Issue 9 2021

News 4 More than three-in-ten businesses have failed to innovate during the pandemic, Ayming research reveals Businesses must take care to keep up with changes in the market as the pandemic has prevented 31 per cent of businesses from innovating, according to research released today by Ayming Group, the business per- formance consultancy specialising in innovation. The third annual International Innovation Barometer (IIB) – based on a survey of 585 senior execu- tives – reveals an air of confidence regarding Research & Development (R&D). Most businesses are proud of how they have reacted to the pan- demic, with 36 per cent saying they have successfully innovated to make minor adjustments to their business, whereas one-in-four say they have fully adapted to seize Covid-19 related opportunities. However, businesses must be wary of disruption. It’s clear that the pandem- ic has accelerated innovation in most markets, as agreed by 82 per cent of businesses, with a quarter of all firms saying that this acceleration has been drastic. Despite this, 69 per cent believe they are innovating enough to keep up with the changes in their market. Confidence which may be misplaced. This raises the danger of complacen- cy. Not only are markets more open to disruption, but R&D departments face a growing number of challenges. Budgets, for example, are much more uncertain and there are growing con- cerns about a talent shortage, both of which are contributing to a failure of almost a third of firms to innovate during the pandemic. Those who are not innovating are at a disadvantage and could be left behind. Mark Smith, Partner of Innovation Incentives at Ayming UK, says: “The gap is widening between those who have prioritised innovation and those who haven’t. We know Covid-19 has completely shaken up whole industries and economies. It has simultaneously created the perfect environment for disruption while creating challenges for R&D teams and businesses. This re- search reveals an unbalanced reaction. “Unfortunately, it has made it very difficult to know how much R&D will be enough. The secretive nature of R&D means businesses don’t know what disruptive forces are emerg- ing in their sector. However, a crisis like Covid-19 will always lead to the emergence of new, forward-thinking propositions. We can already see new start-ups and services emerging, and there is likely plenty more to come.” The pandemic has, however, provided some positive learnings for firms to take forward and it has caused com- panies to think differently. Reflecting on the pandemic, 82 per cent of busi- nesses agree that the pandemic has demonstrated that a business must be able to identify and react to opportu- nities, and 76 per cent agree that the pandemic has proved how important it is to innovate during a crisis. The report takes a dive into interna- tional R&D, with insights and statis- tics across three sections, including The Innovation Landscape, Financing Innovation, and Innovating in a Crisis. This sheds a light on how businesses have reacted to the pandemic, includ- ing rapidly adjusting R&D priorities to focus on the short term and stream- lining activity by keeping resources in-house. Key statistics can be found in the executive summary. Home working still too homely More than half of us are still working from kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms Only four out of ten people (42%) working from home do so from a home office, with the remainder working from the kitchen or dining room (21%), their lounge (19%) or their bedroom (17%). Only 32% of people say working from home is more productive, compared to 36% who say they are more productive in the office and 30% who say a hybrid arrangement makes them productive. Seven out of ten employees expect employers to provide the correct equipment for working from home. The survey of 1,000 UK employees which was conducted by office solutions supplier Fellowes Brands also reveals: • Whether working from home or the office, nine in ten employees (89%) rate satisfaction in their workspace as important, with a third (32%) saying they are up to 50% more productive when they are satisfied with their workspace. • • 81% say having a good ergonomic environment, including a suitable desk, chair, and monitor at eye level is important to their productivity. • 79% say having access to the equipment they need, such as an extra monitor to view large documents, is important to their productivity. • 80% say it is important to their productivity that their employer invests in ergonomics. • 43% find well-ventilated and filtered air satisfying in their workspace • 77% say it is important for an employer to invest in clean, healthy air (e.g., using air purifiers) to facilitate productivity in their workspace. • 33% say they find breathing cleaner, healthier air satisfying at work. • 74% say it is important that an employer invests in equipment to shred sensitive documents. • 81% say having a clean, healthy workspace is important to their productivity. • 77% say it is important that an employer invests in effective storage and organisation solutions they need to be productive at the office. • 73% say it is important that an employer invests in equipment to produce high quality presentations and documents, including laminators and binders, they need to be productive at the office. Productivity expert, Martin Geiger, said: “The future of work is hybrid. No longer is working solely relegated to the company office; the modern workspace now involves employees splitting a portion of their time working from within the corporate office, and a portion working from the home office. “Throughout my career working with some of the world’s biggest companies, one thing I’ve come to notice is that the most productive people all seem to have one commonality: satisfaction. To successfully transition to this exciting hybrid working future, employers must implement practical strategies that allow their employees to be satisfied with the setup within the corporate office, as well as within their home working environment. “Employees who are well equipped and thus satisfied with their working conditions in both locations will lead to outcomes of higher productivity.” Fellowes Brands offers solutions designed to aid employers in optimising their hybrid strategy, while satisfying employees in their hybrid workspaces. Fellowes Brands UK Marketing Manager, Jeremy Cooper, said: “The modern workspace is rapidly evolving, and with that comes a change in the tools that employees need to be successful and productive in their work. As employers begin to design new hybrid ways of working, ensuring that employers outfit their employees for both corporate and home office working will be key. “At Fellowes Brands, we understand that hybrid working is the future and have built our hybrid workspace tools to meet the demands of this future, ensuring productivity for the long-term.” The full survey results and their analysis can be found in Fellowes Brands’ new whitepaper, entitled ‘The Importance of Workspace Satisfaction’, authored by productivity expert, Martin Geiger, which can be downloaded at fellowes.com/fellowes- satisfaction.