< PreviousThe pandemic has encouraged many of us to go back to basics, reflect and reconnect with; • What/who really matters • What/who brings us joy • What/who inspires us Ask yourself: “What inspires, energises and excites me?” Then do more of those things. It really is as simple as that. For example, this past year has seen me get back into my reading - actual books. In recent years I just haven’t had the head space to read. I found myself reading the same page over and over again with the words just not sinking in and so I stopped, knowing I’d one day come back to it when my mind was in the right place for it again. Lockdown gave me back that head space to reconnect with reading and I can safely say I have never felt more creative and inspired to develop my learning and to share that knowledge with others through my training programs since. Gratitude practice is another worthwhile element to integrate into your life and routine, though to some may seem like a waste of time, fluffy, or ‘not your thing’ and that is fine. It is not for everyone, but what I would say is, find what works for you and make it your own, perhaps through journaling, reading positive affirmations, or simply taking some time each day for you and your By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency 20 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk NETWORKING …in that order To explore more on mastering your mindset contact me to arrange a free discovery call: fiona@rsvipnetwork.co.uk www.fionaduncansteer.com www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk words of appreciation, whether in your head or out loud. I am actually not a fan of the phrase ‘gratitude practice’, the word ‘practice’ suggests that it is something you need to work on or that perhaps you are lacking. I prefer to refer to it as ‘gratitude acknowledgment’ or ‘gratitude awareness’ as we are all grateful for some or a lot of things in our lives when we really think about it, it’s just that sometimes we forget to communicate those things to ourselves or to others and may need a little nudge or reminder to bring them to the surface again - especially when times are tough and we experience external distractions, which is most of the time! As I always say, it starts with awareness. Being aware of what you are grateful for on a regular basis (ideally daily), will fuel your motivation for success and happiness and you will find that your targets will be met with more ease and flow. Furthermore, reconnecting with what inspires us in life will motivate positive change and growth. Mastering your mindset takes time and being self- aware and kind to yourself is where it all starts. Communicating those feelings to yourself and others is the next step and well…the creativity will take care of itself and who knows where that will take you. As Henri Matisse said: “Creativity takes courage” What are you grateful for? Inspiration, gratitude, creativity 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:53 Page 120-21.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:53 Page 222 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS In light of the pandemic, how offices are designed, and the resources provided moving forwards are shifting. More firms are set to adjust their spaces to accommodate flexible working, uncertainty, and the upsizing and downsizing of staff, but also to attract talent and bring employees back to the office. With talk of hybrid working being the future, as well as present, and a more efficient way of working that promotes better work-life balance, employers are considering how their floorspace can be utilised to facilitate and encourage different ways of working. With many colleagues choosing to work from home for part of the week, less space is likely to be required for standard desks. This provides the opportunity for an office designed with open plan, agile areas, bookable working spots, specialised zones, informal spaces, and innovative, modular furniture that Flexibility is the future With hybrid working becoming a permanent offering for many businesses, offices are being re-designed with flexibility in mind. © Shutterstock /PhotoMavenStock 24 Á 22-26.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:55 Page 1www.hopkins-solicitors.co.uk 01623 468 468 hrsupport@hopkins-solicitors.co.uk Helping You Stop The Domino Effect. Problems with your employees can be time consuming and stressful, and if they aren’t addressed swiftly, they can quickly accelerate and spread into a very expensive problem. HopkinsHR is an employment support package designed to give you certainty and peace of mind that your legal costs will never exceed an agreed annual fee. This will help you plan your HR budget accurately and significantly reduce your risk of unexpected expensive legal costs. > Consultancy Services > Disciplinary and Grievance > Discrimination and Harassment > Dismissals > Employee Handbooks > Employment Contracts > Employment Insurance > Employment Tribunals > Enforcing Restrictive Covenants > GDPR data protection > Performance Management > Redundancy and Re-organisations > Seminars > Settlement Agreements > Sickness and Holidays > Training > TUPE > Whistleblowing WE AREN’T A CALL CENTRE. YOU WON’T BE JUST A FILE NUMBER. WE ARE A LOCAL LAW FIRM AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP. 22-26.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:55 Page 224 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS BLUEPRINT INTERIORS DOWNLOAD OUR BACK TO WORK GUIDE | WWW.BLUEPRINTINTERIORS.COM can be reconfigured easily as desired. Offering a plethora of locations to work in is key, to anticipate and adapt to changing needs, and gives a workforce the chance to better control their workday, enhancing productivity, satisfaction, and engagement. Instead of having specific spaces for every employee, we are now turning to an open environment that presents the different flexible workspaces that could be needed, and with days in the office reducing, and the workplace becoming an important hub for connection, there is particular focus on ensuring a variety of collaborative and break out areas are available as offices become a vital location for reigniting company culture. Dynamic spaces that can be adjusted with movable boundaries for meetings and socialising are worth integrating, though this must be balanced with smaller spots like pods, booths, and quiet rooms for independent work - tasks requiring intense focus - which also offer an area of calm. Furthermore, with more meetings taking place online, partitions for audio and visual privacy should be positioned in open spaces, and easy to access tech provided, while making 22-26.