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Skills gap in rural areas in the UK

Written by Haze Carver on .

While skills gap is a big issue in many parts of the country, we rarely think of the whereabouts of these skills gap. Rural areas, for example, are one of the most impacted by skills gap and retention challenges.

There are many reasons for these issues including poor internet signals and rare to non-existent public transportation. All these commodities that big cities and wealthy areas have implemented already. So how can rural areas become more competitive for the workforce and retain their staff for longer? Are there any benefits that the rural population can benefit from?

In this article, we address the main issues about skills gap in the rural areas while listing the main benefits of investing for the future workforce.

Why are rural areas reporting skills gap?

According to the UK Parliament, rural areas find it hard to retain skills because of poor infrastructure, less attracting job offers and poor provision of essential services for keeping young people to live and work in rural areas.

Some of major limitations rural areas face are:

  • Limited range of job opportunities.
  • Poor connectivity & high-speed internet, limiting digital skills availability.
  • Transport and accessibility issues.
  • Relative importance of self-employment and small businesses.
  • Seasonalised / casualised labour markets meaning there is little incentive for investment in training.
  • Importance of informal networks in accessing employment.
  • Relatively low wage levels.

These facts alone are the main motivators for young & skilled individuals to move to bigger towns or cities where funding and investments are greater.

What are the reasons skilled individuals move to cities?

According to the Digital Education Resource Archive (DERA), much of rural employment is also concentrated in small firms which further limits opportunities for young people to upgrade their skills and take up training (line 76).

Ambitious skilled individuals will look to grow their careers within companies that offer trainings or position growth internally. Most rural areas are too limited with resources or accessibility, making it hard for them to grow their workforce and, therefore, their company.

The lack of training or upskilling in these rural companies also become a cause for skilled individual to move to cities. For the young people who look for apprenticeship or internal training find more opportunities and space within busier & wealthier areas.

Why do some rural areas do better than others?

According to webinar presenter Anupriya Misra, rural areas which have a wealthy local population or have products with strong global demand are likely to be high performing.

Some rural areas have better ground available for big companies needing surface to build their resources/warehouses (e.g. Amazon Central). This positive outcome help create local jobs and retain local skills. In that principle, some rural areas will do better than others in which can offer such flexibilities to global companies.

Living in Norfolk/Suffolk? Read what we are saying in LSIP Roadshow.

Benefits of improving skills gaps in rural areas

If the budget would allow it, investing in rural areas could prove beneficial for:

  • High-speed internet connectivity for digital skills:
    With high-speed internet, employers would be able to attract digital skills. But this availability would also improve lifestyle to homes & families on a daily basis.
  • Offering local training & apprenticeship:
    With improved public transportation, young individuals will be able to access companies’ locations and improve their skills for the benefit of the company. But improved transportation would also help the population in being more mobile within the rural areas.
  • More funding to help businesses expand in rural areas:
    With more funding available for rural businesses creates more openings for skilled individuals to fill. And with increasing job availability, the greater the retention of skilled workers.

In a nutshell

Living in rural areas can have several benefits and positive impact on a lifestyle. But when it comes to work and retaining young adults in the workplace, it may be a different challenge.

The main challenges rural areas face to retain skilled workforce are poor internet connectivity, lack of public transportation, low number of openings and lack of training available for upskilling existing employees.

Some of these pain points may be answered by levelling the company’s offerings (salary, training, etc) or by getting more help from the government and education. Some rural areas are struggling financially and cannot afford to upgrade their areas for better connectivity or more transportation.

The young workforce is more and more moving to big cities where investments are promising employee growth and where skills are in demand. But there are great benefits in investing in rural areas such as retaining the young workforce and upgrading the local economy.

LSIP | Act now. Future-proof your workforce Complete our online free survey to make your voice heard. At Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, we have a team of experts that can help you figure out your business’ roadblocks.

