< Previous30 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FAMILY BUSINESS tapestry of such businesses. Recently, the region’s commitment to celebrating these enterprises was exemplified by the 2023 Midlands Family Business Awards, a charitable initiative organised by the Nottinghamshire-based Wilson Organisation. Amongst the celebrated, Nottinghamshire-based MHR, a specialist in HR, payroll, and finance, emerged as the Family Business of the Year. Founded in 1984 by John Mills, the company remains under family ownership, with his daughter, Jessica Mills, now serving as chair. Their victory, determined by a panel of independent judges through a rigorous process of written submissions and in-person interviews, underscores the high standards and dedication that define successful family businesses. For example, the judges likely considered MHR’s commitment to employee development, their long-term investment in technology, and their clear succession planning, all hallmarks of a well-run family business. MHR’s recognition is a testament to the dedication of its employees, and their commitment to customer support, a value that is often interwoven into the fabric of family run businesses. Furthermore, family businesses often operate with a deep-seated ethical compass. Take, for instance, Birds Bakery. They prioritise sourcing ingredients from local farms, ensuring fair prices for producers and minimising their environmental impact. Their reputation is intrinsically linked to their family name, making integrity paramount. They feel accountable not just to shareholders, but to their community and employees, fostering a genuine sense of responsibility. This commitment to ethical practices translates into fair treatment of employees, responsible sourcing of materials, and a genuine concern for the well-being of their local environment. The impact of this ethical foundation is profound. Customers trust family businesses because they perceive them as being more honest and reliable. They are less likely to engage in exploitative practices or cut corners at the expense of quality. This trust extends beyond the product or service itself, encompassing a sense of shared values and a belief in the integrity of the business owners. Moreover, family businesses contribute significantly to the local economy. Batemans Brewery, a small, independent brewery in Lincolnshire, employs local residents, supports local hop growers, and attracts tourists to the area. They reinvest their profits back into the community, contributing to its vitality and resilience. In a world increasingly dominated by globalised chains, they offer a vital counterbalance, preserving the unique character and identity of their local area. In the digital age, where online marketplaces and faceless algorithms dominate, the human touch of a family business is more valuable than ever. They offer a tangible connection to the past, a sense of continuity in a rapidly changing world. They are the keepers of stories, the custodians of tradition, and the embodiment of genuine craftsmanship.www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 31 OFFICE SOLUTIONS Want to get the most out of your office spaces when it comes to keeping employees motivated and productive? Here are some tips successful companies are using today. Green Spaces Nature promotes peace and tranquillity, which may seem like a bad recipe for business productivity but the science suggests otherwise. First of all, green spaces need not necessarily be right where someone works. They can be in hallways, waiting areas, and employee break zones. Improving relaxation in these areas directly correlates to more focus when someone is back at their desk. Beyond that, natural spaces allow for people to reduce stress – a killer of work productivity. Going outside would be even better but not every workplace can afford an outside area, let alone the distractions of the outside world. Green spaces in an office work as a good substitute. What’s more, they also look good to visitors and have been shown to increase the value of rented office space! Making the most of an office 32 Á32 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS Ergonomic Design Most people are aware of ergonomics in the sense of making furniture and objects more comfortable to use, but what many forget is that comfort isn’t the main focus of ergonomics. It’s efficiency. A chair designed to support a person’s body and spine not only helps prevent problems later in their life but keeps them from slouching at work. Our posture can relate directly to our focus and our ability to stay awake and alert. Similarly, keyboards can do damage to wrists and cause cramping of fingers which, even if it doesn’t injure someone, will lead to spelling mistakes and frequent breaks as someone stretches their hand and fingers. The fatigue can build up over a day leaving the last hour of a workday as the least productive. Extreme examples of ergonomics can get very expensive, such as a Herman Miller chair which sells for up to and over £1,500 each, but there are also many more affordable options available for chairs, desks, keyboards, workstations and more. Quiet Areas Quiet areas sound a little dystopian when one looks at Amazon’s famous “Contemplation Zones” which are essentially a locked cubicle the size of a portable toilet workers are expected to hide within. They don’t have to be implemented with all the zeal of a union- busting monolith, however. A certain degree of peace and quiet is obviously www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 33 OFFICE SOLUTIONS very good for productivity as it means no one is talking, but workers can be put off if this is a hard rule forced on them like the office is a library. Social elements are important for health and teamwork. Designating specific zones as being for private work has borne fruit for