But it’s not just as a solo artist that Nik has enjoyed global success – he’s also written and produced best-selling songs for Elton John, Gary Barlow, Lulu, and many more. He even wrote the Chesney Hawkes smash The One And Only, which spent five weeks at number one and cracked the top 10 in the USA. 

All that as well as being the founder of his own record label Shorthouse Records, it’s fair to say that Nik has plenty to talk about – and that’s exactly what he’s doing on his intimate theatre tour, Musings & Lyrics. Let’s find out more, shall we?

Credit to Michelle Martin

Nik, tell us about your tour.

“I’ve loved the solo shows I’ve done so far. On until 23 November, it’s giving me a chance to share songs, stories and have a Q&A session with the audience.”

So what’s the best question you’ve been asked ?

“A few years ago someone said, ‘Nik, can you sing Fantastic Day for us?’ I had to break the news that I wasn’t Nick Heyward, and that they’d booked tickets for the wrong show!”

Anything else?

“I get asked a lot about Live Aid, which was unlike anything else I’ve ever done. It was an incredible experience, and I feel very privileged to have been part of it. When you realise just how many people were involved behind the scenes in making that event happen, it’s amazing.”

Take us back to your time in the Mid-Eighties

“My feet didn’t touch the ground for about two years. It was like my life was on rails and I couldn’t get off the train.”

But by the end of the Eighties you quit performing. Why?

“I’d become disillusioned with being a performer, so took a step back to write and produce for other artists. Some were written on my own; some in collaboration with others; some for established artists, some for hopeful idiots; some for major label projects; some just for the hell of it!”

Did you have a process when writing them?

“I used to wake up in the middle of the night with great ideas for a song and have to write them down. Or they’d come to me when I was driving the car, or out on a walk. I’d start whistling a tune, and it would grow from there. But the really successful songs came to me relatively quickly. They weren’t difficult to write, and just sort of happened – that’s often the way.”

What’s different when you’re not writing your own songs?

“It’s a very different process. You may have very strong views about something, either spiritually or politically, which would feel right for you to sing. You can’t do that for others – it has to be more generic. Harmonically I used to go off all over the place, but you can’t really do that when you are writing for others, either. You have to operate within certain parameters.”

And that’s what took you back to singing again?

“Operating within those parameters became the thing that frustrated me the most. I realised I couldn’t really go for it and write some of the songs I wanted to because no-one else was going to sing them, so I decided I was just going to have to sing them myself!”

Credit to Michelle Martin

So are you still singing now?

“I still do gigs, which I enjoy, but don’t have the same hunger and drive to be constantly creating new material that I had in my 20s. There will be another album at some point, though. At the moment I’m just not sure what it will be, and when. You always have to think that your best-ever album is still to come – there’s no point in doing this otherwise.”

Back to the show and the question we all want to know: will you be giving us a definitive answer to the meaning of your1984 hit The Riddle and reveal once and for all what it was all about?

“Yes – I’ve developed a new way of explaining it, and the process I went through when I was creating it. No spoilers, though – you’ll have to come to one of the shows or buy my book to find out.”

Buy tickets to one of Nik’s shows here and his book here.

The post Interview: Nik Kershaw appeared first on Checklists.

It is time to break it down into what steps you need to do to get the business off the ground and running. There are plenty of companies that are offering services to help kickstart your business with ease.

1. ArchOver

ArchOver is a peer-to-peer business lending platform. They connect SME’s that need working capital with investors looking for a favourable return. Through their platform, lenders pledge to your project, providing you with the money you need to achieve your goals.

They carry out rigorous due diligence to ensure they fully understand our borrowers’ businesses, what they’re trying to achieve, and the challenges they face. They get to know them, spending time with them to ensure they get the best loan for their needs.

They have a proven record not only of helping businesses secure funding, but also helping their borrowers when they meet challenges outside their control.

Find out more at archover.com

2. WorkLife

WorkLife coworking spaces provide businesses with everything they need from an office space; whether it’s hot-desking or a private hub, including Wi-Fi, printing, meeting rooms, private phone booths, a reception and a fully fitted kitchen.

WorkLife know that work happiness plays a huge part in productivity, so the community-led spaces are designed to make you feel good, and the membership teams go the extra mile to make your experience special.

Your membership includes networking, unlimited coffee from Redemption Roasters, weekly fitness classes, regular breakfasts, monthly massages with Urban and training sessions with Jolt.