Find the Employer Survey here: https://form.jotform.com/223474490001043

Main impact businesses see from skills gaps

Written by Haze Carver on .

Have you ever wondered if your business could sustain itself without the right people? Considered outsourcing personnel to close the skills gaps within your company? Have your employees experienced a drop in morale due to gaps in your workforce?

Skills shortages can have a major and wide-ranging influence on people and organisations. When you have a discrepancy between the skills present in the workforce and the skills needed for the job, then skills gaps arise.

The consequences of this soon become apparent. It can impair an individual’s ability to advance in their job and result in lower productivity and competitiveness. Additionally, organisations may have trouble finding and keeping top employees, which could result in missed business opportunities and workload increase for existing employees.

We’ve listed below the most common impacts businesses experience with skills gap.

#1 – Slow business growth

Not having the right people or talent in place could slow the growth of your business, or see you struggle to deliver your service or product to the expected standards.  Which, in turn, impacts your revenue and expectations when it comes to your business ambition. This can create doubt within your workforce in the future of the company, leading to drop in motivation or need for a change in career.

#2 – Struggling to meet delivery expectations

Maintaining your business’ services when there’s a skill gap can be a slippery slope to failure. Staff turnover or difficulties to keep up with the demand can also be factors in a skills shortage. Technology, demand, and processes evolve all the time, and it can be challenging to keep your staff up to date or evolve their positions to meet new demands.

#3 – Difficulty in competing

If your business is in a competitive industry, you’ll find that skill shortage can put you in a difficult position against your competitors. While some companies can invest in internal training or in the right talents, this may not be true for all businesses.

#4 – Depending too much on outsourcing

Outsourcing came be a great solution for your business, but if your operations depend heavily on this, it can lead to an unnecessary stress on both your team and your clients. There are cases where some businesses are nervous taking on new contracts or feel in a vulnerable position because they can’t rely on outsourcing or feel limited with costs and availability.

#5 – Workload and stress increase within the workplace

When your resources are limited within your business, you may find yourself giving your existing employees more work. In turn, this can increase stress within the workplace with the potential to impact staff morale and increase dissatisfaction.

#6 – Can’t attract or retain the right talent

Sometimes, skills gap can have a very different impact where the company doubts its capabilities of attracting the right talent. For example, if skilled people decline a company’s offer, that company may begin to question its offering, entering a vicious circle of low staff moral and slow business growth.

How your business can overcome these impacts

There are various ways in which you can lift your business’ skills and staff morale whilst retaining the right talent. You can read our article here to find out more about what you can action near you.

Or participate in LSIP to make a difference to the future of local skills for Norfolk & Suffolk.

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

Sustainable resolutions for your business (that last beyond January!)

Written by Haze Carver on .

According to statistics, it’s likely that as we near the end of January, only 9% of people will have stuck to their new year’s resolutions, with a staggering one in four failing in the first week of the year!

If you really want your business to become more sustainable in 2023, we’ve outlined some tips that will make your sustainability goals more achievable.

Why focus on sustainability in 2023?

In today’s world, consumers and those in the supply chain are much more sustainability-focused. They expect the organisations that they purchase from to be adopting a sustainable approach and working towards a net-zero target.

Even in markets where there isn’t a customer need for sustainable practices, adopting a more sustainable stance can lead to lower operating costs and overhead expenses, increased bottom-line profits and an enhanced employee experience.

So what steps can your business take in 2023 to become more sustainable?

1 – Understand where you currently are

Any business looking to become more sustainable should start by measuring and understanding their carbon footprint.

The carbon footprint of a company is the total amount of greenhouse gasses (GHG) emitted directly or indirectly through its activities expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). A carbon footprint report identifies how much business operations are contributing to climate change and is the perfect place to develop an action plan from.

So before you start with any actions, it’s best to understand your starting point. This way, any actions you implement you can report on their success/impact.

