Member Blog

Small businesses are one of the success stories of the UK and are arguably the envy of many other countries.

Because of that apparent success, business owners can be unwilling to engage with financial advisers as they feel that they can make better returns by investing in their own business. Some will profess that ‘their business is their pension’.

Whilst investing in your own business should give better returns than those from a well-diversified investment portfolio, this isn’t a free lunch due to the risk of the business failing.

We aim to help business owners achieve financial independence, i.e. having sufficient resources outside, and separate, from their business so that the client is completely financially secure, and their future can be funded entirely independently from the business.

Death or ill health can hit at any time, and that can devastate not only the client and their family but also the business.

So, financial independence is crucial regardless of the client’s plan for the business as it enables the client to have much greater freedom. Whether they want to retain the business, sell it, or pass it onto their children, there is almost no scenario where acquiring financial independence by building up assets outside the business is a bad idea.

Our aim is to help you work out what your aspirations and goals look like; -thus coming up with that all important strategy to get you there.

If you would benefit from understanding how we can help you achieve the above, then please register to attend the FREE Finance webinar and join our panel of experts on 28th October. We are pleased to announce we are partnering up with Bright Business Advice, Saffrey Champness Accountants and us at Ascot Lloyd, the home of  Independent Financial advice. The link to register is :- www.brightbusinessmasterclass.com

For many new business owners, it can be tricky to navigate the world of business. Those who have been working in their industry for many years typically find it much easier than those who are just starting out. Of course, for those who are new to this kind of role, there are experts who can act as mentors and help with guiding entrepreneurs through the process. Below, we are going to look at the concept of business mentorship in more detail. Read on to find out more.

What Is Business Mentorship?

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of business mentorship, you’ll find that it is actually straightforward. Essentially, it is a relationship between someone with business experience and an entrepreneur. Usually, the person with experience will act as a guide and will offer advice on any topics that an entrepreneur is struggling with.

What Makes A Good Mentor?

Not everyone is capable of becoming a business mentor as it requires a special set of skills. Mentors should not only be able to provide expert advice on certain areas, but they should also be able to help manage issues. A mentor’s business might not be the same as the business that they are mentoring but if they are able to adapt their thinking, they can really make a difference. In Rebuilding You: The Philanthropy Handbook by Tej Kohli, you can learn more about business mentorship and what makes a good mentor.

Formal or Informal?

It is important to note that there are two main types of business mentors – informal and formal. An informal mentorship will involve occasional calls and meetings perhaps on a monthly basis. A formal mentorship is much more structured and will involve setting business objectives and meeting agendas. Usually, the type of mentorship that is chosen depends on the style of business and the time that each party has to spare to make it work. For those just starting out, a more formal set-up might be best to get the ball rolling quickly.

Mentoring in 2020

In 2020, there are a number of reasons why an entrepreneur might require a business mentor. The current financial climate around the world isn’t looking great and this is resulting in many businesses falling to the wayside. While the pandemic has been a brand new experience for all, some business owners might have experienced extreme scenarios that have required them to adapt and improve. This kind of knowledge could really help those who are struggling.

Business mentors in 2020 can also help entrepreneurs break into new industries and really put their stamp on the market. Without this kind of mentorship, some businesses would not be where they are today.

Final Verdict

Business mentorship is something that happens much more regularly than you might think. Business owners are often asking others for their advice and this helps them to get on the right track. In 2020, this kind of advice is extremely valuable.

Thanks to the emergence of the internet, the business world has changed. Now, more than ever, it pays to have your business online. You’ll certainly struggle to find a company that doesn’t have some sort of an online presence, be it through a website or by sharing promotional material on social media. The online world, with its many different layers, can be a confusing place for people. Even away from business, the array of websites and various platforms is confusingly comprehensive, and it can be a pain when it comes to narrowing it down to a few that suit you and your needs. We’ve all been there. One minute you might be planning a northern adventure to Bradford and assessing the city’s various eateries, like dining in style at Napoleon Casino Bradford or a local pub, then moments later you’re finding yourself down a YouTube wormhole, watching random videos of smiling dogs. It’s a weird and wonderful online world.

Every business needs a plan, though, and the internet is a hugely important tool, especially social media. Numerous companies aren’t using it properly or even at all, though. So, to help provide you with some online inspiration here are some tips on how to market your business on social media.

Choose the right platform for your business

There’s an array of social media platforms to choose from, but they aren’t all necessarily right for your business. To decide on the right one, consider your business and its target audience. Then, from there, research into the type of platform your audience is likely to use. It’s better to be on one platform and get it right than be on a number of them and do it badly. Assess your customers, come up with a plan and get posting.

