We invite you to join an interactive virtual event exploring opportunities available to employers in Norfolk who are interested in growing their business and boosting productivity.
The event will focus on three topics:
Katy Dorman, Apprenticeship Strategy Manager for Norfolk County Council will discuss financial support packages available to employers, including the ‘Recruit, Retain and Reward’ initiative.
Dr Helen Fitzhugh will share details of The Good Jobs Project – a research initiative exploring the synergy between employee wellbeing and productivity.
Michael Rooney, Relationship Manager at Break Charity, will discuss youth enterprise projects including the ‘Coffee Break’ van and Building Futures – a youth skills project in the construction industry.
There will also be a breakout session to discuss these topics in more detail with your peers.
Howes Percival is a Cornerstone Employer and key supporter of the Norwich for Jobs project, committed to investing time and resources to help young people in Norfolk achieve their career aspirations. We encourage the sharing of sector knowledge and skills to support young people stepping into the market ‘job ready’, whilst supporting the employer’s business by signposting funding and training initiatives.
Date: Thursday 10 June 2021
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Details: This event will be held on Zoom. You will receive joining details on registration.
BCC downgrades its growth forecasts: from 1.0% to 0.6% in 2013, and from 1.8% to 1.7% in 2014
Prospects should improve in the medium term: in 2015, we forecast growth of 2.2%
Downward revision due to numerous factors, such as the contraction of GDP in Q4 2012, and worsening prospects in the eurozone
Unemployment forecast is 50,000 lower than in December
Public sector borrowing is forecast at £89.7bn in 2012/13, £9.2bn higher than the OBR predicted in December 2012
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today (Thursday) has published its latest economic forecast, which sees UK growth in 2013 revised downwards from 1.0% to 0.6% in 2013, and from 1.8% to 1.7% in 2014. Businesses are resilient and have the ambition needed to drive our national recovery forward, but reduced global growth prospects, and the ongoing need to repair Britain’s balance sheet, will slow the pace of the UK recovery over the next couple of years. However prospects will gradually improve in the medium term. We hope to see the Chancellor use his Budget on March 20th to deliver radical measures, including a significant re-prioritization of resources, to enable businesses to create jobs, invest and export.
Economic Forecast
UK GDP
The BCC is cutting its UK growth forecast for 2013 from 1.0% to 0.6% in 2013 and to 1.7%, down from 1.8%, in 2014.
In December 2012, we predicted growth of 1.0% in 2013 and 1.8% in 2014.
The downward revision to our forecasts is due to the following factors: 1) the unexpected 0.3% GDP decline in Q4 2012; 2) worsening global growth prospects, mainly in the eurozone; and 3) the ongoing need to mend Britain’s public finances.
We expect UK growth to improve gradually over the medium term, but the recovery will be slow by historical standards.
For 2015, we predict stronger UK GDP growth of 2.2%.
Main components of demand
Household consumption. After rising by 1.0% in 2012, household consumption will grow by 1.0% in 2013, 1.9% in 2014 and 2.2% in 2015. Gradual declines in inflation over the next two years, though slower than expected in December, will ease the squeeze on disposable incomes and create moderate increases in domestic demand.
Business investment has been volatile in quarterly terms over the last year or so. Despite the weakness of the economy, we expect business investment to strengthen gradually, growing by 5.0% in 2013, 5.1% in 2014, and by 5.2% in 2015.
The much-needed rebalancing of the UK economy has remained slow. In 2012 exports fell by 0.3% and imports rose by 2%. Our new forecast is that exports will grow by a very modest 1.1% in 2013, accelerating gradually to 3.3% in 2014, and 4.1% in 2015. Within this total, there will be a further shift in exports away from the European Union towards other faster-growing regions, mainly Asia.
The current account deficit worsened sharply in 2012 to 3.3% of GDP, approaching its highest level since 1980. This reflected the much larger trade deficit, and a large fall in investment income. Over the next few years, the current account deficit is forecast to narrow, but at a modest pace to 3.0% in 2013, 2.7% in 2014, and 2.4% in 2015.
Main sectors of the economy
Manufacturing is still a strong sector, but its relative share of total UK output has fallen in recent decades, and now accounts for only 10.5% of the whole economy. We expect manufacturing output to fall by 0.5% in 2013, followed by modest positive growth of 1.0% in 2014 and 1.2% in 2015.