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:55 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 25 OFFICE SOLUTIONS PEOPLE NEED COMPELLING REASONS TO RETURN TO SAFE WORKSPACES. ARE YOU READY TO WELCOME YOUR PEOPLE BACK TO A BETTER EXPERIENCE? certain colleagues can plug and play in all office areas and connect and charge tech. Acoustics must additionally be investigated, especially if an office space is to be heavily centred on promoting collaboration. Installing acoustic baffles, wall panels, and carpets can all improve the acoustics of a workplace. When establishing a hybrid office, it will also be essential to assure remote and on-site workers can be brought together effectively to allow collaboration and full participation for remote staff. Firms will therefore need to consider integrating further technology, software, more stable Wi-Fi connections, and tools like Slack and Teams to facilitate this, and at the same time make sure to budget for any necessary extra security and privacy infrastructure. This may involve supplying conferencing technology for actions including easy screen sharing, and more screens in meeting rooms, to potentially give remote participants each their own, and ensuring these are movable for for example breakout sessions and side talks. As a result of COVID-19 there is heightened focus on designing offices for staff wellbeing too, showing that a company values its employees and their health - both physical and mental. The past year has of course seen COVID- secure measures installed, from altered floorplans to allow social distancing to hand sanitiser stations and touchless doors, to address the spread of the virus and mitigate any concerns of workers. On top of this, though, as employers truly commit to delivering workspaces that contribute positively to health and wellbeing, other trends are being adopted with vigour. Introduction of Seeking the right advice on how offices should be re-designed The demand for advice on how offices should be re- designed is at an all-time high. Commenting, Chloe Sproston, Creative and Commercial Director from workplace consultants and interior fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors, said: “Offices are one of the largest overheads and so management teams are trying to determine how much office space they need, whether to downsize to cater for more hybrid work styles, or, if they already have agile work spaces, whether these are still fit for purpose. “Before making these decisions we are advising clients to ask employees what they need and to consider using space for alternative uses that encourage collaboration and innovation. Safety is also a key concern and achieving the WELL health and safety rating can also help as it is a recognised seal that demonstrates to anyone entering a building that the space they’re entering is putting health first.” To find out more, visit www.blueprintinteriors.com. Chloe Sproston © Shutterstock /luchunyu 26 Á 22-26.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:55 Page 4Treat different (even controversial) beliefs with respect or face the consequences! Every day on social media, people broadcast their opinions on matters of society, politics and culture. Unsurprisingly, we have seen that employers increasingly feel duty bound to discipline employees whose controversial opinions do not conform with company values. However, what employers may fail to appreciate is that employees who voice controversial opinions could have protection under the Equality Act 2010. Under the Act, it is unlawful to treat an employee less favourably because of a philosophical belief - but what is a philosophical belief? A philosophical belief has to be worthy of respect in a democratic society, not incompatible with human dignity and not in conflict with the fundamental rights of others. In Forstater v CGD Europe, the Employment Appeal Tribunal held that a belief that sex is biologically immutable – i.e., that a trans-woman is not in reality a woman or a trans-man is not in reality a man – was a philosophical belief protected under The Equality Act 2010. The judgment clarified that everyone is entitled to believe whatever they wish and that the only beliefs not worthy of respect in a democratic society are those which involve grave violation of the rights of others, tantamount to the destruction of those rights. The Forstater judgment does not mean that an employee who holds a gender-critical belief can mis-gender trans- colleagues with impunity. However, it does mean that employers should exercise caution before contemplating taking any action against an employee who expresses views which cause offence and are in conflict with their culture. Employers Beware! The boundary of what constitutes a philosophical belief appears to have been extended... To find out more, visit www.sillslegal.co.uk, email info@sillslegal.co.uk, call 01159 411 469, or visit 4 George St, Hockley, Nottingham, NG1 3BE. Stephen Britton, Head of Employment Law, Sills & Betteridge LLP 26 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS cleaner air ventilation, promotion of natural light or use of circadian lighting where this is lacking, more comfortable and ergonomic furniture, incorporating artwork, choosing colours based on their psychological connection, and biophilic design are frontrunners here. The last of these, proven to reduce stress and improve productivity, is particularly popular, seeing nature brought indoors in the name of wellness, through plants - which boost oxygen levels and consequently concentration - living walls, wood and stone elements, and views of the outside world. Meanwhile, to encourage physical activity, furniture solutions such as stand-up desks to prevent extensive sitting are being employed, and bike storage and shower facilities provided. Wellness support should go beyond the physical however, with policies, procedures, and resources put in place, and managers trained to establish positive working environments. With the future of the office people-centric, one should engage with employees during the space planning process. They will be the one using the office after all. Surveys, interviews, focus groups et al. are all good options to get colleagues involved, and will in turn help them adapt to any change. To then gain an understanding of how space is actually being used, AI is being wielded. The technology can point out where individual working happens, where teams congregate for one on one or group conversations; useful information which can be utilised to modify and optimise these spaces as the office evolves. © Shutterstock /= Flamingo Images 22-26.