Last month, 550 MPs were locked out of an important COVID-19-related video call due to their web meeting provider reaching maximum capacity of 100. Numerous MPs voiced their frustrations on social media, criticising the choice to use an unreliable conferencing app.
Mio Conferencing Solutions could have easily remedied the issue – we believe that one size does NOT fit all. We are not just another off-the-shelf application, but one that fits your business needs and takes into consideration what you want to achieve.
Our tailored web conferencing solutions offer an impressive participant capacity for online meetings, conferences, lectures and more. Simple, easy, and secure – Mio offers an unparalleled service that could have avoided the major disruption that the MPs witnessed. With our powerful technologies you can rest assured that no person will be locked out of a meeting!
With our multifaceted experience, we have created a service to suit all of your online conferencing requirements. With us, large-scale conferences are easier than ever – with our lecture function, you can put participants on a listen only mode with a hand raising function for Q&A and enjoy a smooth and professional meeting with a capacity of up to 3,000 participants.
You can also add a personalised touch with your own company-branded interface and invites, to ensure your online conferences are aligned with your business objectives. Get in touch with us and we will improve your online conferencing experience ASAP so you can get the important stuff done!
Call us to find out how we can make your remote conferencing better on +44 (0) 203 1427 020 or email info@miocommunications.co.uk
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that connectivity is more important than ever. And with many businesses continuing to offer flexible working into the future, now is the time to invest in your IT infrastructure; both to support your clients and your staff. This may start with your telephone system. When businesses were asked to move to remote working in March 2020, those with a traditional telephone system quickly fell behind. Meanwhile, those with a hosted system were able to transition from office to home seamlessly. What is a VoIP Telecoms System? VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Essentially, your voice communications are delivered over the internet using the cloud. A VoIP system can be accessed from anywhere, as long as you are connected to the internet. Thus, simplifying your whole communications solution. What are the benefits of a VoIP System?
Flexible As we’ve mentioned, a VoIP system is flexible. If you are connected to the internet, you can answer calls via a laptop, mobile, tablet and more – wherever you are!
Scalable If your business grows, you just add new employees to the system when needed.
Easy to update and repair As a VoIP system sits in the cloud, all updates are automatic. This gives you peace of mind that your system is secure and up-to-date. If you encounter an issue, this can be resolved remotely. This, therefore, saves you time calling out an engineer.
Live status updates Many VoIP systems offer the option to set an employee status. This means if a client calls for a colleague, you can see in the app whether they’re in another call. It can also sync to your calendar to automatically set an employee status to ‘in a meeting’, for example.
Reduces hardware A VoIP system can support flexible and hot-desk environments. As well as a full-time office. When you switch to a VoIP system, you can eliminate the need for physical hardware. Say goodbye to desk phones! Removing the physical hardware will keep desks looking tidy, and reduce your costs – win, win.
As you can see from the benefits listed above, a VoIP telephone system can support your business on its next journey. Whether this is remote working, hot-desking, scaling up fast or reducing costs. There’s a range of benefits beyond these too. It’s also worth knowing that just because you’re moving phone systems, you don’t have to change your telephone number or the triage set up when a client calls. All of this can be replicated or adjusted to suit your preferences. You can read more about the telecoms services we offer here, or, if you want to discuss the full range of benefits, and see if a VoIP system is the right move for you, get in touch today: Visit our website T: 01603 709300 E: enquiries@breakwaterit.co.uk
Although we do now have some light at the end of the tunnel following the Government’s announcement on 22 February of the staged roadmap for easing coronavirus lockdown, many employees are already living with the day to day fatigue of poor mental health. The uncertainty of how long the pandemic is going to last in itself has been a form of psychological torture befitting of a special forces reality TV show. Added to that uncertainty have been the pressures of homeschooling; watching out or caring for elderly or shielding relatives; furlough and the financial problems it presents; and the simple lack of regular contact and routine with friends and colleagues.
Countless LinkedIn posts and articles have made us all too aware of the effect that all of the aforementioned issues (and no doubt many more) have had on positive mental health. Even though some might think that we are on the home straight it is now that we probably need to be more aware than ever of our employees’ wellbeing.