Create a calendar

A lack of organisation can lead to a shoddy social media page and low-quality content. Creating a social media calendar will provide you with a routine and structure regarding your content and lead to more effective posts. Creating a content calendar will also give you the chance to assess results and track your progress towards the various goals you might have set the business. It always pays to have a plan, especially on social media.

Promote engagement

It’s in the name, but social media should be social and therefore encourage interaction and engagement. Asking questions, generating debate and reposting or sharing comments is a great way of engaging your online community and enabling them to feel part of the journey your business is on. Share content people want to see and talk about; then you should be onto a winner. It’s important not to sound too formal either and show a more human side during your interactions, but while also remaining professional and polite.

Don’t spam promotional material

There’s nothing worse than following a social media account which seems to share the same content over and over again, alongside making constant promotions. Make sure your content isn’t recycled, especially when it comes to promotional material. Crucially, don’t over-promote your business either. A typical strategy for many companies is to follow the one-in-seven rule, which means that for every one promotional post, six others must be content-based and avoid any promotional material whatsoever. Don’t spam.

Share video content

Video content is massive on social media as the online world steers away from copy and seems to edge closer and closer towards visual content domination. A great video not only grabs people’s attention, but it’s a highly effective way of getting your passion and personality across to your followers.

A Photographer of all talents!

Lots of photographers specialise in one particular area. Whether it be maternity, newborn, weddings, events, portraits, commercial or more, there are many different avenues out there. I would like to say that as a photographer, I do a bit of everything! With the current climate it is becoming increasingly more common for people of all trades to try and diversify themselves and dabble in lots of different areas.

With weddings being severely restricted at present, many couples postponing and some choosing to cancel altogether due to lack of funds, most wedding photographers find themselves in this limbo period. 

FAMILY PHOTOSHOOTS

Over the last few months, I have done some commercial and family shoots, a styled shoot (more about that another time) and even a wedding! One of the family shoots I did was for a family who were staying a stones throw from where I live. They stayed at the stunning Mendham Mill, which is on the Norfolk Suffolk border. Luckily, it came shortly after lockdown was lifted and people were allowed to start travelling again.

Another shoot was for a family who I have known for many years. I even photographed their daughters wedding a few years ago and have done some commercial work for them too.

Sometimes photographers don’t always have the opportunity to shout about their fabulous photos that they have captured. It just so happened on this occasion during lockdown, I, like many people in the wedding and photography industry, were crying out to tell everyone about a new photo job! Plus I was so pleased with the photos, as were the family. But, I always respect the privacy of individuals who don’t want their pictures shared on the internet.

COMMERCIAL SHOOTS

With businesses having some “extra time” on their hands, many have been busy updating their websites or even creating new ones! I spent a few hours with Little City Norfolk, who have recently set up shop in this area. They offer imaginative role play for little ones, but with a mobile set up. From the supermarket to the Doctors surgery, a construction site to the Vets and more, I had a fun few hours with some children getting some fab promo shots for them.

Over the lockdown period, City Brides Norwich gave their bridal showroom and website a bit of a revamp. So I said “yes to the dress” and spent the morning snapping away! My job as a photographer is full of variety and never the same!

POP UP PICS

Every year, I always do a pop up studio at our local preschool. Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, this year is a bit different. So I am taking my mobile studio on the road! I am actually doing two pop up photoshoots (due to popular demand!) in Harleston in South Norfolk. This year I am offering free photoshoots. Yes that’s right! I did type FREE and it’s not a mistake! I am doing mini 15 minute shoots, following the necessary Covid restrictions, with the option for families to purchase all digital images for just £40. Bargain! The demand for the mini shoots has been pretty crazy, hence why I added another date. So Saturday 14th November and Saturday 21st November are both full. I have now added another date in a different venue. I’m heading back to near where I used to live and doing a pop up shoot at Yaxham Village Hall on Sunday 15th November. 

If you fancy updating the photo album and getting some cracking shots for Christmas presents, then pop me a message and get yourself booked in!

A major outcome of the current market is that, in certain locations and disciplines, there are now more job seekers than there are available jobs. This is potentially going to increase as we head to the close of the current furlough scheme.

Many of our clients have shared with us that they are receiving an increase in direct applications. For larger organisations with dedicated HR and talent acquisition teams who have the time to review each application, then this is not so much of a problem. But for small and medium-size organisations with limited resource, it is a big challenge to have the time to sift through 100’s of CVs. An outcome of more available candidates is that the quality of applications is variable and more time is needed to review each application. We have seen qualified chefs applying for administration roles and managers applying for junior roles.

