We knew it was coming as soon as the Prime Minister popped up in the Mail on Sunday, promising that this autumn the cabinet would ‘cut through the dither’ and deliver bold policy reforms to support growth. Since then, we’ve had a raft of announcements, a far-reaching ministerial re-shuffle, and fairly frenetic telephone calls from Number 10 and departments to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) meant to show us that Whitehall means business.
Perhaps the most important event of the week, apart from the promotion of some our Norfolk MPs, was the Chancellor’s off-hand comment on the BBC1 Andrew Marr Show last Sunday, where he let slip that the Treasury was actively considering the creation of a small business bank. An important shift, as it echoes the call that John Longworth Director General at the BCC and his BCC team have been making for many months now. The BCC’s own paper on the case for a British Business Bank is now being discussed at the highest levels of government, and we will work hard over the coming weeks to ensure that any proposal that emerges actually serves new and growing companies in the real economy – rather than just the government’s PR interests.
The most disappointing event this week, on the other hand, was the government’s decision to wallop the key issue of aviation capacity into the long grass. By convening yet another review and pushing decisions into the next Parliament, ministers are shying away from one of business’s top priorities.
So the talk of ‘cutting through the dither’ may yet be just that – talk. Or it could signal a substantive change in government policy that really helps business deliver a new model economy. We’ll be pushing for the latter in the weeks to come.
Ensure you are part of the debate by attending our Economic Breakfast with John Longworth Director General BCC and Chole Smith MP on 5 October at Dunston Hall and attend our business conference Unlocking Success on the 23 November at OPEN Norwich.
Just over a year ago Paul Hill the then business editor of the EDP challenged me to get involved in social media. I even wrote an article in the EDP about how I needed to get up to speed on how to use social media effectively, but that I was doing so with some reluctance.
My first step was to organise a business event last September, it considered all aspects of social media from a novice point of view which meant that I too could learn what was what. I did learn a great deal and facebook, linkedin, twitter and google+ were put into context. However, I soon found that knowing what each of them did, didn’t really help me to understand how best to use them within my business.
It was time to call in the experts. I asked lots of questions both from suppliers and other users to see who was engaged in using social media, to ascertain what was right for the Chamber. What became very clear was that social media is a very new form of communication and there are very few clear cut right and wrong answers but I learnt a number of key lessons.
The first lesson was that instead of replacing the need for an efficient up-to-date website, the opposite was the case. Social media channels drive traffic to your website so if it is not up to the job you have a major issue. This is why we invested in a brand new website which provides a proper platform for our social media communications.
The second lesson was that social media does not replace any other marketing which you may already be doing but is in addition to the marketing mix of emails, website, magazine, literature and newsletters as well as face to face networking. All businesses, but in particular smaller businesses have limited resources, which have to stretch even further to accommodate this new communication method.
However, the most important lesson of all is that content is key and without strong relevant content – don’t bother! As I start to get up to speed and even have my own twitter account as well as the Chamber having one, I am appalled by how many businesses, who should know better, are using social media without taking the time and effort to really think about what they send and to whom. The right online communication sent to a targeted audience is ‘information’ and can produce business. Poor untargeted content is clearly seen as ‘spam’ and likely to damage your credibility.
Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay and it is important for all businesses to take the time and effort to understand what it means to their own businesses. So needing to understand content management relating to social media better I am organising another September event to hear from the experts. I wonder what next year’s event will be about!
To access details of our Engaging Customers event on 14 September please go here.
The recently released Montague report on housing thankfully opens up discussion of some of the issues of housing in the UK and may help us start to address issues such as, supply and demand, quality of housing, meeting sustainability through economy of scale, creating flexible living arrangements to suit contemporary lifestyles, whilst providing longer term tenancies and security for those that require it. Essentially it requires responding more closely to the needs of users.
This comes at an appropriate time, when the planning system is recognising the importance of community, with a move towards a bottom up approach in the planning system, an active encouragement of community involvement and favourability towards development – where it is sustainable.
The suggestion that the government should assist in releasing public land and encourage local planning authorities to recognise the role of private renting is a welcome one. Furthermore, the call for local planning authorities to distinguish between the demand for rented accommodation and home ownership in the planning system is of key importance. This is due to the implications on land value calculation created by the current presumption that land for homes would be owner-occupied if not specifically earmarked for affordable housing, which of course in turn impacts the cost of development.
