Wanted: First class in-house graphic designer

We are looking for a creative graphic designer to join our marketing team. The right candidate will have a background in graphic design for both print and the web and have an impressive portfolio of work.They will also have meticulous attention to detail, first class typography and layout skills. This is a new role within the sales and marketing team at Ferno, and the successful candidate will be responsible for:
•    Leading the creative strategy on the development of the group’s marketing collateral including print, web, SEO and CMS in conjunction with our external agencies
•    Deliver cost-effective campaigns ensuring the highest creative standards and a sound ROI
•    Manage concept and design development of all creative work for print and web
•    Expertise in the use of design suites such as Adobe In Design, Adobe Illustrator, Quark, Photoshop etc
•    Regular website maintenance.
•    Create and consistently update design and content of PowerPoint presentations for internal and external use
•    Oversee design and development of trade advertising, exhibitions, all events and additional materials
•    Manage the company’s social media policy and implementation of its development in conjunction with our external agencies

As you can see from our blog Ferno is a world leading innovator, manufacturer and supplier of medical equipment to Emergency Medical Services, Fire & Rescue Services, Hospitals and other major industries throughout the UK.
Based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire we are committed to providing high performance, state-of-the-art products designed to ensure the best care and comfort for patients while ensuring the carers’ safety and well being.
Drop an email with your CV and a covering note to our Sales & Marketing Director Simon Shepherd or through the Total Jobs website.

Meet you at the Emergency Services Show

We will be unveiling a range of new equipment to hundreds of emergency services professionals next month at the Emergency Services Show 2012.
The show, which takes place on November 21-22 at Stoneleigh, Coventry, is the largest of its kind in the UK and brings together a wide range of emergency service professionals including paramedics, police, fire personal, mountain rescue and clinicians.
We will be showcasing our new EZ Glide® PowerTraxx™, the Harrier LT and LT-LBS ambulance trolleys (see the video above) and ACETECH, our fully-integrated vehicle performance monitoring and control system for emergency response vehicles as well as its wide range of evacuation equipment.
The EZ Glide chair had been designed to meet the demanding needs of medical and disaster response services. Patients can be moved up and down stairs safely and the operator has full control at all times; able to slow, stop or even reverse direction at the touch of a button. A patented built-in safety circuit limits downhill speed, even when power has been lost.
The EZ Glide PowerTraxx leads the industry with its 227kg weight capacity and large seating area which along with the extending footrest, provides a more comfortable experience for larger patients while the innovative features work with the caregivers to ensure a safer transport for all.
The chair can also be employed to move equipment up and down stairs and a range of accessories are available such as padded headrest and oxygen cylinder holder. For those who already own the original Ferno EZ Glide® a retro-fit kit is available.
“The EZ Glide is the first chair of its kind in the industry,” says Jon Ellis our managing director. “It has multiple uses as a stair chair, evacuation chair or transport chair - capable of maneuvering over kerbs and rough terrain. It comes with powered tracks that deploy easily to eliminate the need for lifting or carrying while ascending or descending stairs, reducing the risk of injury to medical staff.”
The Harrier LT is a lightweight trolley which combines exceptional lifting power with a high capacity battery. It is the only powered ambulance trolley in the UK capable of lifting up to 350kg – and it will perform an amazing 77 lifts of 100kg with just a single battery charge.
Finally, the ACETECH system is the first of its kind for UK emergency medical vehicles and provides system wide, on-board intelligence to improve ambulance vehicle efficiency and safety, while reducing an ambulance service’s operating and fuel costs.
Jon says: “Ambulance trolleys need to be easily maneuverable and quickly secured within the vehicle – these considerations are an absolute must. But to perform the task to maximum efficiency you also need a trolley which can lift and carry heavier patients without risk of injury to the operator and without needing frequent battery charges.”`
Ferno will be exhibiting on stands 556 and 156 Emergency Services Show 2012.

