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LSIP | How to solve the skill gaps issue?

Written by Haze Carver on 31 January 2023.

Introduction

It’s no secret that there’s a severe skills gap in the UK. Trained people are in short supply across several industries, and businesses of all sizes are affected.

The result is that these businesses face a new challenge of locating the ideal candidates to fill critical tasks. In this article, we’ll explore different potential fixes that companies may utilise to address it

The UK’s underinvestment in education and training is one of the key factors contributing to the skills gap. There is a lack of suitable applicants for many occupations as a result of many young people not acquiring the education and training they require to thrive in the workforce.

The issue is exacerbated by the fact that many elderly workers do not update their skills, subsequently falling behind on the knowledge needed as industries grow.

Many factors can contribute to the skills gap:

A lack of experience
Outdated or inadequate training
Failures in the broader educational system
Change in roles or responsibilities
External political changes (e.g. Brexit)

How it impacts businesses in the UK:

Loss of productivity
Higher staff turnover
Lower quality of work and decreased morale
Inability to expand your business
Loss of revenue

Businesses need to be proactive in this situation and invest in raining their own employees. This may involve providing training and development opportunities for current workers via online providers or one-to-one coaching in person.

Businesses can also collaborate with nearby colleges and universities to provide young people with internship and apprenticeship opportunities, bridging the gap between education and the workforce.

Working in collaboration with the government and similar groups will help develop training and education programmes that are specifically designed to meet the requirements.

Giving older workers the chance to refresh their skills within the organisation might increase loyalty to their employer as well as boosting their productivity. It also gives them a chance to practice these new skills within a known environment rather than starting from scratch, which could result in higher anxiety in the workplace.

This involvement from businesses may ensure that young people are obtaining the training they need to thrive in the workforce from the start of their careers.

Give access to online training

Online training is the most popular and easy way to help upskill your employees. This method is readily available, and can target a variety of skills or knowledge you might need for your business.

There’s a lot of soft skills eCourses that many industries may find useful to solve the most common skills gaps.

The drawback of this method is that not all skills are available to be taught online or might require someone on-site to educate your employees. Depending on the industry you are in, online training may not be suitable. Plus, you could be looking for an advanced training that might be hard to find or require a certificate.

Allow working time aside for self-development and learning

Some businesses may have the skills needed in-house with the right people to teach employees, but time may be limited.

However, try to allow some time for the relevant workers to learn from the skilled employees. Even though time may be tight, your business could benefit in the long-term from this “unpaid” route.

Some businesses make the mistake of ignore internal training due to lack of personnel or time constraints. If you already have the right people with the right skills, you’ll do your business a favour by prioritising internal training.

The biggest benefit? Uninterrupted business trading with the right knowledge and the right workforce.

Share your business’ pain point with skill gaps: get involved with your LSIP

The UK Department for Education (DfE) will help to unlock skills gap for many different industries. All it takes is for businesses to share their pain points with the relevant chamber of commerce. This will help your county to make a case and allocate the necessary investments to close the skills gap.

To put it simply, your chamber of commerce will ask for businesses to share their experience about skills gap or how difficult it is to find the right candidates.

This information will help inform the DfE about potential to invest in your local region and help fund the relevant area to bring that knowledge in to close the skills gap.

Learn more about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) here.

Or make your business’ voice heard today and share your impact with skills gap here: LSIP employer survey.

Conclusion

The UK is experiencing a serious skills deficit that is affecting companies of all industries.

Businesses can contribute to resolving this issue by providing internal training or taking time to hire the right candidates, or by sharing their skills needs to a Local Skills Improvements Plan organisation.

The best scenario is to help both young and established workers to learn the future skills soon-to-be in demand, so businesses do not experience interruptions to their delivery.

New Year’s resolutions: Getting your finances in shape for 2023 | Ascot Lloyd

Written by Haze Carver on 29 January 2023.

The time for setting resolutions for a brand-new year is upon us. And if you’re wishing for a healthier and happier life in 2023, these finance-related resolutions could go a long way.

SIT Dec New Years Web — Image provided by Ascot Lloyd

Let’s face it: for most of us 2022 has not been the kindest year on our wallets. With inflation rising to double digits for the first time in four decades and energy bills skyrocketing, we have all had to get used to a much higher cost of living. Wages have struggled to keep pace, mortgage rates have soared and volatility has reigned in both the equity and gilt markets.

Surely 2023 can only get better? Well, not necessarily. Having been told by one prime minister and chancellor in September that we will pay less tax and our energy bills will be capped for two years, come November the British population were being told quite the opposite by a new prime minister and chancellor. Following the Autumn Statement, we now face the highest tax burden since World War II and energy support will be phased down from April.

“We’ve had almost 14 years of austerity and now we’re told we’re going to have another two or three and to pay more tax through another recession,” says Graham Bentley, Chief Investment Officer at Avellemy. “Inflation will remain higher than people have been used to. It’s unlikely to stay at double figures but it could settle at 4% or 5% for the foreseeable future. For those used to low inflation and interest rates, it’s a drastic change in conditions.”

