A team that operates in harmony, with high morale and a shared sense of purpose, can propel a company to new heights, while a disengaged and disjointed workforce can act as an anchor. Fostering a positive work environment and cultivating a culture of teamwork is crucial for unlocking the full potential of your employees. When individuals feel valued, supported, and part of a cohesive unit, they are more likely to exhibit increased productivity, creativity, and commitment to the company’s goals. Open Communication: The Foundation Of Trust Effective communication is the bedrock upon which strong teams are built. By establishing open lines of dialogue and encouraging a two-way flow of information, businesses can create an environment where employees feel heard and empowered to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback. Regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and collaborative brainstorming sessions not only facilitate the exchange of information but also foster a sense of transparency and trust within the organisation. When employees feel that their voices are valued and their contributions are recognised, they are more likely to feel invested in the company’s success. Recognising And Rewarding Excellence Everyone appreciates feeling appreciated for their hard work and dedication. By implementing a robust system of recognition and rewards, businesses can cultivate a culture of positivity and motivation, fuelling a cycle of excellence that benefits both employees and the organisation as a whole. Whether it’s through formal recognition programs, performance-based incentives, or simple gestures of appreciation, acknowledging the efforts and achievements of your team members can go a long way in boosting morale, fostering a sense of pride, and inspiring others to strive for greatness. Professional Development Opportunities Investing in the professional growth of your employees is not only a powerful motivator but also a strategic investment in the long-term success of your business. By providing access to training programs, workshops, and educational resources, you demonstrate a commitment to their personal and professional development, fostering a sense of value and loyalty within your workforce. Encouraging cross-training and job rotation can broaden the skill sets of your employees, promoting a deeper understanding of the organisation’s operations and facilitating collaboration across different departments or teams. Away Days And Field Trips While work is undoubtedly the primary focus, taking time to step away from the daily grind can rejuvenate your team and foster a stronger sense of camaraderie. Away days and field trips provide an opportunity for employees to bond, engage in team-building activities, and explore new environments together. Whether it’s an outdoor adventure, a cultural excursion, or a visit to an industry-related facility, these shared experiences can break down barriers, encourage creative thinking, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the diverse talents and perspectives within your organisation. It may be worth investing in a minibus if you are making away days and field trips part of your regular schedule. If you’re looking for a minibus for sale, talk to the team at The Minibus Centre. They have a range of options, including a 9-seater minibus, for sale and lease. Fostering A Collaborative Environment Collaboration is key to success. By creating an environment that encourages teamwork and cross-functional cooperation, you can tap into the collective expertise and creativity of your workforce, solving complex problems and seizing new opportunities with greater efficiency and innovation. Implementing collaborative tools and platforms, such as project management software, video conferencing solutions, and shared workspaces, can facilitate seamless communication and coordination among team members, regardless of their physical location or department. Embracing Diversity And Inclusion A diverse and inclusive workforce is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. By embracing individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, you tap into a rich tapestry of experiences, ideas, and problem-solving approaches that can drive innovation and enhance your company’s competitive edge. Cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute can foster a sense of belonging and commitment among your employees, ultimately translating into increased productivity, creativity, and overall organisational success. Leading By Example As a leader, your actions and behaviour set the tone for the entire organisation. By consistently embodying the values and principles you wish to instil in your team, you establish a powerful example that inspires others to follow suit. Whether it’s demonstrating a commitment to work-life balance, exhibiting empathy and emotional intelligence, or celebrating the successes of your team members, your actions carry weight and can shape the culture of your organisation in profound ways. Encouraging Social Connections While the workplace is primarily focused on professional endeavours, fostering social connections among your employees can have a profound impact on morale and teamwork. By creating opportunities for informal interactions and casual socialising, you allow individuals to form genuine bonds and develop a sense of community within your organisation. This could take the form of team-building activities, shared meals or coffee breaks, or even company-sponsored social events. When employees feel connected on a personal level, they are more likely to develop a sense of camaraderie and a deeper commitment to supporting one another in pursuit of shared goals. By implementing these strategies and cultivating a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment, you can unlock the full potential of your workforce and position your business for sustainable success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with EIG, an institutional investor in the global energy sector, for the acquisition of West Burton Energy for an enterprise value of £450 million. West Burton Energy owns and operates the West Burton B gas-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire. West Burton B comprises three combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) with total output of 1.3 GW. Commissioned in 2013, it is one of the UK’s most advanced power plants and supplies some 1.8 million homes. A 49 MW battery storage system was added in 2018. Stéphane Michel, President, Gas, Renewables and Power at TotalEnergies, said: “I am delighted to welcome the West Burton B team to TotalEnergies. This acquisition contributes to our integrated strategy in the UK, which combines renewable and flexible generation capacity. “It complements our 1.1 GW Seagreen offshore wind farm and allows us to accelerate development of our Integrated Power activities in power generation, trading and marketing in this market. “The deal also contributes directly to our 2028 ROACE target of around 12% in this business sector.”