People are becoming understandably desperate and it takes time to review each application and handle these with the care and sensitivity that people need at this time.

As a professional recruitment consultancy, we put people first. Our consultants will help make your recruitment process more efficient.

Our consultants are knowledgeable experts in their specialism and work in partnership with you to provide advice and support beyond the offer and to ensure a smooth transition into the new role. The right people are your most precious business resource and we go beyond recruitment and induction support.

Our consultants can help your recruitment process with:

• Advertising and promoting your role to the right candidates
• Screening, reviewing and replying to each application
• Providing you with a shortlist of 5 people who match your brief
• Providing you with an overview of each candidate so that you quickly get an insight into the candidate
• Arranging interviews and supporting interview preparations
• Providing candidate feedback
• Completing all compliance checks and gathering references

Our specialist sector knowledge is the primary reason why companies choose to work with us and our consultants have in-depth experience and recruitment market knowledge specific to your professional sector. They invest time developing and maintaining a strong network of contacts which connects us to the best people and enables us to source high quality and ‘hard to find’ candidates.

From four offices located across the Eastern region, we have a comprehensive understanding of local employment trends as well as within our specialist sectors.

We don’t just find high-calibre candidates, we also support organisations through induction, development and beyond. Most importantly, we work with you to recruit the right people and to support them at every stage of their career.

Let us help you save time and resource in your recruitment process and act as brand ambassadors for you, providing applicants with the best possible experience.

Talk to our consultants today.  

In this current climate, Businesses are having to make business critical decisions to survive.  These may include making employees redundant, leading to restructure of their workforce to ensure continuation of  business performance.

Steadfast Training are the Prime Contractor for Skills Support for the Workforce/Redundancy (SSW) in New Anglia and can support these employers and employees (including those affected by redundancy) through FREE upskilling/training provision.

Working with a number of specialist training providers, we offer a wide range of courses  across all sectors from short programmes to level 2 and level 3 qualifications.  All of our training provision is currently offered remotely, using our online delivery model, consisting of a mix of tutor-led ‘virtual classroom’ workshops, short online course & video tutorials, followed by learner calls, providing 1-2-1 phone or digital (Zoom, Teams, FaceTime etc) support.

These courses include:  Employability Skills, MS Office courses in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Customer Service Diplomas (Level 2) and ILM Level 3 Award in Management.

For more information on how we can support your business please email ssw@steadfasttraining.co.uk

When you are running a business, you need to make sure that you are marketing it in the right way. In 2020, there are so many marketing strategies that you can choose from with some being more effective than others. One of the main aims of marketing your business is to reach your target audience and boost sales.

So, how do you efficiently reach your target audience? Read on to hear some of our tips and tricks.

Research Them

The first thing that you should do if you want to efficiently reach your target audience is to spend time researching them. If you don’t know who your target audience is, where they live and what they like – how are you going to be able to reach them? There are some fantastic tools online that you can use to learn more about your audience and generate content that suits them. The more you know, the easier it will be to reach that audience.

Try Video Content

These days, video content is one of the most effective ways that you can reach your target audience. Video content is typically seen more on social media channels due to the algorithms. With video content, you can tell a story about your brand and show your customers what they are missing out on. When creating video content, it is important that you manage your media effectively. Companies such as Red Bee can help with this so make sure to consider this carefully.

Try Using Influencers

In 2020, another great way that you can reach your target audience is by making use of influencers in your industry. It is likely that your target audience is influenced by people online, you just need to make sure you figure out who these people are. There are a few different kinds of influencers but micro-influencers tend to be the most cost-effective. If you can collaborate with them, you could have them promote your product or service directly to your target audience.

Use Hashtags

Social media is an extremely valuable tool when it comes to marketing in 2020 and so you need to leverage these channels and make sure that you are reaching your audience in the right way. Firstly, you need to make sure that you are on the right channels and then you need to try hashtags. Not all popular hashtags will be relevant to your brand so you must spend some time looking into this a bit more. If you get the balance of hashtags right, you could put your content right to the newsfeeds of your target audience.

Targeted Ads

Our last tip is one that is going to cost you but it is often worth the money in the long-run. Targeted ads on social media channels can be extremely efficient when it comes to reaching your target audience. When you run a targeted ad, you can make sure that only the people who are within your target demographic are being shown the content. These ads can be very specific and will only run on the budget that you set. Have a look at what Facebook and Instagram offer businesses in 2020 as these can be very effective.

Final Verdict

There are so many ways that you can efficiently reach your target audience, you just need to make sure that you know all about the common strategies. Start with defining your target audience and then consider strategies such as video content or influencer marketing. Over time, you’ll reach the people that you need to help your business succeed.

