29/12/2007 by admin.

Newly published research shows that health and well-being programmes in the workplace can deliver a return on investment of 6 to 1, through lower absence rates and improved productivity. This was one of the key messages at last month’s official launch of the Royal Institute of Public Health’s new ‘health signposting’ qualification – ‘Understanding Health Improvement’.

Targeted at employers of different sizes, the launch attracted a diverse audience included representatives from Microsoft and Cancer Research UK, and from The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health and Camden Primary Care Trust.

Case studies were presented to show how Carphone Warehouse, Royal Mail and T Allen Stockholders Ltd – a small private company in Derbyshire – benefited from the introduction of workplace health trainers.

The message from the speakers was that peer communication and support are most effective in influencing staff to change their behaviour and choose a healthier lifestyle. As each employer tends to have its own culture, staff – rather than healthcare professionals – are best placed to guide employees towards eating more healthily, doing more exercise, stopping smoking and drinking responsibly.

The business advantages of supporting staff health and well-being bring tangible financial benefits too, as demonstrated by Vielife Ltd – a company specialising in health and well-being programmes. Its research shows that 25% of total healthcare costs are directly attributable to lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise, excessive alcohol and smoking, and that health intervention programmes in the workplace can have a big impact on the business bottom line.

Anyone interested in offering this qualification to their staff should contact Nicki Alvey or Tony Varey at the Royal Institute of Public Health or see www.riph.org.uk/healthinformation.

Posted in News | No Comments »

27/12/2007 by admin.

This year’s Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the first that scrooge employers can’t count against Europe’s four-week holiday minimum. Following the change in October, Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2007 are the first two bank holidays that people on the legal minimum holiday entitlement will be compensated for if they work either day. Read more…

Posted in News | No Comments »

22/12/2007 by admin.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today said that the Competition Commission’s final decision to lift the temporary price controls on the UK’s four largest banks servicing SMEs is wholly misguided and needs an urgent review.

The temporary price controls that were supposed to be offered to SMEs were carved out in a deal reached with the Commission in 2002. As a result the main business banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group) agreed to offer small businesses an account that paid interest on credit balances of at least 2.5 percentage points below the base rate or provide free banking or both. They also promised to publicise these benefits to their small business customers.

The FSB asked over 4,000 small business owners about their banking arrangements in September. The findings showed that over 70% were not aware of these undertakings at any time during the five years it had been in place. In addition more than half of small businesses had not been offered either option by their bank.

The decision to lift the controls shows that the Competition Commission has not listened to millions of UK small businesses, just as the banks had failed to communicate with them.

The main banks make over £2 billion per year in profits from small business customers.

Mike Cherry, FSB Financial Affairs Chairman, said: “We are very disappointed the Commission has reached this decision and ask that it is urgently reviewed. This has been a tumultuous year for small businesses and this is the latest in a long line of body blows.

“When the whole case is looked at it is clear to see that the Commission has been deaf to the actual experiences of small businesses, whilst the big banks have been dumb in offering those options that had been agreed. To take this away now is a travesty.”

Posted in News | No Comments »

17/12/2007 by admin.

As Christmas fast approaches businesses are being warned about the forthcoming ’sick note season’. According to a study by by the UK’s largest recruitment website fish4jobs, 80 per cent of Britain’s workforce admitted to pulling a ’sickie’ on a regular basis, particularly at this time of year.

Joe Slavin, CEO of fish4jobs, comments, “We all know Brits work the longest hours in Europe and it’s clear from the survey that workers are resorting to pulling a ’sickie’ for all sorts of reasons. Employers need to take serious note and look for ways of tackling the sick note culture that’s sweping the UK. We at fish4jobs have a CEO day, whreby our staff are given an extra day off at Christmas time to help stop people take a seaonal ’sickie’.”

He added, ” Tactics such as allowing a ‘duvet day’, encouraging a job share scheme or installing more ‘working from home’ time are all strategies that more UK employers ned to adopt in order to help provide employers with a valid reason to take a last minute day off that is strictly by the book.”

Posted in News | No Comments »

15/12/2007 by admin.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has criticised the continuing uncertainty over changes to capital gains tax (CGT), following an appearance in the House of Commons by the Chancellor Alistair Darling to reveal he would not be announcing revisions to his Pre-Budget Report (PBR) until the New Year.

The UK’s biggest business organisation has proposed its own changes to the PBR and had been expecting the Chancellor to respond this month to end the crippling uncertainty that thousands of business owners are facing over whether to sell their businesses before taper relief on CGT is abolished in April 2008.

But the FSB welcomed the news that the Chancellor would again meet with the FSB and the other business organisations.

John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said: “We are still no clearer on what will happen with the tax arrangements for millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs come April next year.

“This is not a good situation to be in and one that we had hoped would all be resolved by now.

“But at least the Chancellor appears to be taking our opposition to the PBR and our proposals for changes to it seriously. I look forward to meeting him again to discuss our proposals in detail.”

Posted in News | No Comments »

11/12/2007 by admin.

Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, is urging Welsh companies to compete for contracts for goods and services for London 2012.

The AM believes that preparations for the Olympic Games can offer Welsh companies a “unique opportunity” to tender for many different types of work over the next six years.

Commenting, Lesley Griffiths AM said: “Delivering the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 will be a massive undertaking. It will require goods and services from an enormous range of companies right across the UK and I am keen to see Welsh companies to take full advantage of this unique opportunity.

“Contracts for London 2012 will be awarded by both the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

“The ODA will let the majority of the contracts for the infrastructure, transport and construction of the Olympic Park.

“The London 2012 Organising Committee will let most contracts for services to deliver and stage the Games.

