Covered walkways are commonly used everywhere from outside schools, in front of retail stores, to connecting buildings for offices and hospitals. While a building is permanent and expensive, a new covered walkway can be added to any area based on your needs, for a much lower cost.

What benefits will a covered walkways bring to my business?

The benefits of covered walkways are endless. Along with a number of other benefits, a covered walkway is a great way to help your building stand out from the crowd or give it a modern update, whilst also providing protection against the sun and other extreme weather conditions.

Covered Walkway For Schools

Many schools have separate buildings which have been built over time, and bespoke covered walkways are a great way to connect these buildings together without having to completely redesign a building from scratch. The implementation of a covered walkway system for schools also enables them to expand their school premises, and provide protection from harsh UV rays and other extreme weather conditions for both small children and adults whilst travelling to and from school.

For many schools it can become chaotic with pupils constantly moving from classroom to classroom. Through creating a walkway canopy, pupils and teachers are able to move from one classroom to another in an organised manner without the chaos. They also provide a sheltered and safe area for the kids to play and socialise even if it’s pouring with rain – and also a space to store outdoor equipment!

Covered Walkway For Shops

There are numerous reasons as to why retail buildings can benefit from covered walkways. The implementation of covered walkway systems, and the shelter and shade they provide, can help drive business growth by encouraging customers into your shop. Covered walkways for shops can also be used for outdoor product display or even car showrooms!

A covered walkway system will also help to make your shop more accommodating and improve customer experience, providing a sheltered drop-off and pick-up point for customers to wait with their shopping bags.

Covered Walkway For Offices

If you work in a large office or are planning on expanding your office, then why not consider linking the new offices together with the old ones, through covered walkways. These allow employees to stay dry and warm, whilst travelling between buildings for meetings. Covered walkways will also provide protection for any papers or equipment employees are carrying with them, avoiding costly repairs of water damaged laptops, and keeping important documents safe. During the winter months it will also prevent your walkway from becoming icy and dangerous, ensuring the safety of your staff and any visitors. This will help to improve employee experience and boost morale!

Greater Convenience for Clients

Installing a covered walkway can make a real difference to the entrance of your building for many reasons. If you have clients or customers that regularly visit your office then covered walkways can help to make their experience more convenient and enjoyable. It provides them with a sheltered entrance and exit where they can escape from the elements, and wait to be collected after meetings.

Pleasant Feature for Staff

Keeping your staff happy is one of the key challenges of any employer. Covered walkways for offices can be used as a feature that your staff can take advantage of. Whether they use it as an outdoor area to escape the office with the comfort of staying protected from the rain, or even as a meeting area, it can help lead to a more content workforce.

Attractive Feature

Covered walkway systems are available in an almost endless range of styles, meaning that you’ll be able to choose a design that really complements the building and positively adds to its appearance and curb appeal. This can help to make a great first impression on clients and customers who arrive at your place of work, and it can also improve the experience of employees arriving at work every day.

A covered walkways system can be an impressive feature of the building, that helps it to stand out whilst also bringing attention to the entrance. It’s also achievable without having to spend a fortune. Walkway canopy systems, unlike buildings, allow light in and blend in flawlessly as if it were meant to be there all along. Bespoke covered walkways and canopies are made to your exact specifications and design – it can help improve the overall look of your premises.

Keep the Inside of the Building Dry

Covered walkways are ideal for keeping the inside of the building dry when it’s raining outside. Those who are wearing wet shoes when entering the building can make the entrance messy and even dangerous. If you have a covered walkway then the shoes of people entering the building will be drier by the time they enter, helping to minimise any mess or hazards.

How can we help?

Miko Shelter Solutions specialise in a range of standard and bespoke covered walkways to satisfy the needs of your commercial, public sector or industrial premises. As well as enhancing the overall curb appeal of your property with a distinctive and elegant upgrade, a covered walkway and other bespoke walkway canopy can create that all-important outdoor protection for staff members, clients and visitors, come rain or shine.

So whatever your covered walkway needs, we’ve got you covered (quite literally)! Browse through our selection of covered walkways today.

Here at Miko Engineering we specialise in outdoor canopies, and our canopies can benefit a range of businesses. All of Miko Engineering’s school canopies and shelters are designed and manufactured in the UK, this helps offer the maximum amount of personalisation, and the best installation solution.

From designated safe and covered waiting areas to better outdoor learning opportunities, outdoor canopies for schools bring with them a number of benefits. They can help to provide a safe and protected environment for pupils and staff to enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s to learn or relax. All of Miko Engineering’s school canopies and shelters are designed and manufactured in the UK, this helps offer the maximum amount of personalisation, and the best installation solution.

What Are The Different Types Of Outdoor Canopies In Schools?

There are a variety of outdoor canopies for schools, each with their own uses and offering their own benefits. From making day to day life more comfortable and enjoyable, to transforming previously unusable outdoor space into sheltered areas for pupils to learn and play. This can help to enhance the school experience by providing social, and all-weather learning spaces.

Our canopies for schools also have a large range of doors, the most popular being sliding canopy doors. By incorporating doors, along with electrical points, into your canopy you can make it a fully functional extension from your existing building.

Entrance Canopies

It’s never enjoyable having to wait outside in heavy rain or snow. Entrance canopies can bring a number of benefits to help make the day to day runnings more enjoyable for everyone. They can provide a waiting area for parents dropping off or picking up their children, along with shelter for staff and pupils queuing up.

Covered Walkways

Covered walkways allow for staff and pupils to travel in between buildings without having to run to escape heavy rain! This can help to avoid accidents and pupils are less likely to slip over whilst running to escape the rain. In the summer months, covered walkways built next to classroom windows can also help to keep classrooms shaded, helping to avoid them becoming stuffy and unpleasant throughout the day.