Weak growth in world trade will limit the scope for increases in manufacturing exports over the next few years. Given that manufacturing is now productive and well managed, it has the potential to recover, and many firms have retained their skill bases during the recession. However the sector has experienced large productivity falls and this must be remedied.
Construction remains a weak and volatile sector in the UK economy, with a full-year decline of 8.2% in 2012, and a year-on-year fall of 9.3% in Q4 2012. In full-year terms, we predict that construction output will fall by a further 0.6% in 2013, followed by positive but weak growth of 1.0% in 2014 and 1.1% in 2015.
Service sector average growth is forecast at 1.1% in 2013, 2.1% in 2014, and 2.6% in 2015, a stronger performance than the other sectors. The service sector is by far the largest sector in the UK economy, and accounts for 77% of total output.
Unemployment
We predict that total UK unemployment will increase from 2.501 million (7.8% of the workforce) in Q4 2012, to 2.600 million (7.9% of the workforce) in Q2 2014, a net increase of 99,000 in the jobless total. This means that we are expecting an unemployment peak that is 50,000 lower than our previous forecast.
We also expect employment to increase, but any new jobs that are created will not be enough to absorb the increase in the number of economically active people.
This new forecast reflects the expectations that the increased flexibility and resilience of the UK labour market will be maintained. Nevertheless, we still expect moderate increases in the UK jobless total due to the following reasons: 1. Some of the planned public spending cuts that are yet to be implemented will have an adverse impact on jobs. 2. Low UK GDP growth will dampen demand for labour 3. Productivity falls seen since 2008 will start to partially reverse, and this will add to the jobless total at a time when demand remains weak.
Youth unemployment is forecast to increase from 974,000 in Q4 2012 to 995,000 in Q2 2014. We expect unemployment in the 16-17 age group to total around 205,000 (a jobless rate of 38.5%) in Q2 2014. Unemployment in the 18-24 age group is forecast to total around 790,000 (a jobless rate of 18.8%) in Q2 2014.
Public finances and inflation
Our public sector borrowing forecast for 2012/13 is £89.7 billion, £9.2 billion higher than the OBR predicted in December 2012.
In average full-year terms, we are now predicting annual CPI inflation at 2.7% in 2013, 2.3% in 2014, and 2.2% in 2015. Our new CPI inflation forecasts are higher than in December for 2013 and 2014.
For RPI inflation we are now predicting 3.4% in 2013, 3.0% in 2014, and 3.1% in 2015.
Interest rates and Quantitative Easing (QE)
We expect official UK interest rates to remain at 0.5% until Q4 2014, and then to rise modestly, to 0.75% in Q1 2015, and to 1.00% in Q2 2015. This means that any future interest rate increases are likely to occur later than we predicted in December.
In December, we thought that Quantitative Easing would not be increased further. We now predict that there will be a £50bn increase in QE to £425bn in Q2 2013, probably in May. Our view remains that increasing QE in the near future is unnecessary and would be unduly risky.
Commenting, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Our new forecast highlights the challenges facing the UK economy over the months and years ahead. We have advocated reducing the deficit, but have for some considerable time said that this must be coupled with a plan for growth, together creating a new model economy that will allow businesses to create jobs, invest and export.
“Businesses up and down the country tell me they are confident and determined to grow. More must be done to support the ambitions of growing companies, many of whom will be the wealth creators of tomorrow.
“This is why we are calling for decisive action in the Budget. The government must make a serious effort to deliver on the many promises already made. This requires a focus on implementing measures that will boost growth, such as the movement of the business bank from rhetoric to reality, increasing the availability of access to finance, and delivering key infrastructure projects that will raise the confidence of businesses on the ground.
“Politicians across the entire spectrum need to show imagination and leadership. If they demonstrate the courage to put Britain’s economic priorities above politics, they can make a real difference in transforming our economy so that Britain can lead the way and attract enterprise and investment for years to come.”
David Kern, BCC Chief Economist, added:
“Talk of a new recession is currently pessimistic. The ONS’ own data revisions raise doubts as to whether there was in fact a recession early in 2012. Following the 0.3% fall in Q4 2012, GDP is likely to increase by 0.1% in Q1 2013. We expect quarterly growth to increase very gradually over the next two years, but it will remain modest and below-trend for some time. In addition, we now expect GDP to return to its pre-recession levels early in 2015, and the squeeze on living standards will continue for a while longer.
