Issue 10 2023 Fair Supply Analytics Pty Ltd: ESG Risk and Compliance Handled by the Cloud Featuring:
Welcome to the October issue of Corporate Vision magazine. A monthly publication dedicated to delivering the latest insight and news from across the corporate landscape. Tuesday 10th October saw World Mental Health Day, highlighting the importance of taking mental health seriously and aiming to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. 1 in 8 people around the world experience a mental health problem of some kind – and it’s crucial that employers are equipped to support their employees properly when it comes to their mental wellbeing. As such, employee benefits platform, Zest’s recent research identifies how individuals now prioritise having access to wellbeing benefits when choosing a new employer – and businesses are at risk of losing out on top talent if they don’t invest. Also among the findings is how there has been an increase in the implementation of a Head of Wellbeing within businesses to provide a listening ear and support to those team members who need it. We learn more on page 13. Elsewhere in this issue, we are, as always, delighted to be shining a light on our award-winning businesses, from an ESG risk and compliance solutions provider in Australia; to an English and Dutch language school in the Netherlands; to a fertility care centre in North America. We discover how each of these organisations are making a positive impact in their own way. I hope you enjoy perusing this issue and wish you a wonderful month ahead. In the meantime, I look forward to welcoming you back again soon for the November edition of Corporate Vision. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.corporatevision-news.com Editorial Team Sofi Bajor, Senior Editor | Rebecca Scotland, Editor | Isabella Mifsud, Writer | Matthew Wright, Writer | Emily Godbol, Writer | Michelle Strozykowski, Writer Design Team Lauren Baldwin, Graphic Designer | Ali Mohammed, Junior Graphic Designer AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
Issue 10 2023 3 Contents 4. News 6. Fair Supply Analytics Pty Ltd: ESG Risk and Compliance Handled by the Cloud 8. Think Smart English: Language School of the Year 2023 - Netherlands 10. Inception Fertility: Accessible Fertility Treatments for All 11. Telehouse announces major upgrade to its largest data centre in London 12. Three-quarters of UK businesses struggling to source staff, according to BCC 13. Wellbeing revolution: Over eight in ten businesses seeing increased employee demand for more work wellbeing benefits 14. Virgin Media O2 steps up support to help British businesses recycle 12 million unused mobile phones and tablets
4 80% of financial services recruiters paint concerning picture of skills gap 80 per cent of financial services recruiters have agreed that the current environment is challenging, as confidence among hiring managers within the sector paint a concerning picture regarding the skills gap issue that is ongoing, according to a new survey. The outlook for the financial services sector hiring a skilled workforce is not looking overly positive as hiring managers point their fingers towards a lack of candidates with the appropriate skills to fill the much-needed roles within the industry. Employers are fighting for the limited amount of talent that is available to fill the high-demand technology and specialised finance roles as supply remains much higher than demand, while many recruiters agree they cannot afford to train new candidates as they desperately try to recruit experienced people who already have the relevant skill. It has been said that the financial services industry has become less attractive to graduates leaving university which puts a strain on the industry and separate data released in August showed that threequarters of firms were reporting open vacancies while 65 per cent of those were struggling to fill them. Derek Mackenzie, CEO at Investigo, part of The IN Group, commented: “The financial services industry is a powerhouse of growth and having the right talent pipeline in place should be a top priority, even in challenging economic times. “Recruiting candidates with the latest fintech skills in areas like data science and machine learning has been an ongoing issue for UK businesses, and these capabilities are crucial to fast-growing companies who want to stay ahead of the competition. Even when times are tough, it’s vital that banks and other financial services organisations work closely with specialist providers to source, train and equip themselves with the next generation of talent to take the business forward.” Peter Healy, CEO of Efinancialcareers, said: “Financial services face a strained recruitment climate in 2023, with confidence plunging versus last year,” He added that firms should “ scout broadly for in-demand skills, and balance technology with human insights to source and retain top talent.”
