Clients

The engineering discipline Transition Engineering, of which Daniel Kenning and Splendid Engineering are world leaders, is applicable to all complex engineered systems. This means that clients from all sectors, dependent on engineered systems to meet customer needs, can benefit from implementing this discipline; these clients have all benefitted from the work of Splendid Engienering to help them move closer to Real Sustainability.

• InnovateUK provides in the region of £500m each year in grant funding for innovation and research to develop new, better, and more sustainable technologies. The client needs innovation, engineering and sustainability experts to monitor the projects that it funds.
• Splendid Engineering has provided consultancy services to monitor, review and approve on behalf of the client all the research deliverables and contractual commitments of over 120 projects so far.

• The Council asked Splendid Engineering to assess the viability of a wind turbine as a revenue-generation measure to mitigate the cuts in public funding announced in the Spending Review of 2010.
• Splendid Engineering completed a Financial Appraisal that demonstrated significant financial returns for the community. We then led a feasibility study, including commissioned studies into network connection, flicker, noise, aviation, radio, ecology and visual impact. We then organised a fully consultative public enquiry and public exhibition to gauge public support.
• Testimonial:
  “Daniel was too good not to employ”.
  Peter Chisnall, Environment and Waste Manager, Braintree District Council
• The study proved the wind turbine technically feasible and financially viable (even without government incentives), and supported by the public. For other unrelated reasons the project was not progressed.

• The client wanted to know whether a new water-efficient semiconductor technology would be eligible for the UK Government Water Saving Technology list.
• Splendid Engineering assessed the technology, confirmed it was eligible, and helped apply for the accreditation.
• The technology was successfully accredited and is eligible for cost-saving tax exemptions, making it more affordable for BOC customers.

Testimonial:
“Daniel has a wealth of direct experience and contacts in the field of sustainability. His input provided valuable focus and strategic direction, challenging my direction of equipment engineering for semiconductor and solar applications to incorporate sustainable principles.”
Phil Chandler, General Manager, BOC Edwards.

• The client asked Splendid Engineering to deliver its “International Diploma in Environmental Management” to overseas clients.
• Daniel Kenning has delivered the diploma to a range of professionals in Belfast, to copper mines staff in Zambia, to oil and gas sector managers in Dubai and to numerous classes in London.
• In Zambia the delegates, Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) staff at two large copper mines, were able to share their learning to more than 6,000 colleagues during the first year after the diploma. At least one delegate is now approaching a UK Masters in Environmental Management.
• Testimonial:
  “You do not know how you motivated me. You stirred me to do a masters in environmental management and sustainability and I can tell you that Zambia needs more of sustainability programs”
  Wisdom Mataka, Environmental Coordinator, Mopani Copper Mine, Zambia

• The Council needed to replace an obsolete Combined Heat and Power unit at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre, used for heating the swimming pool and powering the chillers for the ice rink, and they wanted Splendid Engineering to provide the engineering expertise to source a suitable supplier.
• Splendid Engineering approached the incumbent supplier and others and organised a competitive tendering process including the design, supply and installation of a replacement CHP system. This had to be achieved without interrupting operations at Riverside.
• A new supplier was identified, and the CHP system has been duly replaced.

• The Diocese invited Splendid Engineering to help to deliver the environmental objectives of the fifth mark of mission “to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth”.
• Splendid Engineering has completed a sustainability review of diocesan offices and clergy houses, with help using online foot-printing tools, and advice on low cost improvements that can be adopted the diocesan estate.
• Chelmsford Cathedral became the first cathedral to achieve the “Eco-Congregation” award in April 2009. Splendid Engineering shared this work at the “Cathedrals and Sustainability” conference in 2009.  Several steps have been taken since by the Diocese as a result of the advice provided, including a major programme of insulation and the creation of a new “Environment Champion” post.

• Wollters Kluwer, formerly Croner, publish various trade journals for environmental and sustainability professionals, and asked for articles
• Splendid Engineering has written many articles published by Croner and Wollters Kluwer covering subjects including Energy Security, Corporate Social Responsibility, Intelligent Buildings, Energy Management, Procurement, and Transition Engineering.

• Energy21 was founded and run for 10 years by Jackie Carpenter. When she stepped down the trustees asked Daniel Kenning to find a way to take on the charity’s work; managing a network of 84 UK organisations promoting renewable energy, in the absence of funding.
• Splendid Engineering approached the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Wales, which already ran a network of individual members, and negotiated the transfer of the Energy21 network into the stewardship of CAT.
• The organisations which were brought together by Energy21 are now connected through the network managed by CAT.

• Smiths Group asked EnvironUK and Splendid Engineering to run a series of “Eco-Design” workshops to improve the design of products in the aerospace, medical, marine and detection divisions.
• Splendid Engineering provided design, engineering for sustainability consultancy and training. Through four workshops and four site visits, the in-house engineers were enabled to re-design existing products using “sustainability” as a new lens through which to view the designs.
• The engineers realised environmental improvements and also significant cost savings and increased quality.  