The 12- 16 October is National Work Life Week providing the opportunity for employers and employees to focus on wellbeing at work and work life balance. This year, flexible working has come to the top of the agenda for many businesses. Given the long-term impact of Covid-19 across society, it appears that flexible working is here to stay:

• In April 2020, 46.6% people in employment did some work at home
• Of those who did some work from home, 86% did so as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic
• Of those who did some work from home, 34.4% worked fewer hours and 30.3% worked more hours than usual

The right to request flexible working

According to the current employment law position, everyone has the right to request flexible working, not just parents or carers.

Making a statutory application to an employer for flexible working

There are certain criteria regarding an employee’s eligibility to request flexible working:

• The employee must have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks
• The employee can only make one application for flexible working a year

The impact of COVID-19 on flexible working

Earlier this year thanks to the national lockdown, many organisations had to adapt overnight to ‘remote working’ which is one type of flexible working.

Flexible working types – how flexible?

In fact, flexible working can take many forms including:

• Reduce of hours to work part-time
• Change to start and/or finish time
• Compressed hours (hours over fewer days)
• Remote working (working from home)
• Changes to apply for all working days or specific days or shifts only
• Changes to apply for specific week(s) only (e.g. school term time)
• Changes to apply for a limited time only (e.g. six months)

Benefits of flexible working

As has been demonstrated by many businesses as a response to the government coronavirus restrictions, there are benefits to be taken by both employers and employees from adapting a more flexible approach over and above following this route purely to help in stopping the spread of Covid:

General benefits of flexible working for employers:

• Employee retention
• Productivity – less stressed, less over-worked employees
• Attracting potential new recruits from a more diverse population
• Cost savings – improving the efficiency of the office and helping bring down overhead costs

General benefits of flexible working for employees:

• Avoiding the commute – money saving and time saving with a positive environmental impact
• Spending more time with family – gaining a better work/life balance

There are some negative impacts which should also be considered:

Drawbacks of remote working:

• The need to invest in technology and inevitable technological failures
• Absence and reduction of office and employee interactions and communication which can impact culture
• Blurring the work / life balance
• Employers must be fair with the management of requests across their workforce

How to make an application for flexible working

An application for flexible working would normally proceed as follows:

1. The employee writes to their employer to request flexible working
2. The employer considers the request, and makes a decision within three months (unless agreed otherwise with the employee)
3. If the employer agrees to the request, the relevant changes should be made to the terms and conditions in the employee’s contract
4. If the employer disagrees to the request, they must give business reasons for the refusal. If the employee wants to take it further, they can complain to the Employment Tribunal.

The employer’s responsibility where a flexible working request is made by an employee

Employers must:

• Deal with flexible working requests in a ‘reasonable manner’
• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the application
• Hold a meeting to discuss the request with the employee
• Offer an appeal process

Business reasons for the refusal of a request for flexible working

The guidance on flexible working employment law provided by ACAS offers a few examples of reasonable business reasons which employers can give for refusing a request for flexible working. These include:

• Planned structural changes to the organisation/ department
• The burden of additional costs
• Quality/ standards suffering, and customer/ client complaints
• The potential for performance to suffer
• The organisation/ department struggling to meet customer demand

Bengi Karakus is a Trainee Solicitor at Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich. If you would like to discuss flexible working – either as an employee or employer, please contact our Employment Law Team at 01603 660 811 or via info@hatchbrenner.co.uk

For years, many organisation have struggled with policies around working from home.  Whether it is an issue of trust or an issue of equipment, there has always been a challenge with reaching a satisfactory approach to working from home that benefits the organisation and the employee.  The truth is there is no one size that fits all. Some people will love it, others will loath it and some simply do not have this option. However, whilst the government advises working from home where possible, we have been thinking about how to make working from home a positive experience.

Homeworking has been a positive experience for many people. More than ever, work is what you do, not where you go. Connective technologies are being utilised, conversations by video or phone have become more meaningful, fewer distractions have meant increased productivity and quality of work, and those with the longest commutes have benefited from a better work-life balance.  If you need to make a series of private calls to clients, customers or suppliers or need time to write proposals, blogs, documents, then these activities are better from a quieter environment and home working benefits this.

One of our consultants shared their home working experience, “Today I spoke to a candidate that normally I would not have had time to speak to in a normal market as you don’t get time to stop and in the office, it’s a 100 miles an hour. Working from home, I find you can be more present and have more quality conversations because the home environment for some can be a quieter space.”