Issue 10 2023 5 News AI training and policies amiss at European businesses • Workforce adoption of AI outpacing employer policies: 48% of employees use AI tools, 18% daily, but only 16% get AI training, and only 18% of organisations have implemented risk management measures. • Strategic guidance needed on automation: 57% believe automation can boost productivity, but 67% want more understanding of benefits first. While the use of AI tools in the workplace is rapidly increasing, many organisations are lagging in providing guidance and training in the use of these technologies, according to new research by Ricoh Europe. This governance gap comes amidst growing interest within companies to implement automation solutions. The poll of 6,000 workers across Europe*, conducted by Opinium, revealed a gap between workers’ use of emerging technologies and organisations’ efforts to support and manage that usage. The research found that 48% of European employees use AI tools, such as Chat GPT, with 18% of these respondents using it once or more a day. However, the adoption of AI is outpacing employers’ implementation of formal policies and procedures. Only one in six (16%) companies have offered training on how to utilise AI tools. Without proper guidance on how to harness the technology, businesses could miss out on the purported productivity and business benefits. Further issues are more likely to arise related to the incorrect or unintended use of Gen-AI, such as the spread of misinformation. Similarly, a mere 18% of businesses have implemented risk management measures to ensure the safe and transparent use of AI – despite associated copyright and privacy risks. Clear company guidelines, along with dedicated training, is needed to help employees use tools safely, in a way that delivers tangible business value. While AI has the promise to revolutionise the way we work, it must work in collaboration with other automation tools. Once basic process automation is applied, for example to streamline repetitive workflows and tasks, companies can build on this solid foundation by incorporating more advanced AI capabilities and intelligence. With the right automation tools and technology in place, 69% of European employees believe they would deliver more value to their organisation. However, determining the right approach takes careful evaluation, as 67% agree they need to learn more about the benefits of these automation tools and technologies before using them at work. Investing in training and guidance will provide the clarity needed to engage employees in the benefits and opportunities that these new technologies create. Nicola Downing, CEO, Ricoh Europe, says: “Businesses are aware that with the right automation solutions matched to their needs, they can transform operations to be smarter, faster and more efficient. This presents new opportunities to empower employees’ full potential, regardless of where they choose to work. Once organisations identify where automation brings the most benefit, they can build on these capabilities by incorporating advanced AI technology, but only while proactively managing risks. “Our research highlights European employees lack the right guidance from their employers on AI’s safe and secure utilisation, despite many using it on a day-to-day basis. Without proper governance and training, companies may leave themselves susceptible to copyright, legal or reputational breaches. Organisations that put robust guidance in place and equip employees with the skills to harness these technologies ethically and compliantly will be best placed to capitalise on the benefits they can bring. Moreover, investing in upskilling employees, and giving them the opportunity to learn and grow, is a win-win for both employees and customers.”
ESG Risk and Compliance Handled by the Cloud In an era where global sustainability is of paramount concern, the demand for comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk and compliance solutions has surged. Fair Supply, a cloud-based ESG risk and compliance solution, stands at the forefront of this movement. With a commitment to aligning sustainability with business objectives, Fair Supply has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception. This article delves into that journey, the challenges, and vision for the future. Fair Supply began as a data provider and consultancy, helping entities comply with Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018. Fair Supply launched in early 2019, as an incorporated legal practice. By July 2019 it had launched technology that provided customers with a footprint of modern slavery along their supply chain. However, in a few short years, as global demand for ESG solutions continues to soar, the company rapidly evolved