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The Project

In 2017, Johnsons were awarded the Move Management of University College London’s Charles Bell House Services. The services encompassed taking full responsibility for the planning and management of the relocation of approximately 205 people from several locations across the UCL Estate to the newly refurbished Charles Bell House Building (CBH) including:

• Initial intensive fact-finding and familiarisation and confirmation of numbers and phasing
• Setting up and running relocation project meetings dealing specifically with the move
• Development of the full migration schedule, including requirements for any dual operation during the relocation period
• Developing and running a comprehensive staff communications programme
• Detailed planning work to capture the full detail of all laboratory equipment, samples and hazardous materials to relocate
• Liaison with UCL ISD to co-ordinate the relocation of servers, IT equipment and telephony
• Filing audits and reduction programme
• Procurement of and overall management of any further removal contractor(s) and management of thereafter
• Full site supervision during the relocation period
• ‘Day 1’ onsite assistance to ensure staff settle in post-move (where ‘Day 1’ refers to a team’s first day of operation in the new facility; onsite moves assistance will be provided throughout the period of dual operation).

Controlling the Project

To maintain control of the project, our Project Manager was required to develop a full migration strategy and move programme, which was continually reviewed throughout the scope of works, and in addition, developed and agreed relocation strategies and contingency plans for all items being relocated.

The management of the project was carried out in accordance with best practice, including drafting and updating of the following documents:

1.A Project Control Plan:
2.A Move Schedule detailing each occupancy and move phase
3.Relocation Project Business Continuity Plan, Risk Assessments and Risk Log
4.Project Risk and Hazard Log,
5.Preparation of Monthly Highlight Reports to include move management progress, cost status, anticipated changes, approvals and outstanding actions
6.Project Move Cost Plan, showing costs associated with all aspects of fulfilling the relocation.

Controlling Timescales and Ensuring a Positive Delivery

Due to the tight timescales of the project, our Project Manager submitted a list of key elements which we felt would provide us with the best knowledge and preparation for a successful project. These suggestions were taken on board by the University and during our pre-move meetings, were agreed to and ultimately proved to play a large factor in our efficacious completion of the project. These included:

• Prioritising and obtaining what OEMs were required for the project and securing their costs and services. Within the laboratory in The Cruciform Building, there was a certain amount of laboratory equipment (mainly analytical) that needed a variety of OEM technicians to complete decommissioning and recommissioning/recalibration work. Due to the time of the year that phase 1 relocations took place, we knew from experience that lead times for booking in OEM technicians can sometimes be in the region of 6 – 10 weeks.
• We provided a support Move Manager in our proposed delivery structure to work on the project as and when required. With the initial intensive fact-finding stage of the project planning key to moving the project forward, we looked to (if required) put our support Move Manager on site to assist the lead Move Manager with obtaining all necessary information for the relevant sub-contractors/key stakeholders to be engaged and managed.
• We engaged early with the lead UCL Project Manager and Construction Manager to understand the handover programme of the new building; whether this is all at the same time or if certain areas are released over a staggered period within each phase. This allowed us to understand any constraints when designing the delivery phase programme.
• Involved our in-house DGSA early in the process, which allowed us to highlight key specialist project risks and legal requirements for road transport. These were then built in the scope of work requirements for specialist/removal contractors to tender on within their required scope of works.

Services

• Project Move Management
• Chemical Transfers
• Scientific equipment relocation
• Decom/Recom specialist equipment
• Pack/ relocate/ unpack of general filing and paperwork crates and boxes

The Project

Following a successful tender submission, Johnsons Business Moves were awarded the opportunity to undertake the move management project at the University of Hertfordshire. This included of the relocation of; their Science Laboratory and teaching equipment, comprising of specialist equipment from the University’s existing science facilities to the New Science Building being constructed on another part of the campus.

The project was split into two phases; phase one we relocated approximately 35% of all items and phase two we relocated approximately 65% of the remaining items. Due to the split, we provided seven days of pre-planning to ensure all parties were aware of their responsibilities. Successful communication between ourselves, the University and additional contractors on site (Electricians, Gas Engineers and Specialist Equipment Engineers) was paramount for ensuring the project took place in accordance with the specification and all safety requirements.

Chemical Relocation

Johnsons provided 5 days of chemical moves with a fully qualified Chemical Technician and provided ADR Qualified Drivers. We moved over 6,000 different chemicals, making it one of the biggest chemical relocation’s we have carried out.

Challenges

With this project carrying a high element of risk in terms of the chemicals being decanted, the high value of the science apparatus and the sheer volume of equipment being relocated, during our site visits, we identified and collated a number of potential hazards which could prove to be problematic should they occur. We worked closely with the University and created a risk register which highlighted mitigation put in to place. These were monitored by the Project Move Manager, Johnsons’ QHSE Manager and the University throughout, ensuring the works were being carried out in accordance with the agreed methods.

Also included in the project:

• 2 days post move assistance per phase immediately after each phase was completed
• Crate hire including coloured labels to identify where items are to be placed
• Cages throughout the physical relocation days for larger items that wouldn’t fit in a crate
• IT crates for small desk top laboratory and IT equipment
• Safe protection, packing, transfer and unpacking of all specialist items
• Dedicated packing team for lab and office effects

The Result

The Project Move Manager provided a second to none service to the University. The professionalism of his team, their communication skills and integrity ensured all works were carried out on time.

The running of this project proved to be so successful that the University have requested an agreement to be drawn up between ourselves and them, for future works on site.