We asked some of our team to share their best advice for creating a positive work from home experience:

Caroline Batchelor, Director

“I have really learnt the importance of self-care over the last few months which means taking regular breaks throughout the day where I physically move away from my screen and do something completely different. I have taken to hoovering the house whilst playing one of my favourite songs or watering the plants, taking the dog for a quick 15-minute walk or doing a Joe Wicks work out. It is too easy to sit and stare at your screen all day.

I make sure I see my colleagues on a zoom call a few times a week and have regular chats via the phone with them to share ideas and discuss challenging projects. I found if I don’t speak to anyone during the day I could feel a bit isolated, so remember it’s good to talk.”

Nadia Mullins-Hills, IT and Projects Manager

“Where possible find a separate space in your home to work – this has made my work far more productive but also allowed me to step away when I’ve needed to so I don’t feel like I’m ‘always at work’. Having a work chair and a headset has made a big difference to me and has ensured my posture is not poor throughout the day.

I make sure I can hit the ground running and have a productive day by creating a plan at the end of each day for the following day. I video call my team where possible so that we feel connected and make time to chat about how we are feeling, any struggles and any new ideas!”

Annette Wyld, Head of Finance  

“I think it’s more effective to pick up the phone and call people instead of sending an email where possible. I find it helps to maintain and build relationships. There is a risk that you can become isolated when working from home and making an effort with your colleagues will help you to feel part of the team. Staying connected on Jostle, our internal communications tool, with posts, shout-outs and updates also helps.”

Ben Farrow, Director

“What has worked for me is remembering to consciously switch off when I finish work. So, whatever time you feel you have done enough for the day, turn it off, turn the emails off on your phone and leave it for the next day or else there is no downtime. I had weeks where I was obsessing about my phone desperate for the next email and replying immediately and, in all honesty, 99% of the stuff you get after 6 pm at night can wait until the next morning.”

In summary, here are our top hacks for a positive work from home experience:

• Make a daily routine
• Create a separate workspace where possible
• Take regular breaks
• Get the right equipment
• Connect – make time to call or video call
• Take regular exercise
• Make time to unwind
• Take care of your mental health

Check out our full “Guide to working from home”.

The Coronavirus pandemic has removed the stigma of remote working, as we have all been forced to test it and many have found that it can actually work. Ultimately, working from home is a pattern of work that many are going to be experiencing for a little while longer.

However, it would be impossible not to miss the conversation by the water cooler or that idea that was sparked on a chance corridor conversation.  A workplace is a social place where informal interactions between individuals can certainly lead to creativity and innovation. Yet video call technology has challenged that thinking and opened up many different routes for sharing ideas and interacting with others.

We are not sure what is around the corner however, what we do know, is that the way we work has changed and may continue to do so. We will be together again in person one day, but for now, creating a positive and effective work from home experience is entirely possible.

Our consultants can help you with you recruiting remotely with video interviews and virtual workshops. Talk to our consultants today about your recruitment needs.

Post-lockdown, what is the impact on insurance and business risk? Account Executive Josh Simpson answers frequently asked questions about the issues many clients are now facing, including:

• The hardening insurance market
• Health & Safety risk management
• Supply chain payment failures
• Employment issues, redundancy and changing government advice
• Home working, impact of empty offices, cyber risk and portable equipment

Will insurance renewals be affected by the pandemic?

Yes. Right now, we’re going through a ‘hard market’ where there’s less cover available and less insurers to offer that cover, which undoubtedly means increased premiums. At the same time, it’s our role as a broker to be proactive about renewals, getting in contact with clients with plenty of time. There will be increases, and in a lot of areas too, but if we do our job properly and get the cover right then that’s the most important thing at this moment in time. Business have changing needs too, being flexible on what you cover and responding to the company’s current trading position makes a big difference to cost.

What are some of the main issues businesses are facing?

Companies are realising that risk management has got to be a priority – it’s always been important but is even more so now. Businesses are wondering what the right thing to do is, what are the types of signage that are needed in premises, for example, or what to put on their risk assessment each time the government advice changes? Fortunately, we’ve got a risk management team who can advise exactly what the law is currently, with ongoing support as restrictions are eased, or altered.

Turning to supply chains, sadly many businesses are facing financial difficulties. Even if you’re doing okay, your supply chain could be suffering. We’ve seen an increase in uptake on products such as credit insurance, which can protect your business if your customers are struggling financially and can’t pay or become insolvent.

The way companies are working has completely changed, what are the hidden dangers and where can insurance mitigate the risks?

Redundancies and disputes are on the increase and lots of our clients are looking to access legal advice. Employment practices cover provides cover for the legal costs and damages associated with employment claims. Many policies come with a free helpline for HR, Health and Safety and other legal matters.

