Committed to helping save lives

The independent drainage specialist has been shortlisted in the construction company category of the annual awards, organised by the Hand on Heart charity.

Under its Saving Lives is Close to Our Heart programme, Lanes is funding automated external defibrillators (AED), and life-saving training, for its offices and depots across the UK, and for nearby schools.

An estimated 12 people aged under the age of 35 die in the UK from sudden cardiac arrest every week, and on average five of those deaths happen in schools. 

Group health, safety, quality, and environment manager Paul McParland, said: "We're delighted to be shortlisted for the UK Heart Safe Awards, which are a valuable way to extend awareness of the benefits of making defibrillators available in the workplace and the community. 

"Health and safety is absolutely paramount to what we do as a drainage service provider, and as a company that cares about the wellbeing of its people and the communities we serve, funding defibrillators and training to use them makes a lot of sense to us." 

So far, Lanes has installed defibrillators at depots and service sites in Eccles, Greater Manchester, Rainham, East London, Leeds, Glasgow, and Stafford, Slough, West London and Birmingham. 

A further seven defibrillators have been provided at seven work sites operated by Lanes Utilities, the wastewater network services maintenance partner for Thames Water. 

Defibrillators have also been provided for five schools, in Rainham, Leeds, Manchester, Slough, and Solihull. The support package, worth £3,000 at each school, includes training for selected staff to use the defibrillators, and for up to 30 pupils to receive basic life-saving training. 

Helen Hall, a high-level teaching assistant and the medical officer at Valley Primary School, the latest school to receive one of the machines, said it was a "fantastic opportunity", and provides emergency cover for thousands of people who visit the school every week.