At times such as these it’s more important than ever to have an astute, robust financial plan which will not only see you through the short-term challenges over the next couple of years but also stand you in good stead for the longer-term. So rather than setting the usual hollow promises for the New Year to purchase a gym membership or drink less wine, these finance-related resolutions could prove far more impactful for living the life you want.

Make use of your capital gains exemption and dividend allowance

The chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement that the capital gains tax annual exempt amount, which has already been frozen for several years, will reduce from £12,300 to £6,000 in April 2023 and then just 3,000 from April 2024. Meanwhile, the tax-free allowance for dividend income, which was cut from £5,000 to £2,000 in 2018, will be reduced once again to £1,000 in April 2023. Then in April 2024 it will go down to just £500.

This double whammy raid will see hundreds of thousands of people, including retirees who rely on their general investment accounts to top up their pensions, liable for higher tax. Therefore, it’s wise to maximise use of the current tax-free exemptions before they reduce.

“Not only are people going to pay more tax, but many are going to find themselves having to file tax returns with HMRC, which is an added burden or, if you don’t feel equipped to do it yourself, an extra cost to get someone to do it for you,” says Gill Philpott, tax and trusts specialist at Ascot Lloyd. “Roll your gains or move the money over as much as you can into tax-free wrappers such as ISAs, for which you have a £20,000 annual allowance to use.”

Increase your pension contributions

The pensions triple lock survived the public spending cull in the Autumn Budget, which is no doubt welcome news for pensioners who will enjoy a double digit increase in their state pension next year. Those of a working age are likely less cheerful, given it’s reasonable to suspect that the triple lock will not survive until they reach their own retirement age, while the freeze on their pension lifetime allowance (£1,073,100) has been extended until 2028.

More positive for them, however, was the government’s decision to resist tinkering with tax relief on pension contributions. This very favourable tax relief is pegged at your income tax band: 20% for basic-rate taxpayers, 40% for higher rate and 45% for additional rate. The fact that millions of workers will be dragged into either the higher rate or additional rate income tax bands due to the personal allowance freeze until 2028 will come as a blow to those affected, but it does present an extra incentive to increase your pension contributions.

Start thinking about inheritance tax

Remarkably, the inheritance tax nil rate band of £325,000 hasn’t changed since 2009, though a £125,000 top-up for homeowners was introduced in 2017. Following the Autumn Statement, both of these bands will remain frozen until 2028. Traditionally viewed as a tax on the very wealthy, a combination of these prolonged freezes and property price growth will mean inheritance tax is something that millions of people will need to be thinking about.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to reduce the inheritance tax liability that falls onto the loved ones you leave your legacy to after you die, but they require careful planning. The sooner you begin this planning, the more options that’ll be available to you and your family, so a New Year’s resolution to begin that conversation in 2023 would be highly worthwhile.

Get the best mortgage deal

A large majority of mortgage holders are on fixed-rate deals and over a quarter of these will end in 2023, according to the UK Mortgage Holders Consumer Research Report 2022. If you are one of these millions of people whose current mortgage deal will be maturing in 2023, you are sure to have been relieved to observe the steadying of mortgage rates following some anxious weeks after the doomed mini-Budget where markets were predicting the Bank of England would increase its interest rate to 6% or more next year.

Yet while average mortgage rates are now highly unlikely to reach the lofty heights that some experts were forecasting just a month ago, they are already much higher than they were this time last year and are likely to remain at this level for the foreseeable future. This means mortgage holders whose deal is maturing in 2023 must be braced for a hike in their monthly repayments, but they can limit the pain by enlisting a trusted, whole-of-market mortgage adviser to look beyond what your current lender is offering and find the best deal.

Reassess your investment strategy

Though 2022 has been sluggish for many markets and, in the midst of a recession, 2023 will be challenging too, through every economic period there are opportunities. A point comes in a recession when a market hits its bottom and, while it is unwise to try to time an investment, your Ascot Lloyd adviser will be able to identify investment opportunities, matched to your risk profile, which are more likely to grow in the coming few years.

“We’ve lived through periods of higher interest rates and inflation before and markets have done reasonably well,” says Graham Bentley, Chief Investment Officer at Avellemy. “There are going to be areas that will benefit. At the end of the day, people want to buy shares in companies that make good profits because they make quality goods that people want to buy. That stays the same whatever the background issues. Your investment adviser can help create a strategy to meet your goals.”

If you would like to speak with one of the trusted Independent Financial Advisers at Ascot Lloyd about getting your finances into the best shape possible in 2023, please request a call back.

You can view this original article from Ascot Lloyd here

How can the menopause affect your finances?

Written by Haze Carver on 29 January 2023.

Julie Hunt | Face to Face Finance

Despite the menopause affecting roughly 50% of the population, it’s often left unspoken, and its symptoms misunderstood. In fact, a survey found that 91% of women aged 50-64 felt that there was little to no acknowledgement of the menopause within their workplace. This can lead to struggles at work being attributed to poor performance rather than medical symptoms, such as brain fog, hot flushes, anxiety, and fatigue.

Sadly, this can in turn negatively affect financial security, and result in reduced work hours, lower paid positions, and for 25% of menopausal women, it can lead to considerations of leaving employment all together.

What is the menopause?

The menopause mostly affects women aged 50-64 but can affect people in their 30-40s, and some transgender men/non-binary people. Certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy can also trigger menopause.

