< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS opening it up to new concepts. In industries grappling with skills shortages, apprenticeships are a proactive solution. By investing in targeted programs that address specific skill gaps, businesses contribute to the overall skill development of the workforce. This approach not only mitigates industry-wide shortages but positions the business as a shaper of the skill landscape going forward, rather than merely reacting to it. Apprenticeships benefit business directly and indirectly by helping you stay ahead of necessary skill adoption, which contributes to the broader industry talent pool in the process. All this, and apprenticeships are cost- effective too. By investing in individuals keen to learn and grow within your company, businesses unlock a sustainable avenue for skill cultivation. This approach not only proves financially prudent in comparison to the often- expensive recruitment cycles, but also builds a loyal and highly skilled workforce. Apprenticeships lay the foundation for a workforce that’s proficient as individuals, and contributes to long-term efficiency and financial resilience through the combined power of unique thoughts and a shared ethos. Our government understands the pivotal role apprenticeships play in strengthening the future workforce, and often extend incentives and support to businesses engaging in such programs. These incentives, ranging from financial assistance to tax breaks and streamlined access to resources, augment the appeal of apprenticeships for businesses. By aligning with government initiatives, businesses actively contribute to the larger socio-economic goal of giving opportunities to skilled and employable youth from all backgrounds. This collaboration will prove testament to your business’s commitment to societal development and responsible corporate citizenship. Never to be confused with conventional training courses, apprenticeships are a pathway for individuals to construct a lasting career within an organisation. This investment in professional growth creates a profound sense of value and support, leading to higher staff retention rates. Apprentices who discover a genuine connection to a business feel not only skilled, but deeply connected to the company’s vision. This connection translates into the heightened satisfaction of staff who are granted a stake in all you accomplish together. The cooperation between seasoned professionals and the fresh contributions of apprentices creates a beneficial environment for all. The influx of unique experience and skill apprentices bring propels the entire organisation towards industry leadership, by ensuring that the workforce is not just proficient but at the forefront of evolving industry standards. But not to sideline existing employees, they’re essential to providing mentorship, showing the company ropes to someone who might otherwise feel overwhelmed and uncertain. They can then digest and develop the viewpoints their mentees share. It becomes a continuous cycle of innovation, positioning the business as a trailblazer in its respective domain. As businesses in the UK navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving marketplace, embracing a variety of training initiatives isn’t just about self- serving strategy; it’s a commitment to enduring success and sustained growth across industry and economy. By encouraging continuous learning for all, intentionally integrating apprenticeships for talent acquisition and knowledge of the latest trends, businesses position themselves as industry leaders and role models for innovation, progress, and security in success. © stock.adobe.com/aerogondowww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link BUSINESS TRAVEL AND LEISURE © stock.adobe.com/LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS In a world where virtual meetings have become the norm; the enduring value of face-to-face interactions remains undeniable. W hilst Zoom is here to stay, companies must stay cognisant of the unique power that in-person meetings wield—after all, sealing a business deal often requires more than just pixels on a screen; it demands the authenticity of a handshake. Thus, corporate travel requires a fine balance between well-managed budgets and creating a positive impression, of the individual and their business. Whether nurturing business relationships, forging partnerships, or showcasing products and services, a person should adapt their mode of travel to suit the event, each coming with their own set of features and challenges. In this increasingly globalised society, companies typically work on a remote basis with their customers and stakeholders, who could be miles, or even countries away. Yet, honing and maintaining meaningful relationships with 32 Á Balancing impression with economy East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk BUSINESS TRAVEL AND LEISURE clients necessitates a strategic blend of remote collaboration and in-person engagement. Recognizing the value of face-to-face interactions, companies should allocate a portion of their travel budget to client-related ventures, be it across town or across continents. Typically, the quest for cost-effective travel solutions takes centre stage here, echoing the conventional modes of ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’. If time is of the essence, planes and cars are undoubtedly the way to go. As a notoriously expensive and unreliable mode