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30 | 12TH - 18TH JUNE 2015 | UTILITY WEEK Community COMPANY LINK DON'T MISS To advertise here call Sarah Wood on 01342 332077 or email sarah.wood@fav-house.com Datamere Software Datamere Software is the award winning software development company behind GMS©, the gas management system that offers a com- plete downstream solution for gas suppliers. Founded in 1998, Datamere has an impressive client portfolio of some of the biggest suppliers in the gas industry and has also built a reputation for offering services to new entrants to the market. The latest release, GMS V4© offers an interface inspired by the Windows 8 operating system and adopts many new features. GMS V4© will manage all industry flows, prospects, instant quoting, CRM, pricing, invoicing and portfolio management. The workflow management system allows a com- prehensive overview and a new transactional billing engine accommodates for increasingly complex pricing options. GMS V4© is also fully Project Nexus compliant. Our gas and power system, GENUS© is currently in development with a projected release date of December 2015. For more details please contact the office on 01625 525033 or visit www.datamere.co.uk Lowri Beck Services Ltd Mayors Quay, Swan Meadow Road, Wigan WN3 5BB Tel: 01942 771700 Lowri Beck is a leading independent service provider of Metering Systems, Data Capture, Data Management and Field Management services, offering innovative solutions to utilities and business throughout Great Britain. We support the electricity, gas and water markets with Manual and Automated Meter Reading, Data Collection and Aggregation, Meter Asset Provision, Installation and Mainte- nance services as well as providing a full suite of dual fuel Smart Metering services. Our dual-site Contact Centre provides a wide range of profes- sional outsourcing contact centre services, including overflow call handling and appointment management. Our mobile field management system, Companion, supports a range of operations with mobile handheld solutions ensuring improved data communications between office and field activities. Lowri Beck was established in 1996 and is experienced in offering tailored services and committed to delivering excellent service at realistic prices. For further information contact lbenquiries@lowribeck.co.uk Wheatley Broad Road, Bacton, Suffolk IP14 4HN Tel: 01449 781001 Website: www.wheatleysolutions.co.uk Wheatley is a UK software development company. We specialise in providing utility industry solutions for asset, data and workforce management. If you are looking to improve your customer service or increase your efficiency in data management or mobile service delivery we would be delighted to talk to you. With our vast experience of the UK metering business Wheatley provide mentorship to companies wishing to enter the meter operation and meter asset management markets. We are also heavily engaged in the UK's Smart Meter programme with software ready to support Smart Meter installations. The key solutions supplied are: • JUMBO – performs MAM operations for electricity and gas whilst holding information for all the metering systems managed by the host company. A key feature is the automated processing of DTC and RGMA flows. • Amethyst – As we move towards large scale Smart Meter deployments Amethyst is the ideal tool for the management of assets including HAN, WAN and IHDs alongside meters and is an essential tool to manage inven- tory and minimise cash tied up in stock. • Assign – a browser-based workforce scheduling solution enabling busi- nesses to increase the productivity of their mobile field operatives. • Smart Roll-out Optimiser – focuses on the critical areas of Smart Meter installation planning, customer engagement and workforce utilisation. Integrated Water Resources Management Conference 16 September, Holiday Inn, Birmingham The 4th annual Integrated Water Resources Management Conference offers the UK water sector a timely opportunity to consider the next steps in implement- ing the Water Framework Directive, bringing together the key stakeholders in sustainable water resource management. Join over 100 representatives at this CPD-Certified conference, part of Sustainable Water 2015, to discover the latest on strategic implementation of the WFD, examples of 'upstream thinking' and how to align company business plans with river basin management plans. Book online at: www.WWT-environment.net Reader of the week John Scott, director, Chiltern Power "The best management advice I've ever had is, never surprise your boss, even with good news" What was your first job? I thought I'd landed the perfect holiday job – working in a confectionery warehouse – until I discovered the weight of a gross of Mars bars. What are the best and worst parts of your job? The best is seeing the surge of bright young people getting engaged with innovation and bringing their fresh thinking into the power sector. The worst is the frightening bureaucracy that big companies perpetuate in areas such as placing small consultancy contracts, exposing their inability to apply discretion even at senior levels. What's your dream job? The project manager with a budget to ensure the provision of fast broadband connectivity along all rail routes. What a great service to the nation! What's your most treasured possession? It must be 'j', which is the neatest operator and loved by all power engineers. In the Hollywood film of your life, who would play you? The late James Doohan. What album is currently in your car CD player? The Sound of Silence. What's your favourite film and TV programme? Film: Paddington – just vetting it for my grandchildren, of course. TV: QI, for the displays of real- time lateral thinking – but sadly there are never any engineers on the panel. What quote or saying do you most overuse? Never surprise your boss, even with good news – the best management advice I've ever had. If you ruled the world, what would you do first? Mandate a common international plug. What's your favourite joke? I like the story about the dyslexic pimp who bought a warehouse.