Come and work with Ferno: We are looking for a Business Development Manager

We are hiring again! We are looking for a Business Development Manager to manage and develop the Scottish and North of England region, working with organisations of all sizes across the public, private and charitable sectors.
You will be joining a fast-moving, customer focused business and will help us to continue to achieve our ambitious development plans.
This is a dynamic, pro-active and self-driven sales role working with both established customers and new prospects. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a busy diary of meaningful appointments which generate sales. You will communicate regularly with colleagues at our head office based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, as well as being part of a successful team of other Business Development Managers across the UK.
You’ll thrive in working for a company that supports you to achieve the autonomy to develop strategic sales plans that fit the region and your approach. You’ll need a proven track record of success in business development, particularly in business-to-business sales and be creative, professional, engaging and precise.
You’ll need to be confident with dealing with customers at all levels, building on existing relationships as well as creating new opportunities. You will be organised and take a structured approach to work, ensuring effective diary planning and time management.
Whilst experience in working with the emergency services or medical related sectors would be desirable, strong business development skills and the ability to learn are key to success in this role. You will be based from home within Scotland or North East England.
Interested? Drop an email with your CV and a covering note to our Sales & Marketing Director Simon Shepherd.

Come and see us at the Funeral Directors' Conference

We are launching our Coffin Buggy - a new lightweight body lifting solution – at the British Institute of Funeral Directors Conference in Harrogate tomorrow.
The Coffin Buggy has been developed for funeral directors and morticians who have long demanded a more compact and diverse answer to solve common issues associated with other lifting equipment.
The coffin buggy features a ribbed rubber top to protect the coffin and prevent slippage, and swivel castors with double wheels for extra load bearing and to enable the buggy to run on all floor surfaces.
The Coffin Buggy, which weighs just 3.5kgs and can bear loads of up to 200kgs, will be on show on October 26-27 at the BIFD Conference at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate alongside Ferno’s extensive range of funeral and mortuary equipment including the Ferno X Lifter.
The X Lifter makes it possible for anyone to single handedly easily load and unload a coffin rack. It is also super lightweight. It is 5kgs lighter than any similar item and the most compact lifter ever produced at 318mm when closed-down for easy storage when not in use.
Ferno Managing Director Jon Ellis said: “The response we have received from customers operating in the funeral and mortuary sector to equipment like the X Lifter, Flexible Body Fridge and the Coffin Buggy has been very encouraging.
“It underscores our deep understanding of the work funeral and mortuary technicians do and demonstrates how Ferno develops products to meet their needs.”

Great days at the FPA conference and the Defence Academy

We’ve had a great few days at the Fire Sector Summit at Wembley – meeting old friends and making new contacts - and viewing the hallowed turf of the home of football.
The Fire Sector Summit, organised by the Fire Protection Association is the must-attend fire event of 2012, offering a unique blend of networking, conference, discussion and debate alongside an exhibition featuring the very latest in product and technical advancement.
The Summit attracted senior figures and influencers from across the fire industry, built environment, national resilience, government, insurance, and the public and private sector, providing a mix of plenary and workshop content designed to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and best practice on the key issues and challenges facing the sector.
It provided us with a great platform to showcase a wide range of our equipment and tell delegates about recent innovations in new product development.
October has been a busy month for us and we have attended no less than eight events including the Defence Medical Services Critical Care Conference at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham where we could showcase our unique military equipment.

Ferno at the World Rescue Challenge 2012

Yesterday London Fire Brigade hosted the biggest fire and rescue service challenge in the world at ExCeL, Docklands. Firefighters from across the globe competed to be the best in emergency rescue skills.
The World Rescue Challenge 2012, which began yesterday and runs until Saturday, was attended by Ferno’s Business Development Manager for the south, Lee Searle. Thanks for the picture Lee!
As you can see, lots of Ferno kit was used by the rescue services during the Extrication Challenge - one of the most exciting events at the WRC. Each challenge lasts for 20 minutes and involves two cars and real ‘casualties’ (actors wearing body makeup to look like they’ve been injured in an accident). The sparks really fly when the teams use specialist cutting gear to see who can rescue the casualty in the safest and speediest way.
Teams attending the event came from as far away as Australia, Germany, Ghana, New Zealand, Russia and South Africa. The UK was well represented with ten fire services attending including Avon, Central Scotland, Humberside, London and North Yorkshire.