Located across London, Manchester and Reading, the spaces allow businesses to feel part of a wider community. Plus, members get easy access to a network of different skills and services all under the same roof, and the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate across companies.

Find out more at work.life

3. OKI

OKI sells the smallest A3 printer on the market – the C800 series – that can handle all your printing needs, including business cards, pre-cut media, posters, banners up to 1.3m long and beyond. Combining media flexibility, ultra-reliability and OKI’s pioneering digital LED technology, this productivity-boosting device is perfect for creating professional quality customer-facing collateral, as well as day-to-day office documents in-house and on-demand.

The C800 series warms up instantly and conserves energy thanks to OKI’s innovative fusing technology, saving time and creating efficiency, making it the perfect choice for any business workgroup.

Find out more at oki.com

4. Octopus Electric Vehicles

Octopus Electric Vehicles makes it easy for everyone – individuals and businesses – to join the electric vehicle revolution. They bring together everything you need to get you on the road.

They’ve got a team of experts who live and breathe electric vehicles day in, day out, ready to find you the best finance options, unlock government incentives and save you money wherever you can.

They’ve got a handpicked range of the best electric vehicles from all the top manufacturers including BMW, Nissan, Jaguar and of course Tesla. Their hassle-free smart charging solutions mean you’ll be able to wake up every day with a full charge.

They’re even changing the rules of how vehicles are used and energy is consumed, through Powerloop their vehicle to grid product that turns your parked car into a battery for your home. They’ve got the complete EV solution to start saving.

Find out more at octopusev.com

5. Payswell

Payswell can help you and your business with payroll solutions for contractors, temporary workers, recruitment agencies and individuals. Their organisation manages systems such as PAYE, LTD, UMBRELLA and CIS. 

They understand the demands made by contractors and agencies and can assist in mitigating the volume of paperwork and offer an HMRC-compliant payment model, ensuring both agencies and workers are up to date with current legislation.

 Payswell accept that charges can be one of the biggest deal-breakers when it comes to choosing an umbrella solution, that suits you and your company. They believe it is essential to be highly competitive and with the lowest charges in the industry tailored to your needs. Payswell simply puts you and your business first.

All clients are assigned their own dedicated personal account manager who will take care of all your payroll needs efficiently and offer advice whenever needed.

Find out more at payswell.net

6. Rockwool

Energy efficient upgrades to your building with ROCKWOOL with not only make your property more environmentally friendly, but they could also save you up to £600 per year on your energy bills.

Insulating your office is one of the easiest ways to improve energy efficiency, reducing energy usage by up to 70%. Using non-combustible Rockwool stone wool insulation will help you achieve much wider benefits than just energy savings.

There are many benefits to improving your insulation. Stone wool’s superior sound reduction performance will help you to turn noise down. Its insulation regulates internal temperature to make your building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Plus, as non-combustible insulation, stone wool won’t burn, making your property as safe as it is warm.

Find out more at rockwool.com

7. Pack & Send

For nearly 30 years Pack & Send have been delivering far more than just a simple courier service. They are the UK’s largest network of packing and shipping specialists with huge experience of safely moving virtually anything to all parts of the globe.

Their unique range of secure packing options make them particularly effective in handling fragile and valuable goods. They can also transport medical and laboratory equipment, vehicle parts and engineering machinery.

They understand the concerns of buyers and vendors when moving unique things. Pack & Send apply the same high level of attention to detail in executing the shipment. They are so confident in the security of their shipping services that they offer a loss and damage warranty on anything that they have packed – regardless of its value.

Pack & Send’s flexibility, attention to detail, and premium customer service can be the answer.

Find out more at packsend.co.uk

8. Dehns

Dehns is one of Europe’s leading firms of patent and trademark attorneys, working with SMEs in all sectors over the last 100 years to help increase the value of businesses. Dehns can help identify, obtain and protect your intellectual property, which in turn can help you achieve your corporate objectives.

Two of the most important IP are trademarks and patents. Brand recognition and loyalty are developed in a trademark over time. It can become a highly valuable asset; obtaining appropriate trademark protection early on is important, otherwise third parties may be able to use an identical or similar trademark, in a way that may confuse customers, divert business and/or damage your brand’s image.

Patents protect new inventions. The owner of a patent can generally prevent others from using, making, or selling the invention for a limited period of time.

Find out more at dehns.com

9. Amazon Business

Amazon Business and American Express launched two new products aimed at the small business market.

