There is still a huge amount of stigma, prejudice and discrimination against individuals who come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other genders in the workplace. For most individuals, it is an incredibly uncomfortable and emotional experience, and for some, it can be traumatic. Employees that feel supported and happy at work are much more likely to be productive, perform well, and want to progress their career with your organisation. Whilst unhappy employees and those who don’t feel supported or cared for in the workplace are much more likely to be absent from work, suffer from mental health problems,…

Employee wellness programmes are a central component of your benefits package when trying to attract talent, but how many employees actually use them? Studies suggest that very few do. Research by RAND1 reveals that only 20-40% of employees with access to employee wellness programmes actually take advantage of what they offer. So what steps can HR teams implement to change this? David Rice, an HR expert at People Managing People, shares some actionable steps HR teams can take to fix their wellness programmes. “A lot of companies introduce wellness programmes and associated technologies with the best intentions, but they often miss the…

The Japanese concept of kokorozashi is more important than logic for developing and leading a successful business, according to Toru Takahasi, CEO of GLOBIS Europe, hub of Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University. The international business school has been developing the next generation of leaders for over 30 years, supporting learners to find their own kokorozashi. But what is kokorozashi exactly? Why is it so important to successful leadership? And how can you find your own kokorozashi to propel your life and business forwards? What is kokorozashi? Kokorozashi is a Japanese concept that means ‘will’ or ‘ambition’ – it’s the driving force behind…

BBC Director General Tim Davie has been on the receiving end of some tough questions regarding the way he handled the Huw Edwards investigation. Among the points raised by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy were questions on why Mr Edwards was not sacked once the BBC became aware of his arrest and why he received a pay raise during this time. Now, a recent tribunal ruling has highlighted the risks of dismissing employees suspected of criminal activity. Care assistant Jacqueline Difolco brought a claim of unfair dismissal against her employer, Care UK, who fired her after she was charged with murder in October…

Having a strong team that works well together and understands how to get the best out of each other is often one of the biggest reasons behind a company’s success. After all, working with people you genuinely like makes any job much more enjoyable and rewarding. Nevertheless, constantly being in an office can be draining and every team deserves a break or reward for all their hard work. Corporate retreats and similar types of getaways from the fast-paced environment of an office offer employees the perfect opportunity to unwind and de-stress. Whether your team is in need of a luxury…

Over one third of homeowners plan to move house over the next 12 months following increased confidence in the UK property market, according to new research from leading self storage provider, Ready Steady Store. The research, which surveyed members of the public on their perceptions of the UK property sector following the General Election outcome, also revealed a further 22% of homeowners are currently undecided on a house move. Despite this, 39% of consumers believe the UK property market will actually improve under the new Labour Government, with 35% reporting increased confidence in the market, and 31% ‘somewhat confident’ new…

A new report has found that women still face many challenges at work, including higher rates of burnout, a lack of freedom and greater financial stress compared to their male colleagues. The survey of 1,000 Brits, commissioned by Employment Hero, found that 69% of women experience burnout in the workplace. Of these, 18% say they’ve felt stressed at work every day for three months, twice the amount of men. The rates were noticeably lower for men, though still high, with 56% saying they’ve experienced burnout and 9% saying they’ve felt stressed at work every day for the past three months. Three…

Cyber-attacks have more than doubled since the pandemic, and smaller businesses without the support of a large IT department are often among the easiest targets for hackers. Latest government research found that 22% of small businesses have experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months. While you might not frequently read about these types of attacks in the media, they’re happening every day across the UK. The perpetrators are no longer simply bored teenagers in the far corners of the world; there are vast and powerful armies of bots designed to exploit online vulnerabilities by any means possible. These attacks are…

The FSB, the UK’s biggest business group has unveiled a package of new measures to help transform life on our ever-evolving high streets for the millions of small firms based on them. Supporting pop-ups and temporary use initiatives for new businesses, creating mobile phone-based loyalty programmes, and showcasing local high streets in major tourism campaigns are some of the recommendations set out to revive the UK’s village, town and city centres, in a landmark new report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The Future of the High Street report, published today (Monday August 5), builds up a picture of life…

Most people don’t relish the thought of difficult conversations and research from the Chartered Management Institute found that 57% of managers would do almost anything to avoid one[i]. According to The OCM, a leading coaching firm who works with clients across all sectors, tricky conversations could be around performance discussions with a line report, salary increases, giving a peer confronting feedback or challenging a superior on a decision. Jon Horsley, Consultant Coach-Mentor for The OCM highlights the need to steer challenging conversations effectively in order for teams and individuals to perform better, and how coaching skills can help. Here he…

Although ghost broking is one of the most common, and lethal forms of insurance fraud, research has found that only 17% of people have ever heard of the term. David Woodfield – Chief Insurance Growth Officer at Bionic – has created a guide which contains all SMEs need to know when it comes to Ghost Brokers, including: How the scam technique works & the signs to look out for What to do if your business falls victim to a ghost broking scam The most common ghost broking scams David Woodfield: “ghost broking is a type of insurance fraud which involves fraudsters posing…

According to BT, almost 60 per cent of business owners claim their smartphone is the device they use most to run their operations. Yet, smart phone sales are slowing, with many companies shifting to a bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy to utilise employees’ existing mobiles. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business mobile provider Crystaline, explores the changing role of business mobile and advises resellers on how they can attract new customers. The rise of business mobile took place in the mid noughties with the insurgence of BlackBerry. Its encrypted messaging function BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) introduced the concept of business…

Research and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and societal progress. In Wales, the R&D landscape is ripe with potential, yet it faces several challenges that hinder its full potential. This article, written by Dayne Hodgson, Co-Founder and Director at RedKnight Consultancy, explores the current state of R&D funding in Wales, identifies key challenges, and outlines strategic opportunities for enhancing its impact and efficiency. By adopting a multi-faceted approach to improve engagement with funding mechanisms, infrastructure, and talent retention, Wales can strengthen its position as a leader in innovation within the UK and beyond. Current State of Research and…

In 2023, Statista found that around 850,000 UK businesses turned over up to £250,000. At the £1 million turnover mark, however, this number dropped to just over 123,000 businesses. Hitting that elusive 7 figure mark is not just a huge milestone in business development – it’s also a tricky endeavour requiring forward planning, the right vision, and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone to take the business to the next stage. In this article Sam Stoffel, the CEO and Founder of Outplayed.com, a matched betting subscription service, outlines the key lessons he has learned while reaching that…

Understanding consumer behaviour in greater depth has become crucial for marketers today, as ever-increasing competition means this is a much-needed advantage. In this competitive industry, behavioural science—which delves into the underlying psychological factors driving human actions—offers invaluable insights into the reasons behind consumer choices. By leveraging these insights, marketers can go beyond traditional methods, achieving a deeper and more nuanced understanding of their how their audience will respond to communications. Here, Roger Jackson, marketing expert and founder and CEO of SenseCheck, explores how brands can harness the power of behavioural science to develop better marketing strategies that not only capture…

The prescriptive maintenance market is surging, with forecasts suggesting that this sector will increase in value by a quarter each year over the course of the next decade. The closely related field of predictive maintenance is experiencing a similarly steep ascent, projected to grow annually by more than 30% until 2031. Both maintenance strategies are effective ways of improving operational efficiency and minimising downtime, but there’s a distinct difference between the two: predictive maintenance uses data analytics and machine learning (ML) to anticipate equipment failures before they happen, while prescriptive maintenance goes a step further, offering actionable recommendations to pre-empt and prevent future…