If to be successful, an investment in private rental development requires not only confidence from investors, private developers and local authority support, but a cultural shift in our attitudes towards how we live. Perhaps it is a particularly attractive idea to young professionals and families with contemporary ideals of living in high density urban environments, allowing the integration of life and work more closely and reducing the need to travel. The report recognises the importance of establishing street level activity quickly in new developments and the significance of community, including some of civic facilities required to build a community. But we must pay close attention to the dynamics of communities and their requirements; we must recognise the role of high quality public realm and shared space in addition to the quality of living accommodation itself to making these potential developments successful in their long-term use.
Considering that rental communities may only be successful if there is some level of permanency there is need for some mixed use within these potential developments and diversity of properties and tenure. In addition, from an urbanism point of view, we must embrace the idea of place making, the importance of shared space, green infrastructure and the need for a community to contribute to and occupy their surroundings – in order to foster a shared responsibility for them.
Love it or hate it social media is here to stay. Just over a year ago Paul Hill the then business editor of the EDP challenged me to get involved in social media. I even wrote an article in the EDP about how I needed to get up to speed on how to use social media effectively, but that I was doing so with some reluctance.
My first step was to organise a business event last September, it considered all aspects of social media from a novice point of view which meant that I too could learn what was what. I did learn a great deal and facebook, linkedin, twitter and google+ were put into context. However, I soon found that knowing what each of them did, didn’t really help me to understand how best to use them within my business.
It was time to call in the experts. I asked lots of questions both from suppliers and other users to see who was engaged in using social media, to ascertain what was right for the Chamber. What became very clear was that social media is a very new form of communication and there are very few clear cut right and wrong answers but I learnt a number of key lessons.
The first lesson was that instead of replacing the need for an efficient up-to-date website, the opposite was the case. Social media channels drive traffic to your website so if it is not up to the job you have a major issue. This is why we invested in a brand new website which provides a proper platform for our social media communications.
The second lesson was that social media does not replace any other marketing which you may already be doing but is in addition to the marketing mix of emails, website, magazine, literature and newsletters as well as face to face networking. All businesses, but in particular smaller businesses have limited resources, which have to stretch even further to accommodate this new communication method.
However, the most important lesson of all is that content is key and without strong relevant content – don’t bother! As I start to get up to speed and even have my own twitter account as well as the Chamber having one, I am appalled by how many businesses, who should know better, are using social media without taking the time and effort to really think about what they send and to whom. The right online communication sent to a targeted audience is ‘information’ and can produce business. Poor untargeted content is clearly seen as ‘spam’ and likely to damage your credibility.
Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay and it is important for all businesses to take the time and effort to understand what it means to their own businesses. So needing to understand content management relating to social media better I am organising another September event, details below, to hear from the experts- I wonder what next year’s event will be about!
14 September 2012 – ‘Engaging Customers – using social media and technology’ 8am – 2pm EPIC Studios, Norwich
Monday saw the implementation of the second Common Commencement Date for new regulations affecting businesses for 2012. Changes that came into force will likely receive a lukewarm reception from business. By far the most notable change coming in will be pensions auto-enrolment, with a £2.8bn cost to business. However, this threatens to overshadow the recent progress made by the government in alleviating the burden of red tape.
Last week saw the implementation of the second Common Commencement Date for new regulations affecting businesses for 2012. Changes that came into force will likely receive a lukewarm reception from business, with companies seeing some welcome changes – changes to CRB checks and audit requirements – and some less than popular measures – such as cost recovery by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). By far the most notable change will be pensions auto-enrolment, with a £2.8bn cost to business. The changes to pensions are part of a broader discussion around the challenges of a changing demographic in the UK, as opposed to forming part of the analysis into the government’s deregulation policies.
The government recognises the burden that unnecessary, or badly designed, red tape places on companies and the effect that this can have on growth, innovation and job creation. The government has made some tangible progress in this agenda in recent months, with some welcome reductions to the bureaucracy faced by firms. Notably, the recent announcements on changes to the health and safety regime for companies – particularly the changes surrounding ‘strict liability’ and the reductions in inspections – announced last month were welcomed by businesses.