Cyber-attacks are an issue for a company of any size whether it’s breaches to your own or third party systems. This is particularly relevant as many employees are home working and could be using home connections which may not be as secure. Cyber policies can cover loss of data but people often forget that a denial of service attack could take down your whole system resulting in a loss of revenue or costs associated with reinstating the system – with working from home relying on connectivity this safety net is more important than ever.

Equipment out of the office – again, with home working becoming ever more prevalent, ensuring equipment is covered on an ‘all-risks’ basis and not just at the premises is essential.

Empty offices – un-occupancy conditions are widely being imposed by insurers and complying with them is a policy requirement. Conditions can range from ensuring utilities are disconnected or even just to ensure the premises is visited every 14 days. These steps help to protect the premises against risks like water damage. 

Lastly, what can a business owner do if they have any concerns?

Transparency in a situation like this is always key, in my opinion, and we are getting frequent, sometimes weekly, updates from the insurers. It’s our job to make sure that we’re gathering the information in the right way and also making sure that our clients are aware of exactly what they need to do.

Our message will always be: if you are struggling, contact us for a free review and we will go through this together.

Education is ultimately about enabling individuals to realise their full potential. It is meant to be a transformative experience, and it needs to take place in a physical environment which enables and encourages the optimum outcome for each student. Whilst acknowledging operational and functional requirements, it is this educational goal that should primarily drive a vision for the future of our educational establishments, and their wider campus as places that are intrinsic to this transformative process.

Educational establishments must continue to develop their campus’s built and natural environments to reflect current pedagogical practices, as well as meeting the expectations of prospective students and professionals.  Upgrading of campus digital learning facilities must be keep pace with industry standards if educational institutions are to produce graduates with cutting edge skills and the expertise to be innovative in the UK’s rapidly evolving digital industries where the pace of change is fast and old technologies quickly become outdated.

Delivery of this infrastructure is particularly crucial in higher education establishments where the campus environment and facilities on offer are key to attracting the most talented students, ensuring courses run cost effectively to full capacity and therefore secure ongoing funding.

The design challenge for professionals is twofold: Firstly, given the pace of innovation and change in modern times how do we future-proof the designed environment to adapt to change, avoid obsoletion and provide longevity for clients?  

Secondly, how can innovation in the design of the educational environment support the development of the digital skills and connections required by local businesses and growth industries to fulfill their growth ambitions?

In 2018 the digitech sector is growing 2.6 times faster than the rest of the UK economy, with overall sector value increased by £14 billion from £170bn in 2016 to £184bn in 2017.(1)  Britain is leading Europe in tech investment, in 2017 it attracted $7.8 billion of funding, almost double the amount received in 2016, compared to France and Germany’s combined total of $6 billion. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the UK’s leadership is set to grow as the governments modern Industrial Strategy delivers a package of benefits to drive further investment in centres of UK expertise including government funding incentives, and greater access to talent and data under new plans.(2)

Currently, some 2.1 million people are now employed in the digital tech economy and a new digital tech job is created in the UK every 50 minutes.(3)  This makes the digital technology industry a major driver of the UK economy and sets the imperative to boost industry skills and productivity in the East.  

Norwich has a fast growing digital tech economy and is becoming a thriving digital hub, attracting and creating digital tech businesses such as Rainbird AI, Validus-IVC and Epos Now.(4) Located directly on the A11, Norwich has the opportunity to form the educational breeding ground and gateway to the wider A11 Norwich – Cambridge Tech Corridor. This corridor has the potential to bringing with it thousands of jobs and more than £500 million in investment.(5) This advantageous positioning renders the creation of a local digi-tech savvy workforce a strong focus of the education agenda for Norwich in order to capitalise on the opportunity it represents to fuel the growth the sector within the city.

The catalysation of growth in this strategically important sector a requires the nurturing of talent in the next generation of digital technology professionals by providing specialist industry focussed training, skills and business development to support their development.

Ideally situated for the establishment of a Digi-Tech centre of educational excellence, the creation of a flagship Digi-Tech Hub in Norwich with first class educational facilities for the delivery of innovative educational programmes designed to meet the skill requirements and drive innovation within the dynamic and rapidly evolving digital tech industry is vital to the future of the local economy.

So, in answer to the questions posed at the beginning of this article, the design of future-proofed campus environments that have the flexibility to adapt to keep pace with changes in digital technologies must be multi-faceted in its approach.