This allows you to tap into the ability to make of the most of your future spending. In addition to no annual fee in the first year, you will receive a £25 Amazon Gift Card upon approval, and on top of that, the freedom to choose between 1.5% Amazon Rewards or deferred payment for 60 days on UK purchases at Amazon Business, amazon.co.uk and Whole Foods Market.

Find out more amazon.co.uk

10. Hampshire Trust Bank

When it comes to saving, opening an ISA is a great start. That’s where Hampshire Trust Bank can help.

Basically, it means you can save up to £20,000 a year, tax free. They offer a range of cash-ISAs available for new subscriptions and transfers from both cash, stocks and shares ISAs.

And, when you choose Hampshire Trust Bank, you have the added peace of mind that comes from knowing your money is protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme.

Find out more at htb.co.uk

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Ten top companies to help you run your business appeared first on Checklists.

Many of us have had to adapt to home offices during the pandemic. With attention-demanding children and pets, home-working spouses, housework and home-schooling all under one roof, the distractions and difficulties of home working have presented an array of challenges to employee productivity. Despite these setbacks and the original adjustment period, many workers are now pushing for more regular remote working in the return to the ‘new normal’, with the trend leaning towards a ‘hybrid’ set up; some days spent in the office and the rest at home. Research shows that Gen Z workers in particular are pushing to split their time between home and office to get the best from both worlds.

Employers may understandably feel cautious or uncomfortable with the prospect of staff working out-of-office for half of the week. Although the benefits for staff are clear; among them cheaper lunches, child-care flexibility, home comforts, and lack of commute, it could be argued that business owners gain little from having a team work remotely. Employers may want to consider investing in monitoring software to help manage their remote teams, allowing them to assign tasks and track their progress throughout the day. You will be able to see how long it takes an employee to complete a task, and will also remove the back-and-forth email chasing between managers and staff as the job is in progress.

Regular communication between employees is crucial to keep remote workers engaged, but be careful of ‘Zoom fatigue’ and overloading your staff with onscreen meetings. If a chat can happen face-to-face on office-working days, consider rescheduling so that you can discuss with them in person. It will be much easier to pick up natural physical cues and foster a welcoming atmosphere in these circumstances, rather than on a video conference. Offering bonuses and target incentives can also help drive remote workers to maximise their time and boost overall morale. Recognising and rewarding an employee’s hard work will help keep them motivated and make them more likely to meet or exceed their targets. Focusing on a team’s accomplishments and achievements will help bolster remote workers’ overall sense of purpose and wellbeing. This coupled with continuous feedback will allow the team to develop their skills over time and focus on areas that need the most attention.

Offering flexibility is key to retaining and motivating remote and hybrid workers. Should they need to collect their kids from school in the early afternoon, or attend an important doctor’s appointment, employers should endeavour to arrange a schedule which allows them to do so. One of the main obstacles in remote working can be technology; if your employees don’t have the correct equipment, or their equipment is not fully functioning in a remote environment, their productivity will be impacted and half of the day could be spent trying to overcome the problems it presents.

One of the main aspects of home working is the trust you place in your staff. If employees feel that managers are suspicious of their work-from-home output, or constantly bombarding them with emails and messages to ‘check-in’ on their whereabouts and workload, it fosters an unhealthy surveillance culture and can breed animosity between employees and managers. Finding ways to mitigate these issues, such as investing in software to manage employee schedules, and having weekly meetings to summarise the achievements of the week, rather than check-up on them frequently throughout the working day.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Helping the home workers: motivating your remote staff appeared first on Checklists.

Buzzwords like ‘burnout’ and ‘self-care’ crept into the public consciousness pre-pandemic, and their importance and meaning have only intensified. Recognised by the World Health Organization as an ‘occupational phenomenon’, burnout refers to emotional and physical exhaustion brought on by work, busy parenting schedules, and the stresses of modern-day life. Feelings of tiredness, self-doubt and being overwhelmed are common in those experiencing burnout, which all have a detrimental impact on employee productivity. A recent survey by analytics site Visier found that 89% of employees experienced burnout over the past year. It also revealed that two-thirds of employees would leave their current role for one that offered comprehensive resources and benefits intended to reduce or prevent burnout. It’s wise for business owners to invest in support for staff to help them in their self-care, enabling them to avoid burnout and the feelings of hopelessness associated with it.