Dining & Teaching Canopies

Miko’s dining and teaching canopies allow for better outdoor learning opportunities. Many schools have the same issue; they don’t have enough room to fit all their pupils during break and lunch times. Extending these break areas with canopies can be hugely beneficial, providing enough space for everyone to spend their break and lunchtimes as they please.

Outdoor teaching canopies can allow for more freedom when it comes to messy arts and crafts lessons, whilst also keeping the pupils protected from harmful UV rays and heavy rain. They allow for more interactive and hands-on lessons, and enable pupils to mix with those they might not usually interact with in the classroom. These fully enclosed canopies can include electrical points for bringing teaching outside and can be used all year round, whatever the weather.

Playground Canopies

Playground canopies allow for pupils to spend their breaks and lunches outdoors instead of stuck inside due to the unpredictable weather conditions! Whether it’s to offer shelter from rain or snow, or to provide shade during the summer months. A playground canopy can also help to create a boundary so that children know that they need to stay within the designated area whilst playing.

Shade Sail Canopies

A popular option amongst schools, shade sail canopies are made from the material used on actual sail ships which is extremely hard wearing, and offers both UV protection and water resistant shade cloth. By combining your shade sail canopy with picnic tables and other outdoor furniture you can completely transform your outdoor space, making it both a social and sheltered area for pupils and staff to enjoy their breaks.

What Are The The Benefits Of Having An Outdoor Canopy In A School?

Outdoor Learning

By having an outdoor canopy in a school environment, students and teachers alike are able to take part in lessons outdoors whilst still being under shelter, allowing access to both fresh air and weather protection. This is particularly popular in both primary and secondary schools as outdoor lessons can often be popular for curriculum subjects such as science and geography.

Additional Classroom Space

One of the main practical benefits of having school canopies is not only does it enable outdoor learning and outdoor activities but the additional outdoor space can be used as storage facilities. For example, say you have large classroom or playground equipment, this could be kept outside but under an outdoor canopy as it would remain sheltered however still within close proximity to a classroom.

Sheltered Spaces To Learn And Play Outdoors

Depending on the ages of the students, a school canopy will enable them to either learn outside or simply play outside at break time, or even both! Simply by having this sheltered outdoor space, both learning time and play time can take place outdoors with effective weather protection. School canopies can even be used as covered outdoor dining areas for the spring and summer months as it will be warm enough for students to eat outside (if allowed) however an outdoor canopy will still allow them to be protected from sunlight and UV rays, something that is particularly important for young children in primary schools.

Provide Shelter

We’ve touched on it quite a bit already but one of the main and most straightforward benefits of school canopies is the fact they simply provide a shelter. Whether it’s used for outdoor dining, or as outdoor shelters/outdoor spaces, school canopies provide shelter for all those in a school who wish to maximise their outdoor space. It could be for learning or recreational usage, either way by having an outdoor school canopy both students and teachers have a space outdoor space that is sheltered from poor weather conditions.

Impressive Facilities To Have

An overlooked and often forgotten benefit to having school canopies is that it can leave an excellent impression on those visiting the school or those who attend. Impressive school buildings are often vital for a school’s image and play a big part in making a good impression. Parents and other visitors will likely acknowledge the above benefits of having an outdoor canopy in a school environment and how it can enhance the education of those within the school.

Find out more about outdoor canopies

For more information on outdoor canopies for schools and businesses, check out our other canopy blogs:

• The benefits of having an outdoor canopy
• 6 benefits of installing canopies at your school
• The importance of a canopy covered walkway for a commercial building 
• A guide to entrance canopies
• A guide to outdoor canopies
• The benefits of an entrance canopy
• How can canopies benefit your workplace
• School canopies for summer terms

Are You Interested In A School Canopy?

Miko Engineering offer a range of school canopies that can help to transform your outdoor areas into spaces! Outdoor canopies for schools can enhance the day to day experience of students, staff and any other visitors.

We recognise that no school is the same as another. All schools will have their own budgets and available space for outdoor school canopies and at Miko Engineering, we can work with you to create a bespoke canopy that will blend in effortlessly with the school. Get in touch with Miko Engineering today to find out more about our school canopies!

An outdoor canopy is a great addition to commercial buildings from offices to universities, schools, colleges, and retail premises, enabling them to make the most of their outdoor areas. Every business or organisation will use its outdoor canopy differently, whether that’s for garden parties and events, teaching and dining outdoors or simply providing a waterproof and sheltered structure for an outdoor area.

One of the main reasons why people purchase canopies is to regenerate an outdoor area, making the most of the available space. Miko Engineering helps businesses, residents, and organisations transform previously unused areas into welcoming and comfortable spaces that can be used all year round.

With our wide range of designs, we can supply garden and patio canopies, awnings, and covers that provide additional space for a variety of different purposes. Whether you want additional protection from extreme weather or greater use of an outside area, the installation of a canopy can repurpose your outdoor area and create a modern structure to be proud of.

This blog post looks at some of the uses and benefits of canopies as well as explains the different types and the outside areas they suit best.

What Are The Main Purposes Of Outdoor Canopies?

One of the main advantages of an outdoor canopy is that it can have multiple uses and can be adapted to your needs which may change at different times of the year. Some of the main uses include:

Six Different Types Of Outdoor Canopies

Entrance Canopies

An entrance canopy is a cost-effective way to boost the kerb appeal of the front of your building and create a good first impression. It’s a practical as well as stylish addition that provides a space for your clients, students, patients, and employees to transition from the outdoors into your building and vice-versa. This type of canopy can be used in a wide range of commercial buildings from hospitals and schools to office blocks and retail premises.

