Hochiki Europe (UK) Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

Hochiki Europe has brought the thrill of live football to the heart of the Gillingham community, awarding 35 coveted tickets to a Gillingham FC home game to the deserving Medway Soccer Academy. The academy, a grassroots initiative providing affordable football training to local children, emerged as the winners of Hochiki’s “Golden Ticket” competition.  Essential equipment and kit Medway Soccer Academy addresses the financial barriers that prevent many children Founded in 2019 by Matt Waters, Medway Soccer Academy addresses the financial barriers that prevent many children from participating in organized football.  Matt’s vision of a £4 “pay and play” model, run by nine dedicated volunteer coaches, ensures that football remains accessible to all. All funds are reinvested into the club, providing essential equipment and kit for its 64 regular attendees. Matt’s unwavering commitment The academy’s dedication to fostering a love for the game, promoting physical activity, and building confidence resonated deeply with Hochiki Europe. Kara Martin, Marketing Projects Specialist at Hochiki, who nominated the academy, highlighted Matt’s unwavering commitment to the community, noting that many children would otherwise miss out on the experience of a live football match. Academy’s training sessions The children were eager to learn about everything from the pre-game atmosphere to Coleman’s football idols Hochiki’s Marketing Manager, Craig Taylor, and Kara Martin, Marketing Project Specialist, visited one of the academy’s training sessions at a local community park, accompanied by Gillingham FC midfielder Ethan Coleman.  Coleman spent over an hour engaging with the children and coaches, sharing insights into his professional journey and answering enthusiastic questions. The children were eager to learn about everything from the pre-game atmosphere to Coleman’s football idols and even his car. Affordable and engaging activities Kara Martin also spoke with parents, who emphasized the academy's vital role in providing affordable and engaging activities for local children. The “pay and play” flexibility was particularly valued by families who couldn’t commit to weekly team schedules, while the supportive environment helped build confidence in the children. The smiles and palpable joy on the children’s faces attested to the academy’s positive impact. Gillingham FC training experience The day culminated in an exciting penalty shootout, with successful participants entered into a raffle The day culminated in an exciting penalty shootout, with successful participants entered into a raffle for a Gillingham FC training experience at a later date. To cap off the memorable visit, Ethan Coleman presented Matt Waters with a golden envelope containing the 35 tickets for the Gillingham FC vs. Swindon Town match, which took place last week on April 26th. “We are incredibly grateful to Hochiki Europe for this amazing opportunity,” said Matt Waters. “This means the world to our children, many of whom have never experienced a live football game. It’s a testament to the hard work of our volunteer coaches and the dedication of our young players.” Benefit from the academy’s inclusive Looking ahead, Matt is striving to establish an U11s team for the 2025/26 season and is actively seeking sponsorship to cover the associated grassroots fees. This expansion would enable even more children to benefit from the academy’s inclusive and supportive environment. Hochiki Europe is proud to support Medway Soccer Academy and its commitment to providing accessible football opportunities for the local community. The company believes in the power of sport to inspire and unite and is thrilled to have played a role in creating lasting memories for these young football enthusiasts. Hochiki Europe is the Gillingham Football Club Rainham End Sponsor.