Implementing a culture of self-care in the workplace may seem daunting, but simple changes can make huge differences in the health and wellbeing of your staff. Valuing your employees’ ‘off’ time is an important place to start from. Discouraging them from eating their lunch at their desks, making sure they log off at the end of the working day and ensuring they don’t reply to emails out of office hours can make a huge difference to employee wellbeing. Businesses that work across multiple time zones will find that their employees work long into the night to communicate with colleagues in other regions, but this leads to employees never ‘switching off’ from their role, creating stress and building resentment towards their employer. 

Scheduling outdoor and movement time within the working day, perhaps by establishing and promoting a walking lunch, will also break up the working day and allow employees to escape the claustrophobia of the office. Changing the language used when approaching problems and situations can also be helpful in combating the toxic culture of immediacy that’s linked to burnout. Is a certain problem or request truly urgent? Does it need to be attended to instantly, or could your employee better manage their time and workday to prioritise each thing in turn? Expecting employees to drop their current task and attend to non-time sensitive requests from their superiors can be disruptive and contribute to increasing stress levels in the workforce.

Introducing wellness ‘check-in’s with staff can be a great way to monitor your employees’ mental wellbeing and to receive valuable feedback about what areas could be improved. Break-out sessions in mindfulness or yoga can also be helpful to keep staff engaged in self-care. Promoting the use of apps such as Headspace and 10% Happier will also encourage employees to take time out of work to look after themselves and their mental health. Allowing employees flexibility in their schedule to tend to their family, pets or attend to other important personal issues will also steer staff away from potential burnout.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Take care before burnout: keeping your staff healthy appeared first on Checklists.

Diverse workplaces are productive workplaces. A mix of employees of different backgrounds, races, genders and sexualities with varied life experiences makes for a more efficient and creative workforce, and research shows that companies with an inclusive culture are twice as likely to exceed their financial targets. By expanding their recruitment beyond the ‘pale, stale and male’ culture that dominated workforces in the past, companies are opening up their businesses to a wealth of talent and a world of more efficient, creative problem solving. Global finance company KPMG recently committed to having 29% of its workforce hail from working-class backgrounds by 2030, paving the way for greater opportunities for graduates and job seekers from less fortunate economic circumstances.

The first step in building a diverse workforce is to foster a culture in which diversity can thrive. If individuals are hired, but later not made to feel included, supported, or understood, it can create friction between colleagues and ultimately have a negative impact on productivity down the line. Structuring the company mission statement to champion diversity and inclusion is vital, as is regularly educating and coaching your staff on inclusion. Workshops and training courses which allow staff to gain greater understanding of their colleagues’ circumstances will create a more powerful team of varied minds that can listen to and respect each other. Without the necessary training, coaching and support in place, any active diversity hiring can be perceived as a tick-box exercise and will not achieve the same results.

Once a culture of inclusion has been established, business owners should employ appropriate methods to access a diverse talent pool. Dealing with recruitment companies who actively hire diverse workforces is a start, but if you are recruiting directly there are various methods you can use to make sure the job is done efficiently. This begins with the wording of job advertisements to make them more inclusive, avoiding jargon or corporate language that might alienate applicants, or wording that might subtly discriminate against different ages, genders or religions.

Telling candidates that you are actively seeking to employ from a diverse range of backgrounds will also cast the net wide. Ensuring hiring managers see only ‘blind’ CVs – CVs which contain no personal data such as names and date of birth, will ensure that any unconscious bias does not impact recruitment and that the hiring is based entirely on work experience and merit. Once the interviewees are selected, you will also need to create a diverse interview panel which reflects your inclusive culture and allows for a broader spectrum of opinions on your new hire.

Once you have hired your staff, maintaining your healthy and diverse workforce is key for staff retention. Ongoing training and coaching is required, and you may want to consider employee-led diversity and inclusion groups. Electing in-house diversity and inclusion officers who people can approach for information and support, and arranging regular wellbeing check-ins with all staff will contribute to the productivity and health of your employees.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Time for inclusion: hiring and coaching a diverse workforce appeared first on Checklists.

With increasing numbers of remote staff linking up by video call, employees must navigate the frustrations of technology while coping with seeing themselves onscreen.

If your employees are logging in and zoning out, here’s our tips to keep them focused.

1. Write an agenda

A schedule or agenda will help employees stay focused during video meetings, particularly if they’re likely to be over an hour long. A breakdown of the topics you’re going to cover and the order you’ll discuss them helps you and your staff allocate time and attention to each individual subject.