Main uses of entrance canopies:

• Sheltered entrance. Having a sheltered area that leads into your building protects people from the weather as they enter or leave your building. It provides an area for them to wipe their feet, shake off the water from umbrellas, sort out their bags, and do a whole host of other things as they prepare to enter or leave the main part of your building.
• Enhance the look of your building. The perfect canopy is not only a practical and functional addition to your building, but it can also be a stylish architectural feature that enhances its kerb appeal. Innovative and striking designs can be used to catch the eye of those passing your building, encouraging them to find out more about your business or organisation.
• Provides clear navigation into the building. A canopy can provide a space between the pavement and your building. It helps to create a welcoming entrance area that creates a vibe and tone for the rest of the building. It can be used to showcase what you’re about or to simply welcome everyone into your building with a calm, relaxing space.

The Main Benefits Of Entrance Canopies:

• Branding opportunities. An entrance canopy creates the perfect branding opportunity for businesses. It’s a space to showcase your brand’s values and vibe as well as highlight some of your products and services to create a brilliant first impression.
• Energy Efficiency. Having a canopy at the entrance of your building will help to keep the heat in your building during the colder months, and also keep the hot air out during the summer. This will help to keep energy costs down and reduce the need for extra heating or air conditioning in areas close to the entrance.

Expanding Usable Space. An entrance canopy can also add some much-needed space for your building. It can be used for storage units, or, depending on its size, a seating area creating a place for people to meet and chat.

Covered Walkways

Covered walkways are a popular addition to business and public premises as they provide shelter from the elements such as rain and strong winds as people move between locations. They’re usually used to connect buildings or different parts of the same building and can be designed specifically to your requirements. Covered walkways can be fixed or free-standing with a wide range of finishes and styles like our curved design or monopitched walkway.

The Main Uses Of Covered Walkways:

• Connecting buildings. Covered walkways are mainly used to connect separate buildings or provide access from one part of a building to another helping employees, students, and visitors get from one area to another safely.
• To provide weather protection. When people who are using your building need to move from one part to another, they need to be able to do so without getting wet. A covered walkway protects from the elements allowing people to move quickly and easily around the different parts of your building. These types of walkways are also perfect for businesses that may require customers to queue outside, such as supermarkets and other retail stores.

The Main Benefits Of Covered Walkways:

• Reducing slip and fall hazards. Having your walkways covered creates a safer way of getting between different parts of your building when that involves going outside. If you need to move between areas during a downpour of rain or a snow blizzard, you’ll be protected, and the chances of you slipping on ice and snow. will be reduced.

Outdoor dining and teaching canopies

Being outside is good for our health. It can help us focus, and improve our mood as well as a range of other benefits. Having a designated space outside to eat or learn not only does this but can be a practical solution when schools and colleges find themselves running out of space. An outdoor canopy is a cost-effective way of providing additional space that gives children all of the benefits of being in nature whilst being protected from the weather, particularly during the winter months.

The Main Uses Of Dining & Teaching Canopies:

• Outdoor learning space. Building onto the existing school brickwork with a traditional extension is expensive and takes time. A canopy is a much cheaper solution that transforms underused outdoor areas quickly, turning them into spaces where children can learn with all of the benefits of being outdoors.
• Outdoor eating. A space to eat outside can help children get more out of their afternoon learning as well as solve the problem of an overcrowded dinner hall. Lunchtime can be stressful when there are a lot of students and not much room, so creating an additional area to eat creates a less hectic lunchtime for everyone.
• Hands-on learning & nature integration. Being outdoors gives children more freedom in their learning. An outdoor canopy designed to extend your school’s usable space is a practical solution to overcrowding as well as providing students with an enhanced learning experience.

The Main Benefits Of Dining & Teaching Canopies

• Expand the classroom outdoors. Most schools are short of space so utilising its underused areas outside can give students the room to spread out as they learn. It also allows them the opportunity to learn in nature which gives them the benefits of being outdoors and discovering more about the world they live in.
• Improves a school’s reputation. Having an outdoor eating and teaching area can enhance a school’s reputation showing that it embraces different ways of learning. Schools can benefit hugely from dining and teaching canopies as they enable children to spend time outdoors, come rain or shine, making it a more desirable school.
• Increases capacity. Large outdoor structures that are budget-friendly and provide protection from the weather can help a school or college increase its capacity as well as provide health benefits for its pupils. Eating lunch outdoors can combat fatigue and invigorate students, helping to keep the afternoon slump at bay so that their afternoon lessons are just as impactful as the morning ones.

Playground Canopies

A playground canopy can have a variety of uses from a simple covered play area to a large outdoor classroom, providing shelter for outdoor and garden furniture as well as an area for children to play and eat. As with a teaching or dining canopy, it provides additional areas for children to play, eat, and learn with the benefits of being outside whilst being protected from adverse weather conditions.

The Main Uses Of Playground Canopies

• Outdoor Learning Space. Playground canopies for schools also double up as outdoor teaching areas as they can be fully enclosed and include electrical points so lights can be used when necessary. Our range of playground shelters can be made to your exact specifications in a wide range of colours and finishes to ensure your play areas are nurturing and safe places for children and pupils to be.
• Protect against harsh weather. Playgrounds are great places until it starts raining heavily! Miko has a range of outdoor metal canopies for playgrounds, which protect against UV rays, and heavy rain, and provide a covered play area, so that children can enjoy their break times outside, rather than being cooped up in the classroom when it’s wet outside.

The Main Benefits of Playground Canopies

• Allow for extended playtimes. Most kids love being outdoors playing and interacting with their friends. If your playground has a water-resistant canopy children can enjoy being outside for their breaks all year round. Having their lesson immediately after playtime outside can help to make learning fun and feel like an extension of their break.
• Provides versatile activity space. A covered area on the playground provides a space that can be used for a range of activities. Sports events, lessons, parent meetings, performances, and events are just some of the things that can be done in a covered outdoor space without having to rely on the weather being dry.

Shade Sail Canopies

The main purpose of a shade sail is to provide protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun, which can lead to skin diseases and skin cancer.

Main uses of shade sail canopies

• Shade sail canopies are hugely popular in schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, and business parks alike. The material used to create this type of canopy is the same used to create sails for boats and so is extremely hard-wearing, offering both UV protection and water resistance.