Menopause is a perfectly natural change in the balance of the body’s hormones that occurs with age, but despite the millions of workers affected, it is often misunderstood.

How can the menopause impact finances?

1 in 5 menopausal women suffer with extreme symptoms, and 75% of those experiencing symptoms feel it affects their performance at work. It is also not uncommon to hear of women reducing their hours, opting to work below their skill level, or turning down promotions due to their symptoms.

Menopausal symptoms are therefore a factor in the gender pay gap, which in April 2022 showed that women in full time work earn 8.3% less than men. There are several factors that can be attributed to this, but some key factors are age, occupation, region, and childcare requirements.

How can the menopause affect pensions?

The gender pension gap is the percentage difference of how much female pensioners have compared to male pensioners. In 2021 the gender pension gap was 33.5%, and in 2018 women in the EU aged 60+ received a pension that was on average 30% lower than that of a man.

Menopausal symptoms can affect how much you can put away for your pension, as some women may struggle to keep up with full time work without the proper provisions and accommodations in place. With women in the UK retiring at 64 on average, and menopause symptoms lasting up to 4 years (and sometimes longer), there is a huge amount of time where women could be missing out on putting money into their pension pot, and benefiting from employer contributions.

What can be done to help?

If you are worried about your pension when it comes to menopause, the best thing you can do is plan ahead, and stay informed about your pension and the menopause. If you are an employer, you should be aware of how the menopause may affect your employees, and the accommodations you can make. These could include offering flexible working, mental health support, regular breaks, and a supportive environment that acknowledges the struggles that can come with the menopause.

If you’re currently experiencing the menopause and are worried about you financial stability, there is lots of help available through the NHS website and your local GP.

Looking for financial advice?

If you are looking for financial advice or pension support, contact our experts at Face to Face Finance. Whether you are experiencing menopause or would just like to plan ahead, we are always here to help you secure your financial future.

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LSIP | Welcomes the New Board

Written by Haze Carver on 26 January 2023.

On the 17^th January we held our inaugural Board meeting of the Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers LSIP.

The purpose of the Board is to provide direction, oversight, and review of the development of an effective LSIP for the region. The Board is complied of businesses of all sizes, stakeholders, colleges, training providers and universities to enable a more responsive and collaborative approach to the development of the local workforce.

Nova Fairbank, CEO – Norfolk Chambers of Commerce:

“We are so pleased to welcome such an experienced and knowledgeable group of business and education leaders to our LSIP Board. The LSIP is a fantastic opportunity to bring employers and providers closer together and, through greater collaboration, make a difference to the local skills agenda for Norfolk and Suffolk.”

John Dugmore, Chief Executive – Suffolk Chamber of Commerce:

“Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has been involved in shaping the LSIP programme for nearly two years, so this first Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP board meeting represents an important milestone in embedding the business voice into future skills planning cross the two counties.

“We are especially grateful to our members Goose Services, Hadleigh Glass and ScottishPower Renewables for agreeing to serve on the LSIP board and so help strategically guide this exciting initiative.”

Dean Pierpoint, LSIP Project Manager – Norfolk Chambers of Commerce:

“After many weeks of planning and discussion it was great to get the first Board meeting in the diary. I am sure with the breadth of knowledge on skills from education providers and public sector organisations as well as input from the business community we will be able to shape the local skills improvement plan to have a positive effect on the skills landscape in the region. The team are now looking forward to engaging with the business community for their views on skills!”

You can view our LSIP Board Members here

Cutting your training budget in tough times could be a costly mistake

Written by Haze Carver on 13 January 2023.

by Robyn Littlefair Assoc CIPD HR Consultant

Last updated: 6th January 2023 at 10:49am

Times are tough at the moment for many businesses, to say the least. The current UK inflation rate is sitting at 11.1%, so employers are under a lot of pressure to increase salaries and keep up with the rising cost of materials and products they require.

Many businesses have had no choice but to review their budgets and prioritise as best as possible, which can, unfortunately, involve cutting out or skimping on less urgent costs.

One of those costs facing the chop may well be the training budget. Before you make that decision, read on and find out why learning and development for your business should remain a priority.

“Very professional, efficient and effective response”

“Impressed by the speed with which MAD-HR responded to my query. The fact that I had the opportunity to properly explain the issue I was grappling with, and the confidence and obviously ability of the person who then offered advice.” Read the full review

Training is an investment that, if done correctly, can have a huge positive impact on your team’s performance and the success of your business.

According to the LinkedIn 2022 Workplace Learning Report, having opportunities to learn and grow is now the number one factor that people say defines an exceptional work environment.

Learning and development in many businesses has become a more strategic function, helping organisations to refocus on rebuilding or reshaping their business to future-proof for what is next.

The benefits of training

A well-planned and thought-out training budget can bring the following benefits:

Reduced Costs

Training can help to reduce costs in the long run by upskilling your staff to carry out work in a more efficient way. This could prevent the need for outsourcing services, streamline processes and mitigate the need for micromanagement, freeing up your senior employees to allow them to focus on improving your business.