of transport (the strikes running at the time of writing come to mind), trains should only be considered for domestic travel where a hire car (or personal vehicle) is simply not an option. When setting up client meetings, the choice of venue is often a crucial factor in shaping the encounter. Opting for a local coffee shop or restaurant over the client’s premises is a thoughtful consideration, and choosing this setting can foster a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for a casual chat. In these scenarios, the simplicity of walking to the meeting venue can make a powerful impression by being so down-to-earth. Whilst the allure of a grand entrance from a luxurious car may be tempting, it risks projecting an air of vanity and unapproachability. The act of strolling to the meeting point not only showcases a grounded demeanour but also underscores your eagerness to connect, especially when time and physical effort is willingly invested in making the trip. In a world increasingly attuned to minimizing excesses, subtle gestures often speak louder than ostentatious displays, making the understated approach a compelling strategy for leaving a lasting and positive impression. Although stakeholder impressions are an important consideration, there are a multitude of factors to consider when creating a company-wide travel policy. The key areas of note should be cost, distance, sustainability, accessibility, and the number of travellers. Depending on how much weight your company gives to each factor (for example, number of travellers may not be so important for small businesses), the following options are also worthy of consideration. The age-old solution of providing company cars for employees navigating local or national areas has been a fixture. These wheels may don the company logo, serving both as a functional means of transport and an advertising canvas. While it offers the advantage of fewer vehicles and additional brand exposure, it may not be the most practical solution when multiple staff members are forced to vie for the same car on a given day. Alternatively, the option of granting personal company cars as employee perks presents its own set of challenges, particularly when tax complexities can leave employees significantly worse off. Balancing maintenance costs and depreciation, however, reveals that the allure of company cars is waning. A growing trend sees more companies steering away from this traditional approach. Enter public transport—an eco-friendly alternative that not only aligns with sustainability goals but also proves more cost-effective than maintaining a fleet of company-owned vehicles. Despite its virtues, public transport seldom assumes the mantle of a favoured choice, with the stress-inducing challenges of timetables, rush-hour commuters, limited routes, and occasional unreliability. Taxis are convenient and allow employees to use the downtime to prep for upcoming meetings. However, they are expensive, and so this perk may not be worth the cost. For businesses which only make occasional trips, however, the reduced cost of public transport likely still holds the allure. If so, mobility apps may be the key to © stock.adobe.com/Monkey Businesswww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link BUSINESS TRAVEL AND LEISURE a seamless and sustainable journey. Mobility apps like FREENOW (a European multi-mobility service provider) seamlessly integrate public transport, taxis, private hire vehicles, and even include innovative options like eMopeds and eScooters. The allure lies in the app’s convenience of consolidating diverse transport choices in one place, empowering employees to easily determine the optimal route from point A to B, thereby saving valuable time and effort. Beyond the practicality, these apps audit all business travel activities and swiftly compare prices between vendors, ensuring optimal budget utilization. Mobility apps are the easiest way of identifying available electric and zero-emission transport, becoming champions for sustainability targets. These apps not only streamline the travel experience, saving both time and money, but also offer real-time visibility into business travel and simplify the often-cumbersome process of managing travel expenses. Step into the future of corporate mobility, where efficiency, sustainability, and ease converge in a single application. © stock.adobe.com/Jacob Lund East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk TAX Have we become too obsessed about the use of technology in our businesses? James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, reflects on the “frenzy of activity” in businesses adopting new tech. T he last 12 months seem to have been unprecedented in terms of the use and introduction of technology and digital innovation. Who would have thought that OpenAI and ChatGPT only really came to market and wider use in November 2022? With the launch of Google’s AI and other platforms there does seem to be a frenzy of activity as organisations seek to understand what artificial intelligence can do for them or how it might impact their businesses. This follows several years, which included the pandemic and lockdowns, when we looked at the use of technology and digitisation to manage our organisations. Following Brexit increased focus was also placed on the use of technology to address issues around supply chain management and labour shortages. On a personal basis, all of us no doubt are having to master