Benefits of shade sail canopies

• By combining your sunshade with picnic tables and other outdoor furniture, you can transform your outdoor space into an open social area whilst remaining sheltered from the element

Get In Touch For Outdoor Canopies For Schools & Businesses

No two buildings are the same. At Miko Engineering, we pride ourselves in creating outdoor canopies that meet your individual needs and those of the people who are going to use the space. Our designs can be tailored to your budget and space, creating an effective solution that makes the most of your outside space.

Each product is designed and constructed in the UK by our team of experts. Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can create a structure that enables you to utilise your outside area in all seasons.

 There are thousands of people all over the UK that enjoy the pleasures of riding a bike, yet, it is staggering how little of our population in the UK actively cycle on a daily basis, whether that be for downtime, or your commute to work or to take your children to school. 

But we think this could change if people really knew the benefits that cycling can have on both your physical AND mental health! It’s time to ditch the car keys and pick up your helmet! Below you will find our top 10 reasons why you should be cycling to work today!

Let’s Look at The Stats

In official reports carried out in 2017 in the UK, these were the findings:

• A huge 71% of the population surveyed admitted they never cycle at all these days.
• Only 42% of people (aged 5+) own or have access to a bike.
• 4% of commute trips are made via cycling.
• Between April 2017 and March 2018, there were an estimated 288,000 incidents of bicycle theft.

Power Your General Health  

With it being said that it only takes around two to four hours of exercise a week to improve your general health, there really is no excuse to not get on your bike and enjoy a bike ride from time to time. Whether you ride to the local shops to pick up this evening’s dinner, or you switch up your morning commute to work, it can have substantial benefits on your general, physical health. These can include; increased cardiovascular fitness, improve your joint mobility, improve your posture.

Low Impact, High Return

You will find that gentle exercise in the form of cycling is great for lowering health risks and improving your general physical fitness as firstly it is one of the easiest sports, once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget. It is low impact exercise which ultimately results in less strain on the body, it provides a good muscle workout leaning your legs, bum and stomach and working for all muscle groups as you pedal. And it is good for building stamina and strength over time.

Give Your Mental Health a Boost

Looking after your personal mental health can be as easy as you prefer. Cycling is an incredibly easy yet effective way of taking care of your mental health. A gentle exercise like such can have astounding benefits on your mental health, taking a little chunk of your day to work on yourself and focusing solely on yourself. 

Stress Relief

You will notice a relieving source for stress – stress can be the main factor of contributing to health problems both externally and internally as well as mentally, causing anxiety and depression. Cycling reduces levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.

Improve Sleeping Habits

Regular cycling is known to benefit your sleeping habits, as the movement of the exercise will leave your body feeling tired which of course is the main contributor to sleep, however, it encourages a release of Human Growth Hormone into your bloodstream while you are sleeping.

Higher self-esteem and energy

Higher self-esteem and energy levels can be benefited by cycling on the regular, as being on the move and increasing your heart rate gives you that little extra motivation you have been looking for to get through your day’s tasks, and when you work out it aids strength and feel-good factor within, ultimately boosting your general mood and confidence.

Turn You Into Einstein 

Not exactly! However, regular exercise has been proven to help with your cognitive health (brainpower). According to Harvard Medical School, regular exercise can help with memory and thinking both direct and indirectly. Directly, exercise helps with releasing chemicals in your brain that affect the health of brain cells and allowing new blood vessels to grow. Indirectly, exercise will help with your mental health, mood and sleep.

Financial Freedom

This one is pretty obvious, but cycling to work helps to improve your financial situation by being absolutely FREE. That’s right, no petrol costs, general MOT or service maintenance, just hop on your bike, pop on your helmet and off you go!

Time Efficient 

Cycling can be an incredibly time-efficient form of transport for you. When you decide to take the car to work, you could run into the unavoidable rush hour traffic, therefore sitting at traffic lights and roundabouts for a substantial amount of time in the morning, wasting valuable time of your day. Cycling to work has been made even easier and safer these days with the brand new and more popular cycle lanes aiding you to beat the rush.

Fun

There is denying it. Cycling in its purest form is incredibly fun. We all have childhood memories of riding our bikes around our neighbourhood with friends, with not a care in the world. Cycling to work is one of the simplest ways to re-integrate that carefree feeling back into your daily commute. 

Tackling the Risk of Bicycle Theft

With a staggering 288,000 incidents of bicycle theft occurring between 2017-2018, Miko Shelter Solutions have an extensive range of bicycle shelters and storage products that we can offer and design you to ensure that your cycling equipment is kept safe and secure. We can offer you:

• Bike Shelters
• Cycle Lockers
• Cycle Racks
• Cycle Compounds

Contact Us

If you are taking motivation from us this summertime and opting for your bike rather than your car, then don’t hesitate to get in touch and give us a call on 0191 428 0452 to discuss your cycle storage solutions, or arrange a bespoke solution to store your cycling equipment to upmost safety.

What is outdoor learning?

The simple definition of outdoor learning can be explained as the process of learning through experience in an outdoor environment. Outdoor learning can also be known as outdoor education. Which is more of a broad term used to describe several different activities that take place in mostly outdoor surroundings.

Outdoor Learning Activities and Ideas

Several different activities can be utilised in outdoor environments. Some of our favourites include:

• Exploring the wildlife and plants that live in the local park or schoolyard/field
• Staying at a residential outdoor centre – such as Derwent Hill
• Working as a team to build a raft and paddle across a lake (secondary school)
• Creating a “critter” using modelling materials
• Crime scene creative writing – creating a crime scene and using it as a basis for literacy work
• Building a basic shelter using materials in a natural environment- to improve teamwork and communication

Further reading: Check out Learning through Landscapes fantastic Outdoor lesson ideas resource page

Is outdoor learning effective?