“Our new forecast indicates that in 2012/13, and over the next three financial years, public sector borrowing will be higher than the OBR predicted in December. Our persistent fiscal challenges have contributed to the UK’s downgrading by Moody’s. Reducing the structural deficit, which remains unacceptably high, is proving a longer and more painful task than initially thought. But combining this policy with effective measures to boost growth is critical to avoid a vicious circle of weak growth and ballooning deficits.
“The debate about the UK monetary regime ahead of the arrival of Mark Carney as next Bank of England Governor has generated expectations that QE will be increased shortly, and that the MPC is now more willing to tolerate higher inflation and a much weaker pound. These perceptions are problematic. Adding to QE should only be considered if new threats emerge to the stability of the UK banking system. In the meantime, we believe that more QE would only provide marginal benefits for the economy, while heightening longer-term risks of financial distortions, bubbles and higher inflation.”
Productivity East is excited to share details of the third in the Research & Innovation (R&I) seminar series. On 16th June at 4pm, Professor Kevin Daniels will present ‘Wellbeing – the human face of productivity’.
Poor workforce engagement and wellbeing can be detrimental to organisations through reduced productivity and losing skilled staff to competitors. In this seminar, Professor Kevin Daniels, of Norwich Business School at the University of East Anglia, will discuss the factors that link productivity to wellbeing in complex work environments, such as advanced manufacturing, and some of the practices and policies that organisations can use to help productivity and wellbeing.
More seminars in the series will follow in the autumn. The R&I series covers a range of key topics, themes and concepts delivered by expert academic groups and specialist industry leaders.
Welcome Nicole (pictured left) and Jordan (pictured right) who have started working at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce this month. They are both joining the newly created Customer Experience Team, with the aim of finding out about our 950+ members and how we can best support them.
Find out more about them below and why they are excited about working for Norfolk’s largest business membership organisation.
Nicole Risby
Nicole spent most of her young adult years working for the family business, Turners and Moore. Her father purchased this company when she moved to England in 2005 from Puerto Rico. When her father retired he promoted Nicole and her brother to Directors, and they worked alongside one other for four years. Nicole decided she wanted to move on from the family business to experience more opportunities, from there she worked for Youngs Doors, part of the RG Carter Group, as admin/transport co-ordinator. She then worked at Anglian Home Improvements in 2017 in the Quality Assurance Team ensuring calls were compliant and coaching agents on improving call quality and customer satisfaction.
On starting her role today, Nicole said: “I have always been interested in the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the support that is provided for new businesses to grow, develop and seize an opportunity is aid we need in today’s society where there are so many barriers and obstacles. I am a people person, so meeting customers and helping them excel their business is going to be so rewarding. It’s important that we all come together and help each other succeed, that is what excites me about this opportunity. I am grateful to have found not just ‘a job´ but what I hope to be a long career here within the Chamber.”
Jordan Domin
Jordan has spent the last two years working as a recruitment consultant for one of the largest agencies in East Anglia. She really enjoyed her time with them as it gave her the opportunity to meet and speak to so many different people but when the opportunity to work for the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce came up she jumped at the chance. Before working in recruitment Jordan was a trainee manager for a national wine merchants and has a qualification in wine, although she admits her skills are now somewhat rusty, she stills enjoy the odd glass or two. Jordan also has a small dog that she enjoys exploring the wilds of Norfolk with and drags along with her most places she goes.
Jordan started her new role last week and said: “I’m really excited to be joining a team that’s building a new experience for both members and non-members and looking forward to getting involved in the numerous events they hold throughout the year. In my first few days it’s been interesting learning about their current way of doing things and the chance to build on this and increase engagement with both member and non-members is really exciting for me.”