Over 18 million people in the UK have now used Generative AI (GenAI), according to new findings from Deloitte’s 2024 Digital Consumer Trends research, based on a survey of 4,150 UK adults aged 16-75. In the UK, three in five (60%) people are now aware of GenAI and over a third (36%) have used a GenAI tool, an increase of 26% (13 million people) from May 2023. However, notable gender and age gaps were apparent in the findings with 43% of men having used GenAI, compared to just 28% of women. The technology is also primarily used by younger groups, with 62% of people aged 16-34 having actively used it, compared to only 14% of 55-75 year olds. GenAI in the workplace One in seven people (14%) have used GenAI for work, equating to around seven million people, increasing from four million a year ago. Of those using GenAI for work, three in four (74%) claim a productivity boost of either ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a great deal’. However, just 27% of those in work claim that their employer encourages the use of GenAI, suggesting that the majority may be doing so without their employer’s official endorsement. Among those who have used GenAI for work, the most popular reasons are generating ideas (44%) and looking up information (41%), followed by creating written content (39%), writing/editing emails (38%), and summarising text (37%). Paul Lee, partner and head of technology, media and telecommunications research at Deloitte, said: “Employees are moving faster than their employers when it comes to adopting GenAI to transform how they work. While workers are signalling that GenAI can boost their output and save them time, many employees may not be supported, encouraged, or explicitly endorsed to use the technology by their organisation. “While the most popular uses tend to be generating ideas and looking up information, these may not be optimal applications of GenAI, given known issues such as hallucination. Employers need to step up and invest in tools and governance to better support their staff in using this technology. Additionally, usage has to thrive among all types of employees, not just certain demographics, if the tools are to be most effective.” Improving AI fluency is vital for businesses The survey also demonstrates that the frequency of use of GenAI is variable. Amongst those using the technology, one in three (36%) do so either daily or weekly, whereas two in five (41%) use it less than monthly. Of these low-frequency users, 23% did not find it helpful, 19% were not satisfied with its answers and 18% claimed they did not know how to use it well. Meanwhile, many of those aware of GenAI are not familiar with its risks, including potential inaccuracies and biases. Among those aware of GenAI, 25% believe it is always factually accurate, and 26% think it is unbiased. Those who have used GenAI are even more likely to be unaware of risks, as 36% of users believe it is always accurate, and 36% think it is unbiased. However, among those aware of GenAI, more than half (59%) would be less inclined to trust an email if they knew it was created with GenAI. Similarly, 56% would be less inclined to use a customer service if they knew they were conversing with a GenAI assistant. Costi Perricos, partner and global Generative AI lead at Deloitte, said: “Whether organisations have supportive or strict policies on the use of Generative AI, it is clear that improving business AI fluency is vital. “GenAI deployment should be accompanied by a thorough learning and development programme, including training on ethics and responsible use, and guidance on how to get the most value from GenAI tools. HR leaders have a key role to play, creating a clear framework in which their workforce can operate.” Lee concluded: “In 2024, companies ought to be asking what they should do with GenAI, rather than focusing purely on everything it could do. The C-suite is increasingly looking for proof of return on investment in technologies before funding large scale deployment across their workforce. However, there are barriers to this, as quantifying employee productivity can be difficult, particularly in knowledge-based roles. “Businesses are also exploring customer facing GenAI tools but should be aware that they may face some initial hesitance as fluency improves. Customers may be more welcoming of GenAI if they can be convinced that it enables a better, faster experience, with higher quality answers. Business leaders must fund and drive this education.”