Is outdoor learning effective? Yes! It has been proven that learning in the outdoors is a great way to develop inquisitive thinking, problem-solving, personal and social skills and teamwork in real-life situations. By allowing young people to learn outdoors, we are teaching them that learning isn’t confined to the classroom and is, in fact, an on-going thing that takes place throughout the entirety of their lives.

“…the more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.”

Roald Dahl

Benefits of outdoor learning

There’s no question that outdoor learning is effective. We briefly touched on a few of the benefits of learning outside above. Such as allowing children to develop personal and social development skills, as well as developing problem-solving skills. However, what other benefits can outdoor learning provide? Check out our top 5 benefits below:

• Outdoor activities can provide positive physical and mental health benefits and assist fine motor development
• Provide opportunities for children to work collaboratively and improve their communication
• Allow children to be able to identify hazards and risks outside the classroom and on school grounds
• Help expand the school curriculum and make children aware of how we can maintain and look after our environment
• Teaches children to become more resilient as we tend to wrap our children in cotton wool. Allowing learning outdoors will provide more opportunities for children to experience more challenges and demonstrate that giving up is not always the best option.

“The next generation is tomorrow’s workforce. Helping young people to experience and handle risk is part of preparing them for adult life and the world of work. Young people can gain this experience from participating in challenging and exciting outdoor events made possible by organisations prepared to adopt a common sense and proportionate approach that balances benefits and risk. I support this publication for the encouragement that it gives to everyone to adopt such an approach”

Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair, Health and Safety Executive

Why is outdoor play important in early years?

Unfortunately, it seems that young people are taking part in more and more sedentary indoor activities, such as playing video games, watching tv and generally being inactive as a whole. However, children in their early years are incredibly inquisitive and are at a crucial point in their lives, in the sense that they are learning about their surroundings and environment and the risks and hazards associated with them. By not allowing children to have experiences outside, we are hindering their personal and social development. Which may harm them later in their lives.

Is outdoor learning safe?

There will always be risks when it comes to outdoor learning. Children will be taking part in many different activities and experiences. Each presenting their risks and hazards. However, with the proper supervision and teaching, the benefits of learning outdoors will far outweigh the risks associated with it.

It is incredibly important that children and young  people are presented with opportunities that will aid their personal and social development and taking risks where appropriate.

How can MIKO help?

We understand that not every school will have an environment in which they can carry out outdoor learning safely and effectively. However, it is becoming incredibly common for schools to require outdoor teaching areas and playground shelters. They can provide the perfect environment to help younger people develop their skills and learn through new experiences.

Outdoor canopies can help to transform your school’s outdoor space, providing additional sheltered and safe areas for specific activities. These could have a multitude of purposes, and benefits for teachers, school children and parents alike. The different features that outdoor canopies for school grounds can have will give even more benefits and uses for your outside space. Here are some of the ways that installing canopies can benefit your school.

Outdoor Canopies In Schools

Outdoor canopies for schools have gained popularity in recent years due to a number of reasons. The global pandemic brought with it a need for more outside space, both for maintaining distances but to reduce the risks of parents and guardians entering the schools. Instead parents were kept outside, and therefore outdoor canopies provided clear waiting areas that were still protected from the weather.

And that isn’t the only reason there has been a surge in demand for outdoor canopies, class sizes are also on the rise. Having larger classes indoors all the time is becoming less practical, so clear outside spaces for classes to expand into and use has been needed.

Outdoor canopies and covered walkways have been put to use in schools not only for providing shelter for additional classroom space, but also for protecting walkways between buildings, covering breakout educational areas outside, protecting building entrance ways and car parks, and providing cover for sports spectators.

What Are The Benefits Of Installing Canopies At Your School?

Each of the different uses for canopies in schools brings with it a variety of benefits. These range from additional protected space for outdoor learning and playing, health and safety, and simply making life easier for teachers and parents. Let’s look at these benefits of installing canopies at your school in more detail:

Increased classroom space

School canopies, sometimes referred to as playground canopies, can create additional and alternative classroom space. The increased outdoor space will allow for more creative and messy classroom projects, as well as activities that may include noisy musical instruments. Being outdoors greatly benefits children, so adding this space provides this option without exposing them to bad or strong weather conditions, such as wind, rain or harmful UV light. By having an outdoor canopy, outdoor classrooms are created where learning and additional activities can be done outdoors, allowing for school children to widen their experiences and skillsets.

Mixing up the space in which children can learn and play will keep them interested and stimulated, as well as providing them with the opportunity to mix with more children than they might sitting at a desk inside. For teachers, this means happier children are easier to supervise, especially outside where there could be more hazards as they are still kept within the confines of the outdoor canopied area.

Aid student development and interest

Children’s development and behaviour may also benefit greatly from having an outdoor area, and installing canopies will mean they get the benefit of this all year round, not just when the weather allows. According to the Natural Connections project, 92% of teachers say children are more motivated to learn when they’re outside, while 82% said they saw a positive impact on their behaviour.

Purchasing and installing a school canopy is also a lot cheaper than extending the building itself, and it provides a safe outdoor environment from which children can learn and play. By giving them more freedom and different scenery from which to learn, you will be increasing their engagement and interest overall.

Creates extra classroom storage

As well as the additional classroom space for outdoor play and outdoor dining, the school playground canopies may also provide additional storage space for outdoor equipment. Bigger playground equipment could be set up outside under the canopy, or different work stations, and outdoor furniture could be added whilst still being protected. Adding roller shutters to the canopy can also protect the equipment from the elements.

Protection from the elements

Especially in the UK, the weather can have a big impact on whether school children can go outside or not. Allowing students to move out of the classroom is a great opportunity for them to explore their surroundings, engage in different activities, mix with other people and get some exercise.

If the option to be outside even in bad weather isn’t there this could significantly affect their learning, mood and behaviour. Providing outdoor canopies to certain areas means that they can still go outside and get the benefits of this, without being rained on or blown away.