into a comprehensive cloud-based ESG risk and compliance solution provider. This transformation is driven by the conviction that sustainability must be deeply integrated into business objectives to pave the way for a truly sustainable future. This is a conviction grounded in the expertise and experience of Fair Supply’s founders. Kimberly Randle is Fair Supply’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. She is an innovative and experienced human rights advocate who specialises in the niche area of modern slavery. She boasts over 15 years of experience in law and human rights, which has seen her working for top tier firms in Australia and the United States. As a much-respected expert and speaker in the field of human rights and modern slavery she has been called on to provide evidence into human trafficking for the NSW and Commonwealth Parliamentary Inquiries. Fair Supply’s Chief Technology Officer is Dr Arne Geschke. He is a leading expert in assessing large scale global environmentaleconomic supply-chain, and input-output analysis. He has been instrumental in developing the mathematical framework that dictates the global supply chain databases and underlies the business economic modelling of Fair Supply. He has over 10 years of experience working with in depth supply-chain assessment costing. His input into the ESG software developed by the company is absolutely integral. These decades of professional experience building unique and scalable global supply chain networks combined with world leading and deep subject matter expertise are foundational to Fair Supply’s magic. Requiring minimal business data, expertise or upfront work required, Fair Supply empowers organisations to strategically map, measure, and act with insight across their operations and supply chain to improve sustainability performance. Organisations can then easily report on progress in line with emerging standards, all within one intuitive platform. This enables businesses of any size to be accountable for their sustainability impact throughout their entire supply chain without the need for deep expertise or big budgets. “Fair Supply simplifies ESG compliance and risk management and compliance by using business data combined with supply chain mapping technology to reduce the time, cost, and effort associated with ESG risk management.” Like any innovative company, Fair Supply has faced its share of challenges. Over the past year, the company has been focused on the delicate balance of serving existing customers while simultaneously investing in product development. A successful Series A capital raise injected substantial resources into the company, fuelling its ongoing mission to optimize its products to meet the evolving needs of its customer base. For those aspiring to make a mark in the sustainability sector, Fair Supply’s founder has some valuable advice. Aligning sustainability with business objectives is not a simple task, but it’s a critical one. Resilience and unwavering belief in the possibility of positive change are essential. Entrepreneurs in this space should steward and deploy their belief to drive impactful change. As the pressure on organizations to report on ESG issues continues to intensify, Fair Supply is committed to equipping its customers to confidently navigate this fast-evolving landscape. The company envisions itself as an essential partner for businesses worldwide as they strive to be accountable for their sustainable impact. Company culture plays a pivotal role in Fair Supply’s success. The team’s relentless focus on customer success fosters a cohesive, innovative, and responsible culture. CEO Kimberly Randle is a firm believer in the adage that ‘everyone leads, everywhere, all the time.’ This practise is vital to creating a culture of innovation and responsibility amongst employees. Fair Supply is convinced that ESG risk and compliance will be something that is BAU (business as usual) for companies everywhere very soon. It is likely that businesses of any size will soon be expected to transparently own accountability for any impact on sustainability that occurs throughout the entire supply chain. Fair Supply is already well on the way to enabling this, and can celebrate its fantastic award title as the Most Innovative ESG Data Consultancy 2023 - New South Wales. Contact Details Company: Fair Supply Analytics Pty Ltd Web Address: fairsupply.com.au Contact Name: Kimberly Randle Fair Supply is a cloud-based ESG risk and compliance solutions provider based in Sydney, NSW, Australia. As the winner of the title Most Innovative ESG Data Consultancy 2023 - New South Wales, in the Corporate Excellence Awards, we decided the time was ripe to take a closer look at this company, and find out more about how it operates.