RIP: Werner Rabsch 1944-2012

Members of the Ferno Family attended the funeral of Werner Rabsch in Friedhof Ottakring, Austria this week.

Werner was the founder and owner of Roraco and he will be sadly missed in the EMS industry and by all his friends and colleagues at Roraco and within Ferno Group.

Roraco is the Ferno dealer in Austria and the relationship between both organisations is more than 30 years old. Members of the Ferno Family who attended Werner’s funeral were Jon Ellis - Ferno (UK); Peter Peemans - Ferno International; Peter Kochan - Ferno International; Enrico and Rita Carletti – Ferno Italia; Waldemar Posmyk – Paramedica Polska and Tore Larsen – Ferno Norden.

The entire Ferno Family extend their deepest sympathies and support to Andrea Schwarz-Rabsch - Werner’s daughter - and her family at this difficult time.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance move to Nostell

Good luck to our friends at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance who have found a new home at the Nostell Estate near Wakefield.
They are abandoning the base they have had at Leeds-Bradford Airport since its inception because of growing demands on airspace. The charity said take-offs and landings at the Yeadon airport were being delayed by increasing air traffic.
The charity said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance will continue to provide a state-of-the-art rapid response helicopter emergency medical service across the region every day of every year.”
It follows a planning application to Wakefield Council to convert the vacant Nostell Priory Roses Building at the site, off Doncaster Road.
Under the plans, an empty warehouse will be turned into a hangar to keep the helicopter overnight, and a landing pad, fuel area and office space will be created, with a canteen and rest areas for up to five crew members.
A second base at RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk, will be maintained.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance added: “The charity had been looking to further enhance the service it currently provides across the region, and the Nostell Priory Roses Building was identified as a potential new location for the airbase.
“The helicopter will be relocated from its existing base at Leeds-Bradford International Airport while the second air ambulance continues to operate from its base at RAF Topcliffe in North Yorkshire.
“The charity will operate from the new base at Nostell in daylight hours only, as specified by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, and hopes to be operational by summer 2013.”
Good luck with your new home.

Come and see our wide range of equipment at Emergency Services Show

If you are attending the Emergency Services Show 2012 next month be sure to check out our range of new equipment.
The show, which takes place on November 21-22 at Stoneleigh, Coventry, is the largest of its kind in the UK and brings together a wide range of emergency service professionals including paramedics, police, fire personal, mountain rescue and clinicians.
We will be showcasing our new EZ Glide® PowerTraxx™ and its Harrier LT and LT-LBS ambulance trolleys as well as our wide range of evacuation equipment.
The EZ Glide chair had been designed to meet the demanding needs of medical and disaster response services. Patients can be moved up and down stairs safely and the operator has full control at all times; able to slow, stop or even reverse direction at the touch of a button. A patented built-in safety circuit limits downhill speed, even when power has been lost.
The EZ Glide PowerTraxx leads the industry with its 227kg weight capacity and large seating area which along with the extending footrest, provides a more comfortable experience for larger patients while the innovative features work with the caregivers to ensure a safer transport for all.
The chair can also be employed to move equipment up and down stairs and a range of accessories are available such as padded headrest and oxygen cylinder holder. For those who already own the original Ferno EZ Glide® a retro-fit kit is available.
“The EZ Glide is the first chair of its kind in the industry,” said Jon Ellis, Managing Director at Ferno. “It has multiple uses as a stair chair, evacuation chair or transport chair - capable of maneuvering over kerbs and rough terrain. It comes with powered tracks that deploy easily to eliminate the need for lifting or carrying while ascending or descending stairs, reducing the risk of injury to medical staff.”
The Harrier LT is a lightweight trolley which combines exceptional lifting power with a high capacity battery. It is the only powered ambulance trolley in the UK capable of lifting up to 350kg – and it will perform an amazing 77 lifts of 100kg with just a single battery charge.
The Harrier LT is configurable to different customer needs and requirements and includes an LBS version for carrying larger patients. There are several options and accessories designed to improve its ease of use and reduce manual handling injuries including a directional wheel lock, a removable headrest pad and a wired remote control keypad.
The smooth powered lifting action with slow start-stop movements guarantees complete patient comfort while also ensuring operator safety and reflective strips on the top, base and x-frame rails ensures increased visibility at night.
Ambulance trolleys need to be easily maneuverable and quickly secured within the vehicle – these considerations are an absolute must. But to perform the task to maximum efficiency you also need a trolley which can lift and carry heavier patients without risk of injury to the operator and without needing frequent battery charges.
The Ferno Harrier LT and Harrier LT LBS fulfill these criteria and with all the different options and accessories available it is one of our most adaptable ambulance trolleys yet.
Ferno will be exhibiting on stands 556 and 156 Emergency Services Show 2012.