Improved capability

Having development and training plans in place for your staff will greatly improve their capability. This means that, if new opportunities for growth arise in the future, you have the skills in-house already and can look to recruit internally, reducing the need for external recruitment, which takes up valuable time and money.

Better customer service

Your employees are the key gatekeeper between the business and your customers; make sure your employees have the skills and capability to give the best service possible.

Realised potential

Training can bring out the best of your employees’ potential, increasing employee engagement and, in the long run, maintaining retention. If you are seen to be investing in your employees’ continuous improvement, their loyalty to you will strengthen.

Retention of talent

In relation to recruitment, when prospective candidates are looking for their next job opportunity, it’s not just about the pay package; in addition to this, one of the main things which is desired and valued is the opportunity to develop and learn. To ensure you stand out in a competitive market, you need to promote what investment you will make to that person’s development. This will also help to improve your business’ employer brand.

Keeping up to date with trends and developments

In this ever-changing technological world we live in, it is crucial for many businesses to keep up to date with technological changes, stay one step ahead and ensure your employees are informed with technological advancements and are ready for whatever is thrown at your business.

Meeting legal requirements

Last but not least, it is important to remember that for certain qualifications, renewal is required. It is important to stay on top of this, not just to make sure the qualification is valid, but also to improve knowledge, keep up to date, and maintain and improve confidence.

Will you reconsider your training budget?

In the broader sense, a lack of training and development opportunities is also having an impact on the UK’s economy; according to the Learning and Work Institute, employer’s investment in training has plummeted 28% since 2005, which has put the Government’s ambition of a highly skilled, high wage economy at risk.

Where next?

To help ensure that your training budget is relevant and going to reap the rewards, create a ‘training needs assessment’ to really focus on what your business priorities are in terms of future-proofing.

Ask yourself: What skills are currently missing and what is already available? You may already have resources in-house to upskill your employees without the need of training, meaning you can use your training budget more effectively.

At MAD-HR, our team work hard to ensure that your training budget is used effectively, developing and implementing training plans and interventions with clear measures to ensure the training is supporting your business’s output and growth. Contact a member of our friendly team today to find out how we can help build the skills and capability of your team.

Don’t just think about going greener… start doing it!

Written by Haze Carver on 13 January 2023.

Author Leon Davies | leondavies.co.uk

I’m a passionate advocate for sustainability, and I want to use my knowledge and drive to help as many businesses and individuals as possible.

Real change is all about action, so it’s an exciting time as global leaders prepare to come together at the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP) in late October.

Their mission is to find ways to accelerate the action we’re taking as the inhabitants of this earth so that we can make a planet-saving impact fast.

For me, that’s terrific because while I love talking to people about climate change, going green and saving our planet, unless we do something, nothing will happen.

I feel lucky because my job is helping businesses become more sustainable and encouraging everyone to live more sustainably – and it’s also my passion.

Because it’s my passion, when people come up to me and say, “I’d really like to go greener, but I haven’t done it yet because I don’t know where to start, and it seems quite tricky,” it tends to rankle me a little bit.

Surely if we all stopped procrastinating about going greener and just got on with doing it, we’d quickly find out that living a sustainable lifestyle and running a sustainable business isn’t difficult to accomplish at all.

Whatever you think you can do, do it. It won’t take long before it becomes a way of life you won’t even have to think twice about, and if we all made just one small green change at a time, it would cumulatively make a huge difference.

If you’ve got something that doesn’t work, don’t throw it away – try fixing it!

(Of course, I’m talking here about appliances and other fixable or up cyclable objects; if you’ve got a person in your life that doesn’t work, or a dog that won’t bring the ball back when you want it to, you need to be taking advice from a completely different type of consultant.)

Seriously, though, a lot of us are horrendous for throwing stuff away instead of trying to repair it, and that level of wastefulness and laziness has a massive impact on our carbon footprint. So, instead of tossing your glitchy electronics or household appliances into the skip next time they stop working, fix your relationship with electronics and electricals by trying to repair them instead. In fact, if we make a habit of looking after our appliances a lot better than we do (like regularly cleaning and maintaining them), that’s often all it takes to prolong their life cycle.

Take a look at this fantastic social enterprise scheme called The Restart Project for more information and ideas and to find out about their nationwide network of skill-sharing workshops.

Alternatively, if you’ve got any working electrical items that you want to get rid of, why not donate them to the Norfolk homelessness charity Emmaus? A lot of other charity shops won’t accept electrical items but Emmaus do, and they test them before they resell them, so they’re a brilliant place to purchase second-hand electrical goods from too. Give them a call!

Stop using single-use plastic

It’s well known that plastic waste is environmentally catastrophic. Of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic in the world, only a tiny percentage of it can ever be recycled. Items like plastic bags, plastic packaging and plastic straws can take up to two hundred years to decompose. Please stop for a moment and think about how much harm that is doing to our animals, our oceans, our ecosystem and our environment during that incredibly long length of time. Surely that’s not the legacy we want to leave our kids and future generations?

Back in January 2018, the UK government launched a 25 Year Environment Plan committed to improving air and water quality, creating richer habitats for wildlife, and curbing the terrifying amount of plastic that’s clogging up the world’s oceans. It also includes a lot of other initiatives.

Helping the planet by curbing your use of single-use plastic is a sustainable step you can take right away.