You may well see Nicole or Jordan at an event very soon. If you would like to get in touch about membership please call 01603 625977 or email hello@norfolkchamber.co.uk
GENIX Business Support is pleased to be working with by Ensors Chartered Accountants, to provide delegates with digestible technical knowledge specifically designed for the professional sector. The speakers (Ensors Team of Experts) include: Fiona Hotston Moore – Forensic Accounting partner & Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist, Mark Upton – Business Recovery partner & Licensed Insolvency Practitioner; David Scrivener – Corporate Finance and Restructuring partner; and Robert Leggett – Corporate & Business Tax partner. Areas to be covered include: •An insight into the breadth of recent cases and interesting points arising on matters on which the Ensors Forensics team have assisted instructing lawyers and clients. This will include in particular an explanation of the key aspects of business valuation which is relevant on both forensic accounting matters including disputes and divorce as well as more generally in corporate finance transactions. •Comment on changes in the Business Recovery market, the impact on businesses and stakeholders of operating in an uncertain environment and an overview of recent cases and topical issues. •A review of the Ensors Corporate Finance team’s recent deals, trends in the industry and topical issues surrounding the sector. •A review of what’s been hot in the world of business tax, in a turbulent year full of uncertainty about tax legislation. This event is free to attend and will qualify for CPD. Attendance certificates can be provided if required.
Aim; To equip delegates to put food safety management systems in to place, through detailed understanding of the hazards, legal requirements (including HACCP) and the issues surrounding the implementation of control measures.
Objectives; *Understand the meaning of ‘management of food safety’, and the elements of a management system, including HACCP. *Detailed understanding of the four main hazards; biological, allergens, chemical and physical. *Understand the format of UK and European food safety legislation. *Understanding operational procedures for cleaning and disinfection, pest control, design and construction of facilities etc. *Managing people; information, training, supervision etc. *Maintaining food safety management procedures; monitoring and verification. *Liaise with enforcement officers *Have sufficient technical knowledge to deliver level 1 and 2 food hygiene training (with appropriate training skills)
Organisation
Duration; 5 day teaching programme + 1 day for assessment.
Exam/Assessment; Two hour controlled assignment and a 2.5 hour written examination (both normally completed on the same day). This is an Ofqual accredited qualification.
Cost; £597 plus VAT includes notes, refreshments, lunch, the assessment & certification fees. The course cost also includes a course book and a course folder with a resource CD & DVD
Awarding Body; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Tutor; Richard Mills or Sarah Daniels
Differentiation; Prior knowledge of food safety is required: CIEH Level 3 Award in Food Safety would be desirable. Candidates should be familiar with, or aspire to, the role of management. This is a challenging course, technically and academically. Candidates require reasonable spoken and written English, and a moderate level of ICT ability. Access to a computer, for assignment research, email, etc is strongly recommended.
Audience; This qualification is for managers, supervisors and QA/QC/ senior hygiene personnel, who devise, implement and monitor/audit food safety systems, and for those who want to become trainers.
Feedback; “Richard Mills – without doubt the most knowledgeable, patient and diligent tutor and course leader I have met. You have made an arduous and technical subject live and breathe and have a relevance to my work every day since completing the course.” Ben Cullis, Stoke High School, Ipswich
Date; 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th April & 5th May Exam Date; 2nd June
As the UK marks its official departure from the European Union – Friday 31 January 2020 and starts an 11- month transition period, Norfolk Chambers is calling on the county’s business communities to work together to ensure the business voice is clearly heard during the transition period and beyond.
Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“In business communities across Norfolk, this historic moment will bring a mixture of regret for some and celebration for others – but this is just the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.
“Decisions made during the next phase of negotiations will influence the business environment for decades to come. Businesses are likely to face significant changes in the way they trade, both in Europe and across the world. The government must clearly communicate what those changes will be – and provide timely guidance and support to help firms adapt and make the most of new opportunities as Britain sets its own trading polices. “Our business communities are pragmatic and want to move on from the emotional arguments around Brexit that have stymied confidence and investment for so long.
“Working in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce and the rest of the Chamber network across the UK, Norfolk Chambers want to work with ministers to get the details right on issues like customs, regulation and immigration – and they are desperate to avoid more of the cliff-edges that have affected their operations in recent years.
“On the domestic front, spades in the ground for new and improved infrastructure, better skills and training, and action to lower the up-front costs facing UK businesses are urgently needed to boost confidence and unlock investment.”
Help and support is available to businesses as they prepare for the changes that will come as a result of the UK leaving the EU. During the transition period it should be ‘business as usual’. However business owners and their senior teams should be considering what steps they need to take following 31 December 2020. A good starting point for businesses is the Chambers Business Checklist, which has been recently updated.