Websites like Miro.com set you up with an agenda template telling employees what to expect before, during and after a meeting. This tool will also help you ascertain what was achieved during the meeting, and reflect on the points covered.

2. Cut some slack

If the meeting could be an email, could it also have been an instant message? Business messaging software like Slack and Twist allow seamless communication without having to assemble for a video call.

This saves valuable time and allows you to speak to specific members of staff in appropriate threads, so that each communication remains relevant to everyone involved.

3. Switch off the selfies

Although filters on video meeting software can ‘soften’ your appearance, it might be wise to instruct all employees to switch off their self-view when the meeting begins. This saves them becoming distracted by their own wrinkles and double chins, or fixing their hair and posing when they forget everyone can see them.

You will still be able to see them and keep an eye on whether they are paying attention.

4. Close extra tabs

It sometimes feels like there are hundreds of tabs running in our brains, as well as our screens. To limit distractions, keep meetings short and instruct your colleagues to close off their screens (and brains!) to other tasks while the meeting takes place.

Have them close down their inbox and other tabs before the meeting begins. Not only will this improve overall focus and concentration for the meeting, it will also ensure there are fewer mistakes on the other tasks they’re racing to complete.

5. Encourage regular screen breaks

Anyone sitting in front of a screen eight hours a day is likely to become fatigued, whether they’re in back-to-back Zoom meetings or staring at an overflowing inbox. This can be worsened by a work-from-home environment, where there are no colleagues to plan coffee breaks or lunch with.

Encouraging your staff to talk a walk outside will freshen their perspective, give them a little breathing space and allow them to return to their to-do list with new eyes.

6. Pick up the phone

Sometimes it’s necessary to open the forum for a wider spectrum of opinions, but reaching out to colleagues individually could be far more effective than hauling them all into a virtual meeting.

If you feel your staff have been over-exposed to screen time, check in with them one-on-one to get a sense of their ideas and their overall wellbeing.

Ditching modern technology for a traditional call might help you build closer connections with your employees and give them the space to be more honest with their thoughts and suggestions.

7. Don’t go back-to-back

It might be tempting to roll meetings back-to-back, but this can be exhausting for everyone involved and detrimental to productivity.

Without calendar breaks of between five and 15 minutes, your staff will likely burn out and lose their focus much quicker. Most calendar apps allow you to add ‘buffer time’ between your meetings to give your employees time to get a glass of water, stretch their legs and clear their minds for the next meeting.

8. Cut down meeting times

Keeping meetings concise and to the point will cut down employee fatigue and allow everyone to spend more time on the wealth of other day-to-day tasks they are responsible for.

If you can reduce the time spent discussing ideas and issues, you’ll allow more time to actively address the areas in the workflow that need attention.

Keeping meetings to 30 minutes or less will help keep your staff engaged and stop them from zoning out halfway through.

9. Allocate topics

Giving employees a topic each to cover during the meeting will keep them interested and allow them to impart their wisdom and experience to colleagues. Knowing they have to present or take charge of a topic will give them ownership within the meeting and help keep their minds active.

Divide up topics before the meeting and keep the allocated discussion time for each topic short, so that the meeting moves along quickly and a variety of subjects are covered.

10. Trust your staff

Don’t use superfluous meetings as an excuse to ‘check in’ on your work-from-home workforce. It could be that hybrid working is here to stay, and it’s time that employers placed a little more trust in their remote workers.

If your employees think you are arranging meetings as an opportunity to spy on them, or to make them prove they are being productive, it may erode trust and create ill-feeling between you and your staff.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 ways to beat video meeting fatigue appeared first on Checklists.

There are plenty of companies that make little gift packs for valued members of staff, to show them that their hard work and extra effort hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Whether you gift them on a random Tuesday or a special occasion, your staff will feel much more appreciated in the workplace. You may notice that overall productivity increases once you start giving out little rewards, too.

1. Gourmet snacks

Snack Magic creates curated snack boxes for your employees, whether you’re treating them in the office or they’re working from home.

Freshly baked cookies, flavoured chocolates and posh popcorn are among the gourmet treats on offer, but there are also a host of hampers that offer little pamper treatments, goodies for a ‘cosy night in’ or selections of soaps.

Snack Magic caters to all different dietary requirements too, so you can ensure your vegan employees don’t receive beef jerky and your nut-allergic staff don’t get cashews.

Find out more at snackmagic.com

2. Wine Hampers

Start giving out Huggs to your staff with these fun gifts from brands like Bloom & Wild and Barefoot Bakery.