Here are the Birthday Girls at Ferno

Fiona Carrington-Ward

Christine Dawson

Today, Fiona Carrington-Ward from the Finance team celebrated her fortieth birthday and on Friday, September 28 Christine Dawson, who is part of our receptionist/finance team celebrated her sixtieth birthday.
It is a Ferno tradition to celebrate colleagues key birthdays with a cake chosen by their work mates  related to their hobbies and interests – can you guess what Fiona and Christine’s interests are?
A big happy birthday to both of you from everyone at Ferno.

Ferno’s funeral sales success in Scandinavia

Did you know that Ferno exports as well? One of our latest funeral and mortuary products is proving to be a big hit in Norway and Sweden.
This year we have reported record sales of our Model 11-T Stretcher in the Scandinavian countries.
The Model 11-T has been specifically developed from the successful Model 11 design and features an innovative track system that allows for the removal of the deceased down stairs with much more control and reduces the risk of injury to funeral and mortuary personnel.
Since the Model 11-T was launched we have had some amazing feedback and it’s proving to be a popular solution. We found there was a gap in the market for a stretcher in the funeral and mortuary sector which would provide easier transportation over uneven ground and down stairs.
In the past six months we’ve had record sales in these countries and we expect this to continue as more of those in the industry recognize the usefulness of such an innovative product.”
The Model 11-T Stretcher is sturdy and lightweight with two front wheels and a narrow track-to-ground clearance for easy maneuvering over all surfaces, even with the tracks deployed. It folds in half when not in use for easy carrying and storage and includes two five inch quick release patient restraints, a foot rest and carrying case.
With more than 40 years experience in the medical equipment sector, Ferno’s funeral and mortuary products cover First Call, Refrigeration, Preparation and Rest Room.
As well as stretchers, Ferno’s First Call products include removal trolleys, scoops and transfer boards.
Ferno also offers a range of refrigeration products including cold chambers and refrigerated tables. Preparation equipment ranges from lifting equipment, embalming and autopsy tables and mortuary trolleys. Restroom equipment includes church and showroom trolleys, trestles and biers.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance takes to the air again!

At Ferno we have been long-term supporters of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity. So you can imagine we were delighted to hear from Nicky Massen, the charity’s regional fundraising manager, that Yorkshire Air Ambulance is taking to the air again… but this time with a difference.
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is the star of the BBC documentary Helicopter Heroes which was screened earlier today.
This is the sixth series of the hit BBC documentary which follows the day-to-day work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters and often features some Ferno equipment.
There will be 20 episodes in this series - airing every week day for four weeks. The programmes start at 9.15am on BBC One and last for 45 minutes. 
Please tune in, set your recorder or catch up anytime online on the BBC iPlayer… you can also support Yorkshire Air Ambulance here.
Feel free to pass on the news to as many of your friends, family and colleagues as possible!
You can also find the Helicopter Heroes on Facebook.