Mike at DIO's Head Office, St George's House, at Defence Medical Services Whittington in Staffordshire. [Crown Copyright / MOD 2022]As I’m now a couple of months in to my tenure as DIO’s Chief Executive, following the retirement of Graham Dalton, I thought it was high time I introduce myself.
I started my career as a civil engineer before joining the Civil Service in 2012. I was previously Director of Commercial and then Chief Operating Officer at the Department for Education. Making the move to working in Defence was exciting, as I’ve always had an interest in the military. If I had to guess, that stems back to listening to my grandfather’s stories of his time as a Desert Rat. Given my background, I’d been watching DIO for a few years and looking out for an opportunity to join and combine my military interest and my career, so this is perfect for me.
The first few weeks
As you might expect, I’ve been busy getting to grips with my new role. DIO is a big and varied organisation, but even so is only part of a much larger department. There’s been a lot to learn and I have had to get stuck in to briefings and meetings to help me hit the ground running as soon as possible.
I’ve met with many senior MOD officials from across the Department and have been travelling around, meeting staff and hearing what matters to them as well as learning more about the organisation. I’ve visited several DIO offices including at Catterick, RAF Wyton and our head office at DMS Whittington as well as Main Building in Whitehall. At Catterick, our local estate facilities team showed me round some of the facilities we manage, including the health centre and sports stadium. When we passed a Chieftain tank I had to stop for a photo – I do love a tank!
Mike and fellow DIO staff in front of the Chieftain tank at Catterick Garrison. [Crown Copyright / MOD 2022]A few weeks ago I visited Kendrew Barracks in Rutland for a deep dive into our Service Family Accommodation with Head of Accommodation Air Cdre James Savage. We visited a number of different homes, some good and some less so, as well as some which have been upgraded under our Project Speed investment. The team even ran me through a simulated Move In procedure to help me understand the process from a service family’s point of view. We then held a round table discussion on accommodation and I was especially grateful to hear from a Corporal about her and her family’s experiences.
At Kendrew Barracks. Mike listens to a briefing from Air Commodore James Savage, DIO's Head of Accommodation, on recent investment to improve Service Family Accommodation and play areas. [Crown Copyright / MOD 2022]I’m also making space in my diary for ‘back to the floor’ time with staff. I spent half a day with one of our MGS security officers, understanding what a shift looks like for them and the importance of their role, both the security and customer service elements. They are, after all, the first people many visitors will see when they visit over 100 MOD sites across the country. I’m really looking forward to visiting our senior archaeologist on the site of a dig at Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain. The breadth of our work is really quite incredible.
Mike was able to spend time with some of our MGS security officers to understand their role. [Crown Copyright / MOD 2022]These kind of visits, and especially hearing first-hand from staff and those who use our estate, really helps me to understand what we do, how important it is, and where we can improve. I’ve learned a lot.
Plans for the future
Now I feel a little more settled in, it’s time to turn my attention to future plans. Graham left the organisation in a great place but of course, there’s always more to do. My initial priorities are a continued focus on safety, improving our use of technology to support our work and priorities, and supporting DIO’s fantastic staff to continue their work to enable the Armed Forces to live, work, train and deploy.
Please advise how to contact DIO regarding redundant land sales. I have failed to speak to your Sutton Coldfield operation, and MoD cannot assist further.
Arborfield Garrison Redevelopment - Massive Problem with Parking for Sports Facilities
In 2014 the DIO, Wokingham Council and Crest Nicholson (developer) entered into an agreement to redevelop the old REME garrison at Arborfield.
The DIO, working in conjunction with Crest Nicholson, contracted to deliver new sporting facilities and supporting infrastructure
This is now 9 years late and still no indication from Crest as to when this will be delivered. Meanwhile, football is played on the old cricket green.
No parties have listened to the views of residents who have predicted parking chaos on Saturday mornings when football is played. 3 weeks into the new football season and it has become so bad that buses cannot get through to serve local residents and there is outrage on local social media. It is only a matter of time until this anger results in physical violence or there is a road traffic accident involving children.
There is however an opportunity to help resolve this.
Crest have submitted a planning application to Wokingham Council to re-develop a small site right next to the sports pitches which contains an existing 36 bay parking site which was used by sports visitors to the Green. Within the plan, the car park will be dug up, grassed over and enclosed by hedges
Wokingham Borough Council Online Planning - Full Details
It is difficult to understand who would ever then use this segregated piece of land so it seems a total waste of time and effort.
....Meanwhile, we have parking chaos that this car park could immediately help to remedy.
Crest have little interest in working with local residents in any way but, as the DIOs chosen delivery partner, they have a duty to do so. The space in question has little value, would cost a great deal to repurpose and would then become an encumbrance to future leaseholders who would have to pay for its upkeep...paying to keep up something they would rarely use.
The solution and resulting question seems obvious......
Would DIO be willing to donate the car park to the Community to form part of the new sporting facility ?
Any assistance you could give would be gratefully received
Time is of the essence as the planning application has just been submitted and the clock is ticking
Insight into our work at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, or DIO for short. We’re part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and look after the military estate, both in the UK and overseas.
5 comments
Comment by Gareth Young posted on
Are you seriously considering District Thermal Energy Systems for heating and cooling MOD estates?
Comment by Colin West posted on
Please advise how to contact DIO regarding redundant land sales. I have failed to speak to your Sutton Coldfield operation, and MoD cannot assist further.
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
Hi Colin, our Sutton Coldfield office closed in 2021. MOD land sales are listed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report
Comment by Martin Prodger posted on
Please forward to Mike Green
Dear Sir,
Arborfield Garrison Redevelopment - Massive Problem with Parking for Sports Facilities
In 2014 the DIO, Wokingham Council and Crest Nicholson (developer) entered into an agreement to redevelop the old REME garrison at Arborfield.
The DIO, working in conjunction with Crest Nicholson, contracted to deliver new sporting facilities and supporting infrastructure
This is now 9 years late and still no indication from Crest as to when this will be delivered. Meanwhile, football is played on the old cricket green.
No parties have listened to the views of residents who have predicted parking chaos on Saturday mornings when football is played. 3 weeks into the new football season and it has become so bad that buses cannot get through to serve local residents and there is outrage on local social media. It is only a matter of time until this anger results in physical violence or there is a road traffic accident involving children.
There is however an opportunity to help resolve this.
Crest have submitted a planning application to Wokingham Council to re-develop a small site right next to the sports pitches which contains an existing 36 bay parking site which was used by sports visitors to the Green. Within the plan, the car park will be dug up, grassed over and enclosed by hedges
Wokingham Borough Council Online Planning - Full Details
It is difficult to understand who would ever then use this segregated piece of land so it seems a total waste of time and effort.
....Meanwhile, we have parking chaos that this car park could immediately help to remedy.
Crest have little interest in working with local residents in any way but, as the DIOs chosen delivery partner, they have a duty to do so. The space in question has little value, would cost a great deal to repurpose and would then become an encumbrance to future leaseholders who would have to pay for its upkeep...paying to keep up something they would rarely use.
The solution and resulting question seems obvious......
Would DIO be willing to donate the car park to the Community to form part of the new sporting facility ?
Any assistance you could give would be gratefully received
Time is of the essence as the planning application has just been submitted and the clock is ticking
If I can assist in any way then please let me now
Yours Faithfully
Martin Prodger (Captain, Royal Signals Retd)
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
Hi Martin, apologies for the delayed reply. We're aware that a letter was sent to you on this matter a few weeks ago in response to this request.