However, this relief was short lived. New health and safety regulations came into force on 1 October placing a duty on the HSE to recover its costs for carrying out its regulatory functions from those found to be in material breach of health and safety legislation. At present, the cost for this is £124 an hour. The Chamber accepts that a cost recovery principle will provide a deterrent to those who otherwise fail to meet their obligations, and provide a level playing field for those who do. However, it is as if the government is taking one step forward and immediately taking one step back. This change risks damaging relationships between good, law-abiding companies and the HSE.
We are concerned that the new regime could effectively incentivise health and safety inspectors to find businesses in material breach of regulations. Under this new regulation, the focus of health and safety inspectors could shift from helping honest companies, to making money for the HSE – especially given the apparent 35% overall spending cut which the HSE needs to make. Given the current economic climate, even hypothetical excess costs are enough to give real cause for concern in the business community. This ultimately filters through to business confidence, which is already fragile enough.
For businesses on the ground, this change will likely feel like a step backwards in Whitehall’s attempts to reduce the burden of red tape. Given the government’s recent progress, and the new Business Minister’s attitude towards red tape, this will only fuel businesses frustration with the government. The government must continue in its efforts to lessen unnecessary regulations affecting companies, particularly those without a dedicated HR or legal department to deal with red tape. Moreover, we must also ensure that future legislation that affects companies is proportionate and does not distract companies from growing and creating jobs.
Last Monday started off just like any other normal back-to-Parliament week for a backbencher. Then the phone rang. Even with reshuffle chatter bubbling away in the background, any MP might hope, but certainly not expect it to be the Prime Minister. With that I was a Local Government Minister at the Department for Communities. Surprised, yes. A privilege, certainly. A new challenge, definitely. But I am ready and eager to roll my sleeves up and get on with the job of governing. So instead of deciding which debates to attend and thinking about select committee work I was off to join Eric Pickles at our Victoria HQ. So far, so good.
I have always been an avid Olympics and Paralympics fan and I am keen to see the sporting spirit that swept the nation this summer continue. So I was thrilled that one my first duties as a new minister was to attend the Olympic cabinet committee, chaired by the Prime Minister (I seem to be seeing a lot of him lately!). We discussed the huge contribution made by team GB, not just the athletes, but also the organisers and games makers that made sure 2012 went off without a hitch. We talked about the plans for the closing ceremony and parade which, I think we can all agree was truly great way to cap off a stellar sporting summer. Not to mention Andy Murray’s first grand slam victory.
Day two meant the Government’s big announcement to boost the economy, deliver 70,000 new homes and create 140,000 jobs through billions in debt guarantees, new housing investment and more planning deregulation. The plans were announced by Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, but Eric and our team of ministers all took to the front benches to set out the steps to Parliament that build on the housing, local government finance and planning reforms already in play. Getting growth going is a top priority for the Coalition and this package is something the chamber will no doubt welcome as a key contribution to that.
With any new job the first week is often about learning the ropes. So I’ve been settling into my new offices, learning my way around the building, meeting with my new ministerial colleagues to discuss our priorities and responsibilities. I also have a new private office team and daily tasks like correspondence, responding to parliamentary questions, reading my briefing notes or meetings with the civil servants to get up to speed on various aspects of my portfolio, which covers local government, the Fire Service, the Thames Gateway and community pubs.
Talk about hitting the ground running, which is ironic given that my new role has given me less time to train up for the triathlon I’m competing in. The weekend will hopefully mean I can catch my breath, get in some training and spend time with the family. Although I’ll have my ministerial box to get through and my first ever departmental questions on Monday to prepare for, so fingers crossed.
With increasing pressure on fuel costs and the need to be efficient in every aspect of business more important than ever, many fleet owners are considering installing a tracking system to their vehicles.
Such a device will record information including the location of the vehicles and mileage, aiding coordination of work by ensuring the correct routes are taken and therefore increasing productivity. Answers to questions such as What hours did my drivers work? and Are they driving safely? are often within easy reach thanks to sophisticated management software. With the pinpoint location of each vehicle readily to hand, the need to call drivers several times a day may also be reduced. Vehicle tracking systems can also be a useful tool for driver identification in incidences of speeding.
There are also the potential negatives to consider. A fleet tracking system can be expensive to install and there is the risk that drivers may feel they are not trusted and are subject to undue pressure. It is also all too easy to become reliant on technology which can go wrong. The question however that customersask us is how will installing a vehicle tracking system affect my insurance premiums? The full answer is that although it will help you be a better insurance risk, despite common perception, it may not always directly lower your premium.