· Stop buying bottled water.

· Take your own bag with you next time you go to the supermarket.

· The next time you have a party or a picnic, choose naturally sustainable disposable tableware and packaging instead of single-use plastic knives, forks and plates.

· Invest in a reusable bamboo or metal drinking straw. That’s not only a healthier eco-friendly solution, it’s also more cost effective.

Eat less meat

Yes, I know that will sound like a step too far for most of the carnivores reading this, but if each of us replaced one or two meat meals a week with something veggie or vegan, we’d make a significant impact on the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The odds are, we’d feel and look quite a bit healthier too.

GHG emissions occur at every stage of the meat and dairy process, from farming (i.e., methane produced by livestock and nitrous oxide produced by fertilisers), processing, packaging, the transport required to ship the product onto the supermarket shelf, to finally serving it on our plate.

The meat industry consumes a massive amount of water too. It takes 10,910 litres of water to produce 0.5 kg of meat. On the flipside, it only takes 114 litres of water to produce 0.5kg of wheat.

Still not convinced?

In that case, you could at least start eating greener by buying at least half your food locally. The COVID lockdowns proved that the increasingly popular idea of the 20-minute neighbourhood, where everything you need in work or life should preferably be within twenty minutes’ walk of where you live, is more achievable than we might previously have thought. Not only is buying your food locally a great way to cut down transport costs, support local retailers, and help your community to flourish, it’s also healthier and more sensible. Meat spoils, and fruit and veg lose their nutritional value over a relatively short time, so how far your food has travelled can have a noticeable impact on how long it will last when you get it home.

Save energy

· Switch to energy and cost-saving LED bulbs.

· Turn off lights when you’re not in the room.

· Turn down your thermostat: almost half the money spent on energy bills is absorbed by heating and hot water costs. Turning your heating down by just one degree could save up to £80 a year.

· Switch off computers, TV’s and other appliances when you’re not using them, or only keep them on standby if it’s necessary for their operation.

· Don’t charge phones or tablets overnight; charge them during the day, so you can see as soon as the battery’s full and then disconnect them.

· When you’re making a hot drink, only boil the amount of water you need: according to British Gas, if all of us only boiled the water we needed for a cup of tea, we’d save enough electricity in one year to power the UK’s street lights for a month.

· Wash your clothes at a lower temperature: washing at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees will help reduce your energy usage. Also, if you do a lot of washing, cutting out one wash cycle per week could take £5 off your annual energy bill.

Be mindful about recycling

· Recycle your paper and cardboard (newspapers, magazines, leaflets, boxes, etc.) but remove any tape from the boxes before putting them in the recycling bin.

· Recycle your metal cans but clean them out beforehand because contaminated containers can’t be recycled.

· Recycle textiles and unwanted clothing, maybe by donating them to a charity shop or putting them in the charity bank at your local supermarket.

· Recycle your garden waste: if you do a lot of gardening, ask your local council to supply you with a recycling bin especially for that purpose.

· Items like batteries and paint are considered hazardous waste products and can be trickier to recycle depending upon where you live. Check if your local recycling centre will take them. If they don’t, ask them if they ever have a hazardous waste amnesty when they’ll temporarily accept paint, batteries and other hazardous waste items. Most councils do.

On the other hand, if there’s only a small amount of paint in the can, add something absorbent to dry it out (like cat litter or sawdust) and then, once it’s dried, you can put the paint container in your general waste bin.

Green your commute

When you want to go somewhere, only use your car if you’ve got no other option – walking, riding a bike, or taking public transport are the best ways to get places while minimising your CO2 emissions.

Or, if you have to use a car, find out if there’s somebody you can car share with or would like to car share with you. If you’ve got to drive every day to get to work, car sharing is an excellent way to get to know your colleagues better.

Alternatively, if you live in or around Norwich, you could book a ride with a certain zero-carbon taxi company I’m associated with!

If one or two of these tips sound familiar, it might be because you’ve already read my article, 10 Ways to Save the Planet by Living More Sustainably. If you haven’t, check it out. It contains plenty more suggestions to encourage you to start thinking and living more sustainably.

A final thought

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says, ‘A healthy planet depends on all of us’, and my team and I will always be on hand to help you achieve that. Whether you want to implement more sustainable solutions in your business or your home, or if you know somebody who wants to go greener and could benefit from our expertise, please get in touch.

At the end of the day, it all starts with mindfulness; being aware of why we’re doing something, consuming something, buying something, needing something, producing something… and those are all elements that, on a very microscopic level, begin with each of us as individuals and then gradually expand out.

It’s in your power to be the change you want to see in your world. Don’t do it alone. Let’s all do it together. NextStart going greener by discovering what’s outside your own front door!

You can view this original article here at leondavies.co.uk

WellBeing for business

Written by Haze Carver on 13 January 2023.

WellBeing International is a team of consultants working both in the UK and worldwide. Our collective vision is to reduce stress within the workplace looking after an organisation’s top resource – its staff.

When there is a dynamic working environment then the skills and management of the team come to the fore.

At WellBeing we aim to get to know our clients and provide a bespoke service that is befitting to their team.

