Avalon found out about the contract after being approached by the lighting manufacturer for whom they had performed previous installations.

In order to provide high-definition media coverage, the Velodrome required massive 16 metre lights to be installed. Being able to lift and fit the lights using rope access removed the cost and space associated with traditional scaffolding.

Phil Boyce, Managing Director at Avalon, says ‘The contract to work on the Velodrome was really exciting. The principal contractor created a very collaborative work environment where our expertise was well received, which was inspiring and provided great networking opportunities. A number of contractors on the park who saw our work also contracted us to finish further jobs in difficult to reach areas. As a bigger, more challenging contract for us as well, it has given us an opportunity to grow. We were able to take on ground staff through the ODA recruitment programme, which has been very useful and whom we still have on our payroll.’

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Avalon having recently formed a joint venture with Kuwaiti based company USM, undertook the contract with USM/Turner FM.Within days a team of Abseilers and a safety officer had started the job.The full building clean was undertaken and completed by the deadline. The General Manager was very pleased with the results achieved by the Avalon Rope Access team and the Hotel Missoni which is part of the Rezidor Hotel group (also Radisson Hotels) is now looking fantastic.

Avalon are looking forward to returning to Kuwait in the next few months on further projects.

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After the success of other local authorities using the ground breaking system, Avalon insulated 32 high rise blocks giving 1200 homes the benefit of warmer (and cooler) dwellings.

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Rewarded for their innovative approach to insulating high rise buildings, Avalon Abseiling were among such industry leaders as Linklaters, Bank Sarasin and the Campaign for Clean Air in London in being named one of the Sustainable City Awards winners.

Avalon Abseiling were recognised for their unique project installing cavity wall insulation in high rise Camden flats whilst abseiling, a first for the building industry. Last year, the government allocated £84 million to insulate high rise council flats in London to reduce the excessively high heating costs for some of the capital’s poorest residents. To provide access, scaffolding was the obvious choice yet is the least green form of access. Thousands of tons of CO2 are generated during the production of the steel scaffold tubes and the heavy lorries required to transport the scaffolding are incredibly environmentally detrimental. It’s also incredibly expensive, dangerous and an open invitation to burglars. As a green alternative, Avalon Abseiling worked closely with the London Borough of Camden to develop an insulation system using abseiling ropes. Not only did the method appreciably reduce CO2 emissions but reduced costs by over 40% which equates to between £1m and £2m for Camden alone providing the best value for local public funds.

Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development at the City of London Corporation comments, “AVALON’s achievement is particularly notable as they faced very stiff competition. Despite these being hard times for businesses, we have seen unprecedented numbers coming forward for recognition in this years awards. Green technologies not only offer genuine cost savings, but offer businesses the change to diversify into new products and services that can give them a spring board for rapid growth as the economy thaws.”

Avalon Abseiling were shortlisted in both the “Tackling Climate Change” and “Environmental Management in Small and Medium Enterprises” categories.

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John Newman and Philip Boyce receiving the award at the City of London Awards (3rd November 2010)

It reflects Avalon’s spirit of awareness and needs of the passing public and regard for the surrounding environment. John Newman and Phil Boyce were presented with the Gold Award when they attended the awards ceremony held at Merchants Taylors’ Hall, Threadneedle St. John Newman Said “Avalon Access are very proud to receive this award and are very happy to be recognised for the standards that we set and have exceeded, Avalon Access offers the service and support clients deserve, we value our customers, and work diligently to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget”

Insulating the homes via abseiling will be 40% cheaper for Camden, but it is not only money that is saved as insulating the homes via abseiling saves a lot of time due to the fact that there is no need to put up expensive and unsightly scaffolding.

The main benefactors of the project will be the residents.  Improved insulation will help them save as much as £80 a year in bills as well as significantly reducing CO2 omissions.

In addition to this it is with great pride that we can announce that the terrific progress of Avalon Abseiling was recognised with the achievement of being finalists in the category of “Business of the Year” as well as earning a commendation in the category of “Innovation”; rounding off a highly successful evening.

Note to editors:

Avalon Abseiling Ltd was started over 13 years ago and now offers a comprehensive range of services to the construction industry, local authorities, commercial, retail sectors and the rail industry. Maintenance, cleaning, building refurbishments and bird prevention works benefit from the use of rope access methods by not having to turn structures into conventional “building sites”. This alleviates the attendant problems scaffold can bring, such as disruption to public access, and increased security risks.

Over the last four years Avalon Abseiling Ltd has evolved into a group of companies that can now deliver a specialised service package to our customers.