Small measures

If you’re a passionate member of a ‘Green Team’ or you’re struggling to get leadership to commit to a carbon footprint, don’t be put off. There are a number of small measures that can be introduced in a business setting. Unfortunately, without a carbon footprint in place, it will be difficult to understand what impact this is having but recognise you are helping the planet by looking at the following three areas, all of which are easy to explore:

Focus on recycling

Find out what is recyclable with your waste management service and make sure it is clearly posted on bins so employees know what they can and can’t recycle.Make sure bins are easily accessible and encourage employees to recycle as much as they can.

Along with recycling paper and plastic, it’s also important to not forget about e-waste, including computer parts, mobile phones, and ink cartridges, which can be a pollution risk with toxic chemicals leaking into the ground. Common e-waste items include computer parts, mobile phones, batteries and ink cartridges. Ensure you have proper disposal providers in place and are not disposing in standard waste bins.

Use alternative energy sources

You don’t need to take large steps to get started using alternative energy sources. Contact your energy provider and explore their Green Tariff options. Green tariffs will either match your usage with renewable energy generation or the energy provider will commit to supporting environmental schemes on your behalf (the least preferred option, as it still results in the burning of fossil fuels).

Solar, wind, and geothermal energy sourcing are much easier on the environment than fossil fuels – ask whether your energy can come from these sources.

Encourage behaviours which reduce your energy use

By using less energy, you can save money and limit the effects on the environment.

One way to save on energy is to address the phenomenon known as vampire power, which is when electronics continue using energy even in standby mode. Speak to your workforce about this and request that they unplug devices and chargers when not in use and turn off devices instead of letting them go to standby mode.

If you haven’t already done so, make sure standard light bulbs are replaced with LED ones. These use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer.

As with your electronic devices, turning off lights when not in use is an obvious way to reduce usage. You could also look into the feasibility of installing motion sensors to automatically shut off lights when a room is empty.

Summary

As stated at the start of this blog, the most important sustainable resolution a business can make is to undertake a Carbon Footprint.

If this feels daunting, don’t worry, Groundwork’s Sustainable Business Consultants will work with you to calculate your footprint. Once this benchmark is established we can support you with a comprehensive pathway towards net-zero emissions.

Contact us to speak to a member of the team about getting started.

CONTACT

You can view this blog and other Groundwork blogs here

All images courtsey of Groundworks

Providing large employers with a suite of climate tech tools to Measure, Reduce and Report their commuter emissions

Written by Haze Carver on .

Sustainable commuting solution

Mobilitways Commuter Census Survey 2022 reported that 81% of commuters were considering an alternative travel mode and 61% of commuters worried about rising fuel costs. Not only will sharing a journey be at least half as expensive as driving alone, they will also be making substantial CO2e savings contributing to your net-zero goals.

Be proactive in tackling Scope 3 commuter emissions

Each vehicle removed from the road saves an average 139kg of CO2e per employee every year.

Track the number of shared journeys and miles saved

View all of your sustainable travel data on a custom dashboard. Collectively, Liftshare communities have saved over 1 billion miles!

Improve air quality in your local area

Fewer cars mean less congestion and reduced emissions in your local area.

A net zero strategy that doesn’t include Scope 3 commuting emissions isn’t a net zero strategy

Start making CO2e savings today

I am extremely pleased with how the Liftshare system is constantly evolving and improving to provide us with more and more valuable data. The whole Liftshare community has been a huge success for Arup and very much helped to alleviate our car park issues. I would be more than happy to recommend their services to other businesses.

Sandy Farar, Arup

Read more

Want to find out more? Get in touch with us

LSIP | How to solve the skill gaps issue?

Written by Haze Carver on .

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 .

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 .

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 .

On the 17th 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 .

by Robyn Littlefair Assoc CIPD HR Consultant

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

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.


This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2023 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/cutting-your-training-budget-in-tough-times-could-be-a-costly-mistake

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

Written by Haze Carver on .

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 .

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 .

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

A photo of a vegetables at a grocers

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

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