Ashley Minors, Director for Hugh J Boswell said, “The commonly held belief that having a tracking system on your fleet will automatically reduce your insurance premium is actually a misconception. There are a few UK insurers who provide direct discounts for trackers, but not many. This does not mean however that it is not a good idea insurance-wise to install a tracking system. The insurance underwriters are likely to consider you a lower risk as your vehicles will be doing less miles and perhaps driven more slowly. This may make you more attractive as a customer. The level of monitoring and information the tracking systems provide means you also have far greater chance of disproving any fraudulent motor insurance claim against the business.”
Ashley concludes “The key thing we tell our customers is vehicle tracker systems have a similar affect on your insurance premium as do a number of other risk management tools. Direct discounts may not apply, however, if the result of its use is fewer insured losses, your claims experience will improve, which invariably has a positive effect on the amount you pay in premium.”
Travellers from the UK are often impressed by the modern trains and stations that European railways seem to have, and the way they’re integrated with other modes of transport. Although some of this may be that the grass seems greener on the other side, but there’s one key advantage continental Europe has and that is the price of their fares. Excluding restrictive advance tickets, recent analyses found that season ticket prices in the UK per kilometres are 75 per cent more costly, ordinary return 52 percent more and long-distance ticket are 26 per cent more expensive. In 2013 and 2014 plans are being made to raise fares in the UK by three percent above inflation.
The reasons for higher fares are firstly that the UK railways cost a lot to run, partly because of the legacy of what is, at heart, a Victorian network. Current running costs are also due to decades of underfunding. Network Rail, which runs the track and signalling, is getting costs down and we’re on track to cut the state’s share of spending on rail to 25 per cent by 2014. Around 85 percent of state spending on rail goes on infrastructure so we are not subsiding empty trains we’re paying to make sure we maintain the connectivity of the network. We also need to recognise that investing in rail serves the nation and is not a wasteful subsidy. Improving our railways and ensuring that fares are affordable helps to cut green house gas emissions, tackle traffic and support the economies of our cities by enabling people to get to work. Many disaffected commuters face hikes of around three times the expected rise in wages.
It is essential that we persuade Government that investing in the railways makes good business sense and in particular investing in East Anglia rail links will unlock significant economic potential. The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce has joined with the Norfolk MPs, New Anglia LEP and Norfolk County Council and our partners across Suffolk to call for improvements to the rail services serving Norfolk.
During this summer, the Government approved funding for the improvements to the Ely North Junction, which would allow half-hourly trains from King’s Lynn to London. However that announcement was only the first step in the series of improvements measures for the East Anglia network which are needed.
With Network Rail developing its detailed spending programme from 2014 to 2019 over the next few months, we need to reiterate to new transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin the investment priorities needed to be carried which are set out in the East Anglia Rail Prospectus These include the case for faster journey times between Norwich and London and half hourly services from Norwich to Cambridge. It also lobbies for improving freight capacity an upgrading rolling stock.
We got an early success in the rail statement in July but we need to continue the campaign with a focus on the Norwich – London line as it is imperative that East Anglia and Norfolk in particular get the quality rail service it deserves.
Over the past year, at Norfolk Chamber we have been encouraged by the Government’s rhetoric on growth and frequent speeches about helping businesses expand. But ministers are in danger of breaking these promises. There is still a lack of measures out there to help companies emerge from recession. Repeated commitments to deregulation, more financial support, and help for firms looking to hire, have failed to translate into real change for businesses.
Getting the economy back on track should be the number one priority and ministers should be doing everything possible to squeeze every drop of potential growth from companies across the country including here in Norfolk. Over the past quarter, business surveys including those which include feedback from Norfolk companies within the British chamber of Commerce QES, have shown a more positive picture than many of the economic indicators suggest. Our members tell us they don’t identify with such pessimistic statistics and are cautiously optimistic. These are the people who are out in the real world, working hard every day to run their businesses and, in turn, drive the recovery. Whether this remains the case, though, relies on two things.
Firstly a government that is willing to meaningfully engage with business, become truly enterprise-friendly and set forward a bold plan for growth. Secondly, we need businesses that are willing to take advantage of opportunties in a period of uncertainty.
