves checking each colony weekly/fortnightly until you have successfully controlled swarming. Records are kept for each colony, being completed after each visit.

 

At ATC, we are committed to sustainable environmental practices, and we believe that every small contribution counts towards improving our environment, our communities, and the world around us.

We have found this whole process fascinating, and we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our beekeeper Nessa Friel for her expertise, guidance and insights around this project.

 

Deborah Murray

Executive Assistant

 

Further information can be found at:

• The Bee Book by Fergus Chadwick et al
• Learn these top 10 facts about bees | WWF
• www.Beebomsbireland.com
• pollinators.ie 

Empowering Our Leadership Team with Onsite Training in Frankfurt

Last month, our leadership team travelled from near and far for a 3-day onsite leadership training session at our Frankfurt facility.

 

As our team continues to grow, these training sessions are imperative to encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and most importantly, to get to know one another.

 

While our team may be distributed across Europe, it is important to us that we develop a unified approach to processes for everyone’s benefit.

 

During the 3-day session, what was evident, and I’m sure something witnessed in companies worldwide, is that we all experience the same opportunities and challenges. It was fantastic to see our leaders unpacking these opportunities and challenges and determining solutions that will positively impact their roles, teams, and customers.

 

We have always said that the greatest asset is our team. Empowering our teams to do such work has been deeply engrained in our value system from when we were just a small team operating from of Dublin. To that end, we promote a development culture by investing in training like this and encouraging our colleagues to be open-minded and view every challenge as an opportunity to innovate and improve our work practices.

 

During this time, we also gained invaluable insights from Psychologist Roisin Russ. Roisin works with organisations providing training around well-being and management styles as the team expands in each region.

 

The well-being of our employees is of utmost importance to us, so exploring ways to manage stressful scenarios and instilling time management skills will assist with the fast-paced environment of ATC is something that we are constantly working on improving.

 

We can’t thank Roisin enough for her energy, professionalism and insight.

 

Reflecting on this gathering, the team commented on how the session encouraged them to explore challenges as opportunities and to be proactive in communicating with our European colleagues to ensure that a unified approach is maintained.

 

We look forward to keeping this positive momentum with our next session ahead of Christmas. In the meantime, ATC has a variety of exciting career opportunities open should you be interested in joining our growing team.

 

 

Drené Potgieter

Leadership and Development Coordinator

ATC Unveils Battery Powered Truck at Irish Trade Mission in Frankfurt

On Monday 13th of June, 2022, as part of the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Germany, ATC Computer Transport and Logistics GmbH, welcomed delegates from the government and Enterprise Ireland to their Operations HQ in Mörfelden, Frankfurt. The purpose of the trade mission was to boost further trade collaboration between Ireland and Germany and mark the contribution that Irish companies are delivering to the market, creating employment and forging strong innovation partnerships with German companies.

 

The visit to ATC recognised the contribution of ATC to the German market over the past 5 years, employing over 30 people in Germany and establishing an operations centre.

 

Since 1979, ATC has been helping global technology and cloud services companies ensure their assets are safely delivered and installed across Europe with precision and care.

 

The topic of discussion for this trade visit was sustainability and the steps ATC is taking to achieve its ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral company.

 

Dr Keith Young, Managing Director of ATC, said, “We were delighted to welcome Minister Troy to our premises and are appreciative to Enterprise Ireland of the wonderful opportunity this has brought to build great relations in trade. We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the story of ATC from its humble beginnings in Dublin to an expansive footprint across Europe with 118 Employees across 7 Jurisdictions – and counting.”

 

The visit commenced with a tour of the TAPA FSR-specification 1,749m² secure facility, where ATC has just recently celebrated its 5th anniversary in Frankfurt. Dr Young introduced the delegation to some of the sustainable practices ATC has implemented to reduce the business’s carbon footprint, including a demonstration of ATC’s newly-ordered Volvo Battery Powered Truck.

 

“Supported by the German government, we are initiating our long-term strategy of being a carbon-neutral business by introducing two zero-emission Volvo FE 26-ton electric trucks for Frankfurt-local data centre deliveries,” explains Dr Young.

 

The ATC team explained to the delegation how this model can drive for up to 300km without charge while emitting zero tailpipe emissions. With a power output of up to 490KW, the electric option also stands on par with diesel engines.

 

The tour concluded with a brief presentation of ATC’s 5-year history in Frankfurt, starting with a team of just 2 people to 28 currently with a live recruitment drive underway through the support of apprenticeship schemes. Dr Young described ATC as “An Irish Mittelstand company in Germany.”

An Interview with Our Logistics Associate Apprentice: Jeffrey Boyce

As another of our apprentices from the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship completes his 2-year course, we sat down with Jeffrey Boyce to hear about his experience.

 

Why did you choose to take part in the Logistics Associate Apprenticeship?

The Logistics Associate Apprenticeship is a fantastic entry-level point for school leavers, mature students or career changers. It is a 2-year higher certificate course with apprentices working 4 days a week and attending TU Dublin for 1 day a week.

I had previous experience as a production operative and forklift driver in a busy horticulture greenhouse. When I heard about this programme, I viewed it as the entry point I needed to get into the logistics industry.

It gives you the chance to earn and learn. When researching companies and applying for apprenticeships, one company that stood out for me was ATC.

ATC was very different from other companies. What stood out to me is that they had a specialised area of operation in the ever-growing data centre industry.

 

What advantages do you feel the apprenticeship program has given you to get ahead of others in the industry?

This programme allows the apprentice to gain valuable experience on the job while gaining the academic knowledge to complement this. Following on from the two-year higher certificate, apprentices can then enter full-time education or continue with part-time, blended learning and work to gain more experience and knowledge.

I personally believe the emphasis on learning on the job gives the apprentice an unrivalled advantage over a full-time student within the same industry. Gaining experience and an academic qualification at the same time is key to filling the shortage of skilled workers within the industry, and this has been well executed by all parties involved in the planning and running of this programme.

 

What have you enjoyed about being an apprentice at ATC?

I’ve enjoyed my time at ATC as an apprentice. My mentor has been a great help and very supportive to me. He has always been on hand to help in the on-the-job development, but would also lend a hand with any assignment or project I struggled with.

I began my ATC journey out on the road with our installation team serving all our customer’s needs. During that time, I enjoyed gaining the basic knowledge of the companies’ operations and improving my teamwork and communication skills. Coming towards the end of my apprenticeship, I have changed my role and am currently the transport planner for our Dublin region. Using my exposure and experience of our day-to-day operations in Dublin, over the last year-and-a-half, has definitely helped me in my new role.

 

Tell us about your future plans now that you have completed your apprenticeship.

After finishing out my apprenticeship exams and project, I am hoping to go on and further my studies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. I hope to undertake the Level 7 degree course in Logistics and Supply Chain Management run by CILT in conjunction with IT Carlow.

ATC has been great in encouraging apprentices to continuously learn on the job, by regularly introducing us to new tasks as well as supporting our further education from the applicable academic institutes.

Overall, the apprenticeship programme has been a great experience for me. As a mature student, I entered into education for the first time since leaving school. The TU Dublin lecturers and Declan Allen created a very warm and welcoming experience to cater to all our needs during the programme.

 

ATC Now Taking Applications for Logistics Associate Apprentice

ATC is currently recruiting for an apprentice to join our team in Dublin. The Logistics Associate Apprentice will work as part of the team that plans and coordinates routes across Ireland, the UK and Europe, as well as daily manpower allocations in Dublin, London, Frankfurt and Milan.