For some, the release and joy of getting back into the office will be countered by the pressure to return to the routine of the commute; the need to work to a finely tuned timetable of trains, buses or pick up and drop off times so that we can juggle our incredibly busy lives. For that reason employers may wish to start considering giving their staff the tools to return to those busy and hectic lives, whether that is through access to resilience seminars and sessions, Employee Assistance Programmes or discussing phased and flexible returns, when we are instructed to return to our places of work. In many sectors, there has never been such an opportunity as now to be more creative in terms of the way that employees work and also allowing employees going forward to work in the most effective and productive way.
The flexibility and phased nature of a return to the work place though may not only be a luxury but a legal necessity. The Equality Act 2010 protects employees from discrimination in the work place and includes protection for those who have a mental impairment where that impairment has a substantial and long term effect on an employee’s ability to carry out their normal day to day activities. In the event that an employee has the protection of the Equality Act then one of the legal requirements an employer must consider is the need to consider “reasonable adjustments”. Sound familiar? So there may even be a legal requirement to permit employees whose mental health has been affected by the pandemic to work flexibly and respect their coping strategies if these amount to reasonable adjustments to prevent them from being placed at a substantial disadvantage as a result of their disability.
The strongest argument that employees will be able to advocate going forward as to why they should continue to work from home is that they have worked effectively from home and without a reduction in productivity for over a year. If the employee can demonstrate that working from home works, then they are likely to argue ‘why can’t that continue now’?
As employers, if we have not done so already, we should review our policies and procedures and ensure that they are fit for purpose in terms of the way that we propose and agree that staff can work from home going forward, particularly taking into account health and safety issues that may arise from home working.
We will also need to take into consideration going forward track and trace and self-isolation. Those issues will not disappear overnight but we will begin to forget the obligations that we owe to employees in respect of the same. If in 6 months’ or a year’s time we act in a way that is prejudicial to employees who have had to self-isolate then the employee may have legal recourse. Going forward, it will therefore be important to constantly review and relay to all staff their duties and obligations should they show symptoms or manage employees who may have COVID symptoms.
Finally, what should employers do regarding the vaccination of employees and imposing requirements on staff in that regard? That debate is worthy of a article by itself and one that can be found here.
The Chancellor announced an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) in this week’s Budget to support businesses and employers as the economy reopens.
The CJRS was due to end 30 April 2021 but will now operate for a further five months until 30 September 2021. Furloughed employees will continue to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.
Employers are currently only required to pay for employer National Insurance contributions and pension costs, this will remain the case until 30 June 2021. From July 2021, employer contributions will increase to include 10% of the cost of furlough hours, rising to 20% in August and September 2021 as the economy reopens.
We expect that further guidance and an additional treasury direction will be published on the CJRS extension in due course. An article covering the current CJRS guidance can be read here.
“The extension of the CJRS will be welcome news for businesses, who may still be subject to lockdown restrictions or yet to see demand return to pre pandemic levels. Although employers will have to contribute more to the cost of furloughed hours as the economy gradually reopens in line with the route out of lockdown, those additional costs will not kick in until July 2021, at which point it is hoped that increased economic activity will assist employers shoulder the extra costs burden.”
The information on this site about legal matters is provided as a general guide only. Although we try to ensure that all of the information on this site is accurate and up to date, this cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site should not be relied upon or construed as constituting legal advice and Howes Percival LLP disclaims liability in relation to its use. You should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action.
The past 12 months have been some of the most turbulent and uncertain in living memory. As a nation 2021 is going to test us further. However, something we can all be certain of, is that recovery in whatever form will be reliant on people. At Select, we are a people focused business and we have seen first-hand the positive impact our temporary and permanent placements have made to industries across the country.
Industry in Norfolk
In a paper written by Norfolk Insight in September last year, the most pressing issues facing the county of Norfolk were highlighted. Amongst those discussed was obviously the hospitality sector, which employs roughly 30,000 jobs and is the worst effected industry in the region. There is hope on the horizon however, with rumours circulating that Lockdown may soon ease and staycations being a popular idea for many British tourists in 2021. Additionally, plans abound to open new hotels and restaurants across Norfolk and indeed in neighbouring Cambridgeshire.