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Language School of the Year 2023 - Netherlands When it comes to the mastering of the English language, Think Smart English (TSE) is the company to trust. Offering English language training courses that fit every need, the business has been established for almost eight years and consists of a small team of three based in the Netherlands and one teacher and board member who resides in India. The team often work with small groups of primary age children and offer support for students in exam training from high school through to university age, as well as detailed programmes for teachers, employees, and expats. Although a newly established business, the founder of TSE possesses a wealth of industry experience in the United Kingdom, and as a result, has the knowledge to nurture those who want to build upon their communication, grammar, business, or academic skills through language training. This is in addition to the head of the company being a valued member of the Society of Education and Training (SET), and the firm itself being proudly partnered with a range of organisations, such as ETS Global, BKSB, & Anglia, and collaborating with a host of others, Brainport, Kempenkind, Salto, and High Tech Campus. The company’s status as an Anglia partner means official certificates and diplomas from the UK are offered to those who complete courses, ranging from beginners to Masters C2 level. Furthermore, these certificates are recognised worldwide, so clients can celebrate their achievements wherever in the world they go next. This global approach will be further exemplified when the company finishes work on the E-learning courses and certificates it is planning to deliver soon, providing an even greater flexibility for its clients wherever they are based. The vision of TSE is for all foreign participants, whether students, company employees, teachers, or expats, to be able to achieve their full potential and succeed in their language needs to be inclusive and thrive in Dutch society. At TSE, the needs of clients are always put first, every school, employee, student, or expat will start at a different level and have different needs as the process progresses, and all courses are therefore tailor-made, and workshops are constantly adjusted to account for how fast progress is being made. Following a workshop or course ultimately means ‘work in progress’, and the team will do whatever it takes to deliver a high standard of completed work. TSE’s strategy to success is a commitment to planning every workshop and course in detail with the school or company, to anticipate their unique needs by using their vision and mission as guidance, as well as learning and understanding their personal requirements. Workshops and courses are started year-round to fit the convenience and suitability of the teacher and clientele, with high levels of flexibility available regarding content and speed, so things can be taken as fast or as slow as suits a client’s personal needs. Through the team’s hard work and tireless efforts, a high retention and pass rate is achieved across all examinations. TSE always goes that extra mile to ensure all students and clients reach whatever it is they set out to achieve, maximising their potential in a future employment or education setting. Most of all, it is the goal of the organisation to help the community improve on its necessary skills, whether this be the knowledge and understanding of the Dutch or English languages, the prospects of the community are greatly improved through the possessing of this well-respected skill. What distinguishes TSE from many of the other training institutions in the same field is working with native speaking tutors. Upon enrolling on a TSE course, clients know they are in good hands, with the team having maintained a 100% pass rate in academic exams for the last eight years, the entire lifespan of the business so far. There are absolutely no plans to slow down or diverge from this promise, so whatever skill level a person starts at, they are essentially guaranteed to be a part of this perfect success rate in the future. TSE offers clients a range of courses at different levels, including the recent new course, ‘Dutch for Expats’, which was introduced in order to assist with the integration process of expats coming to live in the Netherlands. This course was designed and developed in accordance with the guidance and to the specification of Brainport, and it is delivered in three blocks, with each clocking in at approximately ten hours. A further six Dutch courses are available, with each lasting fifteen hours. These are A2, A2+, B1, and B1+. A more extensive range of English courses are available, with twelve currently listed on the TSE website. These range from different lengths of parent-teacher workshops, to business, director, and exam training courses, with some of these being as compact as six hours long, through to extensive programmes that are three or six months long. This serves to underpin that there really is a course out there for anybody, whatever the amount of time they have available to spare. TSE was also awarded the 2021/2022 award for Best English School by the Corporate Livewire Netherlands Prestige Awards, which recognises the achievements of small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in the market over that twelve-month period. Recently, the company’s primary students achieved overall first place in a competition between nine EU countries, reaching second and third place out of 63,500 participants at primary level, and the same positions out of 128,0000 for Level 1. Client reviews speak for themselves, and the small team are like family, communicating daily to ensure a personalised service is delivered and the highest calibre of teaching is being received. If hesitating whether to take the plunge of learning a new language or improving your current language skills, there is something TSE can provide that will satisfy your language needs, leaving you with an invaluable, life-improving skill. Contact Details Contact: Kirstie Wimbles Company: Think Smart English Web Address: https://thinksmartenglish.com/ Think Smart English’s focus is to provide tailored language solutions across both the English and Dutch language, which is achieved by studying the vision and mission of the school or company it is entering and assessing the departmental roles and responsibilities. This is in addition to a strong presence in primary and secondary schools, as well as providing assistance available for university students, professionals, and teachers, to name just a few. We speak with Kirstie Wimbles to find out more about the fantastic work done by the organisation.