1. Design in digital infrastructure

The next generation of digital educational spaces need to create an immersive digital-technology environment embedded with future-proof ICT infrastructure which delivers both the capacity and capability to support the latest technology and the provides space to grow and upgrade as necessary to stay at the forefront of teaching ion terms of technological innovation. Achieving this requires a collaborative approach to pool specialist knowledge in order to find innovative ways to deliver cutting edge infrastructure coordinated between architects, project managers and IT specialists to achieve a joined-up result. 

2. Flexibility and adaptability: Anticipate and design for change

In response to changing student profiles and ever-evolving educational policies, educational institutions are coming under increasing pressure to be flexible and dynamic in order to meet government and industry demands and student expectations.

Educational spaces and facilities should be designed not just in response to the current needs of teachers and students but to also accommodate changes and fluctuations to student numbers, courses, educational programming and focus over the coming years. Multidisciplinary practices, accustomed to approaching issues from differing perspectives, are perhaps at an advantage when it comes to designing spaces that can meet the diverse needs of a variety of stakeholders, including education professionals, full time, adult and apprentice students.

As for designing to support the development of the digital skills and connections, the campus built environment is critical to supporting the development of new relationships and collaborations which lead to innovation, new business start-ups and the development of a completive advantage for both educational institutions and the industry sectors which are reliant on the talents and skills of graduates supplied to them by universities and colleges.

3. Create social learning and networking spaces

Social leaning is now recognised by leading universities such as Havard (6) and the University of Sheffield as being essential to creating an engaging leaning environment where people have opportunities to connect and collaborate. Consequently both universities have invested heavily in the design and programming of their campus environments in order to create opportunities for the kind of social interaction that facilitate making connections and foster collaborations across faculties in order to sustain their reputations as lading innovative universities.

“The University has in recent years provided increasing numbers of high quality informal meeting spaces particularly where interdisciplinary discussions can take place. These spaces are essential in a modern research based University which is relying upon innovation between disciplines in order to explore the potential for new research and development. Similar high quality external spaces are lacking and will form a vital component of our Masterplan.” (7) Sheffield University, 2015

A 2011 study by the University of Queensland confirmed that social learning spaces can contribute to enhanced student engagement by fostering active learning, social interaction and belonging amongst tertiary students and suggested that the design of these spaces is integral to students’ perceptions of social learning spaces.

The creation of social leaning spaces and break-out areas for collaborative learning spaces where students can meet with guest speakers, industry experts and other students on different courses is key to creating a dynamic learning environment that reflects the modern day workplace environment.  These spaces create settings where a dialogue can be created between people with a variety of digital tech skill specialisms, facilitating the meeting and exchange of ideas, and through doing so spark new ideas and collaborations that drive innovation.

Pro:works take a holistic view of education that considers the student’s learning experience and learning outside of scheduled classes.  Attention is given to the total leaning environment, including how pedestrian flows and landscape design can be directed and shaped to bring people from different learning disciples together into shared social spaces to create new flexible platforms for both formal learning and informal social encounters across the campus to extend leaning opportunities beyond the confines of classroom walls. As a multi-disciplinary team, Pro:works have the in-house expertise required to integrate these informal social leaning environments to work alongside more traditional classroom areas and computing labs and facilities, staff and storage areas to ensure a robust and seamless integration of both educational and functional facilities to create truly innovative places for learning.

4. Incubate on campus

Student – industry collaborations can be fostered with the provision of on-site digi-tech start-up incubation units which provide talented students, graduates and local businesses with dedicated spaces start up new ventures. These spaces become part of the educational service offering key to attracting students and inviting digital start ups. The integration of education and industry on campus can improve employment prospects and create a fluid transition from college to workplace within a supportive environment. Strong connections and recruitment opportunities can be forged with local companies who can provide a continuous feedback loop on graduates skills sets and emerging skill needs within the digitech industry which can be used to guide the development of courses to ensure they remain at the forefront of digital-technology education.

5. Collaborate

Complex projects, often run to tight delivery timescales require specialist expertise from multiple consultants in order to find creative and innovative solutions to projects within the constraints of the projects required timeframe. This is why a collaborative approach between a network of trusted experts with long standing relationships creates cost effective knowledge sharing that can lead to innovation and facilitate the management of project to bring them to a close on time and on budget. This is the Pro:works collaborative approach. As a multi-disciplinary team with a diverse complimentary skill set, Pro:works are skilled at design, project management and co-ordination as industry specialists. 

A flexible company business model allows us to be adaptable in our approach to meeting the challenges of the fast-paced digital era. As such we are well versed in flexible approaches to design that create relationships which allow for adaptability and move with the times. This kind of flexibility is at the core of our ethos and is translated into our designs to create educational spaces and working practices that can evolve over time to meet the needs of students now and in the future. This design approach facilitates our education sector clients in gaining the competitive edge that allows them to emerge as market-leading educators for the digital generation and to have the flexibility within their built environments to accommodate change to maintain this competitive advantage to support growth and innovation.

