< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS As many businesses look to rejuvenate their offices to create a workplace more suited to current working habits, establishing the right team to ensure a seamless project is key. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link OFFICE SOLUTIONS W hen reformatting workspaces to create the ideal office for today, business owners and leaders might assume this is a hands off process, leaving it to an office manager and fit-out company. Though this may be true and work fine in some instances, for those who are really seeking to produce a workplace that puts people first, that truly reflects a company’s vision, values, and culture, you will need most of the senior leadership team to contribute to the process, as Blueprint Interiors notes. The workplace consultants and commercial office interior fit-out specialists advise establishing the right team to achieve your aims, and this starts with the internal team to ensure a successful project. With a large number of things to consider when renovating your office, from reconfiguring a new layout to conforming to health and safety rules, as the firm states, the input and visionary insight from the senior team is “critical” to the workplace consultancy process it follows that defines your fit-out plans from start-to-finish, making sure that the project is running smoothly, on time, and to budget. With this, then, a strong leader is necessary: select a project lead to become the internal point of communication for all project stakeholders as well as for your chosen office fit-out company. This person must have the time to take on this role, which comes as a big responsibility, and the skills and characteristics to help keep things moving seamlessly, including 32 Á East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk OFFICE SOLUTIONS © stock.adobe.com/esin BLUEPRINT INTERIORS DOWNLOAD OUR OFFICE REFURB GUIDE | WWW.BLUEPRINTINTERIORS.CO.UKwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link OFFICE SOLUTIONS strong organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of a company and the departments within it, its values and culture. To further establish the best team for your project one will also need a finance manager, responsible for dealing with the financial side of your office fit-out, from procurement to grants, capital allowances and other government financial incentives such as the super-deduction tax break enabling you to claim against desks and office chairs, computers, associated computer equipment, servers, solar panels, EV charging points and more equipment. Your finance manager will need a keen understanding of the myriad payment, contract, and finance options. Blueprint Interiors also suggests involving a ‘people person’, perhaps from HR or marketing and communications, to be the voice guaranteeing your corporate culture is imbued in all aspects of your new office. This person will additionally oversee change-management initiatives and keep constant communication between wider staff, the internal fit-out team, and the external fit-out company to ensure employees are central to every decision made. Also advised is a specially selected project steering group; those who will take part in workshops with workplace consultancy teams, and report back with information and knowledge gained. Usually incorporating one or two of the aforementioned roles, this group will also involve a select group of other team members. To form the perfect internal team, choose those with enthusiasm who want to create a great place to work and will become advocates for the project with peers. With a solid team, different ideas on work requirements, budgets, and deadlines can be pooled together for an effective fit-out. With the internal team organised, it’s time to focus on the external fit-out team, consisting of agents, specialists and consultants that businesses themselves do not have. This can involve those to source yourself, and those the fit-out company will provide. Businesses will likely need an external project manager, to help navigate contract and construction law, while interaction with one’s landlord will be necessary if undertaking any serious structural or cosmetic renovations, which may require a ‘License to Alter’ from your landlord. Furthermore, a principle designer is a legal requirement for companies undergoing an office fit-out, to verify that the fit-out company are mitigating the risks to health and safety in the design of an office. This person will visit the office site regularly to establish potential hazards, access restrictions, accident mitigations, et al. Then there is the design and fit-out partner, who will help in every stage of your office fit-out. It is where most of your office fit-out spend will go, so make sure to shop around, look at a company’s past projects, case studies, and reviews to get a sense of their work and request a consultation meeting. Overseeing the work to rejuvenate your office can take significant time and resources, so ensure to also select the best time and set a realistic timeframe to renovate your office to help with this process. Look to minimise disruption to your business, staff, and customers. Before any changes are made and throughout the project, ensure to clearly and regularly communicate with staff, to prepare them for the alterations, and also enable them to help you with their own ideas. While redesigning an office can be a major expense for a company, the right fit- out will increase staff productivity, satisfaction, and improve your brand image. GET PEOPLE BACK TO AN OFFICE THEY NEED WE CREATE AGILE, PEOPLE FOCUSED, PRODUCTIVE WORKSPACES East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk HEALTHCARE It’s tempting to say an employee’s health is their own to manage and none of your business, but it becomes your business when ill-health interferes with their ability to do their job. And with the NHS at breaking point and delays at an all-time high, health problems among staff may not be resolved for lengthy periods. A s the NHS navigates turbulent times amidst service cuts, funding discrepancies and staff leaving in their droves, the private health sector is witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand. Projections indicate that in 2024 alone, private admissions are anticipated to exceed 900,000—a testament to the growing reliance on private healthcare solutions. In this climate of escalating demand for private healthcare, businesses are presented with an opportunity to consider the benefits of offering www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link HEALTHCARE premium private healthcare insurance packages to staff. Not only does it offer employees access to expedited and high-quality medical care, but it is also progressively serving as a cornerstone of comprehensive and enticing employee benefit packages. As companies seek new ways to gain a competitive edge within their sector, understanding the landscape of private health insurance becomes paramount. In this article, we delve into the nuances of private healthcare insurance for businesses, exploring its benefits, challenges, and strategies for effective implementation. Businesses