It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Lee Marshall, Managing Director at Viridis Building Services.
2021 has been another year dominated by Covid-19. We began the year optimistic of its end but as the year has gone on, we have continued to adapt to this new way of life. For businesses, there has undoubtedly been a strain financially, but the pandemic has also brought with it an opportunity to promote the importance of health and wellbeing at work and at home.
At work, a new ‘blended’ approach has taken centre stage, with employers understanding that staff need a good work-life balance by working both at home and in the office. The office has also seen a change with many downsizing their space to a better suited environment.
Many have also moved house or made changes to their home to meet their new needs, as well as deciding it is time for a career change – even to jobs that they may not necessarily have considered pre-pandemic.
I predict that these trends will continue to grow into 2022 as Covid will remain a key feature in our lives and pave the new way of working and living.
I also think that sustainability, which has been a big talking point this year, will continue to be high on the agenda for 2022. With agreements from COP26 beginning to impact legislation and the next COP being held an unprecedented one year after Glasgow, we will certainly see environmental solutions become engrained in all policies and procedures over the next five years as we to try to combat change.