If you have any specific questions that you need answered, the following people would be happy to help:
Free, impartial business advice is available by pre bookable appointment with a Genix business adviser. Whether you’re an established small business or just starting up our adviser can answer questions, discuss ideas and provide business information.
Four out of five employers (81%) say they have been impacted by the increase in National Insurance contributions
Higher prices, reduced investment and increased staff costs were among the main effects cited
Employers expect wages to increase by a median average of 5% over the next year
Research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce, of more than 1,100 UK employers, has uncovered a series of negative impacts from the increase in National Insurance contributions.
Firms said the rise in employer contributions to National Insurance (NI) from 13.8% to 15.05% had increased staffing costs, forced some to put up their prices, and meant they would be limiting their investment.
As part of its call for an Emergency Budget, the BCC is calling for the rise to be immediately reversed for at least a year, as firms battle surging costs on multiple fronts.
The BCC is calling for action to give businesses a chance to keep a lid on rising prices, boost productivity and ease cost pressures.
Hannah Essex, Co-Executive Director of the BCC, said:
“Businesses are telling us that the rise in National Insurance contributions has been a body blow as they try to get back on their feet.
“When firms are already facing a toxic mix of surging inflation, rising energy costs and supply chain disruption, this increase is very hard to swallow.
“The tight labour market is already pushing up staff costs and the NI rise has only served to exacerbate that pressure, without having a positive impact on recruitment.
“With firms’ profits also taking a further hit, after two years of the pandemic, it is no surprise that their investment intentions are also weakening.
“But it is not too late to change tack and push the increase back until firms are in a better place to take on the extra burden.
“The costs crises facing firms and people in the street are two sides of the same coin. If we can ease the pressure on businesses, then they can keep a lid on the price rises.
“Acting now will also put businesses in a better position to create the future profits needed to fill tax coffers.”
The other two Emergency Budget proposals include:
Help firms manage the impact of rising energy prices by cutting VAT on their energy bills from 20% to 5% for a minimum of one year.
Address labour shortages by reinstating free Covid tests for companies to ease the strain on productivity caused by persistent high absences
Photo credit: Getty Images/Chamber Canva Pro usage 2022
Percentage of UK businesses reporting increased export sales remains flat for the 5th quarter in a row at 29%
A quarter (25%) of exporters saw decreased sales, while 46% report no change
Concerns over manufacturing recovery as exporters report unprecedented cost pressures and inflation worries
A survey of over 2,600 UK exporters has revealed that overseas sales growth has been effectively stagnant for more than a year since the economy fully reopened after lockdown.
The BCC’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook for Q2 2022 showed the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales to be unchanged from Q1 at 29%, while those reporting a decrease remained at 25%.
This compares to around 40% of businesses consistently reporting increased domestic sales across the same time period in the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).
Manufacturers trading overseas are under particular pressure, with only 39% expecting their profitability to increase in the next twelve months, compared to 48% of service sector exporters. This compares to 43% of all businesses surveyed in the QES.
Manufacturing exporters are also the most likely (78%) to expect to raise prices in the next year, a record high.
Almost nine out of 10 (89%) firms in this sector cite ‘raw materials’ as their biggest cost pressure, with 74% citing ‘utilities’ and 70% citing labour costs.
Responding to the findings, Chief Executive Officer at the Norfolk Chambers, Nova Fairbank said:
“The combination of supply chain disruption, soaring prices, and the impact of Brexit red tape and compliance costs has had a chilling effect on exports, especially for smaller firms already scarred by the pandemic.
“Recent ONS figures have shown in increase in exports to the EU, driven in part by shortages caused by the war in Ukraine. But our data shows there are serious underlying issues – which are hitting smaller manufacturing exporters the hardest.
“Any new Prime Minister must acknowledge the huge challenges being faced by our exporters – often the most dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking businesses in the UK economy.
“Then Government must help businesses to harness the opportunities provided by existing free trade agreements, and those coming on stream. Far too many firms are either unaware of the possibilities or are uncertain how to take advantage.
“Chambers of Commerce have the expertise and business network to help Government shift the dial. By working together, we can build an end-to-end support service for our exporters which could truly make a difference.”