and get to grips with a growing number of software programmes and platforms aimed at making our lives, or at least the day job, easier. How often though do we find things take longer, don’t work as promised and in fact are more of a hinderance than a benefit? perhaps to being taken in by the latest ‘exciting’ innovation or trend or the salesperson’s pitch! A starting point could be considering what problems we look to solve in terms of the use of technology. These include: * Increasing productivity * Improving working practices for employees * Increasing operational capacity * Reducing costs * Improving profitability * Addressing labour and skills shortages * Improving and enhancing customer experience * Offering customers something new * Gaining a competitive advantage * Improving internal reporting and management We also need to consider the wider implications around the introduction of new technology in terms of implications for users, the need for training, ongoing support, security and increasingly good governance. If any of this article resonates with you then perhaps it is time to revisit your approach and even attitude to the use and adoption of technology in your organisation. From a consumer perspective, it seems we are increasingly required to use automated communications, customer portals and management systems, apps, digital receptionists and chat functions. How often though do these leave us with a sense of frustration, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction? Perhaps the ultimate is when the technology does not work and whilst the problem could be a ‘picnic’ (problem in chair not in computer) there does seem to be an increasing level of system failures. The cost of which can be significant in more ways than just financially, with demoralised workers, dissatisfied customers, and even corporate reputational damage. Has the time then come for business leaders and organisations to take a fresh look at their strategy and approach to the role and use of technology? At the same time there is a need to consider the balance and our focus around being driven or controlled by technology versus the needs of our customers and work colleagues. For some there is probably a need to realign our thinking in terms of being focused on the problems technology can solve or the benefits it brings as opposed East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk With how challenging a year 2024 is expected to be, it’s more important than ever to find the right person for the job. E very business expects competency from their suppliers, but how many expect excellence? The role of a supplier is, as the name suggests, to supply a business with a valuable product or service, but it could be said to be in the supplier’s best interests to do that with as little effort as possible. Time costs money after all, as does equipment and expertise and staffing, so the more work a supplier has to put into you, the less profit they’re making off you. It’s a tightrope balance between doing just enough to keep a customer but not so little that they risk losing a client. This is present across all businesses, likely the businesses of readers of this magazine as well. While it’s all well and good to talk about giving 110% to your clients, the reality is that if you give more than 100%, you’re making a loss, and that’s bad for business. Among the many businesses in our regions, and those further afield who would gladly fight for contracts, it’s worth taking a little time to make sure your supplier is giving as much as you need, and to make sure they’re giving high-quality support and advice in their chosen field. These two factors can in many ways be considered separate – classified as quality and commitment. In these terms, quality refers to the skill and expertise of a supplier, while commitment would refer to how much time and effort they’re prepared to put into you. There are a lot of very big and very powerful businesses in London for instance who are recognised across the world. There’s no doubting the quality of their work, nor their capability, but those businesses have a lot of high-profile clients, some of whom will inevitably be more important to them than others. Perhaps it’s a case of not wanting the negative PR of failing a big-name brand, or not wanting to lose such a valuable customer. The point remains that if you and that customer need their help at the same time, the bigger customer is going to get the most focus while your business will receive less. That’s part of the reason why so many businesses choose to go local. Local firms have local reputations and often local clients, and they’re much more protective of their clients than corporations in London. They’ll commit more time and effort to make sure they keep clients happy, especially new ones. When it comes to local companies, it can be a little harder to judge their quality, however. It’s always worth giving their name a quick check in the local press and online reviews are obviously very useful, but none of that can replace the simple act of speaking to them directly. Ask for examples of work they have done in the past and, if they are proud of their work, they will usually be able to provide it or examples of it The right expert for the job www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link MEET THE EXPERTS Company profile Since 1983, Frontier Software has been in the business of providing secure, reliable, and compliant HR and Payroll