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employees, enhancing their ability to support patients. This reinforces the cycle of care and trust has been a quintessential part of the company’s success. Over the coming 5 years, The Prelude Network® has plans to leverage its exclusive companion app Prelude Connect to help it set new industry standards. It wants to introduce features such as AI-driven personalised fertility advice and real-time consultations. The aim is to make the fertility care it offers more personalised and accessible to all. The company also hopes to expand its footprint across North America, and further invest in cutting edge technologies to enhance patient outcomes. The combination of technology, empathy, and science is how The Prelude Network® plans to redefine what’s possible in fertility care. Undoubtedly, this is why it has been awarded Most Innovative Leaders in Fertility Care 2023. Congratulations to this fantastically progressive and compassionate network of care centres who are truly going from strength to strength. Company: Inception Fertility Web Address: preludefertility.com Contact Name: Nicole Braley Aug23320 Accessible Fertility Treatments for All In the specialised world of fertility care, The Prelude Network® is the largest and fastest growing foundation of centres in North America. Its mission is to support those aspiring to become parents with its comprehensive fertility care services. Following its announcement as Most Innovative Leaders in Fertility Care 2023 in the Corporate Excellence Awards, we took the opportunity to find out a little more. The Prelude Network® offers comprehensive, technology-driven and fully inclusive approaches to the fertility care sector. It provides a broad range of services ranging from IVF (in vitro fertilisation) to fertility preservation and genetic testing for embryos. It’s a one-stop shop for all fertility needs, enabling patients to receive cohesive, high-quality care at any one of the specialist treatment centres in its network. The Prelude Network® operates from a fully inclusive position which happily welcomes families from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. This includes LGBTQ+ communities, singles, and partners. It’s one of the very few networks that openly encourages the involvement of all, with an admirable policy that aims to break down the barriers that can make fertility treatments less accessible to certain groups in society. It has introduced purposebuilt applications and digital tools such as the Prelude Connect External application, which empowers patients to schedule their appointments, manage their treatment schedules, and communicate directly with their care team. It is keen to encourage data-driven decisions with its proprietary Practice Edge tool keeping its network ably connected. The app embraces data, analytics, financial services, staff workflow automation, and hybrid workforce productivity. The result is that The Prelude Network® is able to make informed decisions to the benefit of all its patients. Of course, working alongside its valued patients is the other half of the company’s treasured entity, its staff. It strongly believes it is just as important to nurture its employees as its patients. One of the ways it does this is through an extensive employee benefit scheme. Employee benefits include free fertility services, adoption assistance, bereavement leave for pregnancy loss, and paid leave for birth or fostering a child. This creates an exceptional experience for all as patients feel understood, and appreciate the asset of being cared for by a team that itself feels supported and valued. The Prelude Network® has rapidly expanded across North America, without diluting the quality of its care, rather it has embraced a wider demographic, increasing the advantages of its unique fertility solutions. It has a carefully customised approach to care, and understands that every aspiring parent is different. It tailors its services for each individual, no matter where they are on the journey to parenthood. The Prelude Network® knows that the fertility industry is rewarding as well as challenging, particularly given the emotional and physical complexities patients often face. It feels that it is essential anyone working within the field has a strong understanding of the scientific aspects of fertility. This is, after all, the foundation stone on which any successful fertility service is built. It is also cognisant of the need to focus on patient-centric care, always putting the emotional and physical wellbeing of clients at the forefront of decisions. To achieve this, it believes that it is vital to have in place a motivated and wellsupported workforce. Nurturing employees is critical, as they are what lie at the very heart of the patient experience. They are the key to delivering the compassionate, high-quality care the company is striving to provide. The ethos at The Prelude Network® is focused on inclusivity and technological innovation, and is designed to bolster