Hochiki Europe, a manufacturer of innovative life safety solutions, is partnering with Jendee Trading, a global provider with nearly 50 years of experience exporting British electrical and fire safety products to the Caribbean, to deliver a series of educational seminars and customer meetings across the region. A key element of this initiative will be the active participation of the local Electrical Inspectorates on each island, underscoring the commitment to ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations. Fire safety installers From May 4th to May 22nd, a joint team from Hochiki and Jendee will travel to St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Trinidad, and Grenada. Critically, they will be presenting alongside the local Electrical Inspectorate to a wide array of professionals, including fire safety installers, electrical engineers, building owners, and insurance companies. This collaborative approach will ensure that the information shared not only reflects international best practices, but also aligns directly with the specific fire safety regulations and legal frameworks in each island. The seminars will cater to diverse industries, such as tourism, commercial, retail, entertainment, healthcare, agriculture, food production, renewable energy, and technology. Fire safety knowledge The primary objective of this initiative is to elevate fire safety knowledge and promote best practices The primary objective of this initiative is to elevate fire safety knowledge and promote best practices within the Caribbean, with a strong focus on adherence to local laws, as well as American and British Standards.  By involving the Electrical Inspectorates directly in the presentations, the seminars will provide invaluable insights into regional compliance requirements. The teams will deliver two accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses: BS5839 Part 1 Code of Practice for Fire Detection System Design, and False Alarm Reduction, both of which will be contextualised within the local regulatory landscape. More compliant installations Richard Wharram from Hochiki Europe highlighted the significance of this collaborative approach, stating, "We are incredibly enthusiastic about engaging with our customers, both new and existing, across the Caribbean. Sharing the stage with our esteemed colleagues from Jendee, whose deep regional expertise is unmatched, is a privilege."  He adds, "Furthermore, the active involvement of the local Electrical Inspectorates is paramount, ensuring our educational content is directly relevant to local regulations. Attendees will greatly benefit from this comprehensive approach, gaining valuable insights into design support, in-depth product knowledge, technical training, and commissioning assistance, ultimately contributing to safer and more compliant installations within their communities." Building trusted partnerships Debbie Marsh from Jendee emphasised the importance of this integrated approach, states, "Our five decades of experience in the Caribbean have taught us the vital importance of working closely with local authorities."  She adds, "Partnering with Hochiki Europe and, crucially, with the Electrical Inspectorates in each island, allows us to deliver training that is not only informative but also directly relevant to the legal and regulatory frameworks. This collaborative effort is key to building trusted partnerships and ensuring the highest standards of fire safety across the region." More resilient future Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director of Hochiki Europe, underscored the strategic importance of this multi-faceted collaboration, commenting, "Establishing strong and trusted partnerships within the Caribbean region is fundamental to Hochiki Europe's long-term commitment."  Shinsuke Kubo adds, "By working in close conjunction with Jendee and, most importantly, with the local Electrical Inspectorates, we are demonstrating our dedication to ensuring that our knowledge and expertise are applied in a way that is fully compliant with local laws and regulations. This unified approach is crucial for building a safer and more resilient future for the Caribbean." Hochiki Europe's commitment to global safety This collaborative endeavor underscores Hochiki Europe's commitment to global safety and its dedication to working alongside experienced partners, such as Jendee and local regulatory bodies to deliver impactful, compliant, and locally relevant knowledge and support to international markets.

Merriman Grange, a beautiful new care home from Cinnamon Care Collection, located in Worthing, West Sussex, is designed to provide a warm, comfortable, and thanks to Hochiki's ESP range, safe environment for its residents. Offering exceptional care across three floors, including a dedicated dementia unit, the home prioritizes the well-being of its vulnerable residents. Robust protection with needs Ensuring comprehensive fire safety in such a complex domain is paramount, needing a tailored approach Ensuring comprehensive fire safety in such a complex environment is paramount, requiring a tailored approach that balances robust protection with the specific needs of the residents. Care home fire safety is a multifaceted project. It demands a system that not only detects fires rapidly but also integrates seamlessly with other building systems, minimizes disruption during installation, and provides reliable, user-friendly ongoing maintenance. ESP range’s reputation for ease of installation For Merriman Grange, Southern Fire Alarms was entrusted with the crucial task of designing and installing a state-of-the-art fire safety system. As a new build project, Southern Fire Alarms had the opportunity to implement a comprehensive solution from the ground up. They chose Hochiki as their primary life safety manufacturer, citing their ESP range’s reputation for ease of installation and excellent compatibility with other building management systems. This integration was crucial for Merriman Grange, allowing for a streamlined and efficient operation of all building services. Full L1 category fire alarm system The system installed was a full L1 category fire alarm system, providing full smoke and fire detection coverage The system installed was a full L1 category fire alarm system, providing complete smoke and fire detection coverage across all three floors of the building. This comprehensive approach ensures that every area, from communal spaces to individual rooms, is protected. The presence of a dementia unit presented a unique challenge, requiring a system that would not cause undue stress or panic among residents. Hochiki devices Hochiki devices were selected specifically for their flexibility in terms of alarm volumes and tones, minimizing potential distress for these particularly vulnerable individuals. The ease of use for staff was another key consideration. Hochiki devices are designed to be intuitive, simplifying routine testing by maintenance teams. This user-friendliness ensures that staff can respond effectively to any fire safety event, providing peace of mind for both residents and their families. ESP range of addressable products Hochiki devices are designed to be intuitive, simplifying routine testing by maintenance teams "When it comes to reliability and ease of installation, Hochiki is our go-to manufacturer," said Naomi Fell of Southern Fire Alarms. She adds, "Their ESP range of addressable products are consistently high-quality, and their integration capabilities are second to none. For a complex project like Merriman Grange, where we needed a robust and dependable system that also considered the specific needs of dementia residents, Hochiki was the perfect choice." Naomi Fell continues, "Their devices are designed to minimize false alarms and provide clear, reliable warnings, which is crucial in a care home environment. We know that with Hochiki, we're providing our clients with the best possible protection." Installation of the Hochiki fire safety system The successful installation of the Hochiki fire safety system at Merriman Grange underscores the importance of a well-planned and expertly executed fire safety strategy.  By partnering with Southern Fire Alarms and utilizing Hochiki's advanced technology, Cinnamon Care Collection has created a safe and secure environment for its residents, ensuring their comfort and well-being for years to come.