software/services. With a comprehensive range of fully integrated software modules, payroll processing services and offices in your region, we deliver the right solution for organisations of all sizes, across all market sectors. Product profile Frontier Software offer cloud based, modular solutions to support and streamline HR and Payroll processes. Our software delivers an integrated, functionally rich, and highly configurable approach to managing the entire employee lifecycle. In addition, payroll outsourcing options provide all the accessibility, flexibility, and control of running payroll in- house, without the headache of maintaining infrastructure and allocating resources. This ensures employees are paid on time and in line with legislation, whilst saving you time and money. Frontier Software solutions deliver real time data to your fingertips and, with a choice of modules and deployments, can be tailored to match individual requirements. www.frontiersoftware.com 01276 456902 | sales@frontiersoftware.com HR AND PAYROLL SOFTWARE/SERVICES and how much they have helped other businesses. If you have the connections, it might be worth reaching out to one of those companies via LinkedIn and asking them if they would recommend the company. It’s entirely possible the request might be ignored (every business owner is busy after all) but it takes no effort to try and you might get some valuable information – either good or bad. Another thing to keep in mind is that it may be wise to set out expectations when first talking to a supplier – these can be quantifiable targets like a minimum response time for a problem, or it may simply be a case of explaining your business model and how you need support in a different way than they might be used to. It’s always best to be open in advance, and to test the person you’re talking to as well. A company that is confident in its work will never be afraid to answer questions, because they won’t have anything to hide and will have a whole lot they want to show off. If a supplier is being evasive or cagey, that’s not a good sign. Finding the right supplier can take time, but it’s worth the effort because when things go wrong – or even when things go right, and you need to capitalise on them – it can be devastating to find out the supplier you took for granted for so long can’t provide as they used to. Loyalty to old suppliers is all well and good but like in car insurance and banking, your loyalty will rarely, if ever, lead to a meaningful difference. Better to spend some time finding the right supplier for your needs and picking out a true expert. © stock.adobe.com/Rax Qiu© stock.adobe.com/Freedomz East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PRINTING AND PACKAGING © stock.adobe.com/OlegKovalevich Perfect packaging packaging Perfect www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PRINTING AND PACKAGING A clean and uncluttered design allows consumers to focus on the essential details and helps the product stand out, while consistency with colour, shape, imagery, and taglines fosters instant recognition and trust with consumers. Simplicity can be the most powerful tool to hand, and you can often communicate your case more impactfully with a short yet genuine statement, or even an image, than with your brand’s entire style guide. Indeed, condensing your objectives while still conveying them accurately is one of the biggest challenges in printing and packaging to your advantage. It might be helpful to go through your brand’s own guidebook and isolate words, vibes or principles that come through as the most important to put across to an audience. Take some time to experiment with how all these highlights might combine in text and image, form, and appearance. Make a collage, mood board or even a cut-up poem of meaningful words and phrases from your brand story with colleagues, just to see where it goes. Play is so often undersold as a creative tool, but sometimes it’s only through making space to test and freely toss out ideas that we arrive at our best work. When acting to encourage more customers to stick around, keeping a touch of fun will go a long way. It may be easier said than done, but it builds good habits for including other, more crucial factors, such as accessibility for disabled people. Simplicity and softer colours in your imagery, while keeping print bolder in colour and easy to read, could help visually impaired customers find the details they need more easily. Meanwhile, using different textures and luxury printed details like embossing could create something more people in general want to pick up and bring home. Here’s yet another area ripe for experimentation, which can welcome sensory and mental stimulation for everyone who wants to engage with your brand. Providing alternative means of accessing information, such as NaviLens or QR codes, can further link the partially-sighted, blind or people with cognitive disabilities to your product’s benefits and ideals, provided you include clear and equally accessible instructions. You must also ensure they can be easily used from a distance by people using mobility aids like wheelchairs, for instance. Clarity and transparency should be worked on to be inclusive of every In a world filled with noise, simplicity becomes the silent hero. We explore how the art of clear design, sustainable choices, and a touch of playfulness can elevate your brand’s packaging to captivate and connect with consumers. 40 ÁNext >