some companies, however. This means employees can take their laptop to an area where there is to be no noise and distractions, which is perfect for when some people want to knuckle down and get to work but others are being chatty. It’s also great in noisy workspaces like sales offices, where most employees are expected to be loud when working. Flexible Workspaces Not to be mistaken with working from home, this refers to workplaces with a more “open plan” design. One where employees aren’t chained to a single desk but are encouraged to wander and work where they feel most effective. If their work neighbours are loud on a given day, moving to another desk can help them focus, or if a team is flagging, having a room they can retreat to in order to have a team meeting and plan their day out can help boost morale. The point of a flexible workspace is to provide as many options as possible. It’s a combination of all other factors, and perfect for boosting employee satisfaction as well as productivity. It’s also great for retaining key talent, as nothing drains someone’s will to continue working at a company than being stuck at one desk for ten years. 34 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS I n March 2020, most of us were wondering how long the lockdown would last, whether we should bulk- buy pasta, and if ‘pivot’ was just a yoga thing. Or THAT scene from ‘Friends’—you know the one. Anyway, fast forward five years, and it turns out the world didn’t end—but business, as we knew it, definitely did. Now, half a decade later, it’s worth asking: what stuck? What changed forever? And what did the pandemic really teach us about business, brand, and bouncing back? 1. People buy people. Still. More than ever. When everything hit the fan, it wasn’t the glossy marketing campaigns that cut through—it was the real, human voices behind the businesses. The café owner posting daily updates and heartfelt videos. The local manufacturer showing how they kept businesses are built on tight-knit teams, that internal loyalty and clarity made all the difference. Pro tip: good internal comms is PR. It just happens behind the scenes. 3. Online reputation became real reputation. When the shutters came down, the screens lit up. Suddenly, your Google reviews, your website, your social presence—that was your business. The digital shopfront became the only shopfront. Some local businesses nailed this. They upped their content, showed behind-the-scenes stories, and created communities. Others… quietly disappeared. Even now, your online presence is working for or against you, 24/7. No pressure. Five years on: What the pandemic taught us about business, brand, and bouncing back Greg Simpson, founder of Press For Attention PR, reflects, five years later, on public relations lessons learned from the pandemic. staff safe while still delivering. The straight-talking CEO who didn’t pretend everything was fine but promised to do their best. Authenticity became the most valuable currency in comms. The businesses that showed up as humans first built loyalty that’s still paying off today (and no, we haven’t forgotten who sent ‘unprecedented times’ emails at 4am—you know who you are). 2. Your staff are your first audience. If your internal comms strategy in 2020 was ‘hope no one panics’, you probably had a rough time. The best businesses—the ones still thriving now—communicated clearly, calmly, and often. They treated their teams like grown-ups, told the truth (even when it wasn’t easy), and listened just as much as they talked. And here in the East Midlands, where so many www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 35 PUBLIC RELATIONS 4. Crisis comms isn’t just for crises. Let’s be honest: very few people had ‘global pandemic’ on their PR risk register (if you did, we should probably talk). But what 2020 taught us was this—your ability to communicate in a crisis defines how people remember you long after it’s over. Now, smart businesses have comms plans not just for floods and fires, but for social media misfires, AI glitches, or even a rogue employee on a group email. The East Midlands has always been good at resilience—now we just need to talk about it better when it matters. 5. Community trumps competition During lockdown, we saw collaboration overtake competition. Businesses supported each other. They gave value, advice, even loo rolls (true story). They built goodwill instead of chasing quick wins. And do you know what? That approach stuck. PR isn’t just about press releases and big announcements. Sometimes, it’s about being a decent human being when no one’s watching—and earning trust the old- fashioned way. Final thoughts: Five years on, the fancy jargon may have faded (‘new normal’, anyone?) but the lessons are still here. Your business is your reputation. Your brand is your voice. And your comms—internal, external, online, offline—are what hold it all together. So, whether you’re running a logistics firm in Leicester, a bakery in Beeston, or a consultancy in Chesterfield, the question is: What did you learn—and are you still applying it? Because the next big moment might not give you time to catch up. A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press For Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective. 