‘Our workforce are our greatest asset and as such we hold the health and wellbeing of staff in high regard. With this in mind I approached Kate to deliver a bespoke workshop to provide staff with useful information on how to improve their own personal selfcare. Kate was able to captivate a large audience – the information had the right amount of science and practical tips. I am aware that staff are putting their new knowledge into practice and feeling better for it. You were definitely a hit with the audience!’

Sarah Lawlor – Manager, Flying Start

WellBeing ‘Capsules’

Monthly presentations to your team covering topics of your choice.

Corporate ‘Boost You!’

Our holistic approach will enable you to take your overall health and wellbeing to another level.

Confidential 1:1’s

Menopause

Every business today should have a Menopause support plan in place.

Retreats

Our hugely successful, re-energising, one and two-day residential retreats in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, or at a venue of your choice.

New Parent Packages for your team

Call or email us and we’ll be happy to discuss the packages we can put together for you.

Team building/motivational days

Call or drop us a line and we’ll be happy to discuss what we can do for you.

Infant Massage

We’re delighted to be able to offer the best CPD accredited training in the UK.

Please email or give us a call and we would be delighted to tell you more.

enquiries@wellbeinginternational.co.uk

or phone us on: 01379 677 335

8 Eco-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions | Canopey

Written by Haze Carver on 13 January 2023.

Emma Andrews Jan 1 | Canopey Greener goods, all under one roof.

A photo of two hands holding sparklers in an evening

The start of a new year is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings – and setting yourself a resolution can provide a sense of purpose and direction.

Many people find that having a sense of community and shared purpose can help them stay committed to their goals, and telling others about your resolution is a proven way to increase how successful you are in keeping it.

Making a resolution can also be a way to reflect on the past year and identify areas to make improvements. It can be a way to motivate yourself to make positive changes in your life, whether they’re related to your health, career, relationships, or personal growth.

Why make a sustainable or eco-friendly resolution?

Every year the effects of climate change are becoming more and more apparent, and urgent action is needed now. It’s expected 2022 was the UK’s warmest year since records began in 1884.

But it can often feel out of our control to do something about it. Enter: the New Year’s resolution! A great way to make more sustainable habits and see a positive change in a tangible way. And you can get started today.

But did you know there are more benefits to sustainable resolutions than just reducing your impact? Here are just a few:

Many sustainable practices, such as reducing your meat consumption and growing your own food, can also have health benefits.
Living more sustainably can also help you save money in the long run, for instance by reducing your energy consumption or using reusable products instead of disposable ones. And yes: it is cheaper to and lower impact to wash something to use again, rather than buying something cheap new!
As we’ve mentioned, a sustainable New Year’s resolution can have a positive impact on your mental health. When faced with the scale of climate change, making sustainable choices can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride in the impact you are making, and the standard you set to others, which has a knock-on effect itself.

Without further ado, let’s get started with our list of sustainable New Year’s resolutions.

A photo of plant-based burger, red onions and a cheese slice in a pan

1. Reduce meat and dairy

It’s officially Veganuary! so what better time to cut down on the meat you buy and consume?

One of the biggest changes you can make for a more sustainable diet is cutting out meat. Studies comparing different lifestyles show that opting for a vegan diet could reduce the carbon emissions of what you eat by up to 73 per cent.

Looking at dairy is a good idea too, and milk is an easy swap that almost a third of UK adults are already making! On average, cow milk produces three times the CO2 of plant-based milk, and cows themselves produce methane, another greenhouse gas.

Thankfully, there are plenty of options, from oat, to soya, and even potato milk! Try Califia Farms’ and Minor Figures’ oat milks, or Dug potato milk.

Remember that you don’t have to go Cold (plant-based) Turkey. Start by cutting down meat and dairy in one out of five meals and go from there.

2. Shop secondhand

A photo of a bookshop with a table outside with crates of books and prints in them

Did you know that on average, each person in the UK has 57 items of clothing in their wardrobe that don’t get worn?

Buying secondhand, especially clothing, is a brilliant way to drastically reduce your impact. The fashion industry is a BIG polluter, not just of carbon emissions, but water and plastic waste, too. Thankfully, buying secondhand is easier than it’s ever been!

For clothing, take your pick – from charity shops and boot fairs, to apps like Depop and Vinted. It’s not just the stuff nobody wants – you can find loads of great brands, luxury pieces and unique fits to suit your needs. What’s more, you’re more likely to find one-of-a-kind styles that nobody else has.

For used tech there are some great marketplaces like mpb (for camera gear) and Backmarket for a wide range of items.

It goes both ways: you can sell your stuff, making money from unwanted devices, clothing and decorations while decluttering the house.

3. Cut down on the car

Someone on a bike, silhouetted against a blue background

Switching some of your journeys to other types of transport like the bus or train are great ways of cutting your carbon footprint, and with the current price of fuel you might save money, too!

Carpooling with colleagues is a great way to save on the work commute. Better yet, if it’s a walkable or cyclable distance, they are the easiest way to go emission-less!

If you’re walking, you can pop on a podcast or music. It’s a great way to clear your mind, get away from computer screens, and get fit while you’re at it.

4. Get gardening

A photo of a window box with yellow and orange nasturtiums growing out of it

An active, flourishing garden doesn’t just look nice: it’s a great way to reduce your impact and even mitigate emissions in your area.

