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BSC AND ELECTRIC IRELAND
February/March 2014 • www.esb.ie/em
2013 ESB Third Level Education Awards draw for children of staff
ESB OFFERS THREE Third Level Education Awards to children of staff who are commencing full-time undergraduate degree and diploma level studies at an approved university or higher education institute within the EU. The draw is open to dependent children of regular full-time, part-time staff currently employed in ESB and ESB Innovation (including those on secondment), to children of staff receiving ongoing VSS payments and to children of retired and deceased staff. Each award is valued at €2,000 (subject to PAYE/PRSI) per year for a maximum of four years and is subject to satisfactory college performance and passing of the course examinations. There is a limit of one entry per student and a family may be in receipt of only one ESB Education Award at any time.
Selection is by an open draw and the 2013 Draw took place in November, 2013 at Head Office. The Education Awards Draw is managed by Recruitment and Staff Development, HR Operations, Business Service Centre.
The winners in the 2013 ESB Third Level Education Awards Draw are as follows:
Liam O'Reilly, ESB Networks Ltd: Daughter Rebecca
Teresa McMorrow, ESB Networks Ltd: Daughter Jill
Michael Bolton, Generation & Wholesale Markets: Son Conor
Congratulations to Sara Farrington
SARA FARRINGTON BSc (Surv) MSCSI, has recently been elected as a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland: an internationally recognised professional body that provides surveyors with a mark of excellence that is valued throughout the property industry worldwide.
The SCSI qualification demonstrates an adherence to the highest international professional and ethical standards.
Sara is part of the Estates Management team in Group Property, BSC. They provide professional expertise in property valuations, acquisitions and disposals as well as other property related advice.
For more information about Estates Management visit http://esbmoss/sc/bsc/BSC1/GroupPropFac/Es-tatesMgt/Pages/EstatesMgtHomepage.aspx.
Tackling litter and graffiti in Dublin city
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BSC launches new Staff Services app
February sees the launch of the ESB Staff Services app which has been developed for ESB staff on the move or not connected to the ESB corporate network and gives them access to a contact information on a range of staff services and organisations (e.g. Credit Union, MPF).
THE APP CAN BE viewed on a range of smartphones, tablets, PCs or laptops provided they have Internet access available through broadband, wi-fi or any internet connection. The website address for the app is http://esbstaffservices.com.
Save the website as an icon on your smartphone
This app is an interactive website that adapts itself to a smartphone screen, tablet or PC. You do not need to go to iTunes or Google Apps to locate this app, you just need to type in the website URL using a smartphone browser (e.g, Google, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.).
On an iPhone, use Safari or Google to browse to this website and then create the site icon using the ‘Add to Home Screen’ function. On other smartphones, just Google or YouTube similar instructions, ‘To save a website as an icon’ for your model of smartphone.
Staff and customer engagement
At the outset of the Customer Support Centre (CSC) project, customer focus groups comprising of you, our staff, were consulted to understand how people engage with the services offered by the BSC.
We found that many BSC customers do not have access to the ESB corporate network: network technicians doing LV, MV and HV work, many power station staff, ex-staff on VS and pensioners. This app was developed to provide access to basic information on staff services over the Internet via any type of device. No access to the corporate ESB network is required.
Your feedback
Version 1 of the app will launch in February and our plan is to evolve it to suit our customers’ needs. We are interested in your feedback on the app and would welcome any ideas or suggestions that you may have. Once the app has launched, please email your ideas and suggestions to our Customer Support Centre on csc@esb.ie (link also available through the app). This email can also be used for your feedback on the services we provide from the BSC.
Figure 2:
Examples of Staff Services that you can access using the Staff Services App
CSC Project: customer ipdate
In 2013, the CSC Project transitioned first level support for HO Facilities, HR & Payroll, Supplier Invoicing (Waterford) and ESB Staff Insurance onto the central BSC customer support number ext. 26699 (01 702 6699). Again, this was implemented as a result of ideas and suggestions from staff on how the BSC could simplify and improve its service to customers.
In 2014, as part of our on-going commitment to improve the level of customer service we provide to our customer, we will be running further customer focus groups on specific aspects of the BSC services. If you would like to be involved in any of these groups please email colette.connolly@esb.ie.
ADULT BRAVERY AWARD WINNER MICHAEL JOY
IN OCTOBER 2012 Michael Joy from our Credit Control Department in Limerick did as many a parent does and went down to his local GAA club for training with his son Cathal. What started as just another ordinary evening changed dramatically when Michael suffered a serious stroke. Initially it was thought that Michael was suffering from a gastric problem due to the nature of his collapse but thankfully Michael was correctly diagnosed in time. Michael credits three people with saving his life, the referee on the night who was trained in first aid, his wife Fiona who is a nurse and the Doctor on call who realised the full seriousness of what was wrong with Michael.
Having successfully diagnosed the problem there began for Michael a long road to recovery which involved stints in his local hospital St Camillus and also a comprehensive course of rehab in Dun Laoghaire. Michael set about that with a positive attitude and met or exceeded every target that was set for him Michael describes how sessions in Dun Laoghaire were scheduled to be 40 minutes long but that if you were putting in the effort and meeting your targets they continued beyond the allotted time. You can sense the pride in Michael's voice when he talks for example about the 40 becoming 45. It is that attitude and dedication to his recovery plan that allowed Michael to make the marvellous recovery he has in such a short time span. This culminated in Michael being nominated for and winning the 2013 Irish Heart Foundation ‘Life after Stroke Awards’ - Adult Bravery Award.
Michael is extremely grateful for all of the support he has received from all of his friends and colleagues and would particularly acknowledge the tremendous support his colleagues in Estuary House in Limerick continue to provide and also Andrew Giles, John Cunningham and Paul Cox who kept in touch and visited with him throughout his rehab. No article like this would be complete without reference to Michael's family, his wife Fiona and his children Ciara, Michelle and Cathal who have been with him every step of this long and painful journey. Michael, we wish you continued good health for the future.
Michael returned to work in November 2013. He will never forget that night, it has changed his life forever, he must watch what he eats and drinks, and ensure he maintains his exercise regime but if there is one message Michael could pass on to anyone with family or friends going through that same journey is to “remain positive, look for the light at the end of the tunnel and work towards it and above all try to match or beat any of the targets set for you by your carers”.