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:55 Page 5www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 27 FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT There’s no two ways about it – the food industry is rapidly evolving. Driven by major changes in consumer shopping habits, environmental pressures and, of course, COVID-19, food and drink factories are almost unrecognisable from those around the turn of the millennium. The environmental crisis is no closely guarded secret. We’ve known for decades the extent at which human activity has impacted and contributed towards global warming. The same can’t be said of COVID-19. Although governments had been warned to prepare for a global pandemic situation, it was hardly on the thoughts of most food producers. However, manufacturers within this major industry have been forced not only to contend with the pandemic, but to evolve. Earlier this summer, Environment Secretary George Eustice, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid outlined plans for daily contact testing for the food and drink industries. New targeted testing for certain workplaces is being rolled out – with the food industry prioritised, as part of the government’s engagement with the sector. At a roundtable with supermarket leaders, the government committed to putting in place actions to support the resilience of the food supply chain. Following clinical trial results, daily contact testing will be rolled out to food The future of 28 Á © Shutterstock /SeventyFour 27-29.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:57 Page 128 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT critical workplaces in the food supply chain so that contacts who would otherwise be self-isolating can instead take daily tests. Priority testing sites have already been identified with industry for urgent implementation, including the largest supermarket distribution centres, with rollout to hundreds of sites planned to start this week, with up to 500 sites in scope. The move will allow daily testing for staff to take place so they can continue their work to supplying food for the nation. It will mean workers who have received NHS COVID-19 app alert to isolate or have been called by Test and Trace will be able to continue working if they test negative. “Food businesses across the country have been the hidden heroes of the pandemic. We are working closely with industry to allow staff to go about their essential work safely with daily testing,” said Environment Secretary, George Eustice. “The last eighteen months have demonstrated that we have a highly resilient food supply chain. There are sufficient food supplies in the system and people can and should shop as normal.” In addition, the critical worker scheme applies to critical roles in the food supply chain. Employers are already in contact with Defra and approvals will follow shortly for named critical workers to attend their workplaces when they are fully vaccinated and the contact of a positive case. A major concern post-Brexit, and heightened during the pandemic, is issues of food storage – specifically there not being enough. Given our region contains the lion’s share of food storage, distribution and logistics, it’s no surprise to see that companies are stepping up and meeting the challenge head on. SmartParc’s plans for a high-tech food manufacturing campus on the former Celanese site near Spondon have been given the green light by Derby City Council. Designed to address the challenges facing the food industry, the planned 1.8 million square foot collaborative hub, will provide state-of- the-art manufacturing facilities, start-up incubation units and a potential location for a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence. Combining new purpose-built food 27-29.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:57 Page 2www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 29 FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT production units with a central distribution facility, a technology centre and dedicated energy centres through the parc, the company’s approach will bring food producers together to cluster knowledge and investment. It will also create up to 5,000 direct jobs. The flagship Spondon site, located in Derby, is part of SmartParc’s ambition to provide a new sustainable blueprint for the industry. This will harness the latest developments such as vertical farming and smart technology to improve production and energy efficiency, reducing costs and increasing competitive advantage for parc tenants. Reduction strategies for food waste, food miles and carbon output will also be implemented increasing UK food security and UK PLC competitiveness on the global stage. One of the most promising developments completed in April with the bespoke agri-food research and development facility in Lincolnshire. With construction now complete, the University of Lincoln’s Centre of Excellence in Agri-food Technologies is the first building on site at the new South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach, and the latest development in an ambitious vision to put Lincolnshire on the map as a global leader in the agri- tech sector. Building on the success of the University’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), it will act as an innovation hub – primarily promoting the rapid uptake of advanced technologies such as robotics and automation across the food supply chain. Expert staff will be based at the Centre, including industry scientists and their support teams, uniquely focused on delivering innovation support services, pioneering research, skills provision and knowledge exchange for agri-food businesses across Lincolnshire and beyond, strengthening the county’s position as a key player in the agri-tech sector. Our region’s food and drink sector remains as innovative and adaptable as ever. Responding to changing tastes and environmental pressures as surely as challenges posed by Brexit, the East Midlands will continue to meet national and global needs for years to come. © Shutterstock /Alexander Raths © Shutterstock /Nataliya Arzamasova 27-29.qxp_Layout 1 02/09/2021 15:57 Page 3Next >