Testimonial:
“Daniel provided expert guidance to Smiths Group during an innovative eco-design demonstrator project in 2003. Great to work with and helped us think differently about the design and end-of-life disassembly of key products.”
Jonathan Garrett Director of Sustainability, Smiths Group

• The client wanted to understand its existing waste management system and to identify improvements.
• Splendid Engineering completed an on-site initial review of office waste arisings, involving a one-day 100% collection and assessment exercise.
• The client was able to implement cost-saving separation measures to keep waste streams clean, including a change from a paid-for paper collection to a revenue-generating paper collection for clean used white A4 copy paper.

• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers asked Daniel Kenning to review the status of engineering for sustainable transport, and to write a policy statement for publication by the institution.
• Daniel worked with Duncan Kay, an engineer and former Transport Adviser to the Sustainable Development Commission, to create the hierarchical approach to the engineering and design of sustainable transport systems.
• The study led to the publication by IMechE of the Policy Statement on Sustainable Transport “The Transport Hierarchy”.

• The university wanted the students on its “Masters in Engineering Management” course to access the Transition Engineering methodology.
• Splendid Engineering provided and delivered a 6 week taught module, including lectures and a lot of student participation, an assignment to reinvent a modern electro-mechanical product for a post-peak-oil world, a presentation and a (nerve wracking) “elevator pitch”, and also ran a pilot of a 1-day CPD course on Transition Engineering.
• The students all applied the Transition Engineering methodology to their projects, all passed the module, and all demonstrated the capability to use Transition Engineering in the real world.

Testimonial:
“Very attractive and relevant content, eye opening facts as well as possible solutions to accomplishing sustainability. Also educates you on how to come up with your own solutions.”
Delegate on pilot CPD course

• After the introduction of the1996 Home Energy Conservation Act, the council wanted an “Energy Officer” to implement a district-wide energy efficiency strategy covering social housing, advice giving, and council buildings.
• Splendid Engineering provided the “Sustainable Energy Officer” as a part time consultancy service for two years, during which time we created the first Maldon Energy Strategy. The collaborative process of engagement with all local stakeholders included a stakeholder workshop, Maldon’s first “Energy Fair” and a full public consultation.
• As a result of the high level of buy-in secured by the stakeholder process, the Energy Strategy was adopted in 2004 with no objections; a rarity for any strategy at the council.

• The National Energy Foundation wanted an industry wide review and update of the state of funding mechanisms supporting wood fuel production.
• Splendid Engineering completed the review and disseminated findings at the Wood Pellet Fuel Production Conference hosted by the National Energy Foundation and supported by DEFRA (as was), the British Pellet Club and the Logpile network.

• The client wanted to know what it would take to create and implement an Environmental Management System comply with ISO 14001 Environmental Management standard, which was a potential requirement of one of its major customers. The client especially wanted to ensure the system could be implemented by the company staff in their normal daily activities, to it becoming a dusty set of ignored files on a shelf.
• Splendid Engineering advised on the essence of an Environmental Management System, the main principles of ISO 14001, and produced an implementation programme, including proposals for communicating to and with the various stakeholder groups in the company.

• The facilities team at the Royal Albert Hall wanted help to develop a Sustainability Strategy. After a very major refurbishment programme that did not include any sustainability considerations, there was a need but no budget for addressing sustainability.
• Working alongside the British Safety Council, Splendid Engineering proposed and implemented a series of strategy workshops with internal stakeholders in the Hall.
• A high level of engagement was secured around the sustainability strategy, different departments established consensus where before there had been little collaboration. The client was able to use the outputs from the workshops to develop the strategy, and was extremely happy

Testimonial:
“It was first class and I think has enabled the Hall, with the help of the British Safety Council team, to make a really good start on raising awareness and starting the journey towards  responsible environmental behaviour”
David Elliott, Chief Executive.

• The Vehicle Design department has a programme of teaching activities around “sustainability” and wanted the students on the Masters in Vehicle Design course to have access to the latest thinking in design for sustainability, and asked Splendid Engineering to deliver a lecture and workshop for the students.
• Splendid Engineering delivered a lecture and workshop on the application of the “transition engineering” approach to design.

Testimonial:
“very clear engaging style”
Studio Tutor, Vehicle Design

• Smart Planning asked for help meeting the sustainability requirements of the planning application for a landmark new large house, designed by the renowned classicist architect Quinlan Terry.
• Splendid Engineering completed a design review and provided design recommendations to enable the building, even allowing for the constraints of the classical design, to achieve the EcoHomes “Very Good” rating (the predecessor to the Code for Sustainable Homes).
• The design review was accepted by the client, although for other unrelated reasons the project did not proceed to construction.

• TEM was the very first client of Splendid Engineering.
• As recycling legislation increasingly constrained the dumping of used tyres in landfill, the client wanted to develop new applications for its technology for recycling the rubber in tyres.
• Splendid Engineering worked with several potential customers on the use of recycled rubber in low cost, durable, UV-resistant coatings for roofing and for damp proof membranes in buildings.
• Unfortunately history intervened; after the 2001 attacks in the USA, this American client withdrew from its European operations and the project for which Splendid Engineering was hired was not progressed further.