Another major employer (approximately 63,000 jobs in Norfolk) is wholesale, retail and motor trades, which has been similarly affected by the pandemic. With major retail chains like Debenhams, leaving our high street, what is shopping going to look like in the future? An article by the EDP in October last year revealed that local independent shops are filling these voids left by the national stores. Indeed, 85% of the new shop openings in Norwich last year were independents. An encouraging scenario for shoppers and those employed in retail.
Recruitment’s Role
At Select, we have always been proud of our role in helping businesses achieve their targets, but more than that we are proud of how every day we get the opportunity to make a real impact on someone’s life. A recent report by the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) has really highlighted to us how we can make a difference to the recovery of our local area.
The recruitment industry directly employs 119,000 people across the UK and helps place a million more people a year in new roles. This means that every 21 seconds someone finds a new role through a recruitment agency and the recruitment sector is increasing UK productivity by £7.7 billion (yes BILLION) a year by improving the quality of matching. This all just refers to permanent placements, every year around 280,000 individuals use temporary work to help support them and their families.
With all this in mind, we think that the recruitment industry may well be one of the keys to help accelerate our local recovery. Indeed, the cost of lost productivity can be 5 times more than the average cost associated with using a recruiter to find the right person.
Already on the Road to Recovery
Things are beginning to look up. We have seen a really positive shift in new roles opening and businesses beginning to recruit again across industries and regions.
All the positive indications for a more prosperous 2021 following the rollout of the vaccine, are reliant on having good people to implement them. This is why in the latest Report on Jobs from the REC ends with the statement “It’s vital to put people at the heart of the recovery this year – and the recruitment industry has the skills and expertise to make that happen.”
Everyday at Select, our teams have been talking to clients who are unsure about the next steps they should take. We are here if you need to talk to someone in the know about the local recruitment marketplace in Norfolk and benchmark it against a UK-wide backdrop. You can contact us on 01603 615511 Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:30 or anytime via email on hello@select.co.uk.
Whether your entire business is centred around the world wide web, or represents only a relatively small part of your day-to-day operations, the fact remains that the only way to ensure that you are reaping the full benefit of your investments of time and money is to consistently work toward garnering visibility, and ensuring that your online presence is not being lost beneath a sea of competitors.
The trouble is that this represents a vicious cycle. As businesses choose to invest more into their digital presence, the task of doing so grows increasingly difficult, which means, of course, that businesses need to invest yet more into visibility. The process continues, and will continue, ad infinitum.
Still, there are plenty of ways of garnering greater visibility, many of which can be learned by observing some of the most public-facing industries operating today. In recent years in particular, the gaming world has risen to the very fore of the internet, and has begun to hold sway over almost every one of the most notable areas of the web. Read more below about give things we can learn from the gaming industry.
Worthwhile Offers
The notion of drawing prospective customers into your business – digital or physical – with a few enticing offers is, of course, nothing new. What the gaming industry has perfected over the years, however, is devising offers that will actually serve to benefit the player, rather than merely drawing them in for the sake of logging yet another sign up into the system.
That’s not to say that the process was simply, or even linear. In the world of the online casino, for instance, only the most astute sites have been able to tailor their deals to truly capture what it is prospective players are looking for. The ability to try no wager free spins, for instance, has proven itself to be one of the most attractive offers, and yet it remains a relatively obscure offer.
Rewards, bonuses and welcome offers can come in any number of shapes and sizes, depending on the nature of the business you run. It is important to remember, though, that consumers are growing far more discerning when it comes to these offers; they are not so readily drawn in by half-hearted attempts, and will more likely turn to look elsewhere.
Open a Dialogue with Users
One of the things the video game industry does so well is establish an open line of communication with their users – a fact which, in turn, creates a much more authentic sense of community. It may be easy to attribute this to the fact that the online gaming world facilitates a sense of community by virtue of the fact that it brings together so many likeminded people – and, to a certain extent, this is the case – but the continued success of gaming communities is sustained by the developers working to keep them together.
Utilise Twitch
In the early days – and, for that matter, until fairly recently – the streaming platform Twitch has been largely devoted to gamers, and the most popular titles on the market at any given time. Just recently, however, the landscape has begun to change, and a wide array of brands – from luxury fashion to cosmetics and fitness – have begun to utilise Twitch as a marketing platform in its own right, in order to reach untapped corners of their market in a more light-hearted and accessible way.