“It is easy to be kept informed of all major developments, including new tender opportunities. All companies have to do is register their details on the London 2012 eTendering website and they will then receive email alerts direct from London 2012.

“I would urge Welsh companies to visit the website, register their details and find out how the London 2012 procurement process works.”

Posted in News | 1 Comment »

11/12/2007 by admin.

The pressures of work are encouraging some motorists to commit crimes behind the wheel according to a new survey.

A poll of 300 senior managers showed 51 per cent had used their mobiles when driving for work, and a fifth had broken the speed limit to get to a meeting on time.

Insurance company Royal & Sun Alliance commissioned the survey by Continental Research of managing directors, financial directors and other senior managers.

Posted in News | No Comments »

11/12/2007 by admin.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is warning that many small shops may not be around next Christmas. The warning comes as more and more supermarkets and multiple-retailers are setting up. Read more…

Posted in News | No Comments »

09/12/2007 by admin.

The sound that comes out of your mouth sets up a whole range of expectations about how you’ll behave, how accessible you are, whether you have a sense of humour, and how high your energy levels are. How many times have you spoken to someone on the phone and created a complete visual picture of him or her just based on the voice that you hear?

Being an effective public speaker is important in business, because it is often necessary to have to stand up and give presentations or speak to groups of people. But for many this is an ordeal to be endured rather than enjoyed. It is easy to get overanxious at the prospect of standing up to speak in front of an audience even if it is people you know. However the biggest block to giving a successful presentation is attitude. If you think that you can’t, and that you never will be able to, then you won’t. Giving effective presentations is something that anyone can learn to do. You can learn by going on courses or reading books, but there is no substitute for getting out there and actually doing it. If you dislike speaking in public then try and take every opportunity to do it - by speaking up in meetings, giving presentations to colleagues etc. Be positive and accept setbacks as being part of the learning process.

Here are some guidelines to help your presentation go well: -

· Know how long you are expected to speak for. If it is a short presentation lasting only fifteen minutes then you are not going to have time to make more than two or three main points. Don’t make the mistake of anxiously preparing a lot more material. You will end up having to present it so fast that your audience won’t be able to keep up and will switch off.

· Make sure that your presentation has a definite structure or format.

· Keep it simple - begin with a brief summary of the topic and explain why it is of interest.

· If it is research that you have done yourself explain what you were trying to find out and why before explaining what you actually did and found.

· Use diagrams and examples to illustrate the main points that you are making.

· If using an overhead projector or flip chart just write out a set of headings and bullet points. Don’t make the mistake of trying to write out everything you are going to say. Use the bullet points as a prompt and talk your way through each of the different points.

· Speak clearly and try to make eye contact with one or two people in the audience. Use simple words and keep sentences brief.

· Avoid ums and errs and other verbal punctuation like ’sort of’, ‘like’, ‘right,’ or ‘OK’ etc.

· If you are likely to be asked questions try to guess what you might be asked and prepare your answers in advance. If you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer then say so honestly. Offer to find out the information and ask the questioner for contact details.

Remember that all aspects of your appearance come under scrutiny during your presentation including posture, body language, and use of voice and facial expressions. Whatever you say and show it will be you, yourself who will remain as the focus of the audiences attention. Bestselling author Dale Carnegie says that we are defined by four things: what we do, how we look, what we say and how we say it.

Dress smartly, but in clothes that you are comfortable in. Don’t try to pretend that you are someone you are not. If you are usually the quiet serious type don’t try to give a humorous presentation - you will probably come across as false and will not gain the trust of your audience. Try instead to project an image of calm and respect for others. However, if you are naturally extrovert and outrageous you may be able to get away with using humour and shock tactics.

Prior to your presentation there is no substitute for rehearsal. You should run through your speech at least three times, making improvements as you go.

Try not to have sheets of paper from which you read out your whole speech - this can lead to a very uninspiring performance. If you need to support your talks with notes (you can’t manage just using the points on the transparencies as prompts) then use small cards which can be held unobtrusively.

The opening of your talk is important, not only because it is the first thing that you say, but also because it establishes your subject and your rapport with the audience. It will also help build your confidence so rehearse it a few extra times. The ending on the other hand, is the last impression that you make, so try and make it memorable. This is the time to remind them of what you meant them to hear in the middle.

Finally remember that the keywords for effective presentations are practice and preparation. To conquer the art of giving successful presentations you have to practice. Force yourself onto the platform to gain experience and confidence - but always, always make the time and effort for the preparation.

Showing that you are competent at public speaking can only serve to enhance your reputation. If it is something that you dislike doing you will find that the more you actually do, the more confident you will become.

Once you have succeeded in giving effective presentations you will find that your views are more often heard and your opinion more often sought. This is simply because you are known as an effective communicator - and you never know - you may even enjoy it!

Recommended Reading
In his book Set Your Voice Free voice coach Roger Love believes that your speaking patterns mirror those of other people in your profession. He says that it is possible to guess what a person does for a living, based simply on the intervals used in speech, and that our vocal habits hand our dossier to everyone we meet.

Posted in Articles | No Comments »

03/12/2007 by admin.

New figures reveal that the summer floods took their toll on UK tourism.

The number of overnight trips taken in the UK by Britons in July 2007 dipped six per cent to 12.5 million compared with July 2006, according to the VisitBritain organisation.

Even trips to visit friends and relatives declined in July this year, with eight per cent fewer trips made than in July 2006.

The July rain meant the number of trips taken by Britons involving overnight stays within the UK in January-July 2007 fell 0.5 per cent to 68.1 million compared with the first seven months of last year.

Posted in News | No Comments »