Plants and trees absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, improve soil health and provide a safe haven for whole ecosystems of insects, animals and fungi. They’re a great way of using up compost from food waste, which in turn reduces the emissions created by food breaking down improperly in landfill, where there often isn’t enough oxygen or bacteria to break it down.

What’s more, you can easily grow your own veg, including tomatoes and lettuce, saving money on the food shop. RHS has great beginners guides as well as a specific tips on gardening for the environment.

If you don’t have a garden, there are plenty of ways you can plant in window boxes or on a balcony. And of course, house plants can be placed anywhere indoors.

5. School yourself

A photo of a hand reaching for a book from a row of books

Learning is always a good goal, and there’s so much to delve into when it comes to sustainability.

Learn more about the issues and what you can do to lead a more sustainable life with books like Greta Thunberg’s newly-released The Climate Book or Fashionopolis, an in depth guide to sustainability in fashion by Dana Thomas.

Some great podcast picks include How To Save A Planet and Sustainababble. And there are some great blogs and news sites online including Low Tech Magazine, Positive News, and Good On You.

For more books and magazines about sustainability check out our recent Christmas gift guide.

6. Upcycle and regift

A photo of a four painted Jarritos cans with cactuses growing in them

Many of the things we need are already in a cupboard or drawer in our houses – and after Christmas, that’s especially going to be the case. Repurposing presents and upcycling what we own are therefore great ways of reducing waste, unnecessary emissions and saving space.

It’s an excuse to get crafty or practice a bit of DIY, and a unique handmade gift also shows you care. Things like birthday cards can easily be made by hand, and if you’re not planning on using that gifted soap bar, why not wrap it up in tissue paper and string and gift it on to someone who will?

Pinterest is a great place for ideas and ways you can upcycle and make something new from existing objects, and even look for inspiration for handmade birthday cards.

7. Support local

Big established chains and supermarkets can be some of the biggest culprits for carbon emissions and waste.

Shopping a bit more thoughtfully, by doing at least some of your shop at your local grocer or butcher, can help cut down on both. By moving away from supermarkets you generally support smaller supply chains, less waste and more local suppliers which tend to be more ethical and responsible.

Many grocers and butchers allow you to buy just what you need and packaged in paper bags, saving money and food waste, and plastic packaging.

8. Buy better

A photo of several eco-friendly products including a loofah, sponge and tea towel

Finally, we couldn’t not include this one. Making a New Year’s resolution to support better brands that care about the environment is a fantastic way of voting with your wallet. You could also boycott Amazon, while you’re at it!

Whether you want to go all-out vegan, order organic, phase out plastic or find Fair Trade accredited brands, Canopey.com – launching early 2023 – is the place to go!

With products spanning skincare, clothing and footwear, technology, homeware, food & drink and more, we feel like we know a thing or two about reducing the impact of your shopping basket. And our impact calculator makes it easy to see the carbon emissions, water waste and plastic waste you could be saving by choosing better alternatives.

Good luck!

Making and sticking to a New Year resolution can be hard, so make sure yours is realistic and don’t lose faith if you don’t quite meet it.

The key thing is to keep going and try your best. Remember that perfect is the enemy of good.

Happy 2023!

You can view this original blog and more Canopey blogs here

About Canopey

New Corporate Boost You! Programme | Wellbeing International

Written by Haze Carver on 13 January 2023.

In response to demand we’ve now introduced a new gender neutral Boost You! Programme

Do you want to bring the best energy to your workplace, enhance creativity, fuel purpose and develop communication skills? With colleague turnover at an all-time high isn’t it imperative that you attract the best, and retain all those brilliant people?

If you would like to make meaningful positive changes in your workplace, then you have come to the right place. We can help you create a wellbeing programme or refine an existing plan.

Literally covering all life stages from baby to older age, our unique blend of expertise, science and a holistic approach will provide all the support you need. We have a strong focus on the Menopause and getting the conversation around this topic going.

Wellbeing has never been so critical. Let’s all take responsibility for making sustainable changes, and for taking positive steps forward.

Wellbeing for Business

Download our Brochure here

Wellbeing International

Please email us at

enquiries@wellbeinginternational.co.uk

or phone us on: 01379 677 335

New energy support package falls short for struggling Norfolk businesses

Written by Haze Carver on 12 January 2023.

Following yesterday’s announcement from Government on a new energy support package for businesses, which will run from 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“Despite Government efforts, an 85% drop in the financial envelope of support, will fall short for thousands of Norfolk businesses, who are seriously struggling.

“Many businesses have been fighting for their survival for months, and rising energy costs have fast become the tipping point. Whilst we welcome the 12-month duration of this package, its value is nowhere near far enough and means that for some firms, energy will now be a cost too far.

“We understand Government must consider public finances, but any support package, short or long term, should be right for business – otherwise we’re going around in circles. The wrong type of support will continue to see business confidence deplete and the Government having to revisit its package.

“This is not about giving a handout to failing firms. It is about investing in British businesses, many of whom are confident about the strength of their order-books despite being hammered by eye-watering energy costs.

“Our economy will not be able to grow if our businesses are in decline.