The first depends on the Government delivering on those measures it has repeated again and again: improving access to finance, creating robust infrastructure such as energy and transport networks, cutting red tape, and making it easier for firms to take on staff.
Reforms to planning rules promised in Westminster must make it out to the real world so businesses can expand their premises. We know that reducing the deficit is crucial to sustaining a recovery, but prioritising some of these measures will free up business to grow.
If the Government makes good on these promises and improves the environment in which companies operate, it can create confidence among our businesses and growth will follow. If it chooses not to listen, the economy will continue to bump along the bottom rather than return to growth.
In the meantime, businesses are busting a gut in an uncertain environment. And they will have to continue to do so. The economy has been on a roller-coaster ride over the past few years. But that hasn’t deterred many firms from finding new markets to export to, hiring a new member of staff, or taking a new product to market.
Businesses now have to accept uncertainty will remain for some time. By acknowledging that, the economy is likely to continue to fluctuate over the coming year and by understanding the implications of this, businesses can be confident and thrive regardless.
Instead of worrying about changeable economic conditions, as businesses we need to accept uncertainty as the new norm, and with this knowledge, be confident to invest, grow and create more jobs.
There is no doubt that it is tough doing business during these challenging economic times. However for an increasing number of people it is the right time to make a life change and start their own business. Statistically it is proven that new business who seek and take independent advice are more likely to be successful including joining your local Chamber or entering into competitions like the Local Business Accelerator (LBA).
Norfolk Chamber has put together a package aimed at start up businesses. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/join-the-chamber. In addition to free legal and HR helplines and legal insurance worth over £670,000 and free banking, a start up can use the face to face networking events and as important these days the use of the Chamber’s online ‘PR machine’ through our community website and social media activity. Since April over 30 start up businesses have joined the Chamber with six signed up so far this month and more in the pipeline.
Publicity is key to any start up business and there currently is a great opportunity for Norfolk new businesses up to 5 years old to enter the Local Business Accelerators (LBA) competition supported by Archant as one of 500 local papers who have joined forces with Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden. The winner has the chance to win a free ad campaign in their local paper plus mentoring support from local business leaders and free Norfolk Chamber of Commerce membership for a year. If the winner is already a Chamber member we will give them their next year’s membership f.o.c.
The most promising businesses will go forward to the national stage of the competition to win a year’s mentoring from Deborah Meaden and a local advertising campaign devised by a top London creative ad agency. Last year’s national winner was Ilkly Brewery in Yorkshire who have seen their order double as a result of mentoring support from Deborah Meaden and free LBA ad campaign in its local paper.Last year’s regional winner was Norwich-based Indigo Swan who received mentoring support as well as attending the prestigious final event in London.
Business can enter online by logging on to www.accelerateme.co.uk and filling in the application form. The closing date for entries is Friday, November 16. More details https://tinyurl.com/9fsorfv If you are a business under 5 years old you have nothing to lose and a great deal to gain by entering the competition.
Whatever size business you are please check out our events programme. Our B2B Business Exhibition next week 18 October has a range of key speakers and workshops as well as over 60 exhibitor stands and is free to attend https://tinyurl.com/cp5tgth. If you are based in Great Yarmouth our ‘Pitchng for Business’ event delivered with enterpriseGY on 14 November and also free to attend gives you the opportunity to attend a choice of six workshops and network over lunch with some of Norfolk’s top buyers. https://tinyurl.com/8hf4rsz
I want to bring some balance into the message/media mix. I would also like to offer some words of advice for start-up enterprises based on my own business experience.
Social media has transformed the way that we communicate, as individuals sharing with friends and as businesses building a customer base through trust and recommendation. Little wonder that so much blog space is filled with ‘route to market’ advice. But, hang on a minute, what is it that we are sending on the chosen route? Content of course.
Communications Technology and Data Management are specialist fields that have changed forever the way that advertising agencies and their related services work. An over-emphasis on media channels however can confuse and overshadow the keystone of your marketing activities – content of course.
There are only two things that we can see on a website, facebook page, brochure or tablet of stone: words and images. It’s the content that sells, not the delivery system.
Now, don’t get me wrong – it’s vital that we get our messages to our target audience through channels which will maximise the ROI. We content creators must shape our copy style and structure to suit the intended platform. An integrated approach twixt message and media is clearly essential, but, putting media before message is like sourcing transport before the goods are ordered.
