< PreviousUnlike our competitors, we guarantee Sustainability isn’t an expensive word. www.viridisbsl.co.uk Newark +44 (0)1636 703 101 +44 (0)1636 893 313 sustainable@viridisbsl.co.uk Stirling +44 (0)1786 231 480 TO FIND OUT MORE At Viridis, we know the importance of buildings and how every single detail in their construction or renovation has an impact on their users and our envrionment. Working collaborativly with architects, builders, project managers and our customers, we provide intelligent, innovative, pragmatic and sustainable building servcies to projects across a wide range of sectors. From designing in core sustainable prinicples at the earliest stages, through to delivering low-carbon, low-cost lighting, water and energy systems, Viridis brings vast expertise, collaborative thinking and a pragmatic apporach to every project - making us proud of what we do. And more... Net Zero Sustainability MEP BREEAM Planning & Building Regulations Lighting - Daylight $UWLȴFLDO Energy Audits and Assessments 30-42.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 15:55 Page 11East Midlands : West Midlands : Yorkshire : Northern Ireland Switchboard: 0115 9302493 Email : enquires@rammsanderson.com Established in 2014 our team of over 50 experienced environmental professionals have built a strong reputation in our sector with trusted client relationships. Our varied portfolio includes regional and national house builders and commercial developers. We also have significant expertise in utilities through our framework contracts as well as acting as Rail Accredited ecologists working on several large national infrastructure projects. BIODIVERSTY NET GAIN Biodiversity Net Gain has rapidly reshaped the development sector and RammSanderson have invested heavily to ensure we can meet our clients demands. We work closely from project conception to completion and refocus our efforts to achieve a NET Gain on site or broker relationships with offsite stakeholders to mitigate for any losses. Get in Touch to find out how we can help. RammSanderson are an independent consultancy offering services in Ecology, Arboriculture, Flood Risk and Habitat Management. RammSanderson.com 30-42.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 15:18 Page 123 Brick, stone, render and cladding cleaning 3 Purified water cleaning of plastics, garage doors and windows 3 Pressure washing driveways, paths and patios 3 Removal of glue residue, graffiti and spillages 3 Silo and site compound exterior steam cleaning 3 Steam cleaning of heritage buildings Part of Brooklands Service Group www.brickcleaningservices.co.uk enquiries@brooklandsgroup.co.uk 0800 292 23 25 OUR CUSTOMER PROMISE We make things easier for clients by providing regular updates throughout delivering a reliable high-quality service. WHY SEPERATE YOUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CLEANING SERVICES? Brooklands are continually finding new and improved ways of cleaning exterior surfaces more effectively and have solutions for cleaning in the colder months to enable all year-round cleaning. Our specialist cleaning vehicles are fitted out with onboard tanks enabling cleaning in remote locations. Although we use custom built machinery, we hold backup machines so deadlines can still be met. Right person, right job! Hire a specialist in exterior cleaning Reduce chance of damage to buildings and surfaces Achieve a fantastic quality finish by using trained and skilled technicians Value for money by getting it right the 1st time 30-42.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 15:18 Page 13www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link IT AND COMMUNICATIONS © stock.adobe.com/Philip Steury A weakening economy and strife across the world has opened the doors for hackers of all kinds to target businesses, and small and medium- sized businesses in regions such as the East Midlands make for tempting targets. T hey say ‘crime pays’ and unfortunately cybercrime is no different because of the huge financial gains, disruption to competitors’ computer software or data theft that make it worth any cyber criminals’ time. Criminals want to earn money as easy and quickly as they can, and it’s only the difficulty of the anti-virus software and security information that they face, which increases their time in accessing the software or data, that stops them. The NCA (National Crime Agency) stated: “This year shows that organised crime groups (OCGs) are exploiting digital technology more.” When it comes to cybercrime and criminals it’s often worth understanding the different types of hackers recognised in the industry. These are, in no particular order: White Hat Hackers (ethical hackers), Black Hat Hackers (who violate computer security out of malice for their own personal profit), Grey Hat Hackers (security experts who may violate laws but don’t often have malicious intent), Green Hat Hackers (who learn the tricks of the trade, e.g. in Microsoft’s world, they are employed by the company to find vulnerabilities in unreleased products), Blue Hat Hackers (external computer security consulting firms who are employed to bug test a system prior to its launch), and Red Hat Hackers (hired by government agencies to identify vulnerabilities, mainly identifying and neutralising Black Hat Hackers). Finally, and the most common, are Script Kiddies, who use programs/scripts to attack networks, computer systems and deface websites, and State/Nation The online menace The online menace 44 Á 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:20 Page 1 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk IT AND COMMUNICATIONS Sponsored Hackers, who may be from China, Korea or Russia, given a ‘Licence to Hack’ to gain valuable intelligence/data that has international significance – it’s important to note following Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, the NCCS (National Cyber Crime Security) is advising that UK companies strengthen their online defences. However, the most common cybercrime today is ‘Phishing Scams’ that make up 91% of cybercrime, according to PhishMe. They start when curiosity, fear or a sense of urgency entices someone to enter personal data or click on a link often instigated by spam; unsolicited junk email sent out in bulk via electronic messaging systems, text messages or media messaging. Added to this is ‘website spoofing’ where a website is designed to make you believe it’s a legitimate site – all to get access to your systems, steal data, steal money, or spread malware. Companies should also be aware of Ransomware, which is a technical twist on extortion (it works when criminals steal something and demand payment in exchange for its return), and Internet of Things (IoT) Hacking. This is a world that