There are options to treat your employees at their own home or in person, and plenty of choice when it comes to which gift to give.

Boozy wine or tasty tea hampers, memberships to yoga classes and potted succulents are among the wonderful array of treats you can send your staff.

Find out more at huggg.me

3. Discounts for days

Everybody loves a bargain, especially at big-name brands and shops.

With Staff Treats you can get discounts for your employees for over 3,000 brands, ranging from Adidas to Starbucks.

These little added luxuries will make your staff feel better about their 9-5, and it only costs £4 per employee each month. This is especially for small businesses of under 250 employees.

Find out more at stafftreats.com

4. Care packages

Treat your remote-working staff with a care package to brighten up their home office.

Book Block have got a great selection of boxes with little potted plants, loose leaf tea, biscuits and hand creams to keep your employees happy at their desk, wherever they are.

These little packages help employees feel connected and boost morale when they don’t have the option of coffee breaks with colleagues.

Find out more at bookblock.com

5. Blind dates

For all the literature lovers, Bookishly offers blind dates with books.

Just pick a genre and a book will be wrapped up in paper and twine and sent to its new owner, who won’t know what literary adventure they’ve received until its unwrapped.

This beautifully presented gift is available using pre-loved or new books, so if you are eco-conscious and would prefer to reuse and recycle, you have the option to send a second-hand paperback.

Find out more at bookishly.co.uk

6. A little zen

Getting a little inner peace is so important for your hardworking staff.

Kiss My Parcel created a Zen Basket, which is a suitcase hamper full of treats to help employees relax, whether they work in the office or remotely. Aloe Vera plants, bath essence and salts, fragrance oil burners and positivity notebooks are among the items that can be included in your curated box.

If you fancy exploring other options, there are plenty of treats to choose from to build your own hamper.

Find out more at kissmyparcel.com

7. Send a surprise

Everyone loves surprises, so why not send a mystery box of gifts to your employees to show them that you care?

It’s a little more risky than curating your own package, but at least you can’t be blamed for picking the wrong thing.

Letterbox-friendly gifts from Postboxed will take the hassle out of picking individual presents for your employees, and you’ll both get a surprise when they open them up.

Find out more at postboxed.co.uk

8. Plant A Tree

If you have an office team of eco-warriors, or just want to do your bit to help the planet, why not plant a tree in their name?

With Eforests you can have a tree planted in a UK nature reserve or woodland in your employee’s name.

The tree will be publicly accessible, so your employee can go and visit the tree in person, as well as knowing from a distance that they are contributing to the British scenery. They’ll receive a tree dedication certificate with a personalised message from you.

Find out more at eforests.co.uk

9. Six chickens

Don’t worry, we’re not recommending a coop for the office. Six chickens are among the many charitable gifts you can give in your employee’s name to help people in need.

Concern Worldwide offer a variety of incredible, life-changing gifts that benefit the poorest children and their families, including banana plants, avocado trees, six chickens, a pig and financial support for children to go to school.

Most of these come in at under £30 but make a dramatic difference to the lives of those less fortunate, so if you’re looking for wonderful, philanthropic gifts for your staff on special occasions, look no further.

Find out more at concern.org.uk

10. Prepped meals for proud parents

Expectant parents are normally overwhelmed with baby-grows, nappies and muslin clothes before their baby’s arrival.

If your employees are going off on parental leave, give them something different and useful by sending them meal boxes from Potage.

You’ll be relieving the stress of cooking in week one of their lives as parents, gifting them classic ready-to-heat dishes like lasagne, mac and cheese, and fish pie.

Soul food for sleepy new parents, with less mess and stress in the kitchen. They’ll be over the moon with the gesture, and with their bundle of joy.

Find out more at potage.co.uk

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 treats to keep your staff happy appeared first on Checklists.

With the monumental shift in working patterns that occurred during the 2020 lockdowns, the nation as a whole saw a huge drop in commuter numbers, the closure of office spaces and most of their retail services, such as food and hospitality, fall silent. With this vast change in working and living patterns, one would think there would be a net-energy saving, as cars and trains didn’t run, offices were not switched on, and sandwich shops and restaurants remained dormant with no consumables created.

However, broader analysis is now showing that an overall fall in workplace energy consumption as a result of UK lockdowns in 2020 was largely cancelled out by an increase in personal usage, as the government’s work from home advice increased the nation’s reliance on personal gas and electricity.