Many thanks

James Lee Burgess

CEO and Founder XLwerks

For many businesses across the corporate market and around the world, 2020 has been an extremely challenging year. The Coronavirus pandemic has devastated every industry and left businesses struggling with cash flow, staffing and much more.

Many business leaders are desperate for this seemingly endless stream of bad news to be over. At the moment, CEO’s, Managing Directors and pretty much all employees just want to get back to normality. The powers at be are not able to go to important client meetings and fundraisers, meaning things are slowing down across the board.

As a result, many staff are struggling with financial and work worries. People are worried about their jobs and struggling to find a reason to take personal holidays. After all, if you’re working from home, then what’s the point in having a day off?  

With all the things going on, life does move on, and although it is a very negative feeling and everyone is, rightly, cautious, some of us do have to look to the future. The qualities of a good CEO are that they are forward-thinking, and most will rightly be thinking of their employees.

Supporting your workers and giving them everything they need during these trying times means not only making sure that they have the tools and support they need to do their jobs, but also that they enjoy good mental wellbeing.

The recent pandemic has taken a toll on many workers’ mental health, so you need to consider the best way to support their mental health and get them back to full mental wellbeing.

One great way to improve your staff’s mental health, and connect with them on a personal level, is to take a team-building trip. Team building is a vast industry, and there’s a lot of options to choose from, so you can easily find your ideal destination. 

After all this, team bonding is certainly needed. As such, forward-thinking CEOs need to consider hosting a team-building trip to improve the mental health of their teams. Read on, and we’ll explore the best ways to find the ideal destination for you and your team.

Think About Your Team’s Personality

One of the first factors that you need to consider is your team’s personality. If most of them enjoy spending time in nature, then an outdoor team building trip at a beautiful destination could be a perfect choice. If your team is passionate about sports, then a consider a destination that’s famed for its sporting prowess.

Every member of your team is different, so you might need to consider what the majority of your staff will enjoy. It can be tough, but most CEOs know their team and can identify the best destinations for a fun-filled team-building trip.

Avoid Travelling Abroad

Taking an international holiday might sound like fun, but in this tough situation, it’s more hassle than it is worth. Most countries are implementing stringent travel restrictions, and there is a chance that you and your team will have to quarantine once you return.

Also, the pandemic has made international travel stressful, expensive and costly. A trip to a part of the UK could allow you to bond with your staff and have fun without the stress. Some gorgeous destinations in the UK are so beautiful that you’ll feel like you’re abroad, so explore the options to find the best location for your team-building adventure.

Ask For Input From Your Team

If you’re still unsure about where your team would like to go for their team building day out, then consider asking them for suggestions. Initially, you could ask them to suggest destinations that they’d like to visit and activities that they’d like to do during your team bonding trip. Once you have a shortlist, you could ask them to vote on the trip that sounds the most enjoyable.

This approach will make your team feel included in the decision, as well as being the best way to ensure that the majority of your staff enjoys your bonding excursion. It will also take the weight of the decision off of your shoulders and make planning the trip more fun for you.

Put Your Team’s Safety First

While most countries are now reopening their shops, eateries and other destinations, that doesn’t mean that the threat of the Coronavirus has disappeared. There is still a risk of spreading the potentially fatal virus, so you need to make sure that you consider your team’s safety when planning your bonding trip.

Try to come up with safe bonding activities, and consider every aspect of the trip from travel to the destination and afterwards. Make sure that you put into place procedures and offer advice to ensure that everyone stays as safe as possible. By showing that you’re still committed to safety, you’ll make your staff feel safe and allow them to get excited about the trip without worrying about catching the virus.

Consider A Seasonal Trip

In such a tough year, many individuals are excited for holidays such as Christmas, New Year and Halloween. As such, you should consider hosting a seasonal trip or celebration that can get everyone excited for the holidays and get them in the mood.

For example, if you want to host a Christmas-themed bash, then check out the work Christmas parties offered by Team Tactics. The company offer a wide range of solutions so that you can find the one that will suit your team and get them excited for the holidays, as well as allowing you all to bond and have fun.

Final Verdict

Staff are the backbone of any business, so you need to make sure that you take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

Team bonding trips can help improve your collective wellness and make them feel like a part of the corporate family, rather than just another cog in the machine.

Use this article to find inspiration and get starting planning your next team-building adventure for your staff. It might take more effort than usual, but the result will be worth it.