are increasingly offering health insurance packages for staff due to a confluence of factors driving demand for private healthcare solutions amongst those who would not previously have considered them. Amidst dwindling trust in the NHS to adequately address the health needs of employees, coupled with the strain of lengthy waiting lists (which reached an astounding 7.58 million individuals in January), employers are taking proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of their workforce. Although insurance packages have been a staple of city-based businesses for decades, recruiters and insurers have observed a growing trend where companies within a wide variety of sectors are incorporating more robust © stock.adobe.com/jirsak 36 Á East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk HEALTHCARE © stock.adobe.com/Prostock-studiowww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link HEALTHCARE health insurance packages as part of their recruitment strategy. It is no secret that a physically and mentally well workforce is a huge driving factor in business success, and the NHS can no longer be relied upon to treat minor complaints which impact one’s ability to work. Now more than ever, employers see private healthcare provision as a means to safeguard their workforce and mitigate the impact of staff sickness. With a 2023 survey identifying that 76% of UK workers experience moderate to high levels of stress, this trend is set to include greater provisions for mental healthcare including counselling services and wellness programs. When selecting health insurance packages to offer staff, employers must consider several key factors to ensure the chosen plan aligns with both the needs of the workforce and the financial capabilities of the business. Group Health Insurance, a popular choice for its cost- effectiveness, caters to a collective of employees, reducing individual costs. For businesses with an international workforce, International Health Insurance is likely to be the better option, as it guarantees healthcare accessibility worldwide. Secondly, employers choose providers which allow cherry picking to create tailored plans to the specific healthcare requirements of employees. This will include deciding on network providers, choosing between a designated network of healthcare professionals or a more flexible approach allowing employees to select preferred doctors and specialists. A flexible approach is naturally more expensive, and all coverage premiums, deductibles, and co-pays must be examined to ensure affordability for both the business and its employees. Moreover, understanding the tax implications associated with providing health insurance is essential to navigate potential financial implications for employees, as this may dictate uptake. Finally, companies need to consider how the policy will ensure compliance with legal obligations under UK laws like the Health and Safety at Work Act. The regulating body HSE offers training and support services, which companies would do well to attend before settling on a policy. To ensure that your employees derive the most benefit from your health policies, businesses should consider best practice strategy. Firstly, consulting experts such as Insurance Brokers specialized in business health insurance can provide guidance in navigating the complexities of selecting the most suitable plan for your company. Employees can’t take advantage if they don’t know about it. Communication is crucial. Keeping employees well-informed about the health insurance plan, its benefits, and how to access care enhances their understanding and utilization of the policy. Moreover, integrating wellness programs into your health insurance plan can promote a healthy workplace culture. Extended offerings like fitness classes or mental health support are often optional extras, which whilst they do incur a higher premium, will undoubtedly enhance employee experience. The best way to understand and support staff need is to conduct annual assessments of your policies. Business culture and operations naturally shift over time, so periodic reviews ensure that the plan remains aligned with the evolving needs of both the business and its employees. This commitment to continuous improvement signals genuine commitment to employee health, fostering a culture of trust and supporting a thriving workforce. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS A s the final whistle blew, I let out a huge sigh of relief. Not euphoria. Sheer relief. Here’s why. Now, trigger warning, I’ve followed Manchester United for 36 years now. There’s nothing that will change that unless we reintegrate Mason Greenwood, so if either of these facts puts you off working with me, well, I’ll get over it. I actually remember the first goal that made me feel triumphant, it was Gordon Strachan bursting through against Liverpool in 1988. Our arch rivals to this bottled an invitation to play in front of the cameras that time. Trust me, this happened. Ask me about it! No, they were offering me, wait for it…£5 off membership for 2023/2024 season. Given I’m already a member this is smart timing marketing wise and normally I would be professionally tipping my United branded beanie hat to them BUT…£5! It’s pathetic. Not so much in terms of the discount, more the creativity. I’m already a customer, I was going to renew anyway, now was the perfect time to do something more creative Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, reflects on a wasted marketing opportunity. day, whatever City might think! Why relief? Well, even the most rose- tinted of spectacle wearers would admit we’ve been pants all season. As the relief turned into a gradual sense of comfort, then joy, then finally, excitement (all in 10 seconds) my phone pinged! I assumed it would be my mates on the United WhatsApp group. No, it was a text. From…Manchester United. Had they been made aware of my punderful analysis on the group chat? Did they agree that Antony is a better LB than RW? Maybe they wanted to ask me to reconsider turning out for them after I www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PUBLIC RELATIONS and get me to buy something BIGGER. Why not give me a chance to renew AND get an upgrade? Or renew and buy a prize draw ticket for a VIP Match Day experience? You can never predict the score or whether you are going to win the game but you absolutely CAN have a range of options lined up to fire as soon as something is known. Man of The Match? Confirmed within seconds of the final whistle. Use that name as a code to access something special. The winning goal from the youngster Amad? You know he is in the squad, create a contingency, however unlikely, that if it is him who nabs the glory, that’s your code. This is a billion pound enterprise operating with a bargain basement marketing mentality. Did I renew? No. I went to the hospitality pages and scanned hopefully for semi final tickets. Hundreds of times more valuable to them than buying my £60 annual membership with a £5 offer. Have they spotted this or reached out given I’ve enquired before? No. Talk about missing an open goal! 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. Next >