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Timing is everything!

Sometimes, just delivering a product is not all that is required

Author: Dee Jones/27 April 2026/Categories: PREVIOUS BESPOKE PROJECTS, Storage & Shelving

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We have been doing this for over 50 years and we understand that our customers often have very precise requirements in terms of delivery expectations and timings.

The well known British presenter of current affairs, radio, television, author and historian Jonathan Dimbleby once used the 'timing analogy'. 

“At home in Devon, my wife Jessica does a huge proportion of the cooking - I do the basics. My timing is extremely good, particularly when it comes to vegetables, perhaps because in my work, timing is everything. I know exactly what fits into a minute when broadcasting and I apply the same to carrots.”

Well, we know little about broadcasting or carrots, but we do know how important timing is for businesses throughout the UK.

We are pleased to be working with Go-Ahead London and to play a part in enhancing the safety and organisation of its engineering environments. With London’s bus network continuing to evolve, including a growing shift towards electric vehicles, well-structured, efficient depot facilities are more important than ever. This project reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting essential services with reliable workplace solutions. We look forward to delivering this programme successfully and to building a strong, long-term partnership in the years ahead.

A project of this scale depends on careful planning. Each site has its own schedule, access requirements and installation timelines. Our role is to ensure that every cabinet and locker arrives exactly when needed. No delays and no disruption! This level of coordination reflects how we approach all major contracts: with attention to detail, clear communication and a practical understanding of how our products are used on site.

The project spans a wide network of operational sites including: Sutton, Camberwell, Waterloo, Stockwell, New Cross, Silvertown, Morden Wharf, Barking, Merton, Croydon, Bexleyheath, Orpington, Peckham, Sydenham, Putney and Northumberland Park. Across these locations, we will supply: 18 x hazardous substance cabinets and 159 x staff clothes lockers. Each delivery must be precisely timed to align with installation teams working on other aspects of the refurbishment. The programme will run for 8 weeks, requiring detailed coordination to ensure every site is equipped on schedule without disrupting ongoing operations. It will be a busy time ensuring that the cabinets and lockers are fabricated in line with the exact role out schedules.

 

locker
Staff clothes lockers
haz cupboard
Paint coating before each batch delivery
haz storage
Hazardous substance cabinets

To meet the operational needs of busy engineering stores, the products follow these robust and practical specifications:
Hazardous substance cabinets 1800mm (H) x 915mm (W) x 457mm (D). Three internal shelves. High-visibility yellow finish.
Staff clothes lockers 1800mm (H) x 300mm (W) x 450mm (D). Blue doors for clear identification and consistency across sites.

Why does hazardous storage matter?
Engineering stores within bus depots handle a range of substances essential to vehicle maintenance including oils, cleaning agents and other potentially hazardous materials. Without appropriate storage, these items present risks to both staff and the working environment. Purpose-built hazardous substance cabinets provide controlled storage, reducing the risk of spills or contamination along with clear segregation of materials, helping teams manage stock safely. An audit trail can be prepared for compliance support with health and safety regulations, including improved visibility that ensures substances are easily identified and handled correctly. In a busy depot environment, these measures are not just about compliance, they are about creating a safer, more predictable workplace for engineering teams.

The role of staff lockers
Alongside safe storage for materials, the project also focuses on improving facilities for staff. Providing dedicated clothes lockers allows employees to store personal belongings and workwear securely, supporting both organisation and hygiene. Well designed locker provision contributes to a tidier working environment, reducing clutter in operational areas and separation of personal and work items, particularly important in engineering settings. This coupled with a sense of shared space and consistency, helping sites feel organised and properly equipped.

Action Handling has worked alongside organisations that rely on practical, dependable storage and workplace solutions. Our latest project marks an important milestone in that journey with our support to Go-Ahead London in the refurbishment of engineering stores across multiple sites in the capital. This programme forms part of a wider internal revamp, designed to improve safety, organisation and day-to-day efficiency within bus depot environments.

As the largest bus operator in Greater London, managing a significant share of the network and maintaining a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles, Go-Ahead London plays a central role in keeping the city moving. We are proud to contribute to that effort.

 

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