Issue 9 2023 11 -- Extensive update to London Docklands facility, Telehouse South, will increase power capacity to 30MVA and include implementation of efficient new MEPH infrastructure Telehouse International Corporation of Europe, a leading global data centre service provider, today announced a significant build update to its largest existing data centre: London Docklands-based, Telehouse South. Multinational construction and development company, Skanska, has been appointed as the contractor to deliver the first phase of the main works, which will include completing two floors of colocation space by June 2024. The facility, which officially opened in Spring 2022, will see a new highly efficient mechanical, electrical and public health (MEPH) infrastructure implemented, while its overall power capacity will increase to 7.7 megawatts (MW) across three floors of colocation space. The revamp will include the redesign of existing plant areas, the opening of two new floors of colocation space and associated plant rooms, and the removal and recycling of all redundant plant and equipment from the entire building. In addition, the upgrade will feature the implementation of a new cladding system to improve building insulation and facility security. Other key upgrades set to further enhance operational excellence and customer experience at the facility include: • New Building Control Room (BCR) and Security Control Rooms (SCR) capabilities, including disaster recovery for remote facilities. • Security hardening with new vehicle management systems, boundary fencing, CCTV upgrades and analytics. • New security gatehouse and cycle storage. • New meeting rooms and breakout spaces. Takayo Takamuro, Managing Director, Telehouse Europe says: “Situated at the heart of our Docklands campus, Telehouse South has rapidly established itself as a critically important connectivity hub both for ourselves and our clients. The ongoing buildout and development of this state-of-the-art data centre underlines the high standards of security, sustainability and operational excellence that Telehouse is able to deliver to its data centre customers today.” Managing director, Dan Williams, Skanska, adds: “We’re very pleased to be providing the fit out and associated construction works. We have a history of successfully delivering a wide range of data centres and this project aligns with our core expertise.” The latest upgrade to Telehouse South is part of an ongoing process. At full buildout, the 31,000 square metres (sqm) facility will provide 12,000 sqm of colocation space and a total power capacity of 18MW. The 11-storey Telehouse South data centre is Telehouse’s most ambitious infrastructural and aesthetic refurbishment to date which placed sustainability and reducing environmental impacts at the forefront of all building designs, with the first phase of the project completed in less than 12 months from acquisition. At full capacity, Telehouse will have invested over £280 million into its development. Located close to the centre of London, Telehouse South is ideally positioned to serve businesses looking for low latency connectivity to London’s financial district. A network of 7,000 dark fibres, across two diverse routes, interconnects Telehouse South with the existing four data centres, offering unrivalled connectivity to a diverse ecosystem of over 1000 partners, including leading internet exchanges, cloud service providers, internet service providers and content service providers. Telehouse South is powered solely by renewable energy procured from certified wind, solar, biomass, and hydro generators. The Telehouse South cooling design uses free cooling chillers with elevated water temperature, that use external ambient temperature to reject heat, rather than using a refrigeration process. This will allow Telehouse South to use free cooling throughout the year. A new intelligent control system will assist in improving efficiency, achieving energy savings and reducing PUE by monitoring, analysing and optimising cooling temperatures within the facility. The facility does not use water for adiabatic cooling, eliminating reliance on natural resources and delivering a water usage efficiency (WUE) of zero for the building. Telehouse will be reusing the waste heat energy from the data halls to heat all other areas within the building. The upgrade looks set to also bring more jobs to London and the surrounding area. Telehouse and Skanska will be deploying graduates and apprentices on the project, accompanied by skilled personnel to aid knowledge transfer. Telehouse announces major upgrade to its largest data centre in London