“Alongside an energy support package, we need an energy support strategy to get businesses on the right track to longer term efficiency.

“There are several options to consider, and Norfolk Chambers, together with the British Chambers of Commerce and the wider Chamber network are urging the Government to prioritise the following three:

Increase OFGEM’s powers: Ensure effective competition in the business energy market for non-domestic contracts by extending OFGEM’s regulatory powers to guarantee businesses access competitive fixed rate contracts, and energy providers move swiftly to pass on wholesale price reductions.
Energy production: Government to bring forward ambitious plans to enable more renewable and sustainable energy production across the UK.
National energy saving campaign: Government should launch a national campaign with support initiatives for businesses to drive down current consumption through energy efficiency measures, such as green grants and tax incentives.

“It is a critical year for the UK economy and with the right focussed support, businesses can help turn the economy around and get the UK back to growth and prosperity.”

To go with the announced energy support scheme, the Government has published guidance for businesses on their energy support scheme, as well as a fact sheet.

Addressing road safety issues | Westcotec

Written by Haze Carver on 12 January 2023.

The Norfolk-based road safety technology firm Westcotec is advising local authorities of the importance of understanding and using good data before committing to potentially significant road safety investments. Effective collection and expert analysis of data helps to ensure that resources can be targeted where they are most needed, and avoids the risk of paying large sums on interventions that may not be appropriate, Westcotec says.

Will Spinks, a member of the Westcotec sales and marketing team, cites the example of road monitoring activity from a location in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The monitoring allowed the local authority to analyse average speeds and traffic volumes at all times of day in the week before lockdown, and to compare them directly with speeds and volumes once lockdown had begun.

“The biggest difference in volumes was recorded at 10 o’clock in the morning, with 500 vehicles per hour recorded in the week of 16 March and just 320 vehicles per hour in the week of 23 March – a 36 per cent reduction.

“Where average speeds were concerned, analysts could see immediately that between 8am and midnight there was a consistent 3mph rise between 7am and midnight, peaking at 9am with a rise of almost 4mph.

“This kind of precise, location-specific data can be examined alongside casualty data to determine what interventions, if any, may be effective at the location.” Will’s remarks are supported by advice from independent road safety consultant Iain Temperton of Traject, who sets out the need to be much smarter in the use of data when planning initiatives for road safety, air quality monitoring or modal shift to help ease congestion and pollution.

“Progress in casualty reduction has slowed over the last decade, so it is vital that road safety professionals use data and evidence to inform their practice in the years to come. Now that we have the international call to halve road deaths by 2030 and reach Vision Zero targets by 2040, we simply cannot afford to waste time and money on schemes of work that are not effective. We must also harvest our data from every possible source.

“Roadside monitoring is a valuable tool as the right equipment can provide high volume, good quality and granular information. If it can also enforce or educate at the same time that is a definite win/win. There are a lot of road safety issues to address post lockdown, but there are opportunities to exploit as well. If you are dealing with modal shift, air quality or road safety, the right analysis will point you in the right direction.”

You can view this original Westcotec article here

About Westcotec

What is a Local Skills Improvement Plan?

Written by Haze Carver on 12 January 2023.

A Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a new initiative from the Department for Education (DfE) that will set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employers and the local economy by:

ensuring a better match between the supply of and demand for the skills employers most need to thrive and boost productivity, as well as helping to drive greater collaboration between providers to realise the benefits of economies of scale and specialisation;
making provision more accessible and addressing barriers to progression, especially for the adult workforce, such as driving greater join-up between skills offers, including work programmes; and
recognising that improving the supply of skills must be accompanied by demand-side measures that drive greater employer engagement and investment in skills and support potential learners through effective careers guidance.

In other words, the LSIP will put employers at the heart of the skills agenda in Norfolk and Suffolk.

There are 38 LSIPs across the UK. Our local LSIP reaches across the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk. So Norfolk Chambers are working in close collaboration with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to ensure both business communities are engaged.

The remit for the Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP is in four parts:

Articulate the employers skills needs – what are the skills employers need locally and struggle to find?
Translating employers needs into changes in provision – how can those employers needs best be met by the provider in more responsive ways?
Address learner demand and employer engagement – what can local stakeholders and employers do to raise demand for and make better use of those skills?
Report annually to the DfE on what we want to achieve, why it matters, what changes are needed, and who needs to be involved. In other words what does skills success look like?

The LSIP contract runs from September 2022 until March 2025, but the ‘heavy lifting’ of designing the LSIP programme and processes has to be done in the first 8 months, as we need to submit our Local Skills Improvement Plan for the approval of the Secretary of State for Education by 31 May 2023.

The DfE have made it clear that the LSIP is about quality engagement with a wide range of businesses. To achieve this, we will be working in close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across the region including: Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, New Anglia LEP, all the universities and colleges across Norfolk and Suffolk and several sixth form colleges. We will also work with the private training providers, charities and the voluntary sector, as well as the DWP/Job Centre Plus and other business organisations such as the FSB, NFU, IOD and the CBI.

But the most important people will be the business communities across Norfolk and Suffolk. We want to hear from businesses of any size: from sole traders and micro businesses to medium size enterprises to large corporates – all views and opinions will be sought.

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