Scunthorpe United has announced a split of ownership between four of the club’s Directors. Chairperson Michelle Harness has allocated shares to Roj Rahman, George Aitkenhead and Ian Sharp, with the quartet now assuming equal joint ownership of Scunthorpe United Football Club with immediate effect. Speaking about the decision to divide the club, Michelle said: “Nine months ago, I took 92% of the shares of the football club from the previous owner and had Roj, George and Ian at my side from day one. “Since September, we have all worked extremely hard to battle the debt we inherited and work towards a more sustainable model. We’re not there yet, but we have made significant strides, and are on course to achieve this in the coming months. “While we are at the stage where we can run from day-to-day on this sustainable model, I simply cannot grow the football club on my own, and I must also look to safeguard the business should anything happen to me, and should the football club need some additional support. “Roj, George and Ian have shown a massive amount of commitment to this football club, and have made a big impact in helping us get to where we are today. Having them in joint ownership with myself will only help us progress further as we look to grow our reputation back to the well-run business that we can remember from years gone by. “I’d also like to thank all the staff at the football club for their tremendous work ethic, determination and drive to bring us through the last nine months, and to the other members of my Board of Directors, who have all done some incredible work in assisting us to get to this stage. “I have no doubt you will show your unwavering support to Roj, George and Ian, like you have shown to me so far.” Vice Chairman Roj Rahman added: “What Michelle has achieved in the last nine months is nothing short of sensational. She will always be our Iron Lady, and everyone associated with Scunthorpe United will forever have the upmost admiration for what she has done to ensure there is, and will always be, a football club within our community. “We’re all just custodians of this football club at the end of the day, and nothing will change as a result of this joint ownership. Scunthorpe United is a club that will always be for the supporters, for the community, and that will not change, regardless of who has the majority of the shares. “Having had to go through an awful lot in nine months, Michelle wished to further safeguard the future of Scunthorpe United by welcoming George, Ian and I as joint owners. It’s something we’re all delighted to accepted. The hard work doesn’t stop, it only continues to grow, as we work to provide a football club for us all to be proud of.” Following the splitting of the club’s ownership, Michelle Harness will continue as the club’s Chairperson, while Roj Rahman will continue as Vice Chair.

Viridis Building Services Ltd has returned to sponsor the Sustainable Development of the Year category for a further year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024. Growing your business by building greener, Viridis are experts in providing sustainable passive environmental building services solutions incorporating renewable, low carbon, low energy, H.V.A.C, M.E.P, systems for the built environment whilst meeting client’s aspirations, helping you create sustainable, appealing and cost-effective buildings on the journey to Net Zero. Speaking with Business Link, a spokesperson for Viridis Building Services Ltd said: “Viridis are proud to sponsor the Sustainable Development of the Year award for another year. We have promoted this award for the past few years due to our own values as a team and how these fits in with those. “It allows us the opportunity to review innovative ideas, solutions, and developments in and around the East Midlands. We are passionate about sustainability and are proud to see that others have the same ethos as ourselves with their entries. “We believe being involved in this award allows us to further promote these pragmatic design solutions to create new relationships to present to others what can be done – to hopefully create an even more innovative sustainable future through places and spaces. “We are excited to see this year’s entries, as we are every year, and look forward to presenting the winner of this award. We feel that the Bricks is an opportunity to bring everyone in the area together to celebrate our achievements and promote our works to create a bigger and better East Midlands.” The East Midlands Bricks Awards, which will take place on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, recognise development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes, schools and public spaces. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. Winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly. To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page. A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with property and construction leaders from across the region. Tickets can be booked for the 2024 awards event here. Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. Thanks to our sponsors:      

             

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