opens insights into our daily routines/business processes to the web. All internet-connected objects are constantly collecting and exchanging data and Keystroke software monitors activity to give hackers information on your personal data, such as credit card numbers and the different web pages you use – done by logging the user’s keyboard strokes. As all data is valuable, the more ‘things’ recorded, the juicier the reward becomes for hackers. Investing in protection from cybercrime is very important as according to Agneska Sablovskaja, a data researcher at VPN provider Surfshark, cybercrime is increasing in the UK by up by 40% each year and costs about £27 billion each year! Only this September Go-Ahead, provider of 11% of the UK’s bus market, stated it was dealing with a cyber-attack within its IT systems. Luckily, many businesses consider cyber security a high priority. For example 95% of large businesses invest heavily in cyber security, 92% of medium sized businesses and the same of high-income charities. The sectors who have to consistently remain vigilant are finance and insurance, health/social care and Councils. In the past Lincolnshire County Council had to act quickly, another good practice, and shut down all of its computers after an alleged ransomware attack began to spread throughout its systems. The Chartered Institute of IT reminds us, “It is important to remember that cyber criminals are clever and they try to attack the weakest links in a chain. An example of recent ransomware attack was on the NHS where attackers took aim at one of the © stock.adobe.com/jamdesign 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:20 Page 2www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link IT AND COMMUNICATIONS suppliers.” Another thing to remember is the good news, there are many ways you can help yourself and your business stay safe from ever evolving cybercrime! Enforcing strong passwords is one of the best protections against breaches; using upper and lower case, numbers and symbols, may help keep hackers out, and of course keeping the passwords safe. In addition keep computer screens and mobile phones locked when not attended and ensure that passwords/codes can’t be seen when they pop up on a screen, even if it’s locked. Be cautious about all email attachments and avoid suspicious websites (look at spelling carefully) - some of the fake websites are surprisingly believable. It is always best to ensure your company emails stand out, with a clear logo, and possibly with regulation warnings, for example that staff will never ask for personal details. Updating passwords regularly adds further security as well as using multi- factor authentication where a user is only granted access to a website or application only after correctly presenting 2 or more pieces of evidence/passwords. Also ensure a different SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) account is created for all senders within a company, this will ensure if someone’s computer is hijacked where spam is sent out from it, it can be disabled rapidly and easily without involving other users. Implementing VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for all connections is an arrangement whereby a secure, apparently private network is achieved using encryption over a public network, typically the internet. Retiring all unused services, therefore deleting/removing old computer packages and out of date software is good practice and remember to leverage existing security options by researching, installing and continually updating a high- quality antivirus program. Additional issues you can consider are monitoring personal devices brought in and used by employees, limiting data access to employees, and holding employees accountable for their data use and protecting any devices they may use in the office or working remotely, as out of the office is just as dangerous an environment than in the office for an employee as there is sometimes less exchange of information about the latest ‘scams’. In summary, it is important to be aware what the top causes of security breaches are and what’s more, being aware that successful hacking attempts are often the result of human error so education and awareness are as important in the fight against cybercriminal activity and preventing security breaches as the anti- virus security software that is installed and the access passwords created. © stock.adobe.com/tippapatt 43-45.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:20 Page 3W e are all spinning plates, trying to manage a multitude of tasks on a daily basis and most of the time end up giving ourselves a hard time when we fall short, whether it’s arriving late, missing an appointment or generally chasing our tail when it comes to being organised, leaving us with feelings of dissatisfaction, frustration and even guilt. Having been self-employed, running a business single handily for the past fifteen years, I have had my fair share of experiences with the above feelings and have since learnt a thing or two about how to navigate myself in order to avoid a repeat of them going forward. Granted some days don’t go as planned and that’s just life, but what’s important is that I have also learnt how to manage mindfully those ‘not so great’ days when they occur - and they do and will occur. Here, through my own personal experiences, I share my top six tips on how to organise your time more efficiently in order to create a more productive and enjoyable day: 1. Build a routine - We as humans are habitual creatures and as such love a routine, so create a realistic one for yourself which incorporates your personal needs, the needs of anyone you are responsible for in your life and of course your work/business. If you are thinking “well, this is nothing new, I’m already in a routine,” why not write down your current routine and then write down a second version that you wish it was more like (e.g. ‘the dream routine’), and by cross checking the two, identify any tweaks you can make to your current Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, offers tips on how to organise your time more efficiently to create a more productive and enjoyable day. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk NETWORKING Spinning plates? Let’s get organised incorporate these task lists into your routine, segmenting them against a timeline, again whether it be daily or weekly. I for example make to do lists for the week in order of priority. I tick each task off as I complete them, which gives an enormous sense of satisfaction and I don’t give myself a hard time if I don’t complete them all in the same day - they can simply roll over to the next day. 5. Set reminders - There are useful software platforms and tools out there that can assist in your daily task busting endeavours, however simply adding reminders to your calendar will suffice, usually these can be accessed on your desktop/laptop/phone as everything of course links up nowadays. I am however old school and still rely on my trusty Filofax, as nothing beats handwriting down my to do lists and tasks, which in turn helps me to remember what I need to do. 6. Delegate - Ask yourself, “are there certain jobs I can give to other people to do for me?” Can you subcontract some work out - for example can you hire a bookkeeper/accountant/virtual PA/assistant etc? Since delegating work from my business out to others over the years, I have been able to focus on business development and working on the things that I enjoy, rather than spending all my time on, for example, bookkeeping and admin which are super time consuming and don’t necessarily make my soul leap! However you decide to manage your time and navigate your day, remember to try to prioritize YOU - after all if you don’t who will? routine to edge it nearer to the dream one. 2. Write it down - To make a start on creating your routine, write it down in list or timeline format - starting with the non- negotiables. Maybe for you that’s the school run, breakfast, gym, work, and cooking dinner, maybe it’s something different. This works great for leaders to structure a work based plan for your teams too, but remember this is YOUR routine so make it work for YOU (or the individual in question by working together to meet all needs). Once you have covered all of the non-negotiables, move onto filling the gaps with any other key responsibilities you have during the day/week/month. 3. Make time for you - I say this to all of my coaching clients - make time for YOU. Even if your schedule doesn’t seem to allow it, edit it so that it does. One hour per day, every day at least should be allocated to something that nourishes you, makes you happy, inspires and motivates you or simply gives you the space and time you need to refocus and re-energise, whether that is a form of exercise class/gym/sport, a walk to get your steps in each day, cycling to work, taking time for your hobby, or if work- related some business development or idea generation time in order to encourage creative thinking and growth. 4. Create task lists - On top of your daily routine, you will have ad hoc tasks to complete perhaps both personally and in business, so make a list - seeing the words in black and white will help you to remember and keep accountable to the tasks that lie ahead. You can then 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:21 Page 1Fiona Duncan-Steer, RSViP www.fionaduncansteer.com www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:21 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk LEGAL SERVICES strict protections on holiday pay, working hours and parental leave, amongst other rights that are currently enjoyed by UK workers. The Trades Union Congress, which represents 48 member unions across England and Wales, has called the legislation “reckless,” and believes that it opens the door to eroding workers’ rights. This leaves businesses in an ethical quandary as to how to balance operations and employee welfare moving forward. M ore than two years down the line from Brexit, incoming changes to UK statutes will be likely to affect business operations soon. Furthermore, the trend towards hybrid working has thrown up a myriad of complex legal questions, particularly surrounding data protection and employers’ responsibility towards employees. this article does not seek to give legal advice, it will explore some anticipated legal changes resulting from Brexit and how this could affect your business and employee rights. We will explore what protections employee contracts give them, and what should be considered before any amendments are made. On the 31st January 2022, to mark the 2 year anniversary of Brexit, the Government set out plans to bring forward the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. This bill will end the special status of retained EU law in the UK as of the 31st December 2023. This means that retained EU law will no longer be protected, allowing Parliament to more easily amend, repeal, or replace these laws. There will also be a sunset date, by which all remaining retained EU law will have to be repealed or assimilated into UK domestic law. For some laws, this date could be as far in the future as 2026. The government sees this Bill as a way to make UK statute more sustainable, by ensuring that nothing supersedes the UK Parliament. With just over a year until EU law special status end, what practical implications does this have for UK businesses? In truth, it could be extremely beneficial for many businesses’ bottom lines. The Truss government has stated that it aims to use this Bill to boost economic growth by reducing regulatory burdens on businesses, which also include reduced planning requirements and environmental impact assessments. This open ambition for deregulation has caused concern for many about the lack of protections that this could leave employees vulnerable to. EU law sets out The changing legal landscape for businesses We live in unprecedented times, and the legal landscape is expected to change dramatically because of it. 48-50.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:22 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link LEGAL SERVICES This deregulation could especially impact those who are hybrid workers. Hybrid workers are defined as those who spend part of their time at their workplace, and part of their time working from another location (most often their home). Research indicates that the majority of hybrid employees wish to continue working from home at least some of the time. If hybrid working is to continue for a business, ongoing review of policies and procedures is a must. This includes existing HR policies (it is recommended that a hybrid or agile working specific policy is introduced) which include how employees will be managed and supervised, as there is the potential for differential treatment. This is especially important if the business is making a push for a return to office working. Businesses should also check employer’s liability policies cover hybrid working, and that this is covered moving forward. Data protection policies and procedures should also be reviewed. It is recommended that regular training is provided on GDPR compliance and data security, especially for those who work from home. Currently, there is a statutory framework for hybrid working, which provides that employees should make a formal request for a flexible working 50 Á © stock.adobe.com/auremar 48-50.qxp_Layout 1 04/10/2022 09:22 Page 2Next >