annual profits to slump by nearly half to £29m, despite a 6 per cent rise in sales to just over £1bn. Pagegroup will report on their third-quarter trading on Wednesday, with expectations to post a 30 per cent fall in annual profits to £136m, due to flat sales of nearly £2bn for this year. Dirk Hahn, Hays chief executive, will present his first shareholder update the next day with figures for the first quarter of its financial year. Their annual profits are also forecast to fall 15 per cent to £166m. Aug23258 Three-quarters of UK businesses struggling to source staff, according to BCC The post-pandemic hiring boom is in decline as three-quarters of UK businesses admit to struggles with staff recruitment, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Hiring intentions were also shown to be continuing to fall last month. The BCC surveyed almost 5,000 companies, and found that 73 per cent had faced hiring difficulties in the July to September quarter – a nine percentage point drop from the record high of 82 per cent in the final three months of last year. This comes as BDO’s monthly employment index also recorded its weakest reading in nine years, with businesses struggling to retain staff costs amid higher borrowing rates, elevated wage growth and weaker customer demand. In consequence, business confidence and output were also down. The latest official unemployment figures showed a 0.5 percentage point increase in the jobless rate to 4.3 per cent, and many companies now appear to be moving toward scaling back their hiring plans after repeated interest rate rises from the Bank of England and growing concerns over the risk of recession. Derek Mackenzie, CEO at Investigo, a global skills provider, said: “Getting access to highly skilled, qualified candidates remains a major challenge for many businesses following the post-pandemic boom. The delay in bringing in the right people damages productivity and wider economic growth, so it’s critical that companies get the right systems in place to swiftly source a pipeline of talent. Building a strong recruitment process with specialist partners saves both time and money, as well as protecting companies from understaffing and skills shortfalls.” Reed saw a 20 per cent fall in the number of jobs advertised over the last three months compared with last year, whereas applications have risen by 20 per cent. The company’s chairperson, James Reed, said previously healthy sectors including IT, construction, property, and telecoms have all “dropped off”. He said: “The market is fairly tough at the moment – there are more people applying than there are jobs out there. We are still to see the full effect of interest rate rises … certain sectors are slowing down. “There has been a big culling in the tech sector. It feels like the party is over. [But] there are still huge shortages in IT and people with skills in handling AI will be in demand.” Robert Walters, Pagegroup and Hays, three big London-listed recruitment companies, will this week update investors on their trading over the last quarter - and City analysts believe they are all on track to post a fall in pre-tax profits by the end of their financial years. The firms have all noted signs of weakness across the UK, US and Chinese hiring markets in recent months, and a swing towards hiring temporary rather than permanent staff. Tomorrow, Robert Walters will inform investors on its trading over the past three months and analysts at AJ Bell have projected its
Issue 9 2023 13 Jul23511 • New research ahead of World Mental Health Day reveals that wellbeing benefits are now a top priority for employees – 83% of businesses say their employees are demanding more of these benefits • To cater to employee demand, over seven in ten businesses (71%) have introduced a Head of Wellbeing • However, under a fifth (19%) of businesses offer employees a wellbeing allowance as part of their benefits package • Businesses are in danger of losing out on talent by refusing to invest in wellbeing benefits Over eight in ten (83%) businesses in the UK report a rise in employees requesting more wellbeing benefits in the workplace, according to new research from employee benefits technology company Zest. The research marks World Mental Health Day (10th October) and demonstrates the growing importance employees are placing on wellbeing benefits as part of their total renumeration package as these perks become a top priority for the workforce. Businesses are putting increasing emphasis on catering to employee demands for wellbeing benefits - over seven in ten businesses (71%) have introduced a Head of Wellbeing role or equivalent. A key aspect of these roles will be communicating with employees over their wellbeing needs – their workforce is likely to be highly engaged on this issue as nine in ten (89%) employers say that their employees are now more likely to discuss wellbeing at work. However, despite the growing awareness of the needs of employees for more wellbeing benefits options, there is still room for improvement. For example, less than a fifth (19%) of businesses currently offer employees a wellbeing allowance as part of their benefits package. By not investing in their wellbeing benefits packages in a challenging hiring landscape, businesses are in danger of losing out on talent which will impact growth plans competitiveness. Despite 82% of businesses investing more in their wellbeing benefits offer, six in ten (57%) admit that employee wellbeing is at an all-time low, demonstrating a clear need for employers to develop these packages even further. Paid mental health leave is the most popular wellbeing benefit amongst UK employers, with nearly a quarter (24%) of businesses offering this. Other popular options include: • Cycle to work schemes – offered by 23% of employers • Mindfulness programmes –21% • Menopause support – 17% Matt Russell, CEO of Zest, said: “Employers not investing in their benefits packages will struggle