Employers have made great strides in creating inclusive workplaces. However, many still have little or no experience of trans, non-binary and intersex employees, causing individuals distinct challenges. This 3-hour digital event will explore the key areas of legislation and good practice surrounding how employers can better support trans, non-binary and intersex employees.
Business need
The trans, non-binary and intersex community is currently believed to make up around one per cent of the UK population. However, numbers are increasing, especially within the age group defined as millennial. As this group enters the workforce, employers will see an increasing number of employees who identify as trans, non-binary or intersex. It is important that employers are proactive in their policies and procedures surrounding gender diversity. Addressing concerns now is crucial for maintaining a diverse, inclusive and productive workplace. This digital event will enable you to implement and improve gender diversity and inclusion within your workplace. You will gain an understanding of the relevant law and good practice for ensuring employee engagement, retention of staff and legal compliance. Delivered via Zoom, you will have the opportunity to interact with our knowledgeable trainers and explore some of the challenges you may be facing. All delegates will receive an electronic certificate of attendance for their participation in the training.
Suitable For
Delegates from all sectors of industry including: managers, supervisors, team leaders, HR professionals, business owners, Trade Union representatives, employee representatives and individuals who wish enhance their CPD.
Programme
Our expert-led training sessions are designed to facilitate discussion and interaction. This event will cover:
Impact and opportunities in the workplace
Recent statistics
The legislation
Approaching trans, non-binary and intersex in the workplace – what is now acceptable can quickly become unacceptable
Business case for inclusion
Creating a trans, non-binary and intersex inclusion policy
Getting it right with customers and service-users
Have a large group of staff to train? To save you time and money, we can deliver bespoke training for your workplace. To find out more contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 123 1150 or complete our online enquiry form. e-learning We also offer free e-learning on a wide range of employment relations topics. It’s a great way to develop, enhance and refresh your knowledge, providing you with the opportunity to work through theory, explore case studies and answer interactive questions. Need more than training? We recognise that every organisation is different. Our specialists can diagnose issues in your workplace and tailor practical solutions to address the challenges faced by you and your staff. To arrange a call or to simply find out more, contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 123 1150 or complete our online enquiry form.
Venue Delivered digitally via Zoom Date 19/08/2021 Time 09:30 – 12:30 Price £110.00 per person Please note our training events are VAT exempt Please call Acas on 0300 123 1150 or email events@acas.org.uk
Future Spaces was held on Thursday 21st July, and hosted by Layrd Design at Norwich City Football Club. The event was all about exploring sustainability and wellness in interior spaces.
The event started with networking with a selection of drinks and plant-based canapes offered to the attendees followed by an introduction to the event by Will Mayes from Layrd Design.
The first speaker was Ruscha Fields from The Good Plant Company. Ruscha talked about biophilic design and how to successfully incorporate planting within the workplace. Ruscha stated that having plants present makes us feel connected to nature and the environment ultimately making us feel relaxed and calmer. Having plants in the workplace has been proven to enhance wellbeing and increase productivity. If you are worried about the upkeep of having numerous plants around the office then why not get artificial plants, these give off the same positive effect as real plants. Ruscha was also involved in the Moss workshop which took place after her talk. Here attendees built their own moss frame which they could take home and put in their office.
After a short break, Michael Aastrup from Tarkett talked about their company’s approach to sustainability. Tarkett is the 3rd largest flooring company in the world, and they have now taken the approach of putting sustainability first ahead of design and functionality. Tarkett recycle old carpets and fishnets for yarn and even acquire the film from car windscreens to use in their products. Michael stated how committed Tarkett is to better living spaces and promoting healthy indoor environments, one way they show this is with their unique dust capture system in their carpets.
The last speaker to finish the event was Nathan Huxley from Orange Box. Nathan spoke to us about the importance of being/working together and creating spaces people want to be in. He spoke to us about the idea of relationship buildings “where the ‘office’ is no longer the health problem, it’s the wellness solution”. The top of the terrace, where the event was held was kitted out with furniture from Orange box for everyone to try, which you can see below. A group favourite was their QT pod which provided privacy and comfort to work in.
Future Spaces provided some interesting points businesses should consider around sustainability and wellbeing in the workplace, and how having a small plant on your desk can make a huge difference.