Children’s skin is much more sensitive and should also be protected, so in the summer canopies can provide additional protection from UV rays from the sun.

Protected Walkways

Students and teachers may have to frequently travel between buildings throughout their day, which may not be ideal considering the temperamental British weather. Covered walkways are a great way to keep students, teachers and their materials protected at all times even when moving from building to building.

With increased numbers of pupils and teachers moving around at certain times of day such as between classes, lunchtimes and at the start and end of the day, the likelihood of accidents occurring is greater at these times. Installing outdoor canopies over hot spots where pupil traffic is at its greatest could reduce accidents, for example if it’s raining students would not having to run between buildings to get under cover.

Stand out from the crowd

First impressions are everything, and every year there will be prospective students and their parents visiting your school, as well as Ofsted inspectors and potentially VIP visitors. That’s why it’s incredibly important to not only focus on your interior looking its best but also your exterior. Both primary school canopies and secondary school canopies are great additions to existing school buildings and can really help make a a huge difference to the look of a school’s outdoor space.

If external guests are required to wait outside before entering the building, entranceway canopies can offer a clear sheltered space, and protect from bad weather.

The exterior of your school can be totally transformed with a canopy or multiple canopies at different locations. Simply installing a walkway, entrance canopies or a study area canopy can easily influence the decision of prospective students choosing to attend your school. It may also score additional points to Ofsted inspectors!

Find out more about outdoor school canopies

For more information on outdoor canopies for schools and businesses, check out our other helpful blogs on canopies and their uses in more detail:

• The benefits of having an outdoor canopy
• 6 benefits of installing canopies at your school
• The importance of a canopy covered walkway for a commercial building
• Outdoor canopies for schools
• A guide to entrance canopies
• A guide to outdoor canopies
• The benefits of an entrance canopy
• How can canopies benefit your workplace
• School canopies for summer terms

Are you interested in an outdoor canopy for your school?

At its core, Miko Shelter Solutions is a family firm with traditional values. We believe in offering a complete and honest service, no matter what your requirements. As a result, we get repeat business on a regular basis and have earned a formidable reputation for our excellent products and customer service.

Got any questions or want to discuss how your school could benefit from installing canopies or want to find out a school canopy cost? Feel free to contact us!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… 

With Black Friday just over a week away, and Christmas around the corner, we will begin to notice the increase of shoppers on our high-streets and in our local shopping centres. Savvy spenders will be out in their dozens looking for big deals, so what better way to encourage it than by preparing your retail space with the help of MIKO Shelter Solutions?! 

Not only can we assist in helping your retail centre look more welcoming for your prospect shoppers, but we can also offer our hand at designing and manufacturing bespoke products to boost the practicality and functionality of your retail centre, ultimately boosting its overall curb appeal. 

Welcoming Solutions With MIKO…

Entrance Canopies –

You won’t believe the difference that a well-designed and manufactured Entrance Canopy can make to a retail centre. When your intention is there to invite the public to come and spend their time browsing, spending their well-earned money and using your facilities, then you want to make sure you are doing everything you can in order to make it appeal welcoming and a nice place to visit. 

Here at MIKO, we can design, manufacture and implement Entrance Canopies perfect for your retail centre. They are ideal for giving a tired and lifeless structure a much needed lift and lease of life, not to mention making a bold statement and lasting impression. You can choose from our standard designs or we can work on a bespoke creation to match your brand colours, image and aesthetic. 

We can offer the following styles:

• Wave
• Monopitch
• Symmetric Arch
• Duo Pitch
• Cantilever 
• Asymmetric Arch

We have a guideline of standard features that are implemented within the design and manufacturing of the canopy, ranging from:

• Strong Mild Steel box section in a variety of styles tailored to your personal preference
• Hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461:2009
• Powder coated to any standard RAL colour
• 16mm clear multiwall polycarbonate
• Surface mounted baseplates
• Plastic Guttering
• Bespoke manufactured to suit your dimensions 

With the optional features including: 

• Stainless Steel box section
• Multiwall Polycarbonate in a variety of colours and sizes best suited to your preference
• Aluminium Gutter powder coated to match 
• Submerged baseplates
• LED or Solar lighting 

Covered Walkways – 

We specialise in a range of both standard and bespoke Covered Walkways to satisfy the needs of your commercial premises. In addition to enhancing your overall curb appeal and aesthetic finish of your building, a Covered Walkway offers a distinctive upgrade that is extremely functional, especially throughout the wet and windy winter periods. However, come rain or shine – they are a fantastic solution to protect your employees and customers when they are around your retail centre. 

Through one simple addition to your building, a Covered Walkway can instantly give your building that added value and make all of the difference. Here at MIKO, we have an experienced team of professionals who can assist with your project. 

Why not take a look at the different styles of Covered Walkways that we can offer your commercial business? 

Outdoor Dining Canopies –

If your retail centre has a mixture of restaurants, cafes and tea rooms, with a lot of space around to utilise, why not consider an Outdoor Dining Canopy? In the midst of a busy shopping spree, sometimes it is nice to take a breather and enjoy some lunch with a view, watching the world go by. With MIKO Outdoor Dining Canopies – you can offer your customers just that! 

Functional Solutions With MIKO… 

Storage Solutions – 

If your retail space is in an accessible area, where people could cycle along, then why not consider implementing safe and secure storage with our Cycle Shelters, Cycle Compounds and Cycle Racks. 

All designed to a high quality, you can choose from our standard styles or design your very own bespoke creation perfect for your needs. 

Smoking Shelters –

Designated smoking areas help those who wish to take a cigarette break navigate exactly where they should head to. Whether it be shelters with cigarette bins or benches included for comfort and usability, here at MIKO we can design and manufacture functional smoking shelters that make it easy for your employees and customers to find when needed. 

Take a look at the different options of Smoking Shelters that we can deliver to your commercial business. 