36 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk HEALTHCARE UK businesses are moving beyond reliance on the NHS, embracing private healthcare to safeguard employees and secure operational stability amid growing public service strain. B ritain’s National Health Service (NHS), grappling with underfunding and protracted waiting times, faces unprecedented strain. This has created an opening for private healthcare providers, who are rapidly expanding their presence. Lengthy waiting lists, appointment scarcity, and the ever- present threat of prolonged employee absence cast a long shadow over business operations. For enterprises, particularly those reliant on key personnel, the repercussions of these delays extend beyond mere financial losses, threatening their very existence. Consequently, businesses are increasingly contemplating not if to invest in private healthcare, but how to do so effectively. Traditionally, the UK’s robust NHS rendered private healthcare a luxury, primarily accessible to the affluent or those with specialised needs. However, the current landscape has shifted dramatically. The pandemic, followed by a surge in demand and a persistent shortage of medical professionals, has exposed the NHS’s vulnerabilities. This revelation, coupled with the NHS’s increasing backlogs, has prompted a growing number of businesses, especially SMEs, to acknowledge the inherent risks of relying solely on the public system. Healthcare consultants note a Workplace healthcare expands beyond the struggling NHS Workplace healthcare expands beyond the struggling NHS www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 37 HEALTHCARE substantial increase in inquiries. Businesses are expanding their focus beyond executive packages, considering comprehensive coverage for a broader range of employees. They recognise the cascading impact of delayed diagnoses or treatments on productivity and employee morale. The private market for acute healthcare is now a significant £12.4 billion, driven by specialities like ophthalmology and orthopaedics, sectors where NHS waiting times are particularly long. In private hospitals alone, this acute care market has seen a 35% growth between 2019 and 2023, reaching nearly £7 billion. The logic is compelling. Imagine a crucial engineer, vital to a precision engineering firm like Rolls-Royce in Derby, facing a six-month wait for a minor NHS surgery. Through private care, they could potentially return to work within weeks. Similarly, a rapidly expanding digital marketing agency, such as Impression, based in Nottingham, reliant on a small, highly specialised team, risks project derailment and jeopardised futures if a key developer is absent for an extended period. In the East Midlands, these types of cases are becoming increasingly common. For example, a large logistics company with distribution hubs across the region has implemented a new private healthcare plan for all its drivers and warehouse staff, recognizing the physical demands of their roles and the importance of swift medical interventions. Many business leaders emphasise the importance of resilience. They operate in highly competitive markets where delays are untenable. Employees are considered their most valuable asset, necessitating access to prompt medical care. The appeal extends beyond immediate medical needs. Businesses are also acknowledging the preventative benefits of private healthcare. Access to rapid diagnostic tests, physiotherapy, 38 Á38 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk HEALTHCARE and mental health support can aid employees in managing chronic conditions and facilitating quicker returns to work after illness or injury. This proactive approach fosters a culture of well-being, boosting morale and reducing absenteeism. The trend has also boosted the insurance industry, with private health coverage increasing by 7% last year, reaching 6.2 million people, a significant portion of which is employer provided. However, the transition to private healthcare presents challenges. Cost remains a significant obstacle, particularly for smaller businesses with limited budgets. Navigating complex insurance policies, selecting the appropriate provider, and ensuring value for money require meticulous planning. Consultants advise careful comparison of different plans. Businesses must understand their employees’ needs and tailor their coverage accordingly. Some providers offer flexible packages, enabling companies to select specific benefits, such as expedited access to specialists or mental health support. Furthermore, businesses are aware of the ethical implications of a two-tier healthcare system. Many seek to ensure their investment in private healthcare does not exacerbate existing inequalities within the NHS. They explore options such as charitable donations to support public services or partnerships with providers that prioritise ethical practices. The East Midlands, with its diverse industrial base, exemplifies this national trend. From established manufacturing giants like Rolls-Royce, who provide private healthcare options to their employees, to emerging tech start-ups such as Impression, who are actively exploring similar schemes, businesses across the region are confronting the challenges of healthcare provision. The need for a healthy, productive workforce is universal, and the limitations of the NHS are prompting employers to explore alternative solutions. The rise of private healthcare in UK workplaces is not a rejection of the NHS. Rather, it is a pragmatic response to current realities, and the growing market for private healthcare. Businesses are seeking to mitigate risks, safeguard their employees, and ensure long-term www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 39 HEALTHCARE sustainability. The ability to wait, it seems, is no longer a viable option. The future of workplace healthcare in the UK will likely involve a hybrid model, with businesses supplementing the NHS with targeted private provision. This necessitates a collaborative approach, involving employers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, to ensure equitable access to timely, high-quality care. As the NHS navigates its challenges, businesses are stepping in to bridge the gap, recognizing that a healthy workforce is an investment in the future. It is also important to remember that despite this surge of private healthcare, the NHS remains the dominant healthcare provider within the UK.Next >