According to research by business energy supplier, Gazprom Energy, 37% more personal energy was used in 2020, due to increased reliance on home lighting, heating and the use of home appliances while working from home. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) estimates the average household uses 3,731 kWh per year. A year-on-year consumption increase of 37% adds a further 1,380 kWh per year to each household’s consumption – over one-third more energy per household – as homeworkers charge laptops and phones, watch television, heat water and run the heating throughout the day.

Daniel Sullivan, head of UK sales at Gazprom Energy, commented on the increase: “While we have all been taking the necessary health and safety precautions during the pandemic and reducing business travel, it is interesting to look at the consumption of energy by the nation and see where fluctuations happen. A fragmented workforce has resulted in fewer shared appliances and electronics, and an increase in individual activity has increased electricity and gas consumption as a result.

“Energy-saving measures that are present in the workplace may not be present in the home, such as energy-efficient lighting and smart metering, meaning efficiency is lost as a result of hybrid working. Businesses also benefit from economies of scale when their workforce is in one location using shared heating, cooling and energy for appliances and equipment.”

Although a net increase in energy consumption is inevitable for many businesses due to more hybrid working, as the energy use of their more disparate workforces increases, there are ways that individuals can reduce their consumption depending on their situation and businesses should be actively communicating these to their employees.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Is working from home actually better for the planet? appeared first on Checklists.

From axe-throwing to escape rooms, these events will give your employees plenty to talk about while also strengthening their trust and working relationships.

1. The Killing

OK, so it’s a little morbid, but could your workforce effectively investigate a murder?

This hands-on CSI team-building experience is perfect for true crime fanatics and inquisitive minds, and will bring your colleagues together to find clues and solve a mystery.

Designed by Ex-Scotland Yard Detectives, this is a wonderfully dark, immersive team building experience involving lots of critical thinking and collaboration.

Find out more: rightangleevents.co.uk

2. Ice Carving

For a truly unique team-building experience, why not take inspiration from Edward Scissorhands and carve your own ice sculptures?

Working in teams of two to five, participants can learn how to create your company logo in a block of ice. Go one step extra and have it hosted in London’s ICEBAR, a bar entirely made from frozen water!

Find out more: teamtactics.co.uk

3. Virtual Escape Room

The world has changed, and team-building doesn’t always have to be in person.

If you need to unite your team across different geographical locations, Virtually Together has lots of different options for Zoom team-building events that all your staff will enjoy.

Their Escape Room from Alcatraz has live actors to interact with, making it an exciting and engaging activity combining clue solving with CCTV footage.

Find out more: virtually-together.co.uk

4. Virtual reality haunted house

Fancy something a bit more scary? Or prank some of your louder colleagues?

Work as a team to frighten the unlucky soul in a virtual haunted house with the game Reiko’s Fragments. Acting as ghosts on a mobile phone, collaborate to challenge the player exploring the depths of an abandoned mansion. Ideal for smaller groups, take your teamwork to the next level and enjoy some laughs and scares.

Find out more: virtualrealityrental.co

5. Bear Grylls Skills

Are you leading a team of survivors? Could they protect themselves and each other in the wilderness?

Go off-grid with your staff on this adrenaline-packed team-building adventure, facing mental and physical tasks that will put your employees to the test. Creativity, conflict resolution, and trust are all crucial for survival at the academy.

Find out more: rightangleevents.co.uk

6. Lucky Voice

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly if you’ve overheard some out-of-tune humming in the office, but karaoke can be a truly wonderful bonding experience for any budding workplace Beyoncé’s and Bon Jovis.

Check out the private booths at Lucky Voice and let your employees’ inner rockstar roar.

Find out more: luckyvoice.com

7. Going Boating

Enjoy life on the ocean wave! Or rather, canal.

If you want to take your team out on the water for a unique experience, check out Go Boat. It’s a relaxing day out for your team to enjoy, while also learning new skills.

Find out more: goboat.co.uk

8. Crystal Maze

The retro puzzle-solving game show has been brought to life, and what better way to get your teams cracking codes and working together than dropping them inside the Crystal Maze? Reminisce about this amazing TV show while racing around collecting crystals and making your way out of the maze.

Find out more: the-crystal-maze.com

9. Final Verdict

Virtual reality is no longer reserved for sci-fi movies. The future is here!

Final Verdict is an interactive VR experience that will place your team at the heart of a legal thriller set in the future. They must review clues via video testimony and analyse fingerprints to crack the case.