Whatever your business, whether you offer products or services, think hard about your target customers and your competitors. What sets you apart and will make you the chosen one? Define your USP and you have found your core message. This is particularly true for start-up enterprises. You need to sell yourself from the get-go. Don’t let anyone persuade you that advertising is a waste of money. Only bad advertising is. Good content is your best salesman and he should always return more than he costs.
You’re an expert in your business but don’t hesitate to talk to experts who know how and where to sell your offer. Beware of advice that confuses and jargon that is used for cool effect. And beware the myth-makers…
Myth 1: “Advertising is dead.” Good advice from those who believe Elvis is alive.
Myth 2: “The medium is the message.” Wrong – no message, no medium. But this from Marshall McLuhan who famously was paid a handsome fee by General Motors only to tell them that automobiles were a thing of the past.
If you are a start-up business wanting to get your story read, (and why would you not?) my advice is to make sure it’s worth reading. Stating the obvious, yes, but attention spans are short in the digital age. You need content that says exactly what you do, (so many fail to do this with absolute clarity) and tells your reader what’s in it for them. Your target customers are not interested in you, only in what you can do for them!
Never talk down to your audience. As advertising guru David Ogilvy said, “The consumer isn’t a moron; she is your wife.” Using the right tone of voice to address your target customers and to be relevant to the chosen medium is critical.
When your prospects become customers do everything and more to keep them. If content is King in the marketing realm, customer service is Queen. You have done the hard work to win a customer – don’t lose her through shoddy after-sales service. Positive word-of-mouth is good news but in an age of universal critics the reverse can do untold damage. Negative comments on sites like TripAdvisor demonstrate this point perfectly.
Writing styles and language usage are continually being re-shaped in the rapidly changing world of communications. Social media and website structure can impose tight disciplines on the copywriter. Without discipline however, copy can lose focus, and the reader’s attention. Effective content is concise and targeted. Above all it involves the reader emotionally and calls him to action.
From a very different genre, Ernest Hemingway showed us in his shortest of short stories how much could be said with minimal content: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Six brief words that conjure up a wealth of imagery in the reader’s mind.
Finally, when you’ve said what you want to say, stop! .
We’ve all experienced it – that feeling of dread as the ‘to do’ list gets longer and time ticking by at an alarming rate. It can feel as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. And, in today’s difficult climate when budgets are tighter than ever before, it’s easy for this feeling to become a daily occurrence.
But worrying constantly is a symptom of stress – a condition that while many of us choose to accept as a ‘normal’ part of working life, can take a major toll on your health and wellbeing.*
Stress can affect your appetite, cause you to smoke or drink more and lead to physical problems such as headaches and dizziness, breathlessness and muscle pain.
Sufferers may lose their temper more easily and find it difficult to concentrate – bad news for employers who need a productive and happy workforce now more than ever.
And long term stress can cause a range of serious health complications including depression and insomnia, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Just this year, figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) revealed that hospital admissions for stress had risen by seven per cent in just one year in England, soaring to 6,370 in May 2012 compared to 5,960 the year before.**
So, what can be done to help ease the pressure?
The findings of a study carried out by wellness solutions provider Vielife suggest that improving your diet could have a positive impact.***
The research found that working adults who have a poor diet are more likely to suffer from stress, low productivity and low job satisfaction. Those with good nutrition achieved a six per cent higher job satisfaction score, as well as a 15 per cent higher mood score.
Additionally, almost 40 per cent of people with a low nutrition score had high stress levels and 50 per cent more sickness absence than those with good nutrition – the equivalent of an extra 576 days off for every 1,000 people employed.****
Exercise can also play a part in alleviating stress according to Dr Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster.*****
“To deal with stress effectively, you need to feel robust and you need to feel strong mentally. Exercise does that,” he said.
In addition to lifestyle changes, talking therapies such as counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are widely renowned for helping people suffering from stress, anxiety or depression to deal with negative thoughts and feelings and make positive changes.
Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan, which is available to all members of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, offers employees a full confidential counselling service, which includes a 24 hour counselling and advice line, as well as up to six face to face counselling sessions or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions.
The Government’s ‘No Health Without Mental Health’ strategy emphasises the importance of talking therapies such as counselling and CBT in helping treat stress, anxiety and depression.
For more information about the Chamber Plan, visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber or call 0845 602 1629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.