Demos
Your ability to embrace the use of demos and free samples depends entirely on the nature of your business, but it is certainly worth trying to get creative in this area. Gaming companies drum up a huge amount of excitement in the months building up to their launches, which ensures that, when the title finally drops, there is plenty of hype creating itself on social media.
Early Bird Incentives
From Google Stadia to Activision, offering incentives for gamers who opt to pre-order not only drums up that initial wave of business, but also helps to ensure that the excitement generated by your initial and subsequent launch truly reflects your brand.
The Feed is a social enterprise based in Norwich whose purpose is to motivate change to prevent poverty, hunger, and homelessness. They do this by helping people return to employment after many years out of the workplace for reasons which can include health problems, addiction, and homelessness. In this edition of Docky, hosted by BuxtonThreeTwo and Proudly Norfolk Food and Drink, we will be speaking to Chris Elliott of The Feed. We’ll hear more on existing initiatives such as; – Their cafe and catering business – The one-to-one and group support sessions – Community Fridge launched in 2020 – How they’re adapting again in 2021 And what opportunities there are for you to be involved in helping The Feed on their journey including making their dream of having a Food Truck a reality. Join us to find out more about how together, we can tackle poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
We’re the leading process industry solution provider offering high quality instrumentation alongside exceptional customer service.
The business was created in 1998 out of a desire to offer effective application solutions for industry, an ethos that’s still at the heart of what we deliver to our customers every day.
With our extensive range of products and expertise, Process Instruments strives to provide the best application solutions that you require whilst also ensuring you are supported by our knowledge, understanding and proficiency.
Our experienced sales and customer care team make sure that all product sales are supported, be that through our own network of services and support engineers or from the original manufacturer.
Process Instruments not only supply your instrumentation but we will also expertly install, commission, calibrate and service the products whether initially sourced through us or already installed in your plant.
We’re proud to have access to a substantial number of stocks of instrumentation either held by us or by our manufacturing partners resulting in secure next day deliveries or fast track engineered solutions.
We have ISO 9001, Safe Contractor approval and Inst MC membership alongside all the correct insurances, risk assessments and method statements required for safe working conditions.
We represent key international and domestic suppliers such as Labom, Thermo Electra, Fox Thermal and Precision Digital, amongst other top rated suppliers. We are a fully qualified Technical Partner of Siemens Process Instrumentation division.
There are few feelings that beat cooking a BBQ outside on a summer’s day. However, imagine taking this experience up a notch. At MKM we are challenging you to build your own Brick BBQ. In just one day you can create a stylish, practical and cheap BBQ that promises to impress even the most discerning guest at this year’s summer party.
The surface for the BBQ should be flat and stable, to achieve this paving slabs or concrete are most suitable. On this surface place the grill tray on the floor and use it as a guide for the first layer of bricks, you may also want to add a preparation area. For this a paving slab works perfectly, place it on the ground making sure to leave space for support wall in the middle of the slab and the grill. From this create a guide for the preparation area by laying bricks around the perimeter grill and underneath the slab creating an “E” shape.
Step 2:
Next mix your mortar, we recommend four parts sand to one part cement and that you add plasticiser to the water to increase the mortars workability. Make sure to add any mortar tone to the mix before liquids and then finally to use enough water to get a stiff consistency. Remove the brick template and place a layer of mortar onto the ground in its place.
Step 3:
Use a straight piece of wood (or mark a line in the mortar using your level) as a guideline for the back of the wall to ensure you lay your first course in a straight line. Once the first layer is completed check the level and make sure corners to the support walls are at right angles.
Step 4:
Where the back wall connects to a support wall place a brick tie into mortar. This will improve the strength of the structure.
Step 5:
Double check that the grill and slab fit perfectly to the brickwork, then begin to build up extra courses of bricks. Techniques can vary for this stage however we recommend you start at the corners and stagger vertical joints by half a brick. Make sure to use a spirit level to check that your walls are straight, level and vertical.