Bin Storage –

One aspect of maintaining the aesthetic of your retail centre is by ensuring that it is clean and tidy at all times. Litter can make a place look seriously unwelcoming and not maintained, and that is not the first impression that you want to give your shoppers. Here at MIKO, we can design and manufacture a range of different styles of Litter Bins perfect for dotting around your shopping mall to ensure that everyone respects your ‘keep it tidy, keep it clean’ message. 

Benches –

Offering a place to sit and take five, whether that be planning your route or enjoying a coffee in the whirlwind of your shop, our Benches here at MIKO create the perfect welcoming, functional break. We can design both steel and wood based benches in a variety of styles, why not head over to our website to take a look and see which solution is best for you?!

Planters – 

Nothing boosts your business’ curb appeal quite like fresh planters. Granted, not everyone has the time or the resources to look after real planters, so there is always an option of displaying artificial plants and flowers in our beautiful planters. Whether they are placed in the entrance of your retail space, or dotted throughout the mall, they instantly brighten the place up by giving a spring of colour. Whether you have the space for Stacked Corten style planters, or you would prefer smaller corten planters – take a look through our range on our website for what we can offer you!

Get In Touch…

If this blog has given you some ideas for boosting your commercial curb appeal and making your retail space that little bit more welcoming and functional for your customers to enjoy, then get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can help! Give us a call on 0191 428 0452 or write to us at [email protected]. 

As we are coming into the colder and wetter months of the year, using your outdoor space can become incredibly difficult – but there are ways and means around it! Why should outdoor learning have to stop in Summer? Here at Miko, we can provide a range of shelter solutions – meaning you can still make use out of your outdoor space… even in the Winter!

Shelter Solutions for Schools

Miko Engineering has been working in the education sector since we began over 30 years ago. We work closely with our clients to create shelter solutions that are practical and best utilise the outdoor space. Miko Engineering’s product range is designed with your school in mind. We understand that every school’s environment, budgets and needs are different. By working closely with each school, Miko can account for these individual needs.

Teaching & Play Canopies 

Outdoor teaching canopies are a consistently growing market for Miko. They are being used in schools as the main hub for teaching. Creative Education explains some of the reasons why teaching outside of the classroom is so important to the development of students and is just one of the benefits of installing a teaching canopy to your school. It is important to encourage to dine, learn and also play outdoors – regardless of the weather! One of the only ways to achieve this in the wintertime is through an outdoor classroom canopy. Covered outdoor dining areas for schools using a canopy are beneficial in terms of using space you already have for pupils’ wellbeing.

The Benefits:

• Decreased stress levels
• Increased motivation
• Overall better behaviour
• Increased imagination in younger children

Teaching outside will also develop children’s exposure to new and exciting opportunities. It will be a new and stimulating experience, helping the concentration span of the pupils as well as all of the benefits mentioned above!

Personalised Spaces

When designing and manufacturing teaching canopies and other shelter solutions for schools, one of the main questions we get asked is “Can we make it personalised to our school?” and the answer is yes of course! Bespoke solutions are the most challenging, yet rewarding types of projects for Miko Engineering. We love to design and manufacture something that is different from anything already out there. We would make recommendations along the way, so if you don’t know yourself how you might want it to look then we can help! One of the easiest ways to personalise your bespoke solution is by creating it in your school’s colours – a simplistic yet timeless effect. Whatever style you’re looking for the team here at Miko will ensure it fits with the environment, and is measured to size – enabling a perfect fit wherever it will be placed.

Our Product Range:

Cycle Storage

We offer an extensive range of cycle shelters and other forms of cycle storage. Cycle shelters are extremely popular amongst our school clients, but we still provide bike shelters to commercial buildings, hospitals and public service buildings. Within our cycle storage range, we have a variety of product types including cycle racks, cycle compounds, cycle lockers and scooter racks.

Canopies

Canopies are a great way for your business to make the most of your outdoor space. Whether you’re looking for a covered walkway, entrance canopy, play canopy or a timber canopy – here at Miko we have the skills and expertise to design and manufacture them all! Take a look at our full range of canopies for schools and business!

Street Furniture

Miko Shelter Solutions certainly know a thing or two about street furniture products that are made to last. We use high-quality materials to build a range of bespoke and standard street furniture and other products. 

Shelters

With a proven track record within the engineering sector, our experts have developed a comprehensive product range of outside and parent waiting shelters, all of which provide a comfortable, polished and protective shelter for many purposes and locations. 

Contact Us

If you are interested in any of the shelter solutions that we have mentioned in this blog post then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and receive a free quote. Teaching canopies are great to have in place and can be manufactured all year round! So if you’re looking for some inspiration, or you just want to chat to a member of our expert team then contact us today or take a look at our case studies page to find out more. 

Did you know that the UK does not even rank in the top ten list of countries recognised for their Recycling efforts? 

With a combined total population of 67 million+ in the UK, this is pretty shocking to hear – would you agree? With Germany coming in first position, shortly followed by Austria and South Korea, we should definitely be ranking higher than we do. In 2014 alone, Britain produced 4.9 million tonnes of plastic waste, with two thirds being from product packaging, and only 1.2 million tonnes of it was actually recycled. 

Now when you think of all of the recycling services we now have, with particular days of the week being dedicated to councils coming to empty our recycling bins, separate bins being distributed in and around cities to encourage everyone to dispose of our waste in the correct places, there really is no excuse! So we thought we would come to you today to tell you all about our Bin Storage here at Miko Shelter Solutions, to help your business recycle more and dump less… 

Miko Bin Storage

Miko Bin Storage is simple, robust and blends in effortlessly with any surrounding, whether you require its use in and around the workplace, or at home. We can supply you with a range of bins, using different materials and in different designs, in addition to Bin Storage, with our most popular being the Timber Clad Bin Storage. 