to keep pace as the wellbeing revolution continues to accelerate. They risk being left behind by competitors and could face a real struggle to attract and retain key talent if they don’t listen to the demands of their workforce. “Many people struggled with their mental wellbeing during Covid and then the cost of living crisis took a toll on their financial wellbeing – employers need to ensure that their employee benefits packages are offering the right tools to support both. “However, it’s a hugely positive sign that so many employers are appointing Heads of Wellbeing or similar roles – these individuals will be able to liaise with the workforce directly, ultimately ensuring that employees have access to the support and renumeration that they need during this challenging time.” Zest is an employee benefits platform that offers flexible benefits services for a wide range of well-known businesses across the world, including Hargreaves Lansdown, Taylor Wimpey, ADP and Travis Perkins. Wellbeing revolution: Over eight in ten businesses seeing increased employee demand for more work wellbeing benefits
Virgin Media O2 steps up support to help British businesses recycle 12 million unused mobile phones and tablets • New study finds 7 in 10 companies would like to be ‘greener’ but don’t know how to handle their electronic waste, resulting in more than 11.8 million unused mobile and tablet devices gathering dust • It comes as Virgin Media O2 enhances ‘O2 Recycle for Business’ – making it simpler for companies to recycle their unused devices and get paid for doing so • Since its launch in 2009, O2 Recycle has processed more than 3.8 million devices As new figures reveal UK businesses are holding onto almost 12 million unused mobile phones and tablets, Virgin Media O2 is boosting its O2 Recycle initiative, making it easier for companies to sustainably dispose of their unwanted devices. The ‘O2 Recycle for Business’ service has been relaunched to help companies of all sizes trade in their old technology – where they can receive cash back, credit towards new devices, or donate funds to charity. Any company can use O2 Recycle for Business, regardless of their mobile provider. O2 Recycle has processed more than 3.8 million business and consumer devices since its launch in 2009, and last year paid out more than £670,000 to businesses. Devices are data wiped and 92% are either recycled or refurbished and resold as ‘like new’ products to customers – supporting the circular economy, with the remainder broken down for raw materials. None of the tech that goes through O2 Recycle ends up in a landfill. Businesses baffled by how to go green It comes as new research reveals UK businesses are bamboozled by how to recycle their old tech and want help to become more sustainable. The study has found 7 in 10 (70%) companies would like to be ‘greener’ but just don’t know how to go about handling their electronic waste, resulting in organisations hoarding unused phones and laptops for a year, on average. Furthermore, three-quarters (76%) of firms say they need to be more responsible with disposing of their old tech, and 8 in 10 (82%) organisations want a simple solution to help their business recycle their unwanted devices. Five clicks to collection With enhancements to the O2 Recycle for Business platform, organisations can now recycle their phones and tablets in five simple steps, registering multiple devices at once, and arranging a free courier collection to take the devices away. The service also supports employees working remotely who have many unused devices stashed in drawers, garages or lofts, as businesses can send them a QR code so they can also post the items to O2 Recycle for free. Businesses can use their credit to buy new devices via O2 or donate up to 100% of their cash back to Virgin Media O2’s charity partner, Good Things Foundation, to support digital inclusion projects across the UK. O2 Recycle for Business also supports organisations to lower their Scope 3 supply chain carbon emissions by ensuring that devices are more likely to be given a second life. The initiative forms part of Virgin Media O2’s sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, where the company is working to support consumers and businesses to carry out 10 million ‘circular actions’ by the end of 2025. Jo Bertram, Managing Director at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: “O2 Recycle for Business provides companies with a simple way to remove unused devices cluttering their offices – and be rewarded for it. “Open to businesses of all sizes whether a customer of ours or not, this initiative provides businesses with a responsible method to dispose of their e-waste, all while providing the trade-in value of the device or the opportunity to donate that to our charity partner, Good Things Foundation.” Miranda Apps at GB Railfreight, said: “O2 Recycle has enabled our organisation to safely recycle our obsolete devices, minimising pollution and waste. This saves energy and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change. The process has been easy to manage and is a cost-effective way to reutilise old equipment.”
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