Step 6:
Depending how high you want your BBQ to end up, at approximately the seventh course turn bricks on the support walls sideways too create a ledge for the charcoal tray. This will need to be done for the middle support wall and one of the side walls. Finish the support walls with a flush edged half brick to create a smart finish. After this add 3 more regular courses then follow the same procedure to create a ledge for the grill to rest upon. Remember the middle support wall will hold the slab and grill so make sure the brick sticks out equally at either side. Fix the slab in place by adding mortar to the top of the appropriate support wall and the turned brick.
Step 7:
Finish off the grill side by placing another layer of half bricks vertically onto a sheet of mortar. This will create a smart and professional finish. Do a final check to make sure everything is level then get your pointing tool and smarten up each joint.
Step 8:
Take a step back and appreciate your work. While you wait for your BBQ to set take a picture and send it into MKM for a chance to feature on our site as one of our DIY Guru’s.
If you’re going to damage a floorboard it is typically going to be the one right in the centre of the room. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there and yes we’ve all spent time trying to find something “suiting” to comfortably sit on top of the now flawed board – or at least strategically placed your little toe on it when guests come to visit!
Help is right at your fingertips as below are 7 simple steps to get your floor back in tip-top condition…
1. Drill a hole in all four corners of the damaged board – paying careful attention to surrounding boards
2. Remove the entire length of the board by cross cutting it; you can do this with a rip saw set to the depth of the flooring installed (refer to sizes from the manufacturer)
3. Make a cut down the edges around 1cm in and remove the centre sections (you should have 4 triangular shapes to remove)
4. Slide & pull out the remaining 4 strips – be careful here to not damage the tongue and groove of the surrounding boards
5. Select a replacement board identical or suiting to the rest of the floor
6. Remove the lip of the groove on the replacement boards header and long edge and then angle the floorboard into place
7. Secure the new board with a D3 adhesive to the surrounding boards locking system, when this is done place a weight over it (not your toe) until the adhesive has set
Voila! You have a beautiful floor.
A professional installer should complete this in 40 minutes but remember to take your time when attempting anything like this yourself. Alternatively you could click back to the damaged floorboard, replace and relay or look into relaying your entire floor.
If relaying the entire floor is the option for you, you’ve come to the right place, let Quick-Step inspire you with their latest ad – watch it here!
aminate flooring has never been easier to install thanks to Quick-Step’s Uniclic Technology.
But, before you start take note of these helpful hints:
1. A beautiful beginning. Try not to get too bogged down with working out the exact measurements of the room and each plank. There will always be unexpected imperfections in the wall and no doubt you will need to make some cuts to the laminate anyway. When you start to install, all will become clear…
2. Deciding on the grain. It’s hard to know which way is right and it will all depend on the room set and the style you’re wanting to achieve. You can install from the window into the room, by starting in the left corner and working your way to the right (diagonally) or across the shortest length of the room in an attempt to add an illusion of space.
3. Practice makes perfect. Always trial the start to see how it works (and looks) – you might prefer diagonal after all.
4. Cutting with precision. When cutting always start at the bottom of the laminate, working with the grain. The cut needs to be crisp!
5. Ready, set, go! Now you’re ready to install…
Watch just how easy it is (and how beautiful it looks)!
Now you’re ready to lay a floor, browse our range of flooring options here.
To ensure that you get the best of our free in-store planning service, here’s a useful checklist of information that your sales consultants will need to plan your ideal kitchen.
The example shown below is an indication of how to draw you’re plan, but you needn’t worry about it being a work of art, just so long as the measurements are accurate!
Points to remember
1) Make sure you are accurate with your measurements.
2) Measure the whole room, including door and window frames (see plan below).
3) Make a note of any height restrictions – like a low or sloping ceiling, the height between the window sill and the floor, for example.
4) Indicate on a sketch the location and measurement of the following where they apply, don’t worry if it’s not to scale, as long as the measurements are accurate: –
a. Mains water stop cock b. Waste pipe / soil stack c. Boiler / radiator d. Electric cooker switch e. Electric sockets and light switches f. Gas supply point g. Serving hatch
Plus any features not mentioned above! It’s better to have too much information!
5) List height, width and depth of any appliances you wish to retain in your kitchen.