We always galvanise our external products to increase the overall longevity and finish of our work, and all of the items that we can manufacture can be power coated any colour to offer our clients a personalised touch. We can also manufacture all of our items in stainless steel too, which provides a durable, sturdy and weather repellent finish. 

Miko Bins –

Here at Miko, we can design and manufacture a wide range of outdoor litter bins suitable for schools, parks, public spaces and corporate surroundings, with a very robust nature at the for-front of our minds, to ensure they will last year after year, while still being aesthetically pleasing on the eye. To blend your litter bin in to your work environment, we can powder coat our products to create a very ‘on-brand’ look, and simply personalise them to your preferences. 

Let’s take a look at what bin designs we can offer you…

Boldon Litter Bins –

• Welded with a hinged lockable door.
• Supplied with a galvanised steel liner.
• Secured to the ground through four holes in 6mm base.
• 60 litres capacity.
• Available in an array of RAL colours.

Kenton Litter Bin –

• Manufactured from 3mm Zintec with a 3mm lockable spun top.
• Galvanised steel inner bin.
• Very robust.
• 100 litre capacity.

Ascham Litter Bin –

• Manufactured from 2mm Zintec.
• Lockable top and inner galvanised liner.
• Robust bin.
• 70 litre capacity.

Kendal Litter Bin –

• Manufactured from 2mm Zintec.
• Lockable top and galvanised inner.
• 70 litre capacity.

Jesmond Litter Bin –

• Manufactured from 2mm stainless steel. 
• Lockable front door and galvanised inner bin.
• 100 litre capacity.

Gosforth Litter Bin –

• Manufactured from 2mm stainless steel.
• Easy ‘lift & spin’ mechanism which requires no lock.
• Complete with galvanised steel liner.
• 100 litre capacity. 

Miko Bin Storage Solutions –

Timber Clad Bin Storage:

Our popular Timber Clad Bin Storage is designed with a natural structure to blend in effortlessly with the surroundings in which it will belong. Take a look at the specifications and options for your design that we can offer you here at Miko: 

• A galvanised steel frame with mesh infills, cladded in a range of timbers.
• Your choice of Larch, Iroko or Red Cedar wood finish. 
• Cladco profile roofing, powder coated, and with 16mm multiwall polycarbonate also available. 
• Baseplates fixed to concrete foundations or root fixed. 
• Bespoke dimensions for each individual project that we carry out.
• Push button locking system, or hasp and staple. 
• Can include internal partitions and internal lighting.

Contact MIKO Today

All of our Litter Bins here at Miko can be used for normal disposal of waste AND recycling disposal, so now that we have walked you through the products that we can offer you, simply just get in touch to discuss with our team your specific requirements and any enquiries you may have. Don’t forget, we can also offer our Bespoke Services to create your one-of-a-kind design that nobody else has! So give us a call today on 0191 428 0452 or email our team at [email protected] to discuss more.

Have you considered how your curb appeal for your business looks? Do you even know what curb appeal is? And how it can add value to your business? 

What Is ‘Curb Appeal’?

Your curb appeal is simply how your property looks from the outside. It is an increasingly important thing to consider and work on, as it can add value to your business itself and the area that you are situated in. 

How Can I Boost My Business Curb Appeal?

There are many things that you can do to boost your business’ overall curb appeal. Here are some of our suggestions:

Plant Some Greenery 

One of the most simple ways that you can enhance your business’ curb appeal and make it look more aesthetically appealing to the public and your employee’s coming to work everyday is by planting some greenery in the entrance way of your building or framing the perimeter. Not only does it add a splash of colour but it can improve the value of your building and give it a luxurious feel. 

Why not try out some of our bespoke planters that we can recommend you here at MIKO? Corten planters tend to be our most popular from our range and they are the perfect fit for commercial and retail developments. We are also able to manufacture planters from Mild Steel, allowing a unique look to each individual one. 

Give Your Signage A New Lease Of Life 

First impressions count, right? Not only does nice clean signage look nice but an old, faded sign gives off an under appreciated, neglected vibe and NO business wants that! Invest in brand new signage to change the first impression that you portray to your clients, guests or employees and the results will follow. 

Switch Up Your Window Display 

If you are in the retail industry specifically, then chances are you will have a window display that you style up each month or every few months. Make it your mission to change around your display quite often in order for it to always look fresh and new, and interesting for your potential customer to look at and be captured by. Nobody wants to see the same old display month after month, right? 

Be Obvious 

This may sound blatantly obvious but – make sure that everyone knows what your business does by the outside aesthetics. Make sure your branding gives off the impression that you want it to, your logo tells the public exactly what service you provide at first glance and there is a form of call to action somewhere whether it be a name, website address or phone number. It helps! 

Accentuate Your Parking Facilities

This is a practical step to take but both your customers and employees will massively appreciate this! Having a designated area to park can make a huge difference to your experience somewhere as opposed to parking on the street or miles away from where you are. To boost your curb appeal for your business simply add nice lighting to the area and clear parking spaces to enhance it aesthetically and you’re sorted! 

Pop Out Temporary Signs

Temporary signs like sandwich boards for example are great for attracting attention to your business and drawing in new customers! Signs that are perhaps out of the ordinary for your brand but yet still on brand are incredibly beneficial for gaining interest and giving your business a little unique twist. 

 Outdoor Furniture

Implementing outdoor furniture outside of your business also invites curb appeal and improves the overall welcoming of the outside of your business. Whether it be picnic tables, benches and/or outdoor bins. Here at MIKO we can provide you with a range of street furniture that is well designed and manufactured by our dedicated team. 

 Contact Us

If you wish to improve your overall business curb appeal and are particularly interested in any of the services that we can provide you with, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Give us a call on 0191 428 0452 or email us at [email protected] and we would love to help. In addition to our products displayed on our website, we also have a Bespoke service available in which you can create your very own unique solution perfect for your brand! Get in touch today to find out more.