Find out more: reelivate.com

10. Zombie Nation

The end is nigh, and your team must survive the apocalypse! Fans of The Walking Dead or 28 Days Later will love this immersive zombie experience.

Zombie Infection is not for the faint-hearted, so check that your team are emotionally and physically robust enough to be hunted by a flesh-eating army of the undead. It’ll give them plenty of things to talk about and it’s a great way for you to assess their leadership and teamwork dynamics.

Find out more: zombieinfection.co.uk

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 team-building activities for your staff appeared first on Checklists.

If the idea of outsourcing to a recruitment agency doesn’t appeal to you, why not invest in recruitment tech? You can manage your hiring from the desktop at your office, or on the go with a mobile app. Here are 10 tools to recruit your staff using top-of-the-range technology and AI.

1. Workable

With Workable you can screen CVs, evaluate candidates and schedule interviews from wherever you are in the world. With over 6,000 global clients, Workable support companies to choose the very best employees for their roles with their software. They use AI to applicant track, they share your vacancies across hundreds of job sites and gather applicant information into easily digestible data for you. A top tool for anyone looking for intuitive software to connect them to the correct candidates.

2. Greenhouse

This software allows you access to the best talent and helps you on-board them once they’re hired. Its streamlined candidate review and interview flow make the recruitment process easier to manage from start to finish, taking the stress out of hiring. Once the candidates are secured, Greenhouse enables you to integrate the new hires into the team quickly and tailor their on-boarding experience so they feel appreciated and included on an individual level.

3. SmartRecruiters

SmartRecruiters software allows you to build beautiful career websites and integrate your social channels and pre-existing contacts. You can gain access to more candidates with SmartRecruiters’ direct sourcing capabilities and keep track of all the goings-on via your ever-evolving Sourcing Dashboard. There’s a one-click apply process which makes it easy for your candidates to use, too.

4. Dice

If you’re looking to hire tech professionals, Dice has over nine million of them for you to browse to select the right talent. Dice pre-screens applicants to make your shortlisting process faster and smoother, while also giving you an insight into which of your candidates are most likely to make a career change. You can increase your brand awareness across the tech industry using this platform, improving visibility for tech talent.

5. Worksome

If you’re looking to hire freelancers rather than permanent staff, or would like to expand your pre-existing talent pool, look no further than Worksome. You can hire talent faster and receive ongoing support and advice with Worksome, while accessing incredible freelance talent around the world. Worksome also helps you with onboarding and invoicing, enabling you to pay your freelance talent in just a few clicks.

6. Breezy

With Breezy, you can use its applicant tracking system and easy-to-use, drag-and-drop candidate pipelines to make your hiring process easier. You can automate tasks such as screening and scheduling and source candidates from across job sites. You can also post vacancies to over 50 job sites seamlessly, with just one click. Breezy allows you to involve your team in the hiring process, making it easy to collaborate when choosing the best talent.

7. GoHire

Small businesses can have their hiring workflow in one place with GoHire. They can find relevant candidates in seconds and track thousands of them with this software. Use their smart candidate selection process, questionnaires, evaluations, and reporting tools to secure the best employees to slot into your team, whittling all applicants until you get the right fit. GoHire has a dedicated UK support team which will help you along your hiring journey, just in case you need to reach out for any advice during the process.

8. Onskil

Inspired by dating apps, Onskil uses AI to match the right candidates with the right IT jobs. Onskil wishes to circumvent any existing unconscious bias in the IT industry by using tech to match a candidate’s skills with the job requirements. Only when an applicant and a hiring manager ‘match’ will their contact details be shared, ensuring that you are hiring a candidate solely on their skillset. Onskil aims to be cheaper for hiring managers and also charges no fee for candidates.

9. Manatal

Manatal recruitment software claims it can have you set up, ready to hire in less than 15 minutes. With its multitude of tools and easy-to-use interface, you can drive right into your recruitment drive and start securing top talent. The software includes AI tailored candidate recommendations and recruitment pipelines, and an applicant tracking system to make things simpler.

10. Bullhorn

Creating and managing a start-up is a demanding project, but hiring for it doesn’t have to be. If you’re a small business working from the ground up and looking for recruitment solutions, Bullhorn can help simplify the process and expand your business at the same time. The software is intuitive, user-friendly and Bullhorn offers 24